How to Grow Your Hair for Your Wedding

Are you hoping to grow your hair out in time for your wedding? You're not alone. Whether their plan is to style your hair in soft, flowing waves, a neat chignon, or a modern high pony, so many brides-to-be spend the months leading up to their big day attempting to get longer, healthier hair. "The desire to grow hair out for a wedding is often rooted in trends and aesthetic preferences. Long hair is traditionally associated with femininity, romance, and elegance, which many brides aim to embody on their wedding day," notes Kindale Godbee, a hairstylist and salon owner. "Plus, longer hair provides more styling opportunities and versatility."

If you're newly-engaged and hoping to add some length to your hair before the big day, it's important to first recognize how much growth is actually possible before your ceremony and reception. Godbee, Olivia Garbin, a professional wedding hairstylist, and Dr. Brianna Diorio, the director of product education for Nutrafol, all agree that the average person can expect to see about six inches of hair growth over the course of a year. With that being said, Dr. Diorio also notes that factors like stress, hormones, and lifestyle can all impact whether or not this amount of growth is realistic for you. Working with a hairstylist ahead of the big day—and setting up a trial to ensure that your preferred hairstyle is actually feasible given the current length of your hair and projected growth—is the best way to ensure you'll be happy with your final look when the wedding arrives.

Ahead, our experts share their top tips for growing your hair out before your wedding. Follow their advice to achieve your healthiest, longest hair in time for your walk down the aisle.

Schedule regular appointments for hair trims.

It may seem counterintuitive, but our experts all agree that if you want to grow your hair out for your wedding, making regular trims part of your pre-nuptial beauty routine is key. Garbin notes that this step is especially important if you're prone to split ends. Godbee recommends getting an appointment on the books for every eight to twelve weeks, as regular trims "help prevent split ends, which can travel up the hair shaft and cause breakage," she explains. "By maintaining the health of your hair ends, you can avoid losing length due to damage."

Skip the daily wash and embrace a gentle hair-care routine.

Yes, you can still hop in the shower at the end of a long day, but plan to limit your cleansing and conditioning routine to just one or twice per week (or as few times as possible for your specific hair type). It might take a bit for your hair to get used to less frequent washings, but toughing it out now is what will help your future self love your wedding hair. Garbin suggests using a bi-weekly hair mask for extra hydration while Godbee suggests reaching for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. She also notes that it's best to avoid rough towel drying (use a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to dry your hair instead) and detangling with a wide-tooth comb.

Limit use of hot tools.

You may love to curl your hair at the beginning of the workweek, but Garbin says you'll want to put down that curling iron (or hair dryer, or flat iron) in the months leading up to the wedding—at least as much as possible. "If you do end up using heat, remember to use one layer of heat protectant per hot tool," she notes.

Reduce your stress.

Stress can have a huge impact on the health of your hair, Dr. Diorio notes, so reducing your levels as much as possible is important. Easier said than done when planning the biggest, most expensive party of your life, right? Try taking this advice from Dr. Diorio: "This is supposed to be a joyous and momentous time in your life, so try your best to avoid stress and focus on controlling what's in your control," she notes. This includes "taking a proactive approach towards hair health before you are full swing into wedding mode, and prioritizing self-care. "[It's important to have] you time that is separate from wedding planning mode," she adds. "This allows for vitamin rest and relaxation. [You should also] focus on the foundational aspects of your health, such as sleep, nutrient-dense foods, hydration, and movement."

Optimize hair growth from the inside out.

First and foremost, take a hard look at your diet. Dr. Diorio says to work on getting plenty of protein, Omega-3 fatty acid, and key vitamins into what you're consuming on a daily basis. Next, consider your supplement routine. Adding one specifically designed to promote hair growth, like Nutrafol's Women Hair Growth Supplements, is a good idea—and can potentially help speed up the growth process. "Everyone's experience is different, but in our clinical studies, women showed results in three to six months," Dr. Diorio notes, which means you could achieve longer, healthier hair in time for a wedding happening as soon as this summer.

Another important tip? Make sure you're getting enough water, as Godbee notes that proper hydration is another key factor in growing your hair.

Give it time, but remember that you have other options, too.

Unfortunately, growing hair takes time, so be patient and trust the process. It's best to begin a hair-growth regimen at least a year before your wedding date, but you can see changes to health and volume in as little as three months. And if you don't have that kind of time? Don't fret. Garbin notes that there are tons of high-quality extension options available, and a great stylist will be able to seamlessly blend them in with your hair. "If you would rather keep to only your natural hair then I would say to have a trial with your stylist early on so you can visualize how much more length you need to achieve your goal," she adds. "Your stylist can guide you with alternative styles that have a similar vibe but are more achievable if there isn't enough time to grow your natural hair."