Sure, we all dream of the long flowing locks that claim home to the heads of Victoria’s Secret supermodels…and when you look in the mirror and face the lifeless, unmanageable hair of your own that doesn’t seem to grow past your shoulders, it can be extremely frustrating. Although there is no scientifically proven way to grow your hair “faster”, there are ways to promote the health of your mane and prevent further damage caused by styling, coloring and all other trauma you inflict upon your poor strands in the name of beauty that is stopping you from achieving great lengths! Here’s how it’s done:

Eat better. Not only is it a good idea to eat the right foods to enhance the appearance of your waistline, but you also need to eat the right foods to enhance the appearance of your hair. Try the following:

• Since your hair follicles are made largely of protein, be sure to incorporate protein-rich foods like lean meat, fish, eggs, beans and nuts into your diet.
• In addition to ample amounts of protein, your hair-diet also requires iron-infused foods that will transmit oxygen to your hair follicles and build stronger hair. Go for poultry, eggs, lentils and soybeans.
• To grow and repair tissue, your body begs for zinc—get your fill from lean meat, crab or peanut butter.
• Don’t eliminate fats—you might think that staying away from fatty foods is the key to a healthy body and hair…however, certain fats are necessary for hair growth because they assimilate vitamins essential to hair growth like A, D, E and K.

Take your vitamins. We’ve already established the importance of a healthy diet when trying to grow healthy hair. But sometimes, we don’t always get all of the vitamins required to accomplish your beautiful hair goals. B vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin C work to improve circulation, maintain tissues and help to protect damage against your precious hair follicles—thus helping hair to grow. And you don’t have to have a bun in the oven to take prenatal vitamins—as it turns out, they are chalk-full of vitamins and minerals that promote hair growth, with the ability to make it thicker and shinier than ever.

Don’t wash your hair…as much. We’re not saying throw all hygiene out the window and avoid showering for a week…you can continue with your daily shower routine, just don’t continue with your daily hair washing routine. For supreme hair growth, you tresses rely on the natural oils provided by your scalp—and when you shampoo your hair on a daily basis, you can kiss those oils goodbye and say hello to dry hair! When you can, skipping a day between washes will keep your hair and scalp moisturized…which will get you closer to longer lengths.

De-stress. It is proven that stress is a factor in preventing hair growth (and even promoting hair loss—yikes!). This is why it’s pertinent to make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep (eight hours a night is the recommended amount) and lots of exercise (at least forty minutes a day)…and don’t sweat the small stuff! One way to chill out when the world is weighing on your shoulders? By treating yourself to a massage—a scalp massage! Do it yourself two to three times a week to stimulate the circulation and get those strands growing!

Get rid of split ends. If you suffer from severe split ends, there is no hope for hair growth if you don’t get rid of the damage—it will continue up the shaft of your hair so it is critical to stop the damage before it wreaks more havoc. It is recommended that you head to your hair-dresser every six to eight weeks to get a trim. Cutting your hair might feel like a step backwards at the time, but it will put you steps ahead in the end!

Avoid over-styling. Using curling irons, straighteners, hair spray and having your hair colored amongst other styling methods can make your hair look beautiful—but this beauty comes with a price: damaged, over-processed strands that won’t grow! When you are on a mission to obtain hair that looks like you just stepped off of a Paul Mitchell photo shoot, try to take it easy with the styling. When you don’t have to blow dry—don’t. When you don’t have to tease—don’t. These little breaks from the harsh heat, chemicals, etc. will make the difference in your hair’s length—and your hair is sure to thank you!

Sabrina Jackson is a guest contributor who shares with us her tips for getting long, beautiful hair. In addition to guest posting, Sabrina also owns Free Dating Sites for Women where she educates single women on the importance of safe online dating.