Chanel Willemse
General Manager
19 March, 2025
Waiting for Hair Growth Feels Like Forever? Here’s What You Need to Know
Let’s be honest—waiting for your hair to grow can feel as slow as watching paint dry. And when it’s not just slow growth but thinning, lifeless strands, frustration reaches a whole new level. But here’s the truth: achieving thick, healthy hair isn’t about fancy shampoos or miracle serums. It starts from within—understanding what your hair truly needs.
Think of your hair like a houseplant—it thrives with the right nutrients, care, and a little TLC. If you’ve been searching for the best nutrients for hair growth or wondering how to grow your hair faster naturally, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the science of hair health, bust some myths, and uncover the best hair growth strategies that actually work.
How Hair Growth Works: More Than Just Genetics
Ever feel like your hair growth has hit a standstill? You’re not imagining it. Hair growth is a dynamic biological process, much like a well-orchestrated symphony, following a distinct cycle with multiple stages. Understanding this cycle can help explain why your hair grows the way it does—and what you can do to optimise the process.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Your hair grows from tiny structures in your skin called hair follicles. Each follicle operates independently, cycling through phases of growth, rest, and renewal. This ensures that all your hair doesn’t fall out at once—comforting, right? Let’s break it down:
Anagen Phase (The Growth Party)
The anagen phase is the star of the hair growth cycle. During this stage, hair follicles are actively growing, and root cells divide rapidly—this is when you see visible hair lengthening.
- Duration: Lasts 2 to 7 years, depending on genetics, health, and age. People with longer anagen phases tend to grow longer hair naturally.
- Growth Rate: Hair grows about 1 cm per month during this phase.
- Influencing Factors: Proper nutrition, a healthy scalp, and reduced stress can extend the anagen phase, while deficiencies or hormonal imbalances can shorten it.
Catagen Phase (The Transition)
The catagen phase is a short transitional stage lasting about 2-3 weeks. Here, hair growth slows down as the follicle detaches from its blood supply.
- What Happens: The follicle shrinks, and the hair, now termed a "club hair", prepares to stop growing.
- Key Insight: Only 1-3% of your hair is in this phase at any time, but it’s a crucial step for making way for new growth.
Telogen Phase (Resting & Shedding)
The telogen phase is the resting period, lasting about 3 months.
- What Happens: Hair follicles remain dormant, and existing strands may shed to make room for new growth.
- Daily Shedding: Losing 50-100 hairs per day is normal—don’t panic! But excessive shedding could signal stress, hormonal imbalances, or nutrient deficiencies.
- Telogen Effluvium: External factors like poor diet, illness, or significant stress can push a larger percentage of hair into this phase prematurely, leading to noticeable thinning or shedding.
Genetics vs. Lifestyle: Who’s Really in Control?
While genetics largely determine how long your hair stays in the anagen (growth) phase, they aren’t the only factor. Your lifestyle choices play a significant role:
- Diet: Hair follicles are metabolically active and need a steady supply of nutrients. Deficiencies in iron, biotin, or vitamin D can shorten the anagen phase and disrupt hair growth.
- Stress: Chronic stress increases cortisol, a hormone that can prematurely push hair into the telogen phase, leading to more shedding.
- Hormonal Health: Thyroid issues, PCOS, or hormonal imbalances can alter the hair cycle. Androgenic alopecia occurs when sensitivity to certain hormones shortens the growth phase and shrinks follicles over time.
- Scalp Health: A clean, healthy scalp promotes growth, while dandruff or clogged follicles can slow it down.
- Aging: As we age, the anagen phase shortens, leading to thinner, slower-growing hair.
The Nutrients Your Hair Is Begging For
Your hair doesn’t grow from magic—it grows from the nutrients your body gets! If you’re dealing with thinning, slow growth, or brittle strands, these key nutrients will be your best allies:
1. Biotin: The Star of Hair Growth
- Why It’s Essential: Biotin (Vitamin B7) is a keratin powerhouse—keratin is what your hair is made of.
- Where to Find It: Eggs, almonds, spinach, sweet potatoes, avocados
- Pro Tip: While biotin deficiencies are rare, supplementing can support growth if you notice thinning or weak hair.
2. Iron: The Follicle Fuel
- Why It’s Essential: Iron carries oxygen to your follicles, keeping them strong and in growth mode.
- Where to Find It: Red meat, lentils, tofu, quinoa, dark leafy greens
- Fun Fact: Pairing iron-rich foods with Vitamin C boosts absorption—try squeezing lemon over spinach for max benefits!
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Shine Maker
- Why It’s Essential: Omega-3s reduce inflammation, hydrate the scalp, and make your strands shinier.
- Where to Find It: Salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, avocados
- Pro Tip: Not a fan of fish? Flaxseed oil is a great alternative!
4. Zinc: The Damage Repairer️
- Why It’s Essential: Zinc supports hair repair and regulates oil production around follicles.
- Where to Find It: Shellfish, pumpkin seeds, cashews, whole grains
5. Vitamin D: The Follicle Activator
- Why It’s Essential: Low vitamin D is linked to thinning and even hair loss. It helps stimulate dormant follicles for new growth.
- Where to Find It: Sunlight, fatty fish, fortified dairy, mushrooms
Tips for Achieving Luscious Locks
Pair great nutrition with these smart hair habits for the best results:
- Be Gentle: Avoid aggressive brushing, especially when wet, and use microfibre towels to prevent breakage.
- Scalp Massages: Nourish your scalp with coconut or argan oil to boost blood flow and growth.
- Reduce Heat Damage: Minimise use of flat irons, curling wands, and always use a heat protectant.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink enough water to keep hair hydrated and prevent breakage.
- Manage Stress: Practice yoga, meditation, or relax with Netflix—stress shifts focus away from hair growth.
When Diet Alone Isn’t Enough for Hair Growth
Life gets busy. Even with a nutrient-packed diet, stress, schedules, or dietary gaps can hold back your hair growth.
Enter personalised vitamins—designed to meet your unique needs.
How Vitamin Club Makes It Simple:
✅ Take a Personalised Vitamin Quiz—tailored to your lifestyle & wellness goals.
✅ Get a custom vitamin pack with:
- Biotin: Strengthens hair
- Iron: Supports follicle oxygenation
- Zinc & Selenium: Prevents thinning
- Omega-3s: Keeps hair hydrated
Don’t let nutrition gaps hold back your hair—start your personalised journey today!
Final Thoughts
Your hair is more than just a style statement—it’s a window into your overall health and well-being. Nourishing your body with the right nutrients and embracing healthy habits doesn’t just transform your locks; it supports your energy, confidence, and vitality.
Think of your journey to healthy hair as an investment in yourself. With the right care, a bit of patience, and the perfect balance of personalised support, you’re not just growing better hair—you’re cultivating a healthier, happier you.
More Hair Care Reads
Looking for more expert advice and insights? Check out these articles for deeper dives into hair health:
The Role of Omega-3 in Skin and Hair Health Discover how omega-3 fatty acids can promote hair growth, reduce hair loss, and improve overall scalp health.
Debunking Common Hair Care Myths Separate fact from fiction with these evidence-based insights into popular hair care myths.
The Best Vitamins for Hair, Skin, and Nails Learn about essential nutrients that support healthy hair growth and how to recognise signs of vitamin deficiencies.
