Growing hair is one of those things you do not think about; like breathing or blinking, it just happens — your body knows how to do it without any input from you.

But fall victim to a terrible hair cut or suddenly decide you want to have flowing locks for your upcoming wedding and all you want to know is how to make your hair grow faster. There are some strategies you can try to pick up the snail’s pace of natural hair growth, which is roughly half an inch a month, more or less, or about five to six inches a year.

First, you probably already know that you need to eat better, after all, most of us choose foods with too much fat, salt, sugar, preservatives and little in the way of nutrition. And you know what? Your hair knows it too. Follicles that are deprived of proper nutrition will deteriorate or function at a sub-standard rate, same as the rest of our bodies. Undernourished follicles are sluggish and will struggle to produce healthy hair, meaning it not only grows more slowly but what does grow will not be as strong as it could be. Strong hair obviously will not break off as easily as weak hair.

Next, boost your circulation. Hair follicles thrive on blood, so regular scalp massage will help bring more of it to the area. Exercise also improves circulation all over your body, scalp included.

While you are adding nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits and legumes to your diet, add some hair-helping supplements, too. B vitamins are essential for hair growth, so are antioxidants such as vitamin C. And gotu kola and saw palmetto are great hair growth herbs.

Another way you can help your hair reach great lengths is to keep it as healthy as possible. When handling your hair, be it washing it or untangling it or styling it, be gentle! Yanking at knots, for instance, is a sure way of damaging your strands by creating split ends if you don’t rip them off altogether. Give it a deep conditioning as needed and try an easy apple cider vinegar hair treatment for added nutrients and shine.

Lastly, don’t expect miracles. Sure, miracles may, and do, happen in life, but your hair is not going to start sprouting like weeds that shoot up so fast you can practically see them growing. Just do the right things, try not to dwell on it and your hair will grow healthier and faster.