How to Grow Your Hair Out Faster: Tips That Actually Work

There are many scenarios where you might be eager to learn how to grow hair faster. Perhaps you’ve just gone for a dramatic chop and already have cold feet, or longer locks are simply the latest style you are keen to follow.

With our haircare expertise, we know just the remedy. However, knowing how to grow out your hair is just the start. After all, it can take a while, and you don’t want your hair looking like a work-in-progress in the meantime.

That’s where hair extensions come in, providing an easy and practical solution. Adding clip-ins can buy you valuable time during the grow-out phase.

So, with no further ado, here’s how to make hair grow faster.

How Fast Does Hair Actually Grow?

The Average Hair Growth Rate

On average, our hair grows about half an inch (1.25cm) every month; that’s roughly six inches a year. To put this in visual context, it would take you about 12 to 18 months to grow out a pixie cut reaching your shoulders.

How long would you have to wait for a lob, or hair that reaches your mid-back? Here’s a simple stage-by-stage timeline:

• Pixie to lob (18 months)
• Lob to mid-back (about 2 years)

Still, these are only general guidelines; how fast hair really grows depends on various factors.

Here, then, are five things to know when trying to grow your hair.

What Affects Your Hair Growth Rate?

How quickly does hair grow? Although genetics, age and hormones all play a part, there’s a lot that is well within your control.

The growth rate of your hair will depend on its condition. If, for instance, your hair is healthy and receives enough nutrients, it will grow at the normal rate.

Meanwhile, hair that’s dry, damaged or in bad condition may take longer, as it’s weaker and more prone to breakage.

How to Grow Hair Faster Naturally

Start With Your Scalp

Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s crucial! The most effective hair growth treatment is just some good ol’ TLC. At the same time, it’s not just the obvious stuff, like eating healthily (although we’ll come to that at some point).

For example, you should be careful not to overlook the importance of scalp health for hair growth. A healthy scalp makes for a healthy growth environment. So, how can you keep your scalp in good nick?

Start with a regular scalp massage. Just one five-minute session every day will keep your scalp clean. If your noggin often itches like crazy, scalp exfoliation is a technique worth trying. Growing out hair isn’t so easy when there’s grease and dandruff in the way, but our haircare range can banish those pesky speed bumps.

Eat and Drink Well

Stocking up on protein isn’t just for gym bunnies. It’s also good for your hair. Make sure you’re getting enough protein and iron, not to mention ticking all the vitamin boxes.

Some people find biotin helpful, though it mainly makes a difference if you’re low on it. Good hydration also bodes well for hair health, so it’s important to drink enough water to keep your fluids up.

Trim Regularly (Yes, Really)

Yes, we know this sounds silly, but it really does work. The reason why is that when you leave your hair growing for a while, it can develop splits that travel up the shaft. As a result, this hair can break more easily and lose its length.

How often you ought to trim your hair when growing it out is still up for debate in the hair world. We recommend having a couple of centimetres taken off every 8 to 12 weeks.

Rest assured that you won’t be losing length here; you’ll be protecting it. The idea is to remove any dead or split ends to prevent your hair from snapping later down the line. It won’t make your hair grow faster from the root, but it does stop split ends travelling up the shaft, so you keep more of the length you grow.

Be careful not to fall for myths! Here are five things to know when growing your hair.

Protect It from Damage

Prevention is better than cure, so the saying goes. It’s certainly one of the best hair growth tips!

Given how exposed your hair is to the elements, it can be tricky to avoid inadvertently damaging it. However, there are a few no-nos (and yeah-yeahs) to follow when you’re trying to figure out how to grow hair faster.

Avoid using heat and chemicals on your hair while it’s growing out. This includes bleaching and other harsh chemical processes. Heat and strong chemicals like bleach or dye weaken the hair and cause breakage, which is the last thing you want while growing it out.

What can you do instead? Pick up some sulphate-free shampoo. Building up a lather with this helps your hair hold on to moisture, so it stays stronger and less prone to breakage while it grows. If you really must use heat on the hair, apply heat protection spray beforehand.

This is all good stuff to do during the day, but your haircare regime doesn’t stop at night. As you settle down to sleep, loosen your hairstyle and rest your head on a silk pillowcase. That way, you will be all set right through to dawn.

How to Grow Out Short Hair

Growing Out a Pixie Cut

Many of us are familiar with the awkward stage of growing out a pixie cut. Even in the first three months of growth, your fluffy hair can start looking like a dreaded ‘90s-style mullet.

You need to know how to grow out the awkward stage with dignity. Stray bits of hanging hair can be swept to the side in layers, while accessories like bobby pins, headbands and hats can also take up much of the slack.

Your hair should reach bob-length at the six-month mark, enabling you to add clip-in hair extensions as well. You won’t get a lob until 12 to 18 months after you started growing out your pixie cut, but these extensions will give you that look in the meantime.

Growing Out a Bob or Lob

Even if you have a bob, you might still want to know how to grow your hair longer. How long? Perhaps until it reaches the collarbone. This chic haircut suits a wide range of face shapes while also being easy to maintain on a day-to-day basis.

The only problem is that it can take six months for a bob to grow into a collarbone lob. In the meantime, add long layers to reduce the unsightly “shelf”. It’s also worth trying low-bun, half-up and tuck-and-pin hairstyles, with claw clips potentially coming in useful.

Growing Out a Fringe

Growing out a fringe is its own challenge, as you’ve got a lot less hair at the front than at the back. However, you can still sweep the fringe to the side and tuck strands of it behind the ear.

Later down the line, stick in a few bobby pins or slip on a headband to pin back stray fringe hairs. Hit the link to see how else you can grow out your fringe in style.

How to Style Short Hair While It’s Growing Out

Work With Texture, Not Against It

You don’t need to hide your hair’s natural texture. In fact, it’s better to accentuate it, as this makes the awkward stage of the grow-out far easier.

Got wavy hair? After washing it, scrunch it gently with a towel and let it air dry. Applying a curl cream or sea-salt spray can also further enhance the wavy effect. Waves and other hair textures, like curls and coils, disguise uneven lengths well.

Hair Accessories That Help

It’s worth having a wide array of hair accessories close at hand, such as claw clips, scrunchies and silk headbands. These aren’t just on-trend; they’re also of genuine practical use while you’re waiting for your hair to grow out.

For example, they enable you to easily try out a wide range of hairstyles. Half-up, half-down styles are especially useful from bob length onwards.

If you’re trying to grow out a graduated bob, consider tape-in extensions. As these are placed in rows and lay totally flat against the head, they can completely disguise any chunky layers underneath.

Braids at Every Stage

It can be tricky to know how to style short hair growing out if it’s still only three or four inches. That’s long enough to get in the way, but still too short for a hairband or clip.

Fortunately, that kind of length does provide just enough grip for braids. French braids, boxer braids and Dutch braids all work on shorter lengths.

Use Hair Extensions While You Wait

Clip-In Extensions for Instant Length

You can turn to clip-in hair extensions while growing hair from bob-length (about four inches). These add immediate length and volume without commitment. Exactly because they’re temporary, you can use clip-ins for the growing-out stage when your natural length is changing. If you have fine hair, we recommend ultra-volume clip-ins.

Always look for clip-ins made from 100% Remy human hair. These will blend in naturally with your own hair and can be heat-styled to match it. Just remember to apply a heat protection spray first to prevent accidental damage.

Halo Extensions – Zero Commitment, Maximum Length

Clip-ins certainly aren’t your only option when it comes to hair extensions. Halo hair extensions can also be ideal during grow-out. You can easily attach and detach them without fuss, or even clips! That means they can be on and off in seconds.

This makes halo hair pieces ideal for events and occasions when you’re looking to instantly switch up your look. Fancy one hairstyle for a birthday and something entirely different come Christmas? You can easily sweep through a range of options.

Halo extensions are available in many different hues. Our team of hair extension experts can help you choose the right ones for your aesthetic needs. Our free express colour match service enables you to find your shade with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow your hair out?

About six inches per year on average. A pixie cut takes 12 to 18 months to reach the shoulders. If you’re looking to grow out a lob, you’ll have to wait roughly two years for your hair to reach the middle of your back.

How can I make my hair grow faster?

Good scalp health, a protein-rich diet, and trims every eight to 12 weeks are all key. You can look after your scalp by having it regularly massaged and exfoliated. Also, avoid damaging your hair with harsh chemicals or excessive heat.

Does cutting your hair make it grow faster?

Ironically, yes. Cutting your hair doesn’t affect its growth rate at the root (this is a common myth), but it does remove splits that cause breakage.

So, if you want to know how to make hair grow faster in the longer term, through better length retention rather than quicker root growth, getting it trimmed every eight to 12 weeks is the way to go.

What is the awkward stage when growing hair out?

Typically three to six months down the line when growing from a pixie cut. The awkward stage is when the hair sits around the ears and neck. However, you can style it in various ways, such as by sweeping it to the side or pinning it back with hairpins or a hairband.

Can I use hair extensions while growing my hair out?

Yes! Clip-in and halo extensions work well once your hair has reached bob length. These temporary hair pieces are non-damaging and give you extra length straight away while your natural hair catches up. Want to leave your extensions in for several weeks or months at a time? Consider permanent hair extensions.

Looking for flawless, salon-worthy hair without breaking the bank? At Cliphair, we’ve got you covered with luxurious clip in hair extensions for quick transformations and permanent hair extensions for long-lasting glam. Extensions require special care and maintenance to preserve their quality, which is why we have all the  top-notch hydrating haircare products needed to keep your style on point.

Need the perfect shade? Browse our full range of human hair extensions in over 70 rich, silky shades or check out our FREE Express Colour Match Service to ensure a seamless blend every time.