Help with hair growth?

My hair grows so slowly. In the last three years, it has probably grown about 5 inches total, so with trims, it looks about the same length from year to year. I let my ends get really dead in these last few months, as I was too afraid to cut it. Finally, my mom convinced me to get my dead ends cut off...well they took off three inches! So basically, right now, it is collarbone length. This is really disappointing because all the growing out I've tried to do has gone down the drain. I also like to wear my hair up in ponytails and I think they look stupid with such short hair. Back to square one, I guess. I actually cried in the middle of the beauty salon.

Anyways, do you have any tips to make hair grow faster? Is there a way to do it?