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Home Beauty How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow? 5 Effective Tips

How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow? 5 Effective Tips

how long does it take for hair to grow

There are many factors that contribute to your hair growth. 

Small things like hormones, medications, scalp genetics, and diet might prevent you from getting long hair quickly. It can be especially frustrating to deal with, but there might be ways to speed up the process. Buying high-quality hair products is the first step in doing that.

Looking after your hair takes some time and dedication. Hair growth doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen in just one week. If you want to see big changes, follow our five best tips. We give you the details on how to grow out those locks in no time. 

You might be thinking, “So how long does it actually take?” 

In this article, you’ll discover how long it takes for the hair to grow and tips for supporting hair growth.

How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow?

Your hair will grow around 2–4 inches in just 4 months. This kind of hair growth may depend on your hormones, genetics, diet, and hair routine. Looking after your scalp might speed up the process, leading to a further 6–8 inches in 12 months.

Hair growth is completely different for everyone. People with thinning hair usually wait longer just to see physical changes. The natural growth cycle requires plenty of time to produce healthy hair. On average, you might have a maximum of 8 inches by the end of the year. 

Don’t forget that hair is always growing and responds to internal and external factors. For example, if you bleach your hair every month, it may not grow quickly due to the damage. Taking care of your scalp is very important for preventing hair loss or severe breakage. 

The exact hair growth rate depends on various factors, such as genetics and hair care routine. Improving your hair health is the only way to achieve fast results. You can talk to a professional trichologist or specialist who focuses on the hair growth cycle. 

Stages of Hair Growth

Hair growth usually has four distinct stages that occur throughout your life. These include anagen (the growing phase), catagen (the resting phase), and telegon (the resting phase). Each stage has a high mitotic rate that rapidly produces replicating hair cells.

The first stage is called anagen – the growing phase. This is when your hair cells rapidly divide and push club strands out of the hair follicles. Anagen is the most active phase that lasts around 3–5 years and produces at least 18 to 30 inches of full-length hair strands.

Catagen is the next phase – a short transitional moment in the cycle. This alerts the end of active hair growth and removes hair follicles from your blood supply and existing cells. A catagen phase only lasts around 10 days before moving on to the next stage. 

Now, moving onto the third stage, we have telogen. Your hair needs time to rest after growing for so long. This is why telogen is called the “resting” phase. The current hair strands are not actively growing but getting ready to fall out within the next 3 months or 100 days.

Exogen is the final phase in this hair growth cycle. This occurs when individual strands are released from hair follicles every 2–5 months. If you see any stray hairs around the house, that’s because of this phase. Your scalp is then ready to start the growth cycle all over again.

How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster: 5 Actionable Tips

There are certain ways you can make your hair grow quickly. To promote healthy hair growth, you need to understand what your scalp needs. Everyone is different and might experience a stronger active growth phase, so find the best tips that work for your daily routine. 

Let’s take a look at the four tips for making hair grow faster:

#1 Invest in good hair products

Quality hair care products may help your hair grow at a faster rate.

Shampoos or conditioners that contain ingredients like parabens, silicones, synthetic colors, phthalates, mineral oils, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) should be avoided. If you have curly hair, you should consider using co-wash instead of regular shampoo.

Certain ingredients like sulfates can promote severe hair loss. They damage fine strands of hair and make your scalp feel dry and sensitive. You should always check the label of your hair care products to ensure you’re not slowing down or prohibiting healthy hair growth. 

If you need guidance on what products to get, Moérie is the best place to start. They have tones of natural hair growth products that don’t contain drying alcohols, silicones, parabens, and sulfates. Moérie is a company that helps people grow long, thick hair in a sustainable amount of time.

You can buy their shampoo, conditioner, hair growth spray, or mask to replenish your scalp. Each product has 77 minerals, 18 amino acids, and 5 vitamins that add extra softness to hair follicles. Buying high-quality products from Moérie is one way to enhance your hair cycle.

#2 Start massaging your scalp

Most people never think to massage their scalp for strong hair growth.

Getting a scalp massage can increase hair thickness by opening up the follicles. If you gently rub your head for 5 minutes every day, you might notice stronger hair after 24 weeks. 

Gently massaging the scalp also stimulates blood vessels beneath the skin. These vessels help hair follicles to produce healthy hair and remove dead skin cells. You can do this relaxing technique during a hair wash to work the products into your scalp. 

#3 Eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated

Your diet may affect hair growth and how fast it grows over time. Eating junk food isn’t great for the body in general, but it actually hinders the production of your healthy hair growth cycle. This is due to the lack of essential nutrients in processed foods like takeaways and sugary desserts.

To prevent hair fall, try to buy products like eggs, berries, spinach, avocados, salmon, and chicken. Eating these foods will fuel your body with protein and vitamin C – two nutrients that help build collagen. Enough collagen leads to a healthy scalp that produces great lengths.

Drinking lots of water is also super important for hair growth. Having at least 0.5 gallons of water a day can strengthen your hair. The scalp needs moisture to reduce any split or brittle strands. Women should have around 8 cups of water daily, and men need around 10 cups. 

#4 Avoid heat styling

Heat damage is one of the main causes of hair loss. Too much heat may burn individual hair strands that snap straight away. Some follicles stop producing hair completely, leading to permanent hair fall. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t style your hair at all. 

Using heat protectant sprays and setting the styling tool to a low temperature may prevent any long-term hair damage. Just make sure to do this every now and then to avoid the possibility of brittle hair. If you want, stop using heated tools altogether and focus on other methods. 

For example, plait your hair while it’s wet and leave that overnight. This should give you soft waves in the morning, saving you plenty of time to get ready. Another good trick is to wrap damp hair around your dressing gown rope. Once dried, you can flaunt those long, bouncy curls.

#5 Get regular trims

Getting regular trims doesn’t make the hair grow faster, but it can prevent split ends from slowing down growth. Split ends slowly travel up the hair shaft, which leads to breakage and hair loss. Long strands that look thin at the ends will make your hair appear shorter. 

However, cutting broken strands will give you a healthy appearance. You can choose how much you want to remove every few weeks. Some people base the trim on how fast their hair grows. If your hair grows 1 inch each month, consider getting ½ inch off to maintain those strands.

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5 Effective Vitamins and Supplements for Hair Growth

Hair growth is only natural, but you can take supplements to enhance that. Certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients promote hair growth by strengthening the hair shaft.

Below, you’ll find vitamins and supplements to grow hair faster: 

#1 Selenium

Selenium-based supplements are great for improving your scalp health. This mineral kills the fungus that produces dandruff. Most dandruff treatments have selenium to reduce the appearance of white flakes. The fewer dead cells in your hair, the more likely it will grow quickly.

Any form of selenium may also prevent hair loss. It helps in the production of the thyroid hormones that regulate hair growth. The recommended dosage for this supplement is around 25 mcg to 50 mcg, but you might get more when eating foods like Brazil nuts and roasted ham. 

#2 Zinc

Zinc may promote healthy hair by repairing damaged strands. It keeps your oil glands functioning properly and replenishes any weakened follicles. This should encourage your hair to grow faster, so try taking at least 15–30 mg of this supplement daily. 

This nutrient also supports keratin – a protein that nourishes your hair shaft. Not getting enough zinc may lead to a deficiency in the body. To avoid this from happening, take zinc-based supplements that prevent hair loss, breakage, and a slow growth rate. 

#3 Vitamin D

Keratinocytes metabolize vitamin D in your skin and support keratin in the hair, nails, and skin cells. This helps regulate hair growth and shedding that follows the exogen phase. A lack of vitamin D in your system might stop hair strands from growing quickly.

Aim to consume 20–50 mg of vitamin D a day to strengthen your hair health. Some experts recommend eating foods that contain plenty of this vitamin. Salmon, tuna, sardines, orange juice, and cod liver oil supplements are great products to have on your diet. 

#4 Iron

Iron helps your body produce hemoglobin – a protein that carries oxygen to your red blood cells. This includes the cells that promote hair growth. Having an iron deficiency might cause hair loss in some people, so aim to get 18 mg of iron a day to prevent this from happening. 

Supplements containing iron also boost circulation in your roots. This encourages the hair to grow faster and longer over time. Always talk to a doctor before taking iron supplements, as they might trigger constipation in those with a very sensitive stomach.

#5 Collagen

Collagen supplements may regenerate hair follicles and prevent future hair loss. They can also thicken hair density, leading to more volume that gives you a radiant appearance. 

Any collagen supplement will have amino acids that build keratin – another protein for replenishing connective tissue layers. Your scalp is the foundation for building long locks. Taking collagen is one way to eliminate free radicals and form a protective coating on the hair shaft.

How many inches does hair grow in a year

FAQs

How many inches does hair grow in a year?

On average, hair grows around 6–8 inches every 12 months. This depends on factors like genetics, seasonal changes, hair care products, and hormonal changes. Some people might have slow-growing hair due to breakage, and others could even surpass 8 inches.

What makes your hair grow?

A balanced diet, proper hydration, massages, and high-quality haircare products are the best ways to make hair grow. Your hair grows when you take good care of it and use the right treatments for replenishment. Consume the right nutrients, and your hair will flourish in no time. 

Can hair grow 1 inch a month?

Yes, some hair might grow 1 inch in a month. This is mainly down to genetics and how that person takes care of their scalp. Hair grows at unique rates, so don’t worry if yours isn’t super fast. Any type of body hair requires time to properly grow through hair follicles. 

A Word From Our MD

Hair growth isn’t something that can happen overnight. It’s a dragged-out process that might take around 4 months just to grow 2–4 inches. Keeping your hair long and healthy requires plenty of care. Doing simple things like a scalp massage may boost how fast hair grows. 

You can also buy good hair care products, eat nutritious foods, drink plenty of water, take vitamin supplements, and get regular cuts. Combining all of this into one routine will surely make your hair feel amazing. Remember that hair requires care like other parts of your body.

One thing to note is that brushing wet hair might not be healthy. This can lead to breakage that won’t repair in just 12 months. Always let your hair naturally dry throughout or put it into a heatless hairstyle. Small changes like this may prevent hair loss now and in the future. 

Conclusion 

So, how long does it take for hair to grow?

Hair grows at a different rate for everyone. The average length is 2–4 inches every 4 months, but that can change with external and internal factors. You should take the right steps to strengthen your hair, like using high-quality products from a company like Moérie. 

Moérie has shampoos, conditioners, hair growth sprays, and hair masks that replenish your scalp. Each product has a unique hair-care formula that leaves the hair feeling soft.

Written by
Edibel Quintero, MD

Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel's goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.

how long does it take for hair to grow

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