I don’t know a single woman who wouldn’t kill for a long, luscious, thick head of hair. But not all of us are genetically blessed with that at birth, and as such, have to take matters into our own hands (or ‘hair’, as the case may be). Hair growth supplements, hair growth serums, hair growth oils, hair growth shampoo, hair growth pills… with all these products on the market today, who can tell which ones are truly effective and which ones won’t get you anywhere near that horse mane you’re longing for?

Thinning hair runs in my family, and all us women have had multiple huddles (okay, now Zoom calls) about the issue.

Here are the five best, most effective things we have carefully considered to get our hair to grow in thicker and longer than ever before.

 

  1. Vitamins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ve likely heard this by now if you’re a grownup, but even with a healthy diet, you need your daily dose of vitamins. Take a multi. Better yet, take a multi formulated especially for women, or one with the champion hair growth vitamin, Biotin. Come on– it even sounds like a superhero name. BIOTIN!

 

  1. Supplements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collagen has everyone talking these days, and not just because it helps to keep your skin looking firm and fresh. It also may help prevent hair thinning and promote thicker, stronger hair and a healthier scalp.

 

  1. Scalp Care

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your scalp might be an afterthought, but it shouldn’t be! Studies have shown that inflammation due to oxidative stress and pollution is a major factor in scalp buildup and scalp issues. To make sure your scalp is fresh and healthy, you could also try a scalp exfoliant or anti-buildup shampoo.

 

  1. Preventing Hair Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

A big aspect of the hair growth debate is the question of how to prevent hair loss and hair thinning, which often occurs as a result of age and/or genetics. So how do we fight this seemingly inevitable enemy? First off, make sure that you’re eating the rainbow—meaning, getting all of your nutritional needs met and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Fruits, veggies, eight 8 oz glasses of water day, and less caffeine and alcohol. These last two, while fun, are diuretics that can dry out your skin (including your scalp) and cause dehydration, leading to dandruff and flakiness, which are prime causes of scalp buildup, which can contribute to thinning hair, impeding healthy hair growth. Pay attention to these three things to keep your scalp healthy and your hair growth on track:

 

Nutrition– make sure you’re getting all your vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, B5, iron and other micronutrients.

Hormones– Hormonal fluctuation, pregnancy, giving birth, and the state of your thyroid are all things that can affect your hair. If you’re experiencing hair thinning as a result of any of these, make sure you’re in regular communication with your endocrinologist or gynecologist.

Hair care– It may sound counterintuitive but washing those strands less frequently will prevent breakage and brittleness. Don’t skip the conditioner, at least on the ends of your hair, even if your scalp tends to get oily. Limit those ponytails, as stress from rubber bands and other tight hair clips can contribute to breakage/loss. Give your hair a break when it comes to heat styling, too. All that high temp exposure really damages the hair in the long term.

 

Think of your hair as another part of your body and treat it with kindness— be gentle, feed it, nourish it, get it checked out regularly if there’s an issue. If you do these things, you’ll eventually have the hair of your dreams. Remember, the state of your hair can be a reflection of your overall health. Pay attention, and make sure you’re keeping it healthy and happy.