Now’s the right time to achieve your longest locks.

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March 14th, 2020.

Almost a year to the day since my last epic chop.

My hair now graces my shoulders — a far cry from the chin-length locks I sported back then. For reference, the American Academy of Dermatology says that hair grows about half an inch per month (six inches per year). My six — at least! — healthy inches feel like quite the feat.

Curious how I did it? Scroll on for my strategy:

The Ingredient: Biotin

Hair is made up of proteins, specifically keratin. To produce keratin, the body needs to maintain healthy cellular function through adequate levels of biotin, b-12, and folic acid. In fact, studies have shown that biotin can effectively promote hair growth. This convinced me that my hair-lengthening approach should also be fostered from within.

Turns out, you can naturally supplement your diet with biotin by increasing your intake of seeds, nuts, and some vegetables (such as sweet potatoes). I, however, have already professed my penchant for supplements in gummy-form, and opted to try HUM Nutrition’s Hair Sweet Hair, which combines biotin, b-12, and folic acid with zinc (said to banish brittle hair), fo-ti (a Chinese herb touted for hair growth) and PABA (a hair-strengthening nutrient). And while my hair felt thicker and shinier than ever, I also experienced a bonus benefit: my nails were equally healthy and strong.

The Technique: (Gentle) Exfoliation

It’s no secret that I’m a huge [proponent of scalp health](https://www.freepeople.com/hair-transformation-tool/) — but I’m not the only one. As any hair pro will tell you, healthy tresses start at the scalp. “Don’t clog the follicle!” they preach. Not unlike the skin on your body, the scalp sheds cells which need to be routinely sloughed away, giving hair room to grow. Run-of-the-mill cleansing does an okay job at this, but a legit exfoliation would do wonders.

So I decided to take my tried-and-true scalp massager and supplement it with a shampoo that specifically supports scalp health. Act + Acre’s cleanser boasts dandruff-controlling lavender and circulation-stimulating rosemary, amongst other nourishing ingredients.

The brand suggests a double-cleanse for squeaky-clean locks, with the first cleanse removing product build-up and pollution, while the second delivers nutrients and purifies the scalp and hair. (Good news: you can adopt the approach with any shampoo, if you please.) I opted to use my scalp massager during my first go and have never had a more flake-free scalp In. My. Life. (The invigorating ylang ylang scent didn’t hurt either.)

Basically, you’re setting the stage for optimum, uninhibited hair growth.

The Maintenance: An Ultra-Rich Mask

Any time I’ve grown my hair extra-long, I’ve struggled with split ends. Now that my hair was healthier (and shorter) than ever, I made a point to preserve those blunt, freshly chopped ends. The best way to do that, it seems, is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

On the lookout for ingredients that promised to strengthen and penetrate my strands, I looked to Briogeo, whose formula includes b-vitamins, rosehip and argan oils, collagen and algae extract that help replenish hair to make it shinier.

This luxe mask worked to preserve every hard-worked inch I grew, ensuring that the locks I do grow are in tip-top shape for the long haul. (And no split ends in sight.) After all, I am stuck with them until my next haircut.