“From a topical perspective, the ingredient minoxidil is one of few with the clinical data behind it to show it has an effect on hair growth,” says Dr Bessam Farjo from the Farjo Hair Institute. “This over-the-counter medication – known as Regaine in the UK – has been used for quite some time as a treatment for baldness. It was actually discovered by accident in the 1970s by researchers who were trialling drugs for high blood pressure, but found excessive hair growth to be a side effect. It works by encouraging the flow of blood to the hair follicles, creating more cells at the root, in turn stimulating growth.”

“We’ve discussed using less heat already, but there are some other simple tweaks you can make to encourage better hair health and growth,” says Dr Bessam. “While drying hair with a t-shirt has become a popular trend, I can tell you that there’s no scientific evidence to suggest this has any impact of the growth or condition of your hair. It’s important to be gentle and kind to your strands at all times, though. When you brush out knots, try using a detangling spray or a natural-bristle brush. Both will reduce the amount of pulling on the scalp, lowering the risk of breakage.”

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