How to Grow Healthy Hair

Are you struggling to grow and achieve your hair length goals or failing to keep length retention? What about feeling like your hair grows, but when it reaches your dream length, it begins to shed, thin or break? If one of these applies to you, you’ll want to keep reading! In this blog, we’ll explore the hair growth cycle and why a healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. We’ll also look at how regular salon visits, investing in the right hair products, building the perfect haircare routine, and nourishing your hair from within all work together to support stronger, healthier hair inside and out. 

The Hair Growth Cycle

Understanding the hair growth cycle is key to growing healthy hair because it helps you identify what your hair needs at each stage to support growth, prevent breakage, and improve length retention!

Hair follicles are tiny, tube-like structures in the skin that grow and support each strand of hair. You’re born with millions of them, and they play a key role not only in hair growth but also in skin healing and overall scalp health. Hair grows in a four-stage cycle: 

Anagen – The Growth Phase

This is when your hair is actively growing. It can last anywhere from 2 to 8 years, and most of the hair on your head is in this stage right now.

Catagen – The Transition Phase

This short, 2-week stage is when your hair stops growing and starts to detach from the blood supply, preparing for the next phase.

Telogen – The Resting Phase

Lasting around 2 to 3 months, your hair takes a break here. It doesn’t grow or fall out, but underneath the scalp, new hair is already starting to form.

Exogen – The Shedding Phase

This is when old hair finally falls out (often helped by brushing or washing), making room for new growth. It’s normal to shed around 50 to 100 hairs daily during this phase.

As Anagen can last up to nearly a decade, hair can reach lengths of approximately 13 to 45.5 inches, based on an average growth rate of about 0.5 inches per month or 6 to 6.5 inches per year. While your maximum hair length is largely determined by genetics, which sets the duration of your growth cycle, many people don’t reach their hair’s full potential due to poor retention rather than lack of growth. If your hair isn’t maintaining its length, the issue may lie in breakage, damage, or inadequate care, rather than how fast or how much your hair is growing. While you can’t see or pull out a follicle, caring for them through good nutrition, gentle hair care, and stress management is essential. Otherwise, damaged follicles can sometimes heal, but repeated injury may lead to permanent hair loss or thinning.

Healthy Hair Grows From A Healthy Scalp

Healthy hair begins at the root – literally! A well-cared-for scalp lays the foundation for stronger, longer, more vibrant hair. Here are some tried-and-true tips to support your scalp and encourage healthy hair growth:

• Keep the scalp clean and healthy: A clean scalp prevents buildup, supports hair follicles, and creates the right conditions for growth.
• Shampoo regularly but not excessively: Wash your hair 2-3 times a week (or as needed) to remove dirt and oil without stripping natural moisture.
• Control natural oil buildup: Too much sebum can clog follicles and irritate the scalp. Gentle washing helps maintain balance.
• Avoid product buildup: Heavy styling products can clog pores and weigh down hair. Use clarifying shampoos occasionally.
• Don’t scratch your scalp: Scratching can cause damage and irritation. Use anti-itch or medicated shampoos if needed.
• Choose low- or no-fragrance products: Fragrances can irritate sensitive scalps. Fragrance-free options are gentler.
• Use pH-balanced shampoos: Shampoos with a pH of 4-5.5 help maintain the scalp’s natural barrier and prevent dryness.
• Keep hair hydrated: Moisturised hair is stronger and less prone to breakage, helping you retain length and shine.

At our hairdressers in Wandsworth, we offer soothing scalp treatments to combat itchy, flaky or irritated scalps. Think this might be what your hair and scalp need? Click here to learn more or book an appointment today!

Regular Visits to the Salon

To maintain healthy hair growth, it’s recommended to visit the salon at least three times a year, roughly every four months. Since hair grows about 6 inches annually, a four-month period typically gives you around 2 inches of growth. With a consistent and nourishing hair care routine, you can trim just 1 cm and still retain up to 1.5 inches of length. If you colour your hair, it’s especially important to get professional treatments to keep the protein and moisture levels balanced and prevent damage. Still unsure how often you should be visiting the salon? Click here to find out.

Invest in the Right Hair Care Products

Choose brands like Keune that prioritise the health of your hair and scalp while also being ethically conscious. When it comes to haircare, you only need five essential products: a shampoo, a conditioner, a leave-in conditioning heat protector (whether in spray or cream form), a styling product, and a conditioning treatment like a nourishing oil.

Hair Care Regime

Don’t let a busy lifestyle prevent you from maintaining a consistent hair care routine – consistency truly is key to healthy hair. Here are some tips for perfecting your regimen:

• Choosing the right hair care products for your hair type and hair care needs.
• There is no hard and fast rule; shampoo your hair when needed, condition mid-lengths and ends. Straight or wavy hair can be combed before shampooing and while applying conditioner. Curly hair can be pre-conditioned and detangled while it’s wet, before and after shampooing. 
• Oil your mid-lengths and ends every day or every other day according to your hair type and condition. Do this at night before bed as part of your bedtime self-care routine.

What Prevents Hair Length Retention? 

Excessive heat, over-processed colour, rough handling, dehydrated hair and lack of moisture, using the incorrect amount of protein for your hair. These practices can cause split ends and frays along the hair shaft, causing breakage. If you are still uncertain if you have the right products or regimen for your hair, why not book a consultation and chat to one of our hair care experts?

Nourish Your Hair from Within

Essential vitamins and minerals that support healthy hair include Iron, Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, B-Complex vitamins, and Selenium. A deficiency in any of these can lead to slowed hair growth, excessive shedding, or even hair loss. To nourish your body and hair from within, incorporate nutrient-rich foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, citrus fruits, whole grains, and lean meats. If you’re unable to meet your nutritional needs through food alone, consider high-quality supplements to help maintain optimal hair health.

Growing healthy, beautiful hair takes time, patience, and a little know-how, but with the right routine, products, nutrition, and salon support, it’s achievable. By understanding your hair’s growth cycle, caring for your scalp, building a consistent routine, and feeding your body what it needs, you can support length retention and enjoy stronger, more resilient hair.

Small, consistent efforts can make a big difference, whether you’re just starting your hair care journey or refining an existing routine. Still have questions or need personalised advice? Our team at Cognito Hair is here to help you every step of the way. Until next time, here’s to stronger, healthier hair – root to tip!