How to grow your hair

If the AW12 catwalks are anything to go by then long hair is the only trend worth channelling next season. Take your cue from Roberto Cavalli, Versus and Jean Paul Gaultier where hair was extended to Rapunzel lengths. Invest in yours now so that come next season it’s your hair leading the way. 

System Professional Balance Scalp Mask, £20.89, at systemprofessional.co.uk

Acclaimed Tricologist Philip Kingsley says that we forget we have a scalp. He’s obviously not speaking literally but he has a point. We spend countless hours and a ton of cash on improving our hair but overlook its source. Quite simply a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair. Try System Professional Balance Scalp Mask once a week to towel-dried hair, concentrating on your scalp, and leave on for 5 minutes. It helps to strengthen the skin and reduce hair loss.

We’re in the midst of a hair oil phenomenon. Every brand under the sun is launching one but while there’s no denying that they smooth and nourish hair, they don’t hydrate it. Nothing beats good-old water, without a good supply of hydration hair becomes dry, brittle and rebellious (far from ideal). Two litres of water a day is sage advice so keep that glass topped-up.

Hair loses the energy to build new follicles just four hours after eating. The best way to keep a constant supply of fuel to your follicles is to snack on protein and complex carbohydrates in between meals. We keep a tub of almonds and cranberries on our desk for such occasions. Don’t expect to see results immediately, Kingsley explains, “You can’t radically change the hair you already have. Hair grows half an inch a month so expect to see results in about four months.”

Philip Kingsley PK Hair, £22 for 120 tablets, at philipkingsley.co.uk, and Viviscal Hair Repair, £19.95 for 30, at viviscal.co.uk

Kingsley recommends taking supplements to make sure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to grow healthy, glossy hair. Try Philip Kingsley PK Hair – they contain protein and are fortified with amino acids to keep hair strong and encourage growth. Viviscal Hair Repair has been scientifically proven to help with hair growth – it contains proteins, antioxidants and biotin to protect hair.

 philipkingsley.co.uk

Michael van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment, £29, at 3moreinches.com, and LA Science Follicle Stimulating Shampoo, £14.99, at la-science.co.uk

Before shampooing use Michael van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment from root to tip and leave on for an hour. The cashmere proteins and amino acids repair broken bonds in the hair and stop it falling out. Try swapping your shampoo for LA Science Follicle Stimulating Shampoo - it contains active ingredients and peptides to treat the hair at the follicle and extends the hairs growth stage.