It's Not Magic: 10 Tips for Long Hair

How you wear your hair is a matter of choice and convenience. You have got to see what suits you the best, plus, it all depends on how well you can manage your hair. There are most of us, who would want to skip giving that additional care to our mane and won't mind cropping it short. For some, short cuts seem to be just exclusively invented for them. Then, there are those who are blessed with effortlessly long, thick, lustrous hair. Let's face it, it's all in the genes. But, what about a majority of people who don't have it that easy? Most of us envy long, shiny, flowing mane but the complaint remains standard in all direction, "my hair just won't grow".  In this article we shall tell you smart tricks that can aid in making your hair grow faster.

The Basics of Hair CareSurprisingly, most of us get some of the easiest and most basic hair care regimes wrong. Make sure you understand the importance of shampooing and conditioning and do it right!

Scissor is your friend: Yes, you've heard us right. Trimming your hair regularly is extremely important. Damaged hair, especially split ends will never let your hair grow, so make sure you keep your hair in shape and trim it regularly.

Watch what you eat: Have a balanced diet with minimum eight glasses of water. Hydration plays a crucial role in hair growth. It also helps in retaining the sheen of your hair. Make sure you get enough iron, calcium, protein, zinc, selenium, B Vitamins and other essential nutrients every day. Flaxseeds, other nuts and seeds along with green leafy vegetables and green tea are great for hair growth.
 

Lifestyle factors:Smoking, excessive drinking, obesity and other lifestyle factors can affect your health, thereby, adversely affecting your hair growth. These can induce hair fall.  Exercise regularly and keep your mind stress free.

No hot water, please: Tepid or lukewarm water is fine for washing hair. It opens up the cuticles of your hair which facilitates proper absorption of essential oils and nutrients via your conditioner or hair mask. You will have to give a final rinse of cold water to close the cuticles and seal-in all the nutrients. Hot water, on the other hand, strips your hair off all essential oil and nourishment making it dry, dull and frizzy. Also, never wrap your hair in towel, it can induce damage. Do not comb wet hair. The best way to dry your hair is to leave it open, drying on its own.

Protect it, nourish it: Get your basic hair-care regime right. Apart from which, make sure you don't skip conditioning. Deep condition if needed. Go for hair spas; say no to colouring or styling.
 

Combing: It is very important to comb your hair (but do not overdo it). Combing is a nice way to exercise your scalp and induce blood circulation. Opt for wooden combs over plastic ones which create static energy that can cause a weak hair strand to fall off. Also, use wide-toothed comb and run it from bottom to top of your hair.

Message your scalp: Though many beauty and hair experts have called the act of oiling as redundant, it doesn't harm your hair anyway. Messaging stimulates blood circulation on the head, facilitating hair growth. You can use a range of oils (castor oil, olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, mustard oil) and get a head message done, it is de-stressing as well.

Herbs and other friends: Go natural. Use herbs and natural ingredients to take care of your hair. Apple cider vinegar, onions, curd, eggs, honey, aloe vera, reetha, shikakai, amla, Indian ginseng, saw palmetto, jaborandi, henna are a few ingredients that are exceptionally great for hair growth. You can use these to make a hair mask and apply on your hair.

Be patient: Hair growth isn't an overnight process. You know you are doing your best, let it happen on its own. Stay happy, be positive and don't mull over it. It WILL happen.