How Fast Does Hair Grow?

Last Updated on September 25, 2023 by Emily

Hair grows at different rates for different people. The average rate of growth is about half an inch per month. However, depending on various factors, some people may experience faster or slower growth. These can include genetics, diet, health, and age.

Some people may try to speed up their hair growth with unique treatments or products, but no scientific evidence supports these claims. Hair grows fastest when a person is young and slows down with age. Therefore, it is unlikely that an adult will be able to grow their hair significantly quicker than the average rate. However, taking good care of your hair and scalp can help to promote healthy growth and prevent breakage. This can give the appearance of faster growth.

The average person has about 100,000 hair follicles on their head. With each strand capable of growing around 20 hairs in a person’s lifetime, that’s a lot of hair! But how fast does hair grow? Let’s find out by understanding the Growth cycle and other factors on which hair growth depends upon

Factors on Which Hair Growth Depends

The Hair Growth Cycle/Phases:

Hair growth happens in three phases: The anagen phase, the catagen phase, and the telogen phase.

1. The anagen phase is the active growth phase, where the hair cells divide rapidly. This phase can last anywhere from 2-8 years and is determined by genetics.
2. The catagen phase is a transitional phase where the hair follicle shrinks. This phase lasts about 2-3 weeks.
3. The telogen phase is the resting phase, where the hair follicle rests for about 2-4 months. After the resting period, the cycle begins anew with the anagen phase.

On average, hair grows about 1/2 an inch per month. However, this can vary depending on age, health, and diet. For example, damage to the hair follicles can cause slower growth or even stop growth altogether.

Hair Growth Rate and Genetics:

How fast your hair grows has a lot to do with genetics. If your parents and grandparents had long, thick hair, chances are you will too. On the other hand, if they had short, thin hair, you’re likely to inherit those traits as well.

Diet/Nutrition Affect on Hair Growth:

Your diet also plays a role in how fast your hair grows. If you’re not getting enough protein, your hair may grow more slowly or even fall out. In addition, certain vitamin deficiencies can cause slowed hair growth or even balding. These include deficiencies in vitamins A, B5, C, and E.

Affect of illness on Hair Growth:

Certain medical conditions can also affect the rate of hair growth. For example, thyroid problems can cause the body to produce too much or too little of the hormone thyroxine, leading to slowed or halted hair growth. Alopecia aerate is another condition that can cause patchy baldness on the scalp (and sometimes on other parts of the body).

There is no single cure for alopecia areata, but treatments such as corticosteroids and minoxidil have been shown to promote hair growth in some people with this condition.

How to Prevent Hair from Growing Back Too Fast?

You can do a few things to prevent your hair from growing back too fast.

1. Soy Consumption: Consuming soy products can help to slow down the growth of hair. This is because soy contains flavones, which are known to block the production of the hormone testosterone.
2. Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps to regulate the production of testosterone in the body. Therefore, consuming foods rich in vitamin A (such as carrots and sweet potatoes) can help prevent too much testosterone from being produced, which in turn can help slow down hair growth.

   

3. Hair Removal Creams: Hair removal creams contain chemicals that damage the hair follicle, making it difficult for hair to grow back. Therefore, using these creams can help to slow down hair growth.

   

4. Spearmint Tea: Spearmint tea has been shown to reduce the production of testosterone in the body. This, in turn, can help to slow down hair growth.
5. Hairstyles: Avoid tight hairstyles that can pull on the hair and damage the follicles.
6. Avoid hot tools: Avoid hot tools such as curling irons and blow dryers, which can damage the hair.