You may not want to hear it, but following a healthy diet is the most important way to promote hair growth. Your diet affects how quickly your hair grows and how shiny and healthy it is. That’s why when people go on crash diets their hair can fall out and get dull.

In addition to eating well, I recommend taking vitamins to help keep hair at its healthiest -- and therefore growing as fast as possible. I suggest to my clients that they take B-complex vitamins, especially biotin, which is great for growth. These vitamins are good for combating stress too, which can cause hair to fall out.

Prevent Damage
Routine haircuts are also important, because your hair can end up splitting faster than it is actually growing if not trimmed regularly. Hair that is chemically treated (this includes coloring, perming and relaxing) or regularly blown dry or flatironed is especially susceptible.

To keep your hair at its healthiest, whether or not you’re trying to grow it out, there are some simple things you can do every day:

• When you brush your hair, use a boar-bristle brush. Because they are natural fibers, boar bristles are easier on hair than their plastic counterparts.

• To avoid damage, try not to brush your hair when it’s wet. Instead, detangle it using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers.

• Rather than blow-drying, try to let your hair dry naturally as much as possible to give it a break from heat styling.

• Use either a moisture or protein mask every few shampoos to keep your hair nourished.

• If you want to wear a ponytail, use a soft elastic band that won’t pull or damage your hair.