Tricks To Grow Long Thick Hair Fastly

Want to grow out a haircut you hate or try to achieve an ass-grazing length? Read on.

1. Remember that it can't grow overnight. Unless your scalp unleashes new strands like a Chia Pet, gaining new length is going to take time. "Hair typically only grows about a quarter of an inch — to a half an inch max — a month," says celebrity hair stylist Mark Townsend, who helped Ashley Olsen grow out her asymmetric bob to past her waist. "And that's only if it is super-healthy and doesn't have a ton of split ends." The bottom line: Practice patience.

2. Use conditioner every time you shampoo. "If your hair is wet, that means you have to condition it," Townsend says. "Over time, from coloring and heat styling, strands start to get thinner at the bottom." Conditioner helps replace the lipids and proteins inside the hair shaft, "as well as seal the cuticle to help prevent more damage from happening so that you can get your hair to grow longer and look healthier," he says.

3. Apply an oil or mask treatment weekly. Hair that touches your shoulders or beyond can be several years old and most likely needs more TLC than normal conditioner. Townsend suggests using moisture-based masks and oils weekly. "I make a natural oil treatment and give it to all of my clients to use pre-shampoo," Townsend says. (His easy recipe: 1 cup of unrefined coconut oil mixed with 1 tablespoon each of almond, macadamia, and jojoba oils.) Because oils can leave a residue on hair, he says to apply it to damp hair, leave it on for 10 minutes, then shampoo and condition like normal. "These oils are able to fill strands up with fatty acids and then, when rinsed out, using regular shampoo helps seal them inside hair," Townsend says, adding that Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger, and Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen are fans. Not into DIY? Try an oil-based hair treatment instead.

4. Consider a supplement. For a boost, supplements like Viviscal "help reduce breakage and increase hydration, which is crucial to the growing process," says James Murphy, CEO of Lifes2good, which distributes Viviscal. The main ingredients are a blend of marine proteins derived from four types of fish rich in protein and amino acids. Josh has encouraged clients including celebs like Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, and Hilary Swank to try these supplements for years. "You take one in the morning and evening, and in two months your hair growth will kick in at an accelerated rate," he claims. Some derms also suggest taking a multivitamin with biotin and a fish-oil pill to make your hair stronger. We like Functionalab 08 Hair, Skin & Nails.