How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow? Tips and Ideas

We’ve all had a moment when we cried over our hair. Maybe a haircut went too short, or our hair got damaged from too much bleach. Sometimes, we even lose hair because of something unexpected. So, how quickly can hair grow back? Keep reading for simple tips to help your hair grow faster.

How fast does hair grow?

Hair growth is different for everyone and usually grows about 0.2 to 0.7 inches a month. This means some people’s hair can grow three times faster than others. Our hair grows from tiny holes in our skin called follicles.

We have about 5 million of these follicles all over our bodies, with around 100,000 on our heads. The hair starts growing from a root in the follicle, made of living cells. As it grows, it passes an oil gland and then comes out of the skin.

Once the hair is out, it’s no longer alive, which is why getting a haircut doesn’t hurt. However, pulling a hair out by the root can sting a bit.

Three phases of hair growth

As we’ve noted, hair growth is cyclic, not simultaneous. Each strand of hair on your head is in one of three stages at any given time:

• Anagen: the active growth phase, lasting between 2 to 7 years, where hair grows longer.
• Catagen: a brief transition phase lasting about 4 to 6 weeks. Here, hair growth slows and the hair follicle shrinks.
• Telogen: the resting phase, lasting about 2 to 3 months. After this, hair falls out and new hair begins to grow in its place, restarting the cycle.

Hair grows in three main stages: the anagen stage is when hair is actively growing, the catagen phase is a short transition period, and the telogen phase is when hair rests. Normally, you lose up to 100 hairs a day because about 8% of your hair is in the resting phase at any given time.

Hair growth times vary depending on where on your body the hair is. Scalp hair can grow for 2 to 6 years and grows about 6 inches per year. It then spends 2 to 3 weeks in the transition phase and around 100 days resting.

Other types of body hair, like eyelashes, eyebrows, and leg hair, have a much shorter growth phase of about 30 to 45 days, which is why they are shorter than scalp hair. They also rest longer, meaning we don’t lose them as quickly.

After the rest phase, the hair eventually falls out, and the cycle starts over. Ideally, you want to extend the growth phase. However, hormonal changes, health issues, and genetics can all disrupt the hair growth cycle.

Note: Typically, 90-95% of hair follicles on the scalp are in the anagen phase, indicating that only about 5-10% are in the telogen phase. This accounts for the daily loss of approximately 100-150 hairs.

Factors that affect hair growth

Several factors can affect hair growth, some of which we can control and others we can’t. Everyone’s hair is different, and many factors can affect how quickly it grows.

These include: 

• Sex: Male hair grows quicker than female hair.
• Genetics: A person’s genes will show how quickly their hair will grow.
• Age: Hair grows fastest between the ages of 15 and 30 before slowing down. Some follicles stop working altogether as people get older. This is why some people get thinner hair or go bald.
• Nutrition: Healthy nutrition is essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair. 
• medications
• hormonal changes 
• trauma that damages follicles
• stress
• other diseases or conditions 

Note: It’s also necessary to note that you should schedule an appointment with your doctor if you encounter unexplained and severe hair loss, as certain illnesses and health conditions can cause hair loss.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium happens when stress helps the hair roots to enter the telogen stage of the hair cycle too early. It can mean that as many as 70% of scalp hairs fall out within about two months.

People experiencing telogen effluvium usually find that their hair comes out in handfuls. It is usually most obvious on the scalp but can affect any part of the body.

Common causes of telogen effluvium include:

• high fever
• childbirth
• severe illness
• severe infection
• not eating enough protein
• surgery
• the overactive or underactive thyroid gland

Several medications can also cause telogen effluvium. These include: 

• antidepressants
• beta-blockers
• retinoids
• calcium channel blockers
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen

Telogen effluvium will normally clear up on its own once a person has tried the treatment for the cause.

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the amount of shedding tends to decrease over around 6–8 months.

Factors that slow hair growth

Factors that can slow the rate of hair growth include: 

• anorexia or bulimia (eating disorders)
• crash diets
• stress
• vitamin deficiencies
• smoking

Scalp influences hair growth

Believe it or not, your scalp is super important for hair growth, but it doesn’t happen overnight.

Rough brushes and strong hair products can be bad for your scalp. So, it’s really important to be kind to it.

To keep your scalp healthy, do simple things like using a shower filter to get rid of chlorine, choosing shampoos without sulphates, and washing your hair well.

Using hot tools too much or too close to your scalp can make hair weak at the roots and stop it from growing. Try to use them less often.

Sometimes, your scalp has to deal with tough stuff from the environment, but you can protect it by following these easy steps.

• Condition your hair every time you shampoo
• Damp hair is super fragile, so use a wet brush on it to avoid damage
• Use silk pillowcases instead of cotton
• Prevent breakage by using a light hair towel to help hair dry faster
• Use masks and treatments

Tips for quickening hair growth

As we talked about, you can’t really make your hair grow faster than it naturally does. But, taking good care of your hair, skin, and overall health might help your hair grow a little bit faster and with less damage. This means you might end up with longer hair, even if it’s not growing any quicker.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating poorly can make your hair grow slower and be less healthy, leading to more breakage. Eating a balanced diet usually provides enough nutrients for strong, healthy hair.

To give your hair an extra boost, include more nuts, seeds, oils, beans, and whole grains in your meals.

Foods help hair grow faster.

Are you trying to grow your hair longer for a special occasion? The answer just might be your diet. Hair craves nutrition, so a balanced diet filled with many nutrients will keep it healthy and happy.

If you want longer hair, stock up on any (or all) of the following powerful foods:

• Eggs
• Salmon
• Berries
• Nuts
• Beans
• Whole grains
• Avocados
• Sweet potatoes
• Olive oil
• Fish
• Foods rich in protein, biotin (vitamin H) and omega-3

Take supplements

If you’re worried your diet might not have everything you need for healthy hair, think about taking supplements. Hair omega supplements are key for growth. They give your hair’s roots proteins and fats, helping your scalp stay healthy.

You also need vitamins and minerals like biotin, vitamin B, A, C, E, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium.

These nutrients help your hair grow strong and less likely to break. Instead of buying these one by one, you can find products like SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins that have all these good things in one package.

Use protein

Protein makes your hair strong and keeps it safe from damage. If you use hot tools or style your hair a lot, protein treatments can help. You can buy them or use coconut oil at home. Coconut oil is good for your hair before and after you wash it.

But, eating too much protein can be bad for your kidneys and might make your hair weak, but this doesn’t happen often.

It’s better to eat foods with protein, such as nuts, yogurt, and veggies, instead of taking supplements.

Take keratin supplements

There are not many studies on the effects of protein, keratin, and vitamins on hair health. One study looked at a product that had 500 milligrams of keratin and other vitamins and minerals. The group that took the supplement showed:

• 12.5 per cent reduction in hair loss
• 5.9 per cent improved in hair strength
• improved hair brightness and lustre

Maintain a proper hair care routine

You’ll find plenty of products on the market designed to nourish your hair and help prevent split ends and breakage.

A quality conditioner, such as SheaMoisture Hair Conditioner, is a decent place to start. We would also suggest using a hair mask once every two to four weeks. You would love Il Salone Milano Hair Mask.

Apply essential oils

Put a few drops into your shampoo or dilute it with jojoba oil. One research showed that pumpkin seed increases hair count for men with hair damage by 40 percent.

Avoid applying essential oils directly to your skin. You can dilute the oil with a few drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.

Two other oils that may help include rosemary and peppermint oil. Results suggest that these oils may benefit hair growth.

You can also mix these essential oils with other carrier oils that prevent hair damage, such as:

• mineral
• coconut
• castor
• sunflower

Use Topical Ointments

Topical ointments are usually for people experiencing hair loss. They may improve your hair grow. Researches show that these products are useful in treating alopecia, or hair loss, and promoting hair growth:

• Propecia
• topical melatonin reduces hair loss and increases hair density
• topical minoxidil 5 per cent slows hair loss
• ketoconazole shampoo

Avoid heat styling where possible.

Heat damage is actual. Hair that’s often straightened using flat irons, curled with a curling wand or blow-dried is more inclined to damaged ends and breakage than hair that’s never or only occasionally heat styled.

 We know it’s not always possible to avoid heat styling altogether but avoid it as much as possible if you want your hair to grow faster.

Caffeinate your Follicles

Studies are still new on the effects of caffeine on hair growth, but research found that caffeine may have growth-promoting effects on hair. Using hair products with caffeine as an ingredient may help.

Trim your hair regularly

Sometimes it can seem as though your hair growth has declined to a stop, but it usually just means that your hair is breaking off at a rate roughly equal to the speed at which it’s growing.

It might seem counterintuitive to cut your hair when you want it to grow longer, but regular trims help keep the ends of your hair in good condition, preventing split ends and breakage, which can lead your hair to stop gaining length.

So, grab those hair scissors and give your hair a trim, or go to a hairdresser who you can trust not to take too much off. You only need to trim around an eighth of an inch off the end once every 10 to 12 weeks to stop split ends before they become an issue and to halt breakage in its tracks.

The Bottom Line

Hair growth varies from person to person due to factors like sex, genetics, and age. Hair grows from follicles in the skin, with blood vessels nourishing the roots to promote growth. The rate of hair growth can’t be easily changed, but maintaining a balanced diet rich in protein can support healthy hair. If you’re worried about hair loss, consult your doctor.

Let us know if you have any feedback or tips to improve this article!