Do you ever feel like your hair just refuses to grow, no matter how patient you are? You’re definitely not alone! Many of our lovely clients at Lacy Locks come to us asking how they can grow their hair faster or get it looking thicker and healthier. Whether you’re trying to grow out a short cut, recover from damage, or simply want to achieve longer, fuller locks, understanding how hair growth really works is the first step.
The good news? While you can’t completely change your genetics, there are lots of ways to naturally support your hair’s growth cycle and help it reach its fullest potential. From nourishing your body with the right vitamins to using hair-friendly oils and caring for your scalp, small, consistent habits can make a big difference over time.
Let’s dive into what affects how fast your hair grows — and what you can do to help it along.
Our Top Tips to Make Hair Grow Faster
If you’ve ever wished your hair would grow just a little bit quicker, you’re definitely not alone! Whether you’re recovering from a haircut that went a bit too short, dealing with thinning or breakage, or simply dreaming of longer, healthier locks, there are plenty of ways to encourage your hair to reach its full potential.
At Lacy Locks, an established hair extension salon in Milton Keynes, we’ve spent years helping clients transform their look and regain confidence through expert styling, premium extensions, and personalised hair care advice. While our gorgeous extensions offer instant length and volume, we also love empowering clients to improve their natural growth journey with healthy habits, nourishing products, and professional treatments.
In this guide, we’re sharing our top tips to make your hair grow faster — from nutrition and vitamins to oils, scalp care, and salon secrets — so you can enjoy strong, shiny, and beautifully healthy hair, naturally.
Here’s what we’ll cover to help you understand and support your hair’s natural growth cycle:
- How fast does hair grow?
- Why isn’t my hair growing?
- How to make your hair grow faster
- Vitamins to increase hair growth
- Hair oils for growth
- Top foods for hair growth
- How to get thicker hair
- Anagen (growth phase): This is when the hair actively grows, lasting anywhere from two to seven years.
- Catagen (transition phase): A short, two-week stage when the hair follicle begins to shrink.
- Telogen (resting phase): The hair stops growing and eventually sheds, making room for new growth.
- Genetics: Your genes largely determine your hair’s growth rate and density. According to research published by Live Science, the structure of your hair follicles and the duration of your growth phase are inherited, which means some people naturally grow hair faster than others.
- Ethnicity: Different hair types grow at slightly different rates. Studies show that hair of Asian descent often grows faster and straighter, while hair of African descent tends to grow slower but has tighter curl patterns. As found by Oxford Academic.
- Age: Hair growth tends to slow down as we get older, and it’s also common for the strands to become thinner or more brittle over time.
- Hormones: Hormonal changes can have a big impact on hair growth. For example, many women notice their hair becomes thicker and fuller during pregnancy due to higher oestrogen levels, while others experience postpartum shedding or thinning during menopause when hormones fluctuate.
- Nutrition: Your hair is made up of protein (keratin), so a lack of nutrients — particularly protein, iron, and certain vitamins — can cause slower growth or even shedding.
- Health and Stress: Stress, illness, and certain medications can disrupt your hair’s natural cycle, pushing follicles prematurely into the resting phase. Chronic stress can also reduce blood flow to the scalp, which affects how nutrients reach your hair roots.
- Breakage and split ends: When your hair becomes dry, brittle, or over-processed, it can start to snap off from the ends. This gives the illusion that it’s not growing, even though new growth is happening at the roots.
- Overuse of heat and chemicals: Frequent use of straighteners, curling irons, bleach, or chemical relaxers can weaken the hair shaft and lead to damage over time.
- Poor scalp health: A congested or inflamed scalp can block follicles and prevent new hair from growing properly. Regular cleansing and gentle scalp massages can make a huge difference.
- Nutrient deficiencies: If your diet lacks essential vitamins, minerals, and protein, your body will prioritise vital organs over hair growth. Nutritional balance is key to healthy hair.
- Stress and hormonal changes: Stress and hormonal imbalances (like those that occur during postpartum recovery or menopause) can interrupt your natural growth cycle and cause temporary shedding.
- Lack of trims: It might sound counterintuitive, but skipping trims allows split ends to travel up the hair shaft, leading to more breakage overall.
- Biotin (Vitamin B7): Strengthens hair and promotes growth.
- Vitamin D: Helps create new hair follicles and may prevent hair thinning.
- Vitamin E: An antioxidant that supports scalp health and improves circulation.
- Vitamin A: Encourages sebum production for a healthy scalp (but avoid too much, as excess can cause hair loss).
- Vitamin C: Helps your body absorb iron and supports collagen production.
- Iron: Prevents hair shedding caused by iron deficiency.
- Zinc: Helps repair damaged hair and supports follicle health.
- Folic Acid: Aids in cell regeneration for faster hair growth.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Nourish the hair shaft and keep your scalp hydrated.
- Rosemary oil: Known to stimulate hair follicles and improve thickness — a natural alternative to minoxidil (the ingredient in many hair growth products).
- Tea tree oil: Helps maintain a clean, balanced scalp and fights dandruff.
- Argan oil: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, it deeply hydrates and smooths hair.
- Almond oil: Strengthens hair and adds shine.
- Castor oil: A thicker oil that’s perfect for sealing moisture and encouraging growth.
- Coconut oil: Excellent for reducing protein loss in hair and preventing breakage.
- Cedarwood oil: Believed to balance scalp oils and support hair follicle health.
- Clary sage: Promotes stronger strands and supports natural growth.
- Grapeseed oil: Lightweight and rich in linoleic acid for scalp nourishment.
- Fatty Fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines): Packed with omega-3 fatty acids to nourish follicles.
- Eggs: A brilliant source of protein and biotin, two key nutrients for hair strength.
- Nuts and Seeds: Contain vitamin E, zinc, and healthy fats that promote growth.
- Leafy Greens (spinach, kale): Provide iron, folate, and vitamins A and C for scalp health.
- Berries: Loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C to support collagen production.
- Sweet Potatoes: Contain beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A and helps keep your hair hydrated.
- Avocados: Rich in healthy fats and vitamin E for smooth, shiny hair.
- Choose Strengthening Products: When choosing your haircare, look for strengthening shampoos and conditioners packed with ingredients like biotin, keratin, or collagen. These help fortify the hair shaft, making each strand feel thicker and more resilient. Avoid harsh sulphates and always use a heat protectant before blow-drying or styling to prevent unnecessary damage. A highly recommended brand is Hair Burst.
- Regular Trims Make a Difference: Although trimming might sound counterproductive when you’re trying to grow thicker hair, removing split ends actually prevents breakage and helps your hair look fuller overall. A small trim every 6–8 weeks keeps your ends healthy and your style looking polished. Book in with us today for a breakage preventing trim!
- Avoid Overwashing and Overstyling: Washing your hair too frequently can strip away natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. Try washing every few days and opt for gentle, hydrating formulas. Likewise, go easy on heat styling — frequent use of straighteners or curling wands can thin and weaken your strands over time.
- Professional Treatments and Hair Extensions: If you’re looking for an instant boost in volume, professional treatments or extensions can help while you continue to improve your natural growth. At Lacy Locks, our specialists fit premium hair extensions in Milton Keynes.
- Feed your hair from the inside out with vitamins and nutrient-rich foods.
- Keep your scalp clean and stimulated with regular massages and natural oils.
- Avoid over-processing or excessive heat styling.
- Get regular trims to maintain healthy ends.
- Protect your hair while it grows — whether through gentle styles, silk pillowcases, or professional extensions.

How Fast Does Hair Grow?
On average, hair grows around half an inch per month, or roughly six inches per year. That might not sound like much, but it’s actually quite consistent — provided your hair and scalp are healthy. Of course, this is only an average, and growth rates can vary from person to person, depending on factors such as genetics, age, hormones, nutrition, and lifestyle.
Hair growth happens in three main phases:
Factors That Influence Hair Growth Rate
There are many reasons why one person’s hair might grow faster than another’s — and not all of them are within your control! Here are some of the biggest factors that play a role:
If you’re noticing slower growth or excessive shedding, it’s worth speaking to a professional stylist or even your GP to make sure there’s no underlying issue.
For a more in depth dive of all the factors that affect hair growth, take a look at Live Science.
Why isn’t my hair growing?
If it feels like your hair just won’t grow past a certain length, don’t worry — it’s usually not that your hair isn’t growing at all, but rather that it’s breaking as quickly as it grows.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your hair might not seem to be growing:
If you’re struggling with slow or stalled hair growth, a professional stylist can help assess your hair’s health and recommend the right treatments. At Lacy Locks, we offer expert consultations and premium hair extensions in Milton Keynes – book in today and receive personalised service that’s completely tailored to you, your hair type and concern.

How to Make Your Hair Grow faster
If you want to encourage faster, healthier hair growth, the secret lies in supporting both your body and your hair. That means nourishing your scalp from the inside out while treating your strands with care.
Here are some key tips to help boost growth naturally:
Maintain a balanced diet
Your hair thrives on nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and healthy fats.
Manage stress
Stress can cause hormonal imbalances that slow down or even stop hair growth. Simple relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or regular exercise can make a real difference.
Take care of your scalp
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Try gentle scalp massages to boost blood circulation and stimulate your follicles. You can even use nourishing oils such as rosemary or argan oil to make it more effective.
Avoid harsh treatments
Repeated use of heat styling, bleaching, and chemical processing can weaken your hair and slow its growth. Opt for gentle styling and always use a heat protectant spray.
Get regular trims
It might sound counterintuitive, but trimming your hair every 8–12 weeks helps prevent split ends and breakage, which means your hair can actually grow longer and look healthier overall.
Consider professional treatments
At Lacy Locks, our expert stylists offer treatments, advice, hair extensions in Milton Keynes and are always more than happy to help you with any hair-related queries – give us a call to arrange an appointment!
Vitamins to Increase Hair Growth
Vitamins and minerals play an essential role in supporting hair growth and strength. While a balanced diet is the best foundation, certain nutrients are particularly beneficial for your hair.
If you’re looking for a supplement, brands like Regal Envy offer gummies packed with biotin, which is perfect for hair, skin and nails, or for other options that combine many of these essential nutrients, specialist stores like Holland and Barrett have a range of multivitamins to help cover a wider range of your daily and personal needs. Always speak to your GP before starting a new supplement routine to ensure it’s suitable for you.
Hair Oils for Growth
Using the right oils can make a noticeable difference in your hair’s condition and growth rate. Oils nourish the scalp, strengthen the strands, and lock in moisture — all of which create the ideal environment for new growth.
Here are some of our favourite oils that promote healthy hair:
If you’re searching for a professional-quality product, Regal Envy Argan Oil Treatment is one of our top recommendations. As one of Lacy Locks’ trusted partners, Regal Envy’s oil delivers deep hydration and shine without weighing your hair down — ideal for both natural hair and extensions.

Top Foods for Hair Growth
You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat,” and when it comes to your hair, that couldn’t be more true! A nutrient-rich diet supports strong, shiny strands and faster growth.
Here are some of the best foods to include in your weekly meals:
Staying hydrated is equally important. Aim to drink plenty of water each day — dehydration can lead to dry, brittle strands that break before they get a chance to grow.
For recipe inspiration, websites like Revital Trichology offer plenty of healthy meal ideas focused on hair and skin nutrition — perfect if you’re trying to improve your diet for beauty benefits.
How to get thicker hair
If your hair feels a little on the fine side or you’ve noticed it’s lost some of its fullness over time, don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to help bring back that bounce and body. Thicker hair isn’t just about genetics; it’s often about how you care for your scalp, nourish your body, and protect your strands from everyday stress.
At Lacy Locks, we see many clients who assume thin hair is something they simply have to live with, but that’s far from the truth. With the right combination of nutrition, targeted treatments, and professional care, you can absolutely improve the strength and density of your natural hair.
Your Hair Growth Journey Starts Now
Growing your hair longer is one thing, but achieving thicker, fuller locks is often the real goal. The secret lies in balancing nutrition, gentle hair care, and professional support.
To summarise everything we’ve covered:
At Lacy Locks, we’ve seen time and time again how the right approach can completely transform someone’s hair health. For those seeking an instant boost in confidence while working on their natural growth, our hair extension salon in Milton Keynes.
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