Hair goes through three growing cycles. They are called the anagen, catagen and telogen phase. The anagen phase is when the hair is actively growing. The catagen phase is when growth has stopped and the telogen phase is when the hair falls out and new hair starts to grow again. It just so happens that some people don’t grow their hair back as fast during these phases and in some cases, not at all. This is especially seen as you age. In these situations, there are ways to stimulate the process along by adding some key nutrients to the diet and eliminating some bad nutrients from the diet.
Eat protein. Hair is dead protein that rises out of the follicles of the scalp. A diet that is low in protein will cause thinning and weak hair. To help promote growth, eat sources of protein such as lean meats, low fat dairy, fish, tofu, beans and legumes.
Get the right nutrients and vitamins. Some key nutrients for hair growth include iron, silica, calcium, B Complex Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, inositol, pantothenic acid and biotin. Some foods that contain these nutrients are leafy green vegetables, dried fruits,sea vegetables, citrus fruits, eggs and yams.
Eliminate deep fried foods, processed foods, refined foods and foods that are high in saturated fat. A few examples are doughnuts, fast food, pastries, cookies and candy. It is also a good idea to eliminate excessive amounts of alcohol.
Increase the fats. Eating healthy fats such as Omega 3,6 and 9, will help with skin elasticity, and they also help promote healthy nails and hair. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, eating foods like mackerel, herring, salmon, sardines and flax seeds can help promote hair growth.
Massage your scalp to stimulate circulation to the follicles which can promote hair growth. When you massage your scalp, use a good oil. This can help prevent a dry, flaky scalp and also keep your hair better conditioned.