At some point, you might grow tired of a super short or layered haircut and decide to grow out your locks. Whether you will have a long, flowing mane quickly largely depends on how you care for your hair at home. If you want to encourage new growth, there are a few habits you should avoid. To help you grow your hair as quickly as possible, here are a few common behaviors to steer clear of.

Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Out Your Hair

1. Forgetting to Get a Trim

In an attempt to grow out your hair, you may think you should skip trips to the hairdresser. However, even if you grow it several inches this way, split ends will travel up the hair shaft. This means you’ll need a major chop to prevent the damage from spreading the next time you visit the salon. To avoid this, get ends trimmed every few weeks. This will eliminate fraying before it travels up the strands. 

2. Shampooing Daily

If you tend to wash your hair every day, discontinue the practice if you’re trying to encourage new growth. Although shampooing removes sweat residue and grime, it also extracts natural oils that keep hair hydrated. This means locks will become dry and weak, increasing the risk of breakage. To keep strands strong, wash every other day and use a leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture. 

3. Detangling Wet Hair

As your hair gets longer, you might have more issues with tangling after shampooing and conditioning. Aggressively brushing out wet knots will lead to snags and breakage. To avoid losing clumps of hair each time you brush, use a wide-toothed plastic comb instead of a hard-bristle brush and wait until your hair is dry to gently tug free the tangles.  

4. Using Harsh Products

When growing out a haircut, pay attention to the products you use. Burning, itchiness, and breakouts on the scalp or along the hairline shouldn’t be ignored. Some cleansing products contain harsh chemicals that cause skin irritation, which could slow hair growth. To keep your scalp healthy, avoid ingredients like glycol and sulfates, which induce dryness.

5. Eating Unhealthy Foods

What you eat contributes to how long it will take to grow out your hair. Nuts, leafy greens, and other foods rich in Vitamin E protect the cell membranes of hair follicles to keep locks healthy. You should also incorporate foods containing Vitamin C, such as sweet yellow peppers, broccoli, and oranges, into your diet. This will aid the production of collagen in hair follicles.

To help you achieve the haircut of your dreams, visit Bloom Beauty Lounge in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. These New York City stylists will administer nourishing treatments to keep locks strong and hydrated, while using organic hair products that won’t leave your scalp itchy or irritated. For ideas on how to switch up your look, become an Instagram follower to see client photos. Visit their website to learn more about their services or call (212) 255-9355 to schedule an appointment for a haircut.