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Whether it was in a class in school or you did your own research because you were curious, you probably heard that everyone grows somewhere between ¼” and ½” of hair every month. This means that, unless there is some sort of health condition going on, if your hair seems stagnant or stunted, it’s not because your hair isn’t growing; it’s that it isn’t retaining length. In other words, the issue isn’t really about what’s happening at the roots; it’s more about how the shaft and ends are being maintained.


Now that doesn’t take away from the fact that genetics do determine things like the rate that someone’s hair grows, along with its texture and color. It also should go on record that the three stages of hair growth (anagen, catagen, and telogen) can somewhat vary per person too. All I’m saying is thinking that your hair won’t grow “just because” is not rooted in science. You definitely can obtain inches with some knowledge, consistent (accurate) maintenance, and TLC.

Speaking of random hair insights, here’s something that you may not have ever known before. Were you aware of the fact that there is a particular time of the year when your hair has the most potential for growth? That’s what we’re gonna delve into today. And the dope thing about it is (hint, hint) it’s a season that you don’t have to wait for.

Summer’s Got You As Far As Length Is Concerned

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So, this is the time of year to get serious about gaining some inches. There are a few theories for why summer seems to be the case. For instance, July and August are reportedly the months when your tresses are thicker because your body knows that your scalp needs the most protection from the sun during that time (our bodies never cease to be amazing!).

Aside from that, it also makes sense that inches would excel during the summertime because more heat increases blood circulation, which brings nutrients to your hair follicles so that your strands not only grow faster but stronger.

Another huge perk with the summer season is the amount of vitamin D that both you as well as your locks are able to receive whenever you spend time in the great outdoors. That can be a win on a few levels, considering the fact that a lot of us (meaning Black women) are naturally vitamin D deficient, which can lead to health issues like fatigue, muscle weakness, joint problems, bones that aren’t strong, and mood swings. As far as your hair goes, a lack of vitamin D is connected to hair loss, including scarring alopecia and less production of new hair follicles.

Finally, another unsung reason why your hair tends to thrive more during the summer season is that a lot of us tend to either leave our hair in more protective styles (which results in less hair manipulation) and/or we don’t have as many things like hats and other accessories on our hair (or even wearing clothes that our ends can snag on) that can lead to extra friction that could ultimately weaken our strands or cause breakage.

So yeah, if the summer season is your favorite time of the year anyway, you’re not alone — apparently, your hair is thrilled about it too!

How to Maximize the Potential of This Season to Gain Inches

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Now that you’ve got some solid science-based reasons for why summer is the ideal time to get some extra hair growth in, what are some things that you can do to maximize this season’s potential? I’ve got a few (proven) suggestions:

Stay hydrated. Since we sweat more in the summer, we definitely need to up our water intake. Some health experts say that means drinking up to half of our weight in fluids on a daily basis. No, not soda — stick with water (even if it’s sparkling or mineral), iced herbal tea, or infused water.

Consume fatty acids. Something that helps to add moisture to your tresses from the inside out while also improving your hair’s thickness and speed of growth is fatty acids. So, if your hair tends to be naturally on the drier side anyway, either take an omega-3 supplement or consume more foods that contain fatty acids. Some that top the list include olive oil, walnuts, eggs, avocados, sunflower oil, salmon, and fortified orange juice.

Let up on (permanent) hair color. The two main reasons why permanent hair color has a tendency to be so damaging is that not only does the ammonia lift your cuticles while the peroxide breaks down your hair’s natural pigment, but both chemicals are also extremely drying. That’s why, no matter what time of year it is, it’s also a good idea to amp up your deep conditioning methods (honestly, it’s best to get your hair professionally colored if you want to avoid as much damage as possible).

However, being that the heat can dry your hair out too, laying off permanent hair color altogether is really your best bet, especially since there are temporary options like semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair color as well as henna and hair color wax.

Apply sunscreen to your hair. Your hair can end up experiencing UV damage just like any other part of you — and when your locks are sun damaged, it becomes weaker and loses pigment. That’s why you can never go wrong with looking for hair products that provide sun protection. Allure has a list of 13 here. Prevention has 13 for your scalp here.

If you’re going to be outside for a long time, put on a hat. According to the American Cancer Society, sun rays are their strongest between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., which means that’s when you should take the most precautions when it comes to the sun. This includes wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a straw hat if you can; this will not only protect your face from UV rays but your hair as well.

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You’ve got until the end of September to take advantage of all that the summer season has to offer as far as your hair is concerned. So…what are you waiting for? Get out into the sun and stimulate some serious hair growth, girl!

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Featured image by Westend61/Getty Images

 

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