How to grow longer hair without looking awkward?

Longer hairstyles have grown in popularity, but the change doesn’t happen overnight. Patience, the right products and regular barber visits are the key to success — and to looking good throughout the whole growing project.

Many products promise to speed up hair growth, but the truth is that healthy habits produce real results faster. It’s also important to remember that hair growth rate is always individual. We’ve listed the best tips for growing your hair and how to look good throughout the whole project.

Tell your barber your goals right from the start

The best way to start a hair-growing project is to be honest with your barber. Say directly that your goal is a longer hairstyle — and if you know the target length, show a photo at your next visit. A professional will tailor the cut to your goal so the result still looks good a month later.

Still, when growing your hair it’s good to get the style tidied every 2–3 months. Regular trims prevent the look from “rolling” and keep the ends looking healthy. Cutting off dry ends makes the overall hair appear thicker and more well-groomed.

Start with the top

If you’re starting from a very short cut, begin the growth project by growing the hair on the top. During this time the sides and back can remain relatively short without the whole look appearing messy.

When the hair on top approaches about 7 centimetres, it’s a good time to start growing the sides and back as well. Your barber will guide you through this stage.

Reduce washes and check your products

Hair grows on average about one centimetre per month, roughly 12 cm per year. If you start from very short hair, the growth project can take up to a year. Short hair almost always looks healthy because it’s fresh growth and environmental factors don’t have time to damage it. To make longer hair look as healthy as short hair, you need the right products and regular barber visits so the style stays neat and you can care for your hair properly at home.

Reducing the frequency of washes is one of the most important ways to avoid stressing growing hair. This may feel strange at first, but over time your scalp will thank you. If your scalp gets oily quickly, dry shampoo is a quick helper: it lets you easily skip a wash day.

Anyone growing their hair should invest in a scalp-care product range too: shampoo, conditioner and a serum that stimulates the scalp’s microcirculation together create the conditions for healthy growth.