How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow Back?

Are you tired of waiting forever for your hair to grow back? It can be frustrating to deal with slow hair regrowth, especially when you’re eager for a fresh new look or trying to recover from a not-so-great haircut. 

If that’s the case, you need to know that about 100 to 150 strands of hair are shed from our scalp every day, and it takes time for new strands to emerge. 

How Fast Does Hair Grow?

Hair growth is a gradual process that varies from person to person. On average, human hair growth occurs at about 0.35 mm per day. This is about half an inch (1.25 centimeters) per month and 6 inches (15 centimeters) per year. However, hair growth rates can be influenced by several factors, including genetics, age, health, and hair care practices.

For example, if you have a genetic predisposition for faster hair growth, you may notice your hair growing at a slightly quicker rate compared to others. Similarly, individuals in their prime youth and adolescence stages generally experience faster hair growth compared to older adults.

The overall health of your body plays a vital role in new hair growth as well. Nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, and your general scalp health can affect hair growth in different ways.

Here are some other factors that determine the speed of healthy hair growth in humans: 

• Hair care practices
• Over-styling
• Excessive heat exposure
• Harsh chemical treatments
• Medications and treatments
• Stress levels
• Improper brushing or handling
• Lack of proper scalp care

Factors Affecting Hair Regrowth

Every single strand of hair is unique. Even though hair types are usually categorized into 3 major groups based on ethnicity, every individual has their own genetics, lifestyle choices, or habits. Therefore, there are countless variations within each category of hair and the way it grows depends on a wide range of factors.

The following are the key factors that play a significant role in the way your hair regrows:

• Genetics – Genetics plays a significant role in determining our susceptibility to hereditary hair loss, also known as female or male pattern baldness. This condition is influenced by specific genes inherited from our parents and can result in gradual hair thinning and loss over time. The genetic makeup of the hair determines characteristics such as hair density, texture, thickness, color, and growth patterns.

• Nutrition – While nutritional deficiencies also promote hair loss, the growth of our hair follicles depends on different types of vitamins and nutrients. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins provides the necessary building blocks for hair follicles to regenerate and produce new strands. For example, low levels of vitamin D is associated with hair loss. Studies also prove that omega 3 and 6, pumpkin seed oil, zinc and other nutritional supplements can help you treat hair loss. 

• Sex  – Biological differences between males and females also influence hair growth cycles. Hormonal variations between genders can affect hair thickness, distribution, and susceptibility to certain conditions like pattern hair loss. 

In particular, androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss is a condition when your immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicle. It typically involves receding hairlines and thinning at the crown area and is common in men. On the other hand, a condition known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is characterized by gradual hair thinning over the crown and frontal scalp and is more typical in women.

• Age – As we age, changes in the hair growth patterns occur, and the rate of hair growth slows down. Over time, hair follicles gradually stop producing hair altogether, resulting in the presence of dead hair follicles.  This process is influenced by various factors, including hormonal changes, decreased melanin production, and the natural aging process of the body. 

• Stress levels – Stress levels can have a significant impact on our hair health, leading to conditions such as telogen effluvium or stress-related hair loss. When we experience high levels of stress, it can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, pushing more hair follicles into the resting phase (telogen), causing excessive shedding. One way to relieve stress is to perform a scalp massage to encourage blood flow and promote hair growth.

• Hair care practices – Gentle handling and regular cleaning of the hair and scalp help remove dirt, excess oils, and product buildup. As a result, your hair grows in a clean and healthy environment. To stimulate hair follicles, it is important to avoid over-styling, excessive heat exposure, and harsh chemical treatments, as they can damage the hair shaft.

• Medical conditions – Conditions that affect blood vessels, such as scalp conditions or autoimmune disorders, can impair the delivery of essential nutrients to hair roots, leading to thinning hair or hair loss. Addressing the medical condition itself and promoting a healthy scalp environment can support the follicles’ growth and provide optimal conditions for hair rejuvenation.

How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow Back?

Anyone who has experienced hair loss is curious about the specific timeline for regrowing their hair. Let’s explore how your hair grows under different circumstances.

Shaving and Waxing

Shaving and waxing are common hair removal methods that can have an impact on the regrowth process. When we shave or wax, we remove hair from the surface, but it does not affect the hair shaft beneath the skin. 

Contrary to popular belief, shaving or waxing does not directly affect the rate or thickness of hair regrowth. Believe it or not, this myth was debunked years ago, but somehow, people still believe that shaving can make hair grow back thicker or faster. 

The truth is that hair regrowth after shaving or waxing is determined by the natural hair growth cycle and individual genetics, rather than the method of hair removal itself. Still, in general, it can take up to 2 weeks to see any stubble after waxing.

What about the appearance of thicker regrowth?

It may be due to the blunt tip of the hair that emerges after shaving, giving the illusion of increased thickness. Still, these practices can support scalp health by exfoliating the skin and promoting a clean environment for hair follicles. Using a hair serum or other scalp treatments can further nourish and strengthen the hair.

After Haircut

After getting a haircut, you might wonder how long it takes for your hair to grow back. Many people believe that cutting your hair can stimulate faster growth. But in reality, your hair grows at the scalp and is not affected by the act of trimming the ends.

This means that instead of just cutting your hair, you need to support healthy regrowth. For this, you need proper cleansing of the scalp, nourishment, and avoidance of excessive heat or chemical treatments. That’s how you can create an environment that promotes healthy hair growth. So, while a haircut can give your hair a fresh look, the time it takes to grow back depends on various factors beyond the act of cutting.

Hair Loss

Pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss that affects both men and women. It is characterized by a progressive thinning of hair on the scalp, usually in a predictable pattern. 

In men, this type of hair shedding typically starts with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown, while women may experience overall thinning throughout the scalp. This shedding phase is primarily influenced by genetics and hormonal factors.

Unfortunately, individuals permanently lose hair under this condition. While you can’t regrow hair, you can still slow down the process and manage it through various treatment options such as medication, topical solutions, or hair transplantation.

After Chemotherapy

After chemotherapy, it is normal to experience hair loss due to the effects of the treatment. The reason is that chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, including both cancer cells and healthy cells in the scalp and other areas of the body. This results in rapid hair loss.

As the medication attacks these follicles, the hair enters a shedding phase, leading to significant hair loss. However, once chemotherapy is completed, the follicles gradually transition back to an active growth phase. It is common to notice fine, soft hair initially, followed by thicker, more pigmented hair regrowth. The timeline for regrowth varies from a few weeks to a few months. 

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can affect the normal growth of hair and lead to hair fall. 

For example, telogen effluvium is a condition characterized by excessive shedding of hair, usually caused by physical or emotional stress. While it can be distressing, the good news is that telogen effluvium is often temporary, and hair growth typically resumes once the underlying cause is addressed.

On the other hand, conditions like alopecia areata and scalp psoriasis result in more permanent hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss. Scalp psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the scalp and may also contribute to hair loss.

What Makes Fast Hair Growth?

If you’ve experienced excess hair loss or are simply seeking to boost the speed at which your hair grows, chances are that you’re looking for ways to stimulate your hair growth. Here are several strategies you can try:

• Use rice water for hair – Rice water is a natural remedy known for its nourishing properties. Applying rice water to the hair can help improve its strength and elasticity, leading to healthier and potentially faster hair growth.

• Massage your scalp – Massaging your scalp helps stimulate blood circulation, which brings essential nutrients to the hair follicles. This increased blood circulation nourishes the follicles and promotes the growth of new hair from the hair shafts.

• Low-level laser therapy  – LLLT is a non-invasive treatment that involves exposing the scalp to low levels of laser light. This therapy is believed to stimulate hair growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles. You can incorporate LLLT by using specific medical tools such as Kiierr Laser Cap into your daily routine.

• Practice good hair care – Taking care of your hair by using gentle shampoos, conditioners, and styling products suitable for your hair type can help maintain its health. 

• Receive keratin supplements – Keratin is a protein that makes up the structure of hair. Taking keratin can help improve the strength and quality of your hair, potentially promoting faster growth. 

Average Hair Regrowth Times

Hair regrowth occurs in distinct phases, and each phase has its own duration. Therefore, the average hair regrowth times vary based on which phase the hair is in. 

According to StatPearls, there are 3 phases of hair growth:

• Anagen Phase (growth) – This is the active growth phase when hair follicles are actively producing new hair. The duration of this phase determines how long the hair can grow. On average, the anagen phase lasts 3 to 10 years.
• Catagen Phase (transition) – This is a transitional phase where the hair follicles shrink and detach from the blood supply. It lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks.
• Telogen Phase (rest) – During this phase, hair follicles are in a dormant state and hair sheds naturally. The telogen phase lasts approximately 3 to 4 months.

Studies have shown that, on average, Asian hair grows slightly faster compared to other ethnicities. However, it’s essential to remember that individual variations exist, and factors such as overall health, hair care practices, and any underlying conditions can also influence growth rates.

Conclusion

As you can see, the process of hair regrowth is unique to each individual and can be influenced by a wide range of factors, such as genetics, health, and hair care practices. While there is no fixed timeline for hair to grow back, understanding the different phases of hair growth and the factors that affect them can help you make the most of the regrowth process. 

Remember that hair falls out as part of its natural cycle and that promoting a healthy scalp environment can support the growth of new hair. Whether you’re recovering from a haircut, experiencing hair loss, or going through specific treatments, patience and consistent care are key. 

Frequently Asked Questions