6 Secrets to Getting Longer, Stronger Hair
1. Eat this mane menu. Foods rich in biotin, a B-complex vitamin, are essential for promoting hair growth, says derm Mona Gohara, MD. Incorporate a palm-size serving (it’s in almonds, eggs, and avocado) thrice daily. Also important: iron, which oxygenates follicles (eat it at each meal; oatmeal, spinach, and hummus are chock-full), and daily servings of protein (chicken, fish, beans), hair’s main building block.
2. Do a deep cleaning. Buildup of excess oil, dead skin cells, and product can create inflammation, causing follicles to weaken, says Dr. Gohara. Loosen it once or twice a week with a scalp-specific exfoliant, focusing on the hairline as well as the back of the scalp, where buildup tends to be heaviest, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. If dandruff is contributing to the inflammation, wash hair daily with a zinc pyrithione shampoo and conditioner
3. Give your scalp love. A five-minute head massage, which promotes circulation, can deliver oxygen and nutrients that stimulate hairs’ stem cells for more rapid hair growth, says Neil Sadick, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
4. Pop some pills. Viviscal, a twice-daily supplement rich in biotin and a marine extract, can promote hair growth and density, says Dr. Zeichner. Derms are also keeping an eye on Nutrafol, which increases blood flow to the scalp and decreases inflammation, says Dr. Sadick.
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5. Get lit up. Red-light therapy, long known for its antiaging benefits (it increases collagen production), is also great at stimulating circulation — key for hair growth. It offers anti-inflammatory, follicle-enhancing benefits as well, says Dr. Zeichner. Try it at the dermatologist’s office or at home with a laser comb (HairMax Prima 7 LaserComb, $199, hairmax.com, has been FDA-cleared to treat hair loss) — run it through strands Marcia Brady–style for 15 minutes, three times a week.
6. Thwart thinning. Thanks to heredity, high levels of stress, or hormonal shifts (like post-baby), thinning can start as early as your 30s. “We recommend Rogaine in these cases,” says Dr. Zeichner. Its key ingredient, minoxidil, is the only FDA-approved topical to resprout strands, which it does by reactivating and increasing the size of dormant follicles. Massage in daily, and in three months, you may see up to 25 percent more hair.
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