In addition to helping your hair grow thicker, a massage feels relaxing and can help eliminate stress (and less stress means healthier hair!).

Your protein needs vary based on your weight and lifestyle. If you’re active and want to build muscle, for example, you’ll need more than 45 g (1. 6 oz) per day.

The amount of iron and zinc you need depends on your age, sex, and lifestyle. Talk to your doctor before changing your daily mineral intake. If you struggle to get proper levels of vitamins and minerals from diet alone, consider adding a daily multivitamin to your wellness regimen. Chances are that if you’re regularly eating a balanced diet, your iron and zinc levels are already close to where they should be.

Get more Vitamin D by spending some time in the sun each day and consuming Vitamin D-rich foods like fortified milk or fortified orange juice. Get Vitamin C from citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and limes. Look for biotin in eggs, cheese, mushrooms, almonds, and cauliflower. Get other B Vitamins in fish, meat, eggs, dairy, leafy greens, peas, beans, or Vitamin B-enriched foods. [6] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your daily vitamin intake.

If you’re a teen or older, aim to eat at least 1. 1 g (0. 039 oz) of Omega-3 fatty acids per day. [9] X Research source Try taking just 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) of flaxseed oil a day to meet your needs if you can’t find enough Omega-3s in your diet.

Put a drop of your oil of choice on the back of your wrist as a test. If an hour passes and you don’t show any irritation, the oil is safe to use in your hair. Never apply undiluted essential oils to your hair. They’re very potent and could cause damage instead of encouraging growth.

Keratin treatments at the salon are pricey, but can make your hair shiny and reduce frizz for up to 6 months. Caffeine-infused shampoos can support other hair growth methods, but more research is needed to confirm if they’re effective on their own. [12] X Research source

Alternatively, wrap your head in a silk scarf if you want to keep using your current pillowcases.

If you’re African American, aim to wash your hair at least twice a month. Consider using a scalp treatment every few weeks to exfoliate and moisturize your scalp, too. How often you wash your hair varies from person to person. Your age, ethnic background, hair length, and hair type all factor into how oily your hair looks after several days.

Try not to condition your roots, since your hair’s natural oils are already more concentrated there. If you have long hair, run a small amount of conditioner through the ends and rinse before (and after) you shampoo to keep them from drying out during the wash.

Cool water also seals the shingle-like outer layer of your hair strands, which makes them reflect more light and look shiny.

In a pinch, you can even use a cotton t-shirt to wrap your hair.

Use sponge or velcro rollers instead of hot rollers. Heat-damaged hair is more likely to break, which will slow down your growth progress.

Wear a leave-in conditioner with zinc oxide or a wide-brimmed hat in the sun to protect your treated hair from the light and heat. Frequent treatments like coloring and bleaching can leave your hair dry and brittle, causing it to break or grow more slowly.

Begin brushing at the ends of your hair, then work your way up to the scalp. Ignore advice about brushing 100 strokes a day, since this doesn’t really have an effect on your hair (and may damage it more than it helps).

Change up where you make your ponytail so your hair ties aren’t making your hair brittle in one specific area.

Get a trim sooner if you notice split ends, tangles near the bottom of your hair, or your curl patterns change or lose shape. The higher the splits travel, the bigger of a chop you need to get rid of them (which can delay your hair growth).

Surround yourself with positive people when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Isolating can make things feel worse. If you’re struggling to manage stress on your own, consider seeing a counselor or therapist for guidance.

Minoxidil is usually used for people experiencing balding or thinning. If you have healthy, thick hair, minoxidil is probably unnecessary.