Head-Shaving

How to Grow Out Your Hair: 5 Tips From the Best in the Business

by St. Baldrick's Foundation
May 29, 2015

Make a smooth transition from short to long with these five tips from our barbers on how to grow your hair out.

St. Baldrick's shavee smiling before shaving her long hair
If you’re one of the tens of thousands of men and women who braved the shave for kids with cancer this year, chances are you’re not quite bald anymore. (If you are, check out these six tips for caring for a naked noggin!)

On average, hair grows about 1/2 inch per month. (Meaning you’ll have about six inches to buzz at next year’s head-shaving event.)

But did you know there are steps you can take to help your hair grow faster and stronger?

Whether you long for long locks or you’re just growing your hair out to shave it again, here’s some great advice from the ones who know hair best: our St. Baldrick’s barbers.

1. Eat healthy.

You just shaved your head and now you’re wondering how to grow back hair you just cut? Let’s take a look at your diet first!

Good nutrition is essential for healthy, growing hair. There’s a huge range of advice on what supplements will stimulate hair growth faster, but the basics will always hold true. You’ll want to eat a diet rich in leafy greens, lean meats, nuts and seeds. You might also consider taking hair-nourishing supplements like biotin and vitamin E. Your new hair will thank you later.

“The secret to growing out healthy hair is to first eat healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables will feed your hair great nutrients.”

— Jenna Wilkinson, Las Vegas, NV

2. Trim regularly.

It may seem counterproductive if you’re wondering how to grow out your hair, but you may be surprised to know that periodically cutting it will help!

Even though you’re going for length, you’ll still want to trim your hair every four to eight weeks to prevent the hair from breaking and thinning out. As the hair gets longer, use conditioner to keep the ends healthy and strong.

“The best tip I have for growing out hair is to get your hair trimmed. By trimming the hair, you are cutting off the split ends and preventing the hair from snapping off.”

— Jenny Hartman, Arlington Heights, IL

3. Massage your dome.

Hair growth is a tricky thing — but that doesn’t mean it can’t feel good while you’re doing it!

A scalp massage doesn’t just feel great on a shaved head — it can help you relax AND help your hair grow faster! Place all 10 fingertips on your head, apply gentle pressure and rub in small circles. Work your fingers around your head from your hairline down to the nape of your neck. For best results, massage your head at least once a day for two minutes.

“Scalp massaging will increase blood flow and circulation to the head, giving those hair follicles more stimulation to grow.”

— Antonio Scalora, Ottawa, IL

4. Talk to your stylist.

You can still have fun with all the in-between lengths while you’re waiting for your hair to get long. Tell your stylist what you ultimately want your hair to look like — they can help you find a cut that compliments your face AND that will grow nicely into the look you want.

“Talk to your stylist about what looks best on your face shape because even the shortest lengths can be shifted to look the best. Embrace every stage of length and have fun with it!”

— Veronica Dobson, Indianapolis, IN

5. Be patient.

Most are hoping for a secret trick for how to get hair to grow quickly, but unfortunately the best ingredient is time.

It’s going to take time for it to get long, but if you take good care of your hair, you’ll be rocking the long locks before you know it! If you find yourself growing impatient, just remember why you shaved your head in the first place. Like the 46 Mommas say, “Hair grows back. Kids don’t.”

“You have done an extraordinary thing for some extraordinary people, and we all want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

— Kristi Murphy, Columbus, OH


You don’t have to shave your head to raise money for children’s cancer research. You can do what you want! Pass the time waiting for your hair to grow by planning a fundraiser for kids with cancer.

Start a Fundraiser

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