How fast does hair really grow?
You were born with all the hair follicles you will ever have. There are about 100,000 follicles in your head alone. As we age, some follicles stop producing hair, which causes baldness and thinning.
In total, the growth cycle of each hair on the scalp can last 2-6 years.
How fast your hair grows depends on the following factors:
age
hair type
general health
certain medical conditions
Research into how your body regulates hair growth at the cellular level is still being researched, and little is known about its potential to accelerate hair growth.
Read about the science behind hair growth and how to use this knowledge to keep your hair healthy.
Stages of hair growth
Hair grows in three phases and each hair strand is at its own time.
Anagen. The phase of active hair growth lasts 3-10 years.
Catagen. The transition period, when the hair stops growing, lasts 2-3 weeks.
Telogen. The rest period of hair loss lasts 3-4 months.
At any given time, about 90 percent of the hair follicles on the scalp are in the anagen phase, about 1 percent are in the catagen phase, and about 9 percent are in the telogen phase. The last group consists of approximately 100-150 hairs that fall out every day.
Can the anagen phase of hair growth be increased?
How long the anagen phase lasts depends on how long your hair is and whether the cells at the base of the follicle are multiplying and becoming hair cells.
When the matrix cells reach the upper follicle, they release part of their structure, so the hair grows. A shed structure combines with keratin to form hair fibers that protrude from the surface of the skin.
Researchers are studying what triggers our bodies to transition into the anagen phase, and more research is needed to know exactly what can be done to promote hair growth.
However, steps can be taken to keep hair healthy during the anagen phase.
How to grow strong hair
Hair is made up of keratin and dead skin cells.
There is no direct way to make your hair grow faster overnight, but there are steps you can take to keep your hair healthy and long.
- Take vitamins and nutrients regularly
Many companies promote vitamins or supplements for hair growth, but they do not directly affect hair length. Your body requires a lot of energy to grow your hair, so getting too few calories and certain nutrients can affect your hair.
In general, it is best to get your vitamins and nutrients from your diet. However, you may want to take some supplements, especially if you have a deficiency.
Below are some of the nutrients commonly used to promote hair growth and the science behind their effectiveness.