Pay attention and you’ll find yourself talking about hair – the lack or excess or loss or temperament of every single day.
Being such a prominent part of our appearance, it is also a cause of stress when it misbehaves.
So it’s only natural that there’s a huge industry cashing in on our concerns: from frizz to flakes and everything in between. While many products are great at what they promise – improving shine and increasing strength and pumping up volume, there are some grey areas where over-the-counter products just won’t deliver. If you’ve tried a range of oils, shampoos and treatments hoping you’ll grow a lush, long mane super-fast, you’ll know that speeding up hair growth, unfortunately, is one of them.
We dug a little deeper to find out what actually determines the rate at which your hair grows, and if there’s a way to expedite the process. Dr Kiran Lohia, Delhi-based dermatologist, says, “While the average rate is the same for people, some people’s hair will grow faster than others. That’s simple genetic luck I am afraid!”
Mumbai-based dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad adds, on an average, hair grows at the rate of 1.25cm per month. It may vary from person to person, depending on their genes, diet, lifestyle, stress and the chemical treatments they use.
Both agree that what is genetically determined, in this case, the rate of growth of your strands, is difficult to change.
But here’s the catch; while you can’t make your hair grow faster than what’s programmed in your DNA, you could unconsciously be slowing down the normal process. Hair growth is hampered by crash dieting or fad diets. Stress and a bad lifestyle can also have a negative impact. Chemical treatments, if not done correctly, can damage the hair shaft and prevent hair growth, says Dr Sharad.
Dr Lohia recommends, to promote growth, check the basics. Are there any nutritional deficiencies? Is your hair care appropriate?
If you’ve had trouble growing your hair, see if any of these factors could be responsible. There are some treatments available, but it’s possible that with just a few changes in your diet, care and lifestyle, you could see a big improvement in the not just the growth, but the quality of your hair. It definitely won’t be as easy as picking up a bottle of shampoo, but your long, healthy mane will thank you for it.