6 Ways To Make Your Hair Grow Faster

It’s a situation we know all too well. You lust after your favorite celebrity/blogger/"it" girl’s new shoulder-grazing haircut and finally, finally, make the chop … and then they grow it out, or install a shiny new set of extensions. Grow, hair. Grow!

While your personal rate of growth is genetically predetermined (though the average rate is six inches per year), there are certain steps you can take to help the process along. Behold, the following ways that will give your hair an assist in the journey towards longer locks.

Stimulate Your Scalp

Hairstylist Julianne Kaye points to the classic trick of scalp massage to promote hair growth. “Massage your head for a minute or two when shampooing,” she says. “This will help stimulate the blood flow in your scalp for faster hair growth.” While the scientific community was slow to get behind this, new research suggests this is effective, as well as rubbing essential oils into your scalp daily.

Body Back Company Scalp Massager, $6.99, Amazon

100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil, $7.85, Amazon

100% Pure Organic Jojoba Oil, $10.95, Amazon

Take a Supplement

Tricomi suggests the water-soluble B vitamin, Niacin, as a great supplement for speeding up growth. “It promotes healthy growth and contains minerals and vitamins that are also beneficial to your skin and nails,” he says.

Nature's Bounty Niacin Supplements, $10, Amazon

Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Broken ends and dry lengths aren’t going to lead to healthy growth, says Eden Sassoon stylist, Katie Bergen. “Make sure you are using a professional-grade shampoo and conditioner that is suggested by your stylist — [preferably] something that contains [the protein] keratin which will strengthen and grow your hair more quickly,” she says.

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner, $16, Amazon

Prevent Breakage

Use a vent or paddle brush to avoid breakage, Tricomi says. “Comb gently when wet, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Hair tends to snap more when wet so brushing this way is a great trick to avoid snapping.” By minimizing breakage, your hair will have better chance of growing fuller and stronger.

Revlon Perfect Style Vent Brush, $8.59, Amazon

Natural Wooden Paddle Brush, $10.80, Amazon

Protect Your [Colored] Hair

If you’re bleaching your hair and trying to grow it out, it pays to up your conditioning. “Most coloring is fine as long as you condition your hair and keep it hydrated,” says Diana Conte, NYC Sally Hershberger stylist, says. “If you’re highlighting and are notice breakage from bleach, then it might be best to color less frequently, giving your hair time to recover as it grows.”

Paul Mitchell Color Protect Conditioner, $16.94, Amazon

Regular Trims

While trimming your hair doesn’t make it grow faster on its own, it does help prevent breakage and therefore, your length, says Edward Tricomi, master stylist at Warren-Tricomi Salons. “Regular trims will keep your hair healthier, and in turn, aid you in hair growth.”