Whether you are struggling to take your bob longer or just want super long mermaid locks, there are tips and tricks you need to know in order to grow your hair faster and longer.
​
Diet
The old saying, “you are what you eat,” couldn’t be truer. Diet is very important for hair growth. You need to be eating sufficient levels of iron, B vitamins, zinc, and protein. Greens like kale add iron and iron is a very important mineral that if not introduced to your diet can cause hair loss. Taking a supplement can also help contribute to the maintenance of healthy locks if your diet isn’t well-balanced.

Stop clogging your follicles
Dirt, oils and product build-up can clog your follicles, hindering healthy hair growth. To avoid this, try to give your hair a rest from overloading the root area with styling products.

Exfoliate your scalp
If your scalp is the gateway to healthy hair, it makes sense that exfoliating it helps promote growth. Use a detoxifying shampoo or a scalp scrub once a week to thoroughly cleanse and remove excess sebum from follicles.

Get a caffeine hit
Caffeine has been found to stimulate the hair shaft by blocking the effects of DHT, a chemical known to damage hair follicles. Drinking caffeine may not be the best way to hair growth, however. Try hair products with formulas that encourage hair growth.

Massage your scalp
Massage stimulates blood circulation, supporting the tiny blood vessels that feed the hair follicles. Gentle pulling of the hair and doing a rhythmic tapping technique are two massage methods to try yourself. Alternatively, try a professional head massage, which will help with stress-relief. This can help your hair grow too!

Wash less
Daily shampooing can compromise the scalp’s natural essential oils that stimulate growth, while excessive heat-styling, backcombing, brushing and chemically processing the hair can leave it brittle, appearing to shorten the length from the bottom-up when it breaks.

Loosen tight hairbands
Another common cause of breakage is the hairband. Tight elastics, worn repetitively in the same place cause wear and tear on the hair which is not what you want when you’re growing it out. The wrong band can snag and damage strands, so pick the right type and keep them loose.

Get regular trims
This is not because cutting your hair makes it grow faster but when hair is freshly snipped the ends will appear coarser without their damaged, tapered points. Plus by trimming it regularly and managing damage you’ll have to cut off less hair in the long run so indirectly, you are speeding things up!

To help your hair along in the quest to grow it out, try these simple tricks and follow good hair and body health. Hair that grows relatively quick is a sign that your body is healthy and well taken care of. When you are looking for the best hairstylists to help you during the transition from short to long and everywhere in between, visit Legends Salon of Hillsborough and know that you will get the best possible treatment for your hair’s overall health.

Is “sulfate-free” a good thing? What’s up with parabens? What are the ingredients we should be avoiding completely? Most of us don’t read the entire list of ingredients in our hair products but these labels raise more questions than answers. We are going to take a quick run through of common hair product ingredients, what they do, and what we know so far about their harmful effects if any.
Here is a list of common ingredients with the basics of what we know about each one.
​
Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA acts as a thickening agent in shampoos and conditioners and allows them to form a foamy lather. Based on studies, we know that cocamide DEA can cause cancer under certain conditions. This is based on testing on rodents and using high toxicity of DEA.

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
Shampoos may contain preservatives that release formaldehyde. The primary health concern is skin reaction, skin sensitization, or an allergic reaction to something after it comes into contact with skin.

Fragrance
You’d be hard-pressed not to spot the word “fragrance” printed on a hair product label. “Fragrance” can include a mixture of ingredients that makes your conditioner smell like coconut or “morning dew”, but regardless, the FDA doesn’t require companies to specify them, since this information is often proprietary and therefore outside government purview. If you have an allergic reaction to a product, fragrances are probably responsible.

Mineral oil
Mineral oil, also listed as paraffin oil or white mineral oil, forms a protective coating over hair that locks in moisture. Some worry that it could cause cancer since it’s distilled from petroleum, produced during the refining of crude oil—and mildly or untreated mineral oil is known to be a carcinogen. But highly refined, cosmetic-grade mineral oil and other cosmetic-grade petroleum distillates, like petrolatum, are generally of low concern.

Parabens
Parabens such as methylparaben and propylparaben prolong the shelf life of hair and other beauty products by preventing bacteria and mold growth. Some evidence suggests they may contribute to breast cancer development, but most of what we know from parabens come from either animal studies or in vitro studies—cell cultures in the lab. It’s not entirely clear how parabens affect breast cancer risk in humans. If you’re concerned, choose products labeled “paraben-free.”

Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is an alcohol that helps hair absorb and trap moisture, and can function as a solvent for other ingredients. Compared to other common ingredients, there’s not a lot of concern about toxicity or hazard for propylene glycol.

Sulfates
Often in the form of sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, sulfates give shampoo its sudsy-ness, and cut through grease and dirt. But they can also strip away natural oils in the process, which can lead to frizzy, dried-out strands, and an irritated scalp. There are not any large hazard concerns with them, but the trend seems to be to find less harsh ingredients.

Silicones
Silicones—whose names often end in –methicone or –oxane—form a waterproof coating over hair that keeps it from soaking up humidity, making them common in straightening and smoothing products. The coating also seals moisture inside the hair and makes it shiny and easier to comb. But some silicones, like dimethicone, can also cause heavy buildup that leaves strands limp and dull.

To state the obvious, whether or not you buy products with the ingredients mentioned below comes down to personal choice and how comfortable you are with the potential risks outlined. For instance, while the connections between parabens and breast cancer risk aren’t clear yet, you can choose to avoid products that contain parabens if you’re particularly concerned about them. At Legends Salon of Hillsborough, we want you to feel safe with our products. We will always disclose the ingredients and recommend products that are safe for you, your hair and the environment.

Visit or call Legends Salon of Hillsborough today!