How can you make your hair grow faster? Hmm… By trimming it? I am so sure all of you ladies must have heard this at least once. Better yet, all of you have tried it at least once. So allow me to break the myth and your hearts. Yes, the truth is trimming your hair DOES NOT make it grow longer!
How can it ever be biologically possible to promote quick hair growth by cutting the ends of your hair? I don’t even know how that myth started in the first place. Do you honestly believe that there is probably some sensors in your hair that every time you cut the ends, the roots will begin to grow faster? No, unless you are an alien, in which case I wouldn’t know.
But, I guess you are trying to reason with me, saying that every time you shave your armpits or legs, the hair seems to grow back within three days to a week, varying from person to person.
Why do they say, trimming your hair makes it grow faster?
So, when you shave your body hair (note, I am not talking about waxing), it grows back in a couple of days. Logically, when you shave your hair, you are only getting rid of the surface hair and not pulling out hair roots. They still remain in the hair follicles. So, essentially the hair remains there, just like trimming the hair on your pretty head.
But then why does it appear to grow faster? Hair is essentially present underneath the layer of your skin, and so it grows back quickly.
Since on hairless skin, even the slightest growth becomes noticeable, and you think that your hair is growing faster.
So, when you trim the long hair on your head, you cut an inch or two off them. The hair continues its average pace of growth, but the increase in the length of hair becomes more apparent when it grows back in a month.
This is because it has essentially resumed its previous length and continues to grow. When you don’t trim them in a longer length, the growth of hair seems to be slow and unnoticeable.
However, the increase in the overall length is gradual, and you look at your hair daily in the mirror. In the absence of trimming, there is no sudden transformation in the appearance of your hair. This makes it seem that your hair grows faster after a trim.
Should you trim your hair?
If trimming does not promote hair growth, then should you absolutely forego or avoid cutting your hair? Not unless you are aiming for natural dreadlocks sported by a Rastafarian or the old Indian sadhu and gurus you look at with much fascination in pictures.
Trimming does not make your hair grow long faster, but it certainly helps get rid of rough edges and split ends. This is because the hair visible on the surface of your head or body is, in reality, made of dead cells.
There is absolutely no biochemical activity that takes place in your hair shaft. This makes it impossible for trimming to promote hair growth. But, the hair shaft is still susceptible to the external environment. Dirt, pollution, chemicals, heat and lack of moisture are certain factors that can damage your hair and steal away its sheen.
This is why you spend tons of money trying to make them look glossy and healthy. Unfortunately, the hair at the shaft ends is vulnerable to damage because they are most likely to dry out due to dehydration.
When you brush your hair, the oils from the scalp are distributed to the hair shaft. But, by the time your brush reaches the ends, there are no oils left to cover them.
So, as they increasingly become dry over time, they become prone to damage and result in rough, dry ends that often tear up to become split ends. Horrible, isn’t it? This is when trimming comes into the picture. It helps you keep chopping off your hair’s unhealthy ends and keeps them in good condition.
Then, how do you promote hair growth?
So, if you don’t make quarterly visits to the hair salon to get a trimming, the split ends will soon creep up to the mid-section of your hair and damage them too. That is why trimming is recommended to get rid of split ends and to prevent them.
I hope you lovely ladies know that trimming is the only way to eliminate dry split ends. You should also regularly oil your hair with castor oil, jojoba oil, carrot oil or olive oil to restore moisture and prevent drying caused by harmful substances in the environment.
If you want long hair that grows faster, you can supplement your diet with vitamin E, zinc, folic acid and biotin supplements.
Also, have a healthy diet and drink lots of water. Do not neglect vitamins A, B or C either. In addition, there are certain herbs for hair growth that help you with this beauty woe. Also, you must have a sufficient protein intake because this quickens hair growth and gives you lustrous hair.
Lightly massaging your hair regularly with your fingertips promotes blood circulation to the scalp, which is also a positive factor for faster hair growth. Remember, wash your hair in suitable intervals to keep those hair follicles clean and let your hair grow.
Honestly, I believe that the entire myth started to cut our hair and get rid of the split ends to give a healthy appearance to the hair. So what would you choose; long, dry, damaged hair or a little shorter, smooth, shiny and healthy hair? If you want to go for the latter, better fix your hair trimming appointments with your hairstylists every three to four months.
