According to The American Academy of Dermatology Association, hair grows roughly six inches per year on average, but that growth can feel insignificant — especially considering most people lose 50-100 hairs per day.

While it may appear that certain women are born with enviably long hair, the rest of us must make adjustments to our daily haircare routines. There are rapid hair growth secrets and home remedies that even grow hair thicker, whether it’s using a different hair brush, modifying how often you use your hair drier, adding foods that make hair grow faster or a vitamin to the mix, or sleeping on a silk pillowcase (yes, really). Check out these expert suggestions for growing hair faster in a natural way!

1. Get your hair cut on a regular basis.
   It may seem paradoxical, but getting frequent cuts is necessary if you want long, healthy hair. “While haircuts do not speed up hair growth, they do remove split ends that damage hair,” says Michael Dueas, a celebrity hairstylist for Aloxxi in Los Angeles. “Reducing breakage makes it appear as if your hair is growing faster.” After all, a broken split end can cause your hair to lose length, as well as gloss, volume, and smoothness.
2. Resist the impulse to bleach your hair blonde.
   As glamorous as platinum hair may appear, switching from a darker shade to light blonde may be the only thing standing between you and your longest hair. “Bleaching damages the hair cuticle, which can result in additional breakage or split ends,” says Elizabeth Hiserodt, senior colorist at Cutler Salon in New York City. “The fewer chemical treatments you have, the faster your hair grows.”
3. Distribute the natural oils in your hair.
   When you’re weary, it’s tempting to go to bed with your hair unbrushed, but giving it a few brief strokes can be beneficial to its health. “Start at the scalp and use a boar bristle brush to evenly distribute your scalp’s oils onto your hair so it stays naturally moisturised,” says Meri Kate O’Connor, senior colorist at Tabb & Sparks Salon in Santa Monica, CA. Bonus: Performing this simple step each night improves circulation, making your scalp healthier.
4. Consume the appropriate foods.
   It’s not just about what you put on your hair to have long, strong hair; it’s also about what you put in your body. “You need to ‘feed’ the hair from the inside to promote hair development,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. So, what foods promote hair growth? Protein-rich foods, such as meats and other sources, are the building blocks of hair. “Eat foods like fish, beans, almonds, and whole grains to boost your protein consumption,” she suggests.

5. Include a vitamin in your morning routine.
   A supplement could make all the difference if your diet isn’t providing you with adequate nourishment. Dr. Fusco recommends looking for a multivitamin that’s developed and branded ‘for hair, skin, and nails.’ “They include vital vitamins like biotin, C, and B, which are beneficial to hair health.” Plus, you might improve your skin in the process!
6. Don’t use shampoo every day.
   You’ve probably heard all of the testimonies attributing excellent hair to “no ‘poo,” but do you know why it actually works? According to Ken Paves, a famous hairstylist in Los Angeles, “shampooing your hair two to three times a week helps your natural oils to infiltrate your hair, helping it to nourish and heal itself.” Choose a “volumizing” or “thickening” recipe for thicker, fuller-looking hair quickly.
7. Regularly hydrate and condition your hair.
   According to GH Beauty Lab experts, routinely coating your strands in a velvety deep conditioner or hair treatment will help prevent damage while detangling strands. Once a week, apply a store-bought or homemade hair mask from root to tip: According to Liana Zingarino, a hair stylist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in New York City, one with cinnamon can promote blood circulation, resulting in stronger, longer hair in no time.
8. Take shorter showers and concentrate on scalp care.
   A hot shower can dry your skin and make your hair frizzy. “When cleansing, lower the water temperature,” Paves advises. But give your scalp some additional attention: while shampooing, give it a short massage to help de-gunk it and improve circulation.
9. Use caution when brushing wet hair.
   When hair is damp, it is especially prone to breakage. “Water exposure swells and strains the hair shaft, causing the shingle-like outer layer to lift, and additional tension from brushing in this state can cause it to break,” says Sabina Wizemann, senior chemist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. Instead, brush hair before shampooing, and if you have to detangle it while it’s wet, towel-dry it first so it doesn’t drip, apply a leave-in conditioner from roots to ends, and use a gentler wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to reduce friction, working in small sections from the ends up to avoid tearing hair, she suggests.
10. Begin to use minoxidil.
    GH Beauty Director April Franzino suggests picking up a bottle of Women’s Rogaine. “The active component, minoxidil, is FDA-approved and has been shown to help reduce hair loss and encourage hair regeneration when used as directed.” Pick up Hers 2 percent Minoxidil Topical Remedy and use the dropper applicator to focus on more particular problem areas for a more targeted solution.
11. Avoid overheating your hair.
    Paves advises, “Stop over-styling your hair.” If you must use heat, he suggests turning it down and always wearing a heat protectant; otherwise, you risk harming your hair and causing breakage and frizz.
12. Put an end to the fad “cleanses.”
    Diet firms may try to persuade you that a “cleansing” can completely transform your life, but Dueas strongly cautions against it. “Cleansing is bad for your hair because you’re denying your body of nutrients,” he cautions. “You’ll notice decreased hair growth and dull locks after doing a detox for even a week.”
13. Use a silk pillowcase to sleep on.
    It is possible to improve your hair while sleeping if you change your pillowcase. “Silk is gentler on hair, preventing knots and breakage,” explains Jesleen Ahluwalia, M.D., of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. The less hair breakage you have, the longer your hair will be. They’re so amazing, in fact, that the Good Housekeeping Institute conducted an entire research to find the best silk pillowcases – the winners are listed below!
14. Take care of your skin.
    It’s easy to glance at your lustrous hair and think that a hair product is working for you, but Dean advises looking closer – at your scalp. He claims that “what the formula does to your skin is generally what it does to your hair.” “Is it drying, stripping, heavy, waxy, sticky, or greasy on your skin? Or does it feel supple, silky, and hydrated?” Treat your hair the same way you would your skin – it is, after all, a part of you! It’s impossible for your hair to develop as efficiently if the follicles are clogged and crowded.

Consider what’s going on beneath the surface.
Your hair’s delayed (or non-existent) growth could be due to underlying factors. One in every four American women has thinning hair, and this does not include those who were born with wispy or sparse strands. “Hair that is inherently tiny or scant in diameter is genetic,” explains Joyce Davis, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. “Hair loss is frequently caused by genetic (or androgenic) thinning, which is patchy.” Another prevalent kind is telogen effluvium (TE), which is characterised by all-over shedding caused by hormones or medical conditions such as thyroid or autoimmune disease, as well as anaemia.