We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale about how having heartburn during pregnancy means your baby will come out with a full head of hair.
This doesn’t always happen. My first baby boy was born healthy- and as bald as a bowling ball.
Even though baby baldness is completely normal- your little one can even lose their hair after delivery- many parents are eager to see their baby with a full head of hair. Below, you’ll find some useful tips on how to grow baby hair faster.
How to Grow Baby Hair Faster: 7 Proven Strategies
1. Brush to Stimulate Growth and Remove Tangles
Brushing and massaging your little one’s scalp helps remove dead skin cells that clog hair follicles. It also stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which encourages hair growth. You can massage your little one’s scalp by putting oil on their head and gently rubbing it with their fingers. As an added benefit, this is relaxing for your baby and can be useful for helping them fall asleep.
Regular brushing is also important for removing tangles from your baby’s hair. Use a soft brush and gently brush your little one’s hair (and scalp) several times a day. Removing tangles through the day stops knots from forming. This is important because pulling at knots with a brush causes breakage that impedes hair growth.
2. Moisturize with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil benefits the scalp and hair growth in several ways. Since coconut oil stimulates blood flow, it helps bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. Coconut oil also removes sebum from hair follicles, which clears them out and allows new hair to grow.
As a principal fatty acid, coconut oil is also able to penetrate hair better than mineral oil or sunflower oil. It also prevents hair protein loss, which keeps hair strong, shiny, and healthy.
To prevent your baby’s hair from being too oily, coconut oil can be applied about twenty minutes before a bath. Then, rinse gently with lukewarm water. You should do this every 2-3 days. In addition to adding moisture and stimulating growth, coconut oil prevents cradle cap.
3. Wash Baby Hair Regularly (and Gently)
Baby hair is very fine. It’s easy to damage while brushing, washing, and drying their hair if you aren’t gentle. Use lukewarm water and gentle baby shampoo. You’ll want to wash about 2-3 times per week. This removes dirt from the hair follicles. Properly moisturizing hair after bath time also helps prevent dryness that slows hair growth.
When you dry your infant’s head after bath time, you’ll want to use a soft towel. Dry gently instead of rubbing so you don’t break off hair.
4. Eat Healthy to Support Hair Growth
At age six months, you can start introducing foods to your little one. As you do, you’ll want to choose foods high in vitamins and nutrients that encourage hair growth. For mommies who are breastfeeding, your diet affects your baby’s nutrition in those first six months.
Here are some vitamins and minerals that are essential for hair growth:
- Vitamin A- Cells need Vitamin A to grow. The hair grows faster than any other tissue on the human body. Additionally, Vitamin A is important for the production of sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes the scalp and improves hair health. Some foods rich in beta carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A, include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, kale, and spinach.
- Biotin- Biotin is one of the most important B vitamins for hair growth. It’s hard to be deficient in biotin because it’s found in a wide range of foods, however, B vitamins are critical for the creation of red blood cells. Red blood cells then carry nutrients and oxygen to the scalp where they help hair grow. Biotin is commonly found in foods including whole grains, dark, leafy greens, almonds, fish, seafood, and red meat.
- Vitamin C- Vitamin C is critical for hair growth because it helps the body create collagen necessary for hair growth. It also helps the body absorb iron from the foods you eat, which is another important mineral for hair growth. Some good sources of Vitamin C include strawberries, citrus fruits, guava, and sweet peppers.
- Vitamin D- Vitamin D is important for hair growth for two reasons. First, deficiency of Vitamin D can cause alopecia, a condition associated with hair loss. Additionally, Vitamin D is important for the creation of hair follicles, which are necessary for hair to grow. You can get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun, as well as from dietary sources including fortified foods, some mushroom, fatty fish, and cod liver oil.
- Iron- Iron is another important element for hair growth because of its importance for the development of new red blood cells. Red blood cells carry nutrients and oxygen to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It can be found in foods like red meat, eggs, spinach, oysters, clams, and lentils.
- Zinc- Zinc has a critical role in the body in repair and growth of your hair and skin. Additionally, it’s important for oil secretion that keeps the hair follicles healthy. It can be found in dietary sources including beef, lentils, spinach, wheat germ, oysters, and pumpkin seeds.
Something to remember is that too much of anything (even nutrients) can be a bad thing. Having too much Vitamin A, iron, or zinc can contribute to hair loss.
5. Apply Gelatin Before Bath Time
Gelatin stimulates hair growth because it is an amino acid. While gelatin can be consumed, it’s not easy to get into your baby’s diet. This is especially true if they’re only drinking milk.
Many people recommend mixing gelatin with apple cider vinegar and honey to make a hair growth mask. Apple cider vinegar exfoliates the scalp to promote hair growth. It also cleans the follicles out and removes product buildup, leaving hair shiny. Honey promotes cell growth and works as a great moisturizer since it bonds to water molecules. Additionally, it has proteins that prevent breakage and antibacterial properties that treat conditions of the scalp.
Add 1 tablespoon gelatin to 1/2 cup of water and whisk until there are no lumps. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to your baby’s hair and scalp about 10 minutes before bath time and wash it out. You can do this about once per week.
6. Avoid Hair Ties
Sometimes, part of how to grow baby hair faster has to do with avoiding damage. In addition to always handling your child’s hair gently, you’ll want to avoid using bows in your little one’s delicate hair.
It can be exciting to put a bow or hair tie on your child’s head, even if they only have a small patch of hair. Unfortunately, it’s easy for baby hair to get tangled in hair ties. Hair bows also pull at baby hair, which causes breakage that slows hair growth.
7. Use Quality Baby Shampoo
The best baby shampoo won’t contain harmful ingredients that could irritate your baby’s skin or dry out their scalp. Unscented baby shampoos are best, since fragrance may irritate baby’s skin. If you do choose a scented shampoo, however, you’ll want to be sure it comes from natural sources.
You should also read the ingredients label. Avoid dyes, as well as harsh chemical additives like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
If your baby has cradle cap or other skin problems on their scalp, you may need to see their doctor about a special shampoo. You can also check out these best cradle cap shampoos for babies.
FAQs for Newborn Hair Growth
What determines newborn hair growth?
Newborn hair growth starts at around 30 weeks in the womb. Genetics determines how thick, long, and what color hair will be at birth. The high levels of hormones in the womb also make hair grow fast, so most babies who grow hair at 30 weeks also have hair once they’re born.
Why is my baby losing their hair?
When your baby is in the womb, the high hormone levels encourage hair growth. After delivery, the hormone levels lower significantly and hair growth slows. Babies also enter a new cycle of hair growth. This new cycle causes some babies to lose their hair until the next growth cycle starts. As you consider how to grow baby hair faster, sometimes you have to wait until after this new growth cycle starts for your baby to experience the benefits.
How often should I wash my baby’s hair?
Bathing too often is harmful to hair growth and dries out the skin. You’ll want to wash baby hair every 2-3 days. When washing, gently rub baby shampoo into their scalp and rinse with lukewarm water. Keeping the hair clean helps combat cradle cap and removes dirt from hair follicles so hair can continue growing.
How can I help my baby’s hair grow?
Even though infant hair loss is normal, many parents can’t wait for their baby to have a full head of hair. By using home remedies like coconut oil, eating healthy, and using good grooming habits, your baby will grow luscious locks in no time.
