A-list hair stylist Anthony Nader gives his insider tips for growing a long, thick mane. Edited by Isabel Edwards-Brown.
How long does hair take to grow?
“Hair grows approximately one centimetre per month, or up to 15 centimetres a year.”
How often should I get my hair trimmed when I’m growing it?
“We’ve all heard people say: ‘I’m growing my hair so I’m not cutting it.’ In fact, if you don’t give those little whispers of split ends a nice tidy-up, the hair will only get worse and therefore when the time comes to get a haircut you may need to sacrifice more length. Give your treasured mane some love and always get a little snip every six to eight weeks, then the hair will grow strong and healthy.”
"Treatments are the key for maintaining beautiful lush and healthy hair. Keep in mind there are various kinds of treatments on the market for different hair types, which always require the consumer to read instructions on timing and application."
Cream Treatments
"These will always be your best friend, replenishing the goodness that the hair has lost over time in maintaining day-to-day hair rituals.”
Try: Aesop Rose Hair & Scalp Moisture Mask, $35.
Oil Treatments
"Perfect for dehydrated/coarse hair that will give your hair a kick start to make your locks super shiny and manageable."
Try: Kiehl's Silk Groom Serum, $28.
Protein Treatments
"Ladies, this is a life saver for those of you with overprocessed or coloured hair that is brittle and fragile."
Try: Bumble and bumble deeep protein treatment, $50.
"For blondes who want to give stressed-out hair a break for the cooler months, opt for a high-lift tint instead of bleach as tint doesn’t swell the hair cuticle as much, and therefore the condition will be better. Ask your hair colourist if this can work for you."
"Strange but true: when giving your locks a final rinse, do this with the coldest water temperature you can tolerate as this closes the hair cuticle and locks down the scales, which in turn promotes sheen and manageability."
“I’m a huge fan of Viviscal. In my 25 years of being a hairstylist this would have to be what I have found safe, and you do see results fast. There is always speculation regarding anything like this on the market and research is always best for what works for you at the end of the day. I work with models all the time and you can imagine the ‘hair workouts’ they get from day to day; it is crazy. I’ve seen the same girls from time to time and I personally have noticed a difference when they use Viviscal. Also a good old-fashioned head massage for a couple of minutes a day as there is nothing better than stimulation of the blood cells on the surface of the scalp, which keeps the motor running and promotes growth as well.”
I want my hair to be one length: how do I grow out layers?
“I always ask my clients how quickly they want to see the new change. If it’s now (literally) you would need to sacrifice length to meet the top layer. If you don’t want to take the plunge and want to go down the more subtle route, I encourage you to still bring up the length but keep shorter skimming layers so there is still a beautiful shape to frame the face.”
"Use a thermal ionic hairdryer as this cuts the drying time down so it doesn't scorch your hair as much as regular hairdryers."
Try: Anthony Nader Special Edition WAHL MEGASTAR 7000 Professional Hairdryer, $99.95.
"Be sure to use the right prescriptive colour shampoo and conditioner for your chemically treated hair as the wrong ingredients may cause loss of colour too soon."
How do I look after my hair to keep it healthy?
“Treatments are the key for maintaining beautiful lush and healthy hair. Keep in mind there are various kinds of treatments on the market for different hair types, which always require the consumer to read instructions on timing and application.
"Try not to shampoo hair too many times a week, otherwise you’re only washing your hard-earned dollars down the drain."
Try: Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, $72.
How long does it take to grow out a fringe, and how can I style it while it’s growing out?
“A fringe can take months to grow out, depending how aggressively or defined it was originally cut. However, when the time comes that you want to grow out last season’s look it’s really not that hard. Thanks to those global red carpet events that we glue our eyes to for celebrity inspirations, it can be fun growing out that fringe."
"Try options like a classic Audrey Hepburn thick black headband, or fashion icon Jackie Kennedy-Onassis’s timeless silk headscarf, or even braiding the front section around the face for that current movie star fresh look. Don’t be afraid to play around with these looks as it can give you a different look from day to day and be quite effortless.”
How long does hair take to grow?
“Hair grows approximately one centimetre per month, or up to 15 centimetres a year.”
How often should I get my hair trimmed when I’m growing it?
“We’ve all heard people say: ‘I’m growing my hair so I’m not cutting it.’ In fact, if you don’t give those little whispers of split ends a nice tidy-up, the hair will only get worse and therefore when the time comes to get a haircut you may need to sacrifice more length. Give your treasured mane some love and always get a little snip every six to eight weeks, then the hair will grow strong and healthy.”
"Treatments are the key for maintaining beautiful lush and healthy hair. Keep in mind there are various kinds of treatments on the market for different hair types, which always require the consumer to read instructions on timing and application."
Cream Treatments
"These will always be your best friend, replenishing the goodness that the hair has lost over time in maintaining day-to-day hair rituals.”
Try: Aesop Rose Hair & Scalp Moisture Mask, $35.
Oil Treatments
"Perfect for dehydrated/coarse hair that will give your hair a kick start to make your locks super shiny and manageable."
Try: Kiehl's Silk Groom Serum, $28.
Protein Treatments
"Ladies, this is a life saver for those of you with overprocessed or coloured hair that is brittle and fragile."
Try: Bumble and bumble deeep protein treatment, $50.
"For blondes who want to give stressed-out hair a break for the cooler months, opt for a high-lift tint instead of bleach as tint doesn’t swell the hair cuticle as much, and therefore the condition will be better. Ask your hair colourist if this can work for you."
"Strange but true: when giving your locks a final rinse, do this with the coldest water temperature you can tolerate as this closes the hair cuticle and locks down the scales, which in turn promotes sheen and manageability."
“I’m a huge fan of Viviscal. In my 25 years of being a hairstylist this would have to be what I have found safe, and you do see results fast. There is always speculation regarding anything like this on the market and research is always best for what works for you at the end of the day. I work with models all the time and you can imagine the ‘hair workouts’ they get from day to day; it is crazy. I’ve seen the same girls from time to time and I personally have noticed a difference when they use Viviscal. Also a good old-fashioned head massage for a couple of minutes a day as there is nothing better than stimulation of the blood cells on the surface of the scalp, which keeps the motor running and promotes growth as well.”
I want my hair to be one length: how do I grow out layers?
“I always ask my clients how quickly they want to see the new change. If it’s now (literally) you would need to sacrifice length to meet the top layer. If you don’t want to take the plunge and want to go down the more subtle route, I encourage you to still bring up the length but keep shorter skimming layers so there is still a beautiful shape to frame the face.”
"Use a thermal ionic hairdryer as this cuts the drying time down so it doesn't scorch your hair as much as regular hairdryers."
Try: Anthony Nader Special Edition WAHL MEGASTAR 7000 Professional Hairdryer, $99.95.
"Be sure to use the right prescriptive colour shampoo and conditioner for your chemically treated hair as the wrong ingredients may cause loss of colour too soon."
How do I look after my hair to keep it healthy?
“Treatments are the key for maintaining beautiful lush and healthy hair. Keep in mind there are various kinds of treatments on the market for different hair types, which always require the consumer to read instructions on timing and application.
"Try not to shampoo hair too many times a week, otherwise you’re only washing your hard-earned dollars down the drain."
Try: Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, $72.
How long does it take to grow out a fringe, and how can I style it while it’s growing out?
“A fringe can take months to grow out, depending how aggressively or defined it was originally cut. However, when the time comes that you want to grow out last season’s look it’s really not that hard. Thanks to those global red carpet events that we glue our eyes to for celebrity inspirations, it can be fun growing out that fringe."
"Try options like a classic Audrey Hepburn thick black headband, or fashion icon Jackie Kennedy-Onassis’s timeless silk headscarf, or even braiding the front section around the face for that current movie star fresh look. Don’t be afraid to play around with these looks as it can give you a different look from day to day and be quite effortless.”