How to Grow Hair Faster: 13 Top Tips for Longer Bridal Hair

If you’re dreaming of Rapunzel-length locks for your wedding hairstyle, but you’re currently a long way off, we’ve got good news for you - there are a few failsafe ways to encourage your hair to grow faster and stronger.

The first thing you need to know is that nothing applied topically to your hair will make it grow. Even those hair masks that say they’re for hair growth won’t make a difference to the length of your hair (sorry!).

While they will condition your existing mane, making it look healthier and shinier and stopping it from splitting, they won’t make a difference to the length.  

“There is nothing you can do to speed up hair growth,” confirms trichologist Anabel Kingsley. “However, it’s very common for hair not to grow as well as it’s capable of and for it to fall out before it reaches the length it ought to.” 

Not to worry though; there are supplements you can take to support hair growth, and ways to look after your hair to get maximum length in minimum time. 

Here’s your expert-approved kit and foolproof advice for growing your hair longer for your wedding.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Bridal Beauty Countdown

How to Grow Hair Faster

1. Take a Hair Supplement

Topical products might promise to make your hair grow longer, but anything applied to hair that's already grown from your scalp won't make a difference to the new hair growing. 

Something that genuinely can help though, is hair supplements - if you pick the right ones. Unlike hair products, hair supplements won't have any impact on your existing hair, instead, they improve the health of the hairs that are in the growth stage. With this in mind, you should see results from taking hair supplements in about three months, but stick with them for six months for the best results. Better still, start stocking up as soon as you’re engaged. 

The main ingredient to look for in hair supplements is biotin. It helps the body create keratin, which is the protein most of your hair is made of. 

We recommend beauty-editor approved Hair Gain Gummies, £25.45 for 60 . Not only do they taste of apple (delicious) we're yet to meet a beauty editor who doesn't swear by them. They contain 400% of your daily recommended amount of biotin, as well as 100% of your recommended zinc, B3 and vitamin C, all of which are known to support hair growth. The secret ingredient that these have that other hair supplements are missing is pea shoot powder. This ingredient supports the hair in the new hair growth stage, so your hair will begin to look fuller. 

If you don’t like gummies, Hair Gain also comes in capsules, with the exact same formula inside, costing £29.70 for 60 capsules. 

Another hair supplement we've tried, tested and recommend is JS Health's Hair + Energy capsules, £20 for 30 capsules. They include kelp which promotes growth factors connected to the hair cycle, and Rochelle Humes credits these with getting her hair back to its best after suffering from postpartum hair loss.

 Another The Saturdays star who loves JS Health’s hair supplements capsules is Mollie King, who is currently planning her own wedding and taking the supplements to support her hair, shouting them out on Instagram. The fact that they contain energy-supporting ingredients is a plus too, as we all know how tiring wedding planning can be! 

2. Get Regular Trims

Yep, your mum was right all those years ago, after all. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if you want long and healthy hair then you’ll need to get the chop every couple of months.

Technically, the trims themselves don’t make your hair grow any faster, but what they do is get rid of split ends which hinder growth. Anabel explains: “Having a trim gets rid of split ends, and so prevents them from splitting further up the hair shaft. It can also make the ends appear healthier, thicker and bulkier.”

If you don’t already pop to your hairdresser for regular trims, we’d recommend you start doing so at least six months before your wedding day. You’ll then want to go once every six weeks until the big day (and beyond).

READ MORE: How to Fix a Broken Nail

3. Eat the Right Foods

Of course, your bathroom cabinet is a good place to start when it comes to growing your hair, but it’s not the only area that deserves a bit of a refresh. Pay attention to what’s on your plate and your hair could really reap the benefits.

According to Anabel, your hair cells are the second fastest growing cells the body produces, meaning they have high nutrient requirements to stay healthy.

First up in the shine-delivering stakes are vitamins A, B and C. Luckily, they’re super easy to include in your everyday diet.

Add carrots, spinach and kale to your salad and use sweet potatoes as a side dish – they all contain beta carotene, which converts into Vitamin A. Vitamin A improves a dry scalp, thickens hair and gives it a healthy shine.

Vitamin B can be found in egg yolks and bananas, while vitamin C is found in spinach, blueberries, kiwis, oranges and broccoli. You might also want to up your Omega 3 intake (oily fish, walnuts and chia seeds – we’re looking at you), consume enough protein and ensure your diet is equally iron-rich.

READ MORE: What to Eat for Breakfast on Your Wedding Morning

4. Use a Heat Protection Spray

Put the hot styling tools down for a second – we beg you. Hair straightening, endless blow-drying and those fabulous (yet oh-so damaging) curling tongs don’t do anything to help in the quest to long locks.

The healthier and more moisturised your hair is, the longer it will grow, so cut down on heat styling as much as you can – even if that’s just for a few weeks ahead of your wedding!

If parting ways with your trusty hair straighteners just isn’t an option, use a heat protection spray. Every. Single. Time. Anabel said: “Heat protectants form a protective barrier between your hair shaft and heat from styling aids. Keep in mind that protective products only minimize damage, they don’t 100% prevent it – so you still need to be careful!”

We never dry our hair without first using Pureology’s Colour Fanatic Spray, £20.10, which detangles, protects and strengthens in one spritz, helping hair become stronger and stay long.

We’ve also recently added It’s A 10’s Miracle Blow Dry H20 Shield, £22, to our haircare regime. The brand, which hails from the US, is named ‘It’s A 10’ because every product, from shampoo to mask to blow dry cream, does ten things. This one detangles, sustains hair strength, repels water and gives shines, among other powers.

It creates a shield over your hair, sort of like a top coat, to seal out water and keep frizz at bay, all the while protecting it. It's an ultra-fine spray that mists over the hair without weighing it down. 

If you can’t resist using heat tools (we’re guilty of it too!) look for a tong that cares for your hair. GHD’s Platinum+ Styler, £219, is designed to control the heat of the plates and predict your personal hair needs. This technology means that the plates read your hair 250 times a second to ensure you receive the perfect amount of power for your hair, limiting damage. 

T3’s Lucea ID Straightener, £200, is super high tech too. You can alter the settings to suit your hair thickness, condition and texture so it delivers the exact right temperature so as not to scorch your tresses. 

READ MORE: 52 Wedding Hairstyles That Are Easy to Master

5. Avoid Daily Washes

Contrary to popular belief, daily hair washes aren’t actually beneficial if you want to grow your hair out quickly. In the run up to your wedding day, try and wash your hair a maximum of twice or three times a week only.

Shampoo aims to wash away dirt, grease and product build-up, but most shampoos are jam-packed full of sulphates which strip away your hair’s natural oils. Avoiding shampoo as much as possible (and only using a sulphate-free product around your scalp when you do) will allow the hair’s natural oils to penetrate through your tresses and encourage the hair to repair and hydrate itself.

We Are Paradoxx Repair Shampoo is a great sulphate-free all-rounder, while Aveda’s Dry Remedy Trio works wonders on dry hair. Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo will banish pesky frizz in no time.

READ MORE: 33 of the Most Beautiful Wedding Guest Hairstyles

6. Don’t Go Blonde

We know going blonde on your wedding day might seem appealing, particularly if you’re saying ‘I do’ in the summer. But going from dark hair to blonde locks could stand between you and optimum hair growth.

When you bleach your hair, it opens up the cuticle of your hair strands and causes significant damage. What’s more, bleached hair is more likely to break or split, which means way less growth.

For brides really set on bleaching their hair, Anabel recommends leaving at least eight weeks between treatments, but if you want longer hair, you may want to stick au naturel when it comes to your colour. We promise blondes don’t have any more wedding day fun than the rest of us.

READ MORE: How to Delay Your Period for Your Wedding Day

7. Brush Your Hair Before Bed

After a long, hard day of wedmin, going to bed without brushing your hair might seem tempting. But just like you wouldn’t go to bed without taking your makeup off, you should get in the habit of never letting your hair touch the pillow without brushing it.

Granted, it seems like a small and meaningless step, but giving your hair a quick once-over (with a boar bristle brush, preferably) will help to distribute your scalp’s oils through the lengths of your hair. As a result, your hair stays moisturised. Oh, and this simple step will help increase circulation and keep your scalp healthier, too.

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8. Massage Your Scalp

Think of your scalp as like the soil for your hair. It needs to be healthy and thriving for your hair to follow suit. “When the scalp is in good condition, your hair is given a healthy base from which to grow,” says textured hair specialist Errol Douglas, who works with haircare brand Living Proof.

With this in mind, add a scalp massage into your hair washing routine. “A scalp massage will stimulate your hair follicles,” says Errol.  A scalp massage can also unclog blocked hair follicles. If a follicle is clogged with dead skin cells and hair product, hair growth is hindered.

As well as physically ridding the scalp of build up, a scalp massage also boosts microcirculation in your hair follicle, which brings nutrients to the follicle which is important in the hair growing stage. “Any stimulation to the scalp that will increase the blood flow to that area will aid hair growth,” confirms Carolyn Aronson, Founder of It’s a 10 Haircare (who happen to make some of our favourite haircare buys). 

There are shelve-loads of scalp products out there, from toners to scrubs, at all different price points, but if you’re not sure where to start, Living Proof’s Scalp Care Revitalizing Treatment, £22, is a good first port of call, not least because it has a built in massager, making it ideal for scalp massage novices. It’s an overnight treatment that you can apply to wet or dry hair then massage into with the rubbery nozzle. It nourishes the scalp while you sleep for hair that appears fuller, growing from a healthier base. 

9. Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase

If you can’t be a little bit extra in the run up to your wedding, when can you? Sleeping on a silk pillowcase will avoid tangles and breaks. Who knew your trusty cotton pillowcase could be hindering your hair growth so much?

The less tangles in your hair overnight, the less your hair will break and the longer your hair will be. Fact.

The Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase from Cult Beauty is a luxurious option if you want the best for your hair.

READ MORE: The Most Gorgeous Wedding Makeup Ideas for Every Bride

10. Load Up on Conditioner

Condition, condition, condition. This might be our top tip of them all. A good conditioner will always be your best friend if you’re trying to grow your hair for your wedding day.

Colouring and heat styling both cause hair to become thinner at the bottom, so a good conditioner will help to replace the lipids and seal the outer cuticle. This becomes the first barrier of protection and reduces the risk of your hair breaking and snapping.

READ MORE: 15 Last Minute Tasks to do the Week Before Your Wedding

If your hair is shoulder length or longer, and you’re trying to add a few further inches on, it’ll need a bit more TLC than a normal conditioner can offer.  Heavy-duty conditioning hair masks can do exactly that, and ones which include coconut or argan oil are often best.

Apply your hair mask of choice to damp hair, leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then follow with your normal shampoo and conditioner.  This will ensure all the excess oil gets washed away and doesn’t cause your hair to look greasy.

When it comes to our favourite hair masks, we’ll always reach for either the Pureology’s Hydrate Superfood Treatment mask or Kerastase’s Nutritive Masque Magistral. See even more hair treatments here. 

11. Be Careful Brushing Wet Hair

Hair is more susceptible to breakages when it’s wet, so try and wait until your hair is dry before you brush it.

If that knot is really bugging you and you absolutely must get it out post-shower, use a brush which is designed to go easy on your tresses.

We’re obsessed with our trusty Tangle Teezers here at Hitched HQ. They’re the only brushes we’d trust on wet hair, because they’re made with two-tiered teeth. Longer teeth gently flex over tangles without pulling or tugging while shorter teeth smooth the hair.

12. Manage Your Stress Levels

Stress can negatively impact your hair growth cycle, Anabel explains.

She says: “For one, it often effects nutrient absorption. It can also mess with hormone levels, impact the health of your scalp, and disrupt your sleep. As a general rule, anything that affects your general health has the potential to affect your hair – and stress can have a huge impact on your system!

“Try yoga, meditation, Pilates, mindfulness, swimming or light to moderate exercise to manage stress levels.”

It looks like that massage you’ve been dying to book will actually help your hair and your mood. Who knew?!

13. Try a TikTok Hack

We know, it sounds questionable to try a hair growth method recommended by TikTokers, but we have it on good authority that washing your hair in rice water can genuinely make a difference. 

Firstly, this isn't just a weird trend dreamt up by Gen Z. Rice water for hair growth is a hack that's been used for hundreds of years in East Asian countries. The practice involves soaking rice in water, then using the starchy water left behind to rinse your hair. Think of it as a deep conditioning treatment. 

There are no studies to support the idea that rice water has any influence on their hair cycle to improve hair growth, but anecdotal tales are all positive. Makeup artist Keshia East, sister of singer Fleur East said of the ritual: "Since I’ve been doing this my hair has grown super fast and looks so healthy." 

It's less expensive than buying loads of products that promise hair growth, so it's well worth a go! 

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So, although your hair can’t magically grow overnight, you can do lots to ensure it’s the healthiest it can possibly be. Healthy hair = faster growing hair, so it’s time to mix up your routine pre-wedding.

Now your hair is as strong as it can be, check out our guide to getting strong and healthy nails ahead of the big day.