Whether you're casting aside your hot tools or investing in an editor-approved serum for longer, glossier lengths, it's no secret that hair growth requires dedication. From saying goodbye to a once beloved bob haircut to encouraging volume and thickness in flat, fine locks, there are plenty of reasons for wanting to grow your hair longer fast. Luckily, there's no better time than a new year to refresh your outdated hair routine and begin to implementing healthy hair habits to prevent breakage, stimulate fresh growth and see a noticeable increase in density throughout 2025.
There's a lot of misinformation surrounding hair growth (here's looking at you, social media fads), and it can be tricky to know what will actually work. We consulted experts, from trichologists to celebrity stylists to get the lowdown on their tips for growing longer, healthier hair. Ahead, we clear up some common misconceptions about hair growth, and cut to the cold hard facts.
Can You Increase How Fast Your Hair Grows?
The short answer, we're afraid, is no. You can certainly encourage growth, using some of the tips we mention below, but you can't physically increase the speed your hair grows at.
'Hair grows, on average, half an inch each month. You cannot speed this up,' says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley. 'That said, there are many factors that can prevent your hair from reaching the desired length, such as nutritional deficiencies or breakage, which can be addressed.'
Can Certain Foods Help With Hair Growth?
Diet is very important for hair growth. 'What you put in has a huge effect on what you see on the outside', says Cos Sakkas, two-time British Hairdresser of the Year. 'Choose foods that are rich in omega-3, such as fish, flaxseeds, nuts and green vegetables, and avoid processed food and anything high in sugar.'
Which Oils Stimulate Hair Growth?
Scalp oiling has been met with serious fanfare on social media for it's growth-inducing abilities - specifically, rosemary and castor oil. Though, scientifically speaking, 'there's absolutely no evidence that castor oil works, and very little evidence to support the effectivity of rosemary oil,' Kingsley clarifies. Though this isn't to say shoppers haven't found them effective.
'Oils do serve a purpose as conditioning hair treatments, though, they add shine and help to smooth the hair cuticle to lock-in moisture.'
Read on for our favourite oils to protect, nourish and encourage shiny locks.
How To Grow Your Hair Longer And Healthier In 2025
Update Your Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet is crucial to maintain optimal performance of any natural bodily function (such as, growing hair), but you can also design your diet to combat a nutritional deficiency, as Kingsley mentioned. 'One of the most common deficiencies I see that may cause hair loss in women is iron and ferritin (stored iron), which can be improved with an increased intake of red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens.'
'Also vitamin B12, which you'll find in eggs, beef, salmon, oysters, yoghurt and fortified yeast and cereals. Protein is important, as are complex carbs (that's your whole grains, potato skin, brown rice, pasta etc).'
Take A High Quality Supplement
There's no shame in getting help. Taking a supplement can help to increase your intake of certain nutrients you may struggle to get through food. Most of these handy-dandy supplements are easy to implement into your daily routine, too, so you'll actually remember to take them.
'People who are lacking certain vitamins or minerals in their diet, generally will see their hair suffer,' says trichologist Hannah Gaboardi. 'If someone’s B12 levels are low, hair follicles may not be able to grow new hair efficiently. Hair supplements help as they replace the minerals that support hair growth and heath that you may be lacking. I would always suggest taking a heavily researched, scientifically backed supplement such as the Viviscal Healthy Hair Vitamins.'
ELLE Edit: Best Hair Growth Supplements
The Nue Co. Growth Phase Hair Supplements
Philip Kingsley Density Healthy Hair Complex
Vida Glow Hairology
Minimise Stress
Easier said than done, we know, but it’s important for healthy hair growth. 'Stress is inflammatory and can negatively impact your scalp and your hair growth cycle. Not to mention, it can also worsen existing female and male pattern hair loss,' says Kingsley.
Include A Hair Growth Treatment
If there's one section of beauty that has evolved tenfold in the last five years, it's the impressive offering of high-performance hair growth treatments. As avid haircare testers, the ELLE UK beauty team are no strangers to wild promises and lacklustre results, but future-facing formulas and modern textures have tipped these expectations on their heads.
'If you’re experiencing hair shedding, or you simply want to support your hair growth cycle, use topical scalp drops that help minimise hair shedding,' advises Kingsley. 'Our Density Preserving Scalp Drops are clinically proven to reduce hair fall and slow hair loss. If you have female or male pattern hair loss, topical scalp drops containing Minoxidil are very effective. Our prescription-only Clinic drops contain Minoxidil, as well as hair supportive hormones.'
ELLE Edit: Best Hair Growth Treatments
Philip Kingsley Density Preserving Scalp Drops
Chāmpo Pitta Growth Serum
Kérastase Genesis Serum Anti-Chute Fortifiant
Living Proof Scalp Care Density Serum
Step Up Your Scalp Care
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 - dry shampoo and volumising powders are common culprits.
'Healthy hair growth starts with a healthy scalp. Think of your scalp as the soil for your hair, it needs nourishment and care,' explains Fable & Mane co-founders, Akash and Nikita Mehta, who recommend scalp oiling as one method of fortify your roots.
If your scalp is the gateway to healthy hair, it makes sense that exfoliating it helps promote growth, too. Use a clarifying shampoo or a scalp scrub once a week to thoroughly cleanse and remove excess sebum from follicles – as well as the product build-up mentioned above. It may also be worth exploring the world of scalp serums to target specific concerns, such as dryness and flaking.
Try A Scalp Massage
Massage stimulates blood circulation, supporting the tiny blood vessels that feed the hair follicles. Gentle pulling of the hair (so you feel tension, not pain) and doing a rhythmic tapping technique are two massage methods to try yourself. Alternatively book in for a professional Indian head massage – stress-relief can help your hair grow too!
Take A Break From Heated Tools
Most styling tools are cranked far hotter than the hair really needs. Do your strands a favour and use a low to medium heat setting when you blow dry and hold your dryer at least six inches away from your hair to prevent heat-damage on the scalp. And, we hope it goes without saying, use heat-protection every time you style.
Over-shampooing (daily, that is) can compromise the scalp's natural essential oils that stimulate growth, but it is important to keep the scalp clean and healthy. We recommend a happy medium of two to three times a week.
Be mindful of treating the hair like fabric, it's incredibly delicate. Brush the hair gently (work upwards from the ends to the root) with a smooth-pronged brush, towel dry lightly with a microfibre towel, and reduce styling where you can. Regularly backcombing, brushing and chemically processing the hair can leave it brittle, appearing to shorten the length from the bottom-up when it breaks.
Invest In A Silk Pillowcase
If your morning routine consists of brush tugging and detangling, a silk pillowcase could the answer to your hair breakage woes. The added slip prevents the hair of restless sleepers from knotting, twisting and catching as it would on more textured fabrics, like cotton and linen.
Additionally, avoid tight hairstyles when you go to bed. We all want to tong and straighten our hair to smooth and bouncy lushness but treat your ends to a day off once a week and they'll thank you. Instead, try a protective hairstyle like a loose plait to keep lengths safe from environmental aggressors.
'Avoid pulling hair into a tight ponytail, you don't want to add any stress to your roots while trying to grow your hair', Cos explains. 'Never wear your hair up in the same hairstyle two days in a row; after wearing it in a ponytail, try a soft knot at the nape using a soft hair tie.'
Swap Out Your Hairbands
Another common cause of hair breakage is the humble 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. The wrong band can snag and damage strands, so pick the right type and keep them loose. Hair authority Mark Hill recommends bands without metal fasteners as these are the worst offenders, or you could try the Slip Pure Silk Skinny Scrunchies, because the soft material used puts less stress on your strands.
Address Hair Breakage
Regular hair cuts are an absolute must. Not because cutting your hair makes it grow faster – sadly that's a myth, 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 kind of speeding things up.
Oil Your Hair Once A Week
As previously mentioned, including a nourishing, glossing hair oil to your weekly routine is the perfect way to enhance your strands' shine and strength.
'Oiling is my go-to recommendation for 2025,' says professional hairstylist Adam Reed. 'While you can do it anytime, I suggest once a week for simplicity. Before washing, use a good brush to work your favourite oil through your hair. This helps soften strands, maintain elasticity, and promotes a healthy scalp, healthy hair, shine, in turn leading to consistent hair growth.'
ELLE Edit: Best Hair Oil
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Oil
Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Frizz Reduction and Heat Protection Hair Oil
Arkive Headcare The Good Habit Hybrid Oil
Filter Out Hard Water
Not only does hard water affect our skin, but the minerals deposited also alter our hair, leaving strands dry, dull and prone to split ends. 'Hard water penetrates the hair and deposits its minerals within the hair structure,' says Gaboardi. 'This can prevent moisture from getting into your hair over time – meaning those with more porous textures (like colour-treated or curly and frizz-prone hair) will suffer the most.'
'I would recommend investing in a good shower filter head. The filter helps prevent the water deposits from reaching your scalp and hair. They also remove impurities from your shower water such as chlorin and bacteria.'
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
Chloe Woodland is the Group Beauty Assistant at , , and , working across print and digital features. She’s worked in the industry for two years, beginning her career writing for trade publications and Professional Beauty. When she’s not demystifying the science behind growing your hair, gathering the best make-up products of all time or investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, you’ll most likely find her rewatching Modern Family for the thousandth time or trying to tame her two working cockers (who’ve never worked a day in their lives).
