How To Have Long Hair For Your Wedding

Is it possible to ‘help’ my hair to grow? 

“Most definitely,” says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and owner of Philip Kingsley. “Taking a holistic approach that promotes healthy hair growth from an internal as well as external standpoint is the most effective way to improve hair growth. Use strengthening and hydrating products to improve the actual condition and integrity of your strands and your scalp (the bedrock of your hair follicles). Optimising your diet and stress levels will also give hair growth a boost from within.”

“It’s certainly possible to help your hair to grow longer,” says Centred creative director and hair stylist Kieran Tudor. “The key is to maximise its potential. Many factors are responsible for how well your hair grows including genetics, lifestyle, diet, hormones, medication and the environment. Some of these factors are easier to address than others, but even when it comes to genetics or hormone levels, you can make changes to your routine to maximise this.

“It’s also important to know hair grows in cycles – the anagen stage is when each individual hair follicle is actively producing hair. Next is the catagen stage, which is when the follicle enters a resting phase, where it detaches from its blood supply meaning it’s not actively growing anymore. The final stage is the telogen stage, or the shedding stage, in which the follicle sheds the old hair as a new strand begins its journey in its place, beginning the anagen stage all over again."
 

Is there anything you can do to tackle extreme hair loss?

“If you have concerning hair loss, and you can’t make it to see a specialist, there are some simple steps to take to get growth back on track,” advises Anabel. Here are four:

• Take care of your scalp – it’s your hair’s support system. Start treating your hair and scalp with the same care as you do your face, and you will most certainly see an improvement in its strength and condition. A healthy scalp promotes healthy hair growth – and, in fact, a flaky scalp can cause hair loss. Cleanse (i.e. shampoo) regularly, tone daily and use a targeted scalp mask once a week to address any concerns.

• Eat well. Hair growth depends on nutrition. The reason for this is that, because hair is not an essential tissue, it’s one of the last parts to receive any nutrients. This means any nutritional deficiency, even a small one, can negatively impact your hair – and long before it affects your general health. Eating at least a palm sized portion of protein (what your hair is made of), and a serving of complex carbohydrates (which provide your strands with the energy they need to grow) at breakfast and lunch will really help your hair grow longer. Iron is also essential because ferritin is crucial to produce the protein your hair is made of.  

• Ask your doctor for blood tests. This will reveal any underlying vitamin and mineral deficiencies or imbalances that may be contributing to your hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies are a very common cause of hair loss and the growth of poor-quality hair – the most common being iron, ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiency. Based on your results, make appropriate changes to your diet and take a relevant multi-vitamin.

• Be kind to your hair. Unlike your skin, your strands don’t regenerate themselves if they are damaged, nicked or scratched. So, be careful when you style, brush, detangle, and shampoo. Also, towel-dry gently; roughly rubbing your hair can cause split-ends and breakage. Try to use a soft, microfibre towel instead.
   

 What are the some of the main dos and don’ts ahead of the wedding? 

“First, do not crash diet leading up to your wedding,” advises Anabel. “Rapid weight loss almost always causes hair to shed in excess 6-12 weeks later; and one thing you certainly don’t want before your wedding day or on your honeymoon is a distressing amount of hair loss.

“Leading up to your wedding, eat a healthy, balanced diet and don’t skip meals. Hair is the first part of us to suffer when we’re not eating regularly. As mentioned before, try to include at least a palm-sized portion of protein with your breakfast and lunch. Great options are eggs, fish, lean meat, low-fat cottage cheese, and quinoa. To give your hair an extra daily boost of protein, try taking a protein supplement. Due to your hair’s unique nutritional needs, it can be difficult to meet its requirements through diet alone. Also, try taking Biotin as it helps your body to break down protein in the foods you eat.

“Include a portion of a complex carbohydrate, such as wholewheat toast, brown rice, potatoes or pasta with each meal. Carbohydrates provide your hair with the energy it needs to grow. Hair cells are the second fastest growing cells the body produces, meaning they are very hungry. Also, try to eat iron-rich foods, such as steak, dark leafy greens, dried apricots and beetroot. 

“Strengthen your hair with a weekly moisturising pre-shampoo mask. Our pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, Elasticzer, adds strength, bounce and shine to strands. Try to limit your use of hair straighteners and high-heat styling tools as much as possible. They can cause a lot of breakage, which will affect the fullness of your mid-lengths and ends. When you do heat-style, use a good heat protection product, too.”
 

Are there any cutting or colouring tips which could help stimulate growth?   

“Start by trimming off all your split ends,” says Rianna Henry, GHD hairstylist. “If you have colour, make sure it’s applied by a professional to ensure your hair is not being over-processed, and always use the right aftercare products to keep your hair in great condition. The environment and weather are also a big part of growing hair longer. In winter months, keep hair well moisturised with hydrating masks. In the summer months find a product that has UV protectant. Most importantly – use a silk pillowcase. Hair rubs against cotton causing friction and breakage, but with a silk pillowcase your hair can glide against the silk.”

“Schedule to have a trim every 10-12 weeks, which will allow for better growth while also getting your hairdresser to take the very minimum off – just to seal the ends and stop the hair from splitting,” adds Kieran. “This should allow for four trims in the year with the last one a few weeks before the big day.”
 

There’s a year to go until the wedding – what do you advise?

“If you have 12 months and you’re hoping to grow your hair as long as possible, then there’s plenty of time,” advises Kieran. “It varies from person to person but you can expect to add between five and ten inches of length over a year. During this time, take a course of at least three months-worth of hair growth supplements along with a weekly scalp massage using our En Root Scalp Treatment.