By Emily Beyda
When it comes to growing your hair out for a wedding, it can feel like an uphill battle. Getting perfect hair takes time, and worrying if your hair’s getting any longer while balancing the headache of planning should be the last thing on your list!
Fortunately for you, we’re here to help, with some tried and true hair care tips guaranteed to get you the long locks that will compliment your perfect day!
Step One: Nourish Your Body
Your body grows hair best when you’re taking good care of it, so the first step in achieving longer hair is making sure you’re taking care of your whole body.
If you’re on a wedding dress diet, it’s especially critical to check-in and make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need by packing in the healthy fruits and veggies, getting as close as you can to “eating the rainbow” each day. Adding a healthy hair supplement, like an enhanced biotin gummy, is definitely a good idea.
Stocking up on the vitamins and minerals that help keep your hair healthy is the foundation of growing longer strands. Here are a few essentials you should make sure to eat each day:
- Vitamin A, found in spinach, carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes
- Vitamin B, found in whole grains, almonds, and dark leafy greens
- Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, and guavas
- Vitamin D, found in mushrooms, lichen, and fortified cereals and plant based milks
- Vitamin E, found in avocados, almonds, spinach, and sunflower seeds
- Iron, found in lentils and spinach
- Zinc, found in pumpkin seeds, lentils, spinach and wheat germ
- Protein, found in legumes, nuts and whole grains
You should also stick with the pre-wedding workouts, making sure to elevate your heart rate for at least half an hour each day. It’s great for your whole body, including your hair, which benefits from the lowered DHT levels and increased blood flow associated with exercise.
Step Two: Check Your Product Routine
When it comes to growing out your hair, what you put on your body is nearly as important as what you put in it. And an unbalanced or damaging product routine can cause strain on your strands that will set back your growth goals.
Double-check your regular shampoo and conditioner to make sure you’re not accidentally damaging strands by using products that contain harsh chemicals. Natural products cause less stress to your hair follicles, making them less likely to rip or tear, setting your progress back.
You should also try to extend the time between your wash days as much as you can without feeling gross. Try going a day or two between washes, or as much as a week if you have especially dry, thick, or textured hair that can handle longer downtime. Invest in a good dry shampoo to keep hair feeling fresh between wash days.
Last but not least, a natural hair serum is your best friend when it comes to encouraging the kind of sustainable, long-term hair growth you need to achieve your wedding hair goals. Finding a research-backed serum is key to getting an extra length boost while making sure hair is nourished and supported, until your wedding day and beyond. Think of it as the rocket booster that helps you achieve that final leap towards the stars.
Step Three: Relax and Stick With the Plan
We know it can be hard to remember at the best of times, but planning a wedding should be a joyful, as well as a stressful time!
If you’re constantly stressed out, your body’s cortisol levels are spiking, causing hair shed that can seriously impact your hair growth progress.
Make sure to schedule some you time into every day to avoid (literally!) tearing your hair out. Practice self care by taking a bubble bath, going for a walk with your beloved, and taking some time to meditate and focus on gratitude. Keeping in mind how lucky you are to have found someone you want to keep close for years to come will help you stay focused on what matters.
Emily Beyda is a journalist, content writer, and the author of the novel The Body Double. You can find her on Instagram @emilybeyda
