How does hair grow?

Here is a fascinating fact: you are born with all the hair follicles you will ever have, including about 80,000 to 120,000 on your scalp. It is natural to lose about 100 hairs a day.

Hair grows from a root at the bottom of a follicle under the skin. Blood from your scalp goes to the follicle and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the hair root, which promotes growth.

As it grows, the hair pushes through the skin and passes an oil gland. It is the oil produced by this gland that makes your hair shiny and soft.


What can promote hair growth?

Genetics play a role in maintaining healthy hair growth. However, several other factors also come into play.

Although there is no magic potion or cure for instant growth, you can take certain steps to promote hair growth and prevent breakage.

Here are 3 tips that can help your hair grow faster and stronger.

1. Avoid restrictive diets

We cannot control everything that affects our hair growth. But there are things we can avoid that can lead to slowed growth and increased hair loss.

Restrictive diets can reduce the resources and nutrients needed for hair growth, and since hair growth is a relatively low priority compared to other bodily functions, it is quickly interrupted when the body is under stress from a restrictive diet.

Even after resuming a healthy diet, hair loss usually continues for several months.

A deficiency in key nutrients can impact both the structure of your hair and its growth. Sudden weight loss can cause temporary shedding, known as telogen effluvium (TE), or diffuse alopecia due to niacin deficiency.

2. Check your protein intake

If your diet is very restrictive, your hair will not grow optimally and you may experience hair loss.

For optimal hair growth, it is important to have a balanced diet with sufficient protein intake.

3. Try caffeine-infused products

We all know that caffeine can give you a boost of energy, and it has been shown that its topical use can also stimulate hair growth.

Research shows that caffeine in topical products, such as shampoos and conditioners, can prevent hair loss as effectively as medical treatments. Caffeine can promote hair growth by stimulating cell metabolism and proliferation.