Long, luscious locks are on top of the wish list for a lot of us. We all romanticise Rapunzel-like locks; it’s not just women, even men have taken charge of their hair health and become more conscious about retaining the volume of their mane today. From viscous oil blends featuring castor oil to extracting essential oils such as rosemary to slathering onion juice on the scalp, these hacks for hair growth are popular home remedies. However, it’s key to understand that the cause of hair fall can be different for different people and thus, a one-size-fits-all approach can’t be implemented in case you’re looking at reversing the shedding. We speak to trichologist, Dr Batul Patel, dermatologist, trichologist & founder, The Bombay Skin Clinic who sounds off her thoughts on hair loss and shares some hair growth tips that are rather easy to follow.
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The factors that affect hair growth
From hormonal fluctuations to dietary practices, everything plays a key role in determining the frequency, speed and scale of your hair growth. “Hormones play a role in hair growth and hair thinning. Particularly androgens, are responsible for hair formation, development, and cyclic regulation. However, an imbalance can disrupt this natural process, leading to conditions like androgenetic alopecia in genetically susceptible individuals,” says Dr Batul Patel.
Additionally, the natural state of your hair and scalp also plays a key role in regulating your hair growth; for instance, if you have nutrient deficiencies, are prone to alopecia, or are ingesting heavy medication (think steroids), it can augment hair loss.
Lastly, genetics also influence the health of your hair. If your parents and grandparents observed early hair shedding in life, you’re likely to experience the same and vice-versa. “The hair growth cycle—anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition phase) and telogen (resting phase)—is governed by our body’s biochemical processes. Several factors, including hormones, nutrients and local growth factors, control these stages; any disruption in these biological activities can impact the hair growth cycle,” adds Dr Patel.
Tips to fasten hair growth
1. Supplements can be a game-changer:
ICYMI, there’s a nutrient-dense supplement for most of the common concerns across skin, hair, nails, period pain and more. Consider biotin-rich supplements to boost the volume and length of your locks. “Anagen (or growth) phase is associated with a rearrangement of skin vasculature, an increase in skin perfusion, that is, an increase in vascularity of the vessels around the hair follicle. For faster hair growth, an adequate blood supply is essential during this phase,” explains Dr Patel. “Various vitamins and minerals are responsible for increasing the blood circulation, and thereby, stimulating hair growth or preventing hair loss (deficiencies in these can cause alopecia). Supplementation with these should improve hair growth, and this is particularly true for iron deficiency. Hence a balanced diet rich in vitamins, especially B vitamins, and minerals like iron and zinc play a critical role in hair health and growth.” You can consider the Power Gummies Hair & Nail Vitamins with Biotin - 60 Gummies that are packed with vitamins A, B6, C and E and biotin to control hair fall and promote new growth.
2. Trust the good ol’ champi:
If there is an Ayurvedic ritual that has stood the test of time, you ought to give it a shot. “The Indian traditional champi or head massage improves blood circulation, which in turn helps the hair to grow better. The increased blood circulation to the scalp improves the nutrient supply to the hair follicles,” informs Dr Patel. She recommends warming the hair oil before the massage as it opens up the pores and allows better absorption of the oil nutrients. “Hair oiling may or may not boost hair growth for everyone, but it definitely helps improve the tensile hair strength,” believes the doctor.
3. Look for the right ingredients:
We’ve all heard and read about the many ingredients that claim to improve hair health by boosting growth. Sulphur-rich onions, fatty acids-rich castor oil, rosemary, apple cider vinegar, almond oil and many other ingredients have joined the ‘hair growth boosters’ clan. While all of these may not fare equally well, some deserve a mention. “Castor oil, being rich in ricinoleic acid, might improve scalp circulation and potentially boost hair growth slowly and gradually,” says Dr Patel. If you detest the sticky application of the highly viscous castor oil, try the Rene Furterer Karite Nutri Intense Nourishing Oil (100ml) which contains castor seed oil, shea butter, and soybean oil to nourish, protect and fortify the scalp.
“Rosemary, on the other hand, is believed to prevent hair follicle miniaturisation, a characteristic of androgenetic alopecia. However, for rosemary to show any results, studies suggest that it demands repeated application for at least six months.” If you’re not a DIY enthusiast, try the lotion-textured L’Occitane Strength & Volume Scalp Serum - (100ml) that is supercharged with lemon, juniper, ylang-ylang, cedar, keratin and arginine in addition to rosemary. “Topicals minoxidil and prostaglandins can also act as hair follicle stimulators,” adds Dr Patel.
4. In-office treatments:
In case you’re steadfast to visiting a trichologist’s clinic for some hair growth treatments, Dr Patel suggests opting for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and mesotherapy, each of which has shown promising results in enhancing hair growth.
