Whether it’s spurred by the regret of a short summertime ‘do or just always wishing your locks were a few inches longer, it seems as though women will do whatever it takes to get their hair to grow quicker. We teamed up with some top hair care experts to find out what we can do to help our hair grow.

Eat Clean
“In order to maintain healthy and beautiful hair, you have to start on the inside,” says national educator for Phyto, Christyn Nawrot, who recommends eating a proper, well-balanced diet rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants. She also suggests supplementing your healthy diet with vitamins to promote healthy hair growth, like Phyto Phytophanère Vitamin Supplement ($30-$59) for healthier hair, skin and nails.

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Use Biotin
According to Schwarzkopf ULTIME celebrity hairstylist Richard Collins, biotin is essential to growing longer hair. Even better, he says that biotin promotes hair strength, which in turn helps it grow even healthier than it was before. "I recommend using hair products with biotin as one of the main ingredients, like Schwarzkopf Biotin + Volume & Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner ($7), which promote healthier, longer hair in the shower."

Be Gentle
“Be gentle when brushing, heat styling and handling your hair,” says Nawrot. “Hair is most vulnerable to breakage when it is wet—detangle from the ends up toward the root in order to prevent damage."

Keep Heat at a Minimum
Got2b celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims says that it’s imperative to use hot styling tools at a minimum to prevent damage, which impacts how quickly your hair grows. “When you do apply heat, make sure to use a thermal protectant like got2b Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm ($7), which protects from heat and leaves hair glossy.”

Don’t Ignore Your Scalp
According to Nawrot, invigorating your scalp is a great way to get your hair to grow. She suggests brushing your hair with a natural fiber bristle brush to stimulate your scalp and gently exfoliate while distributing your own natural oils down the hair shaft to protect your ends naturally. Collins agrees, suggesting an at-home scalp treatment of massaging rosemary essential oil into your scalp three times a week.

Protect From UV Damage
“Protect your hair from the sun and elements,” says Nawrot, explaining that we should protect our locks from damaging UV elements every day—not just at the pool or the beach. To do this, we recommend Living Proof Restore Instant Protection ($26), which helps shield your locks all day long.