We can’t all be Rapunzel.
However, there are plenty of ways we can care for our hair to promote hair growth.
While ladder-length hair is out of reach for most people, there's no set point at which all hair stops growing.
Instead, hair growth is the complex product of genetics, health, care, and even seasonal changes.
So, if you’re not too focused on what you can’t change, and want some long and thick hair growth tips, we’re here to help with the hair care side of things.
Because frankly, it’s what we know best, and it’s probably what you’re here for.
How Long Does Hair Typically Grow?
So, basically, depending on the factors I listed above (genetics, health, care and seasonal changes), the average hair growth rate is still around half an inch per month, which over the course of a year is about 6 inches.
There are three stages of hair growth:
Anagen - the growth phase (2-7 years)
Catagen - the transition phase (4-6 weeks)
Telogen - the resting phase (2-3 months)
Essentially, the idea behind increasing hair growth is to extend the hair growth phase, or rather stop it from prematurely moving into the resting phase before falling.
Your hair’s maximum length depends on the length of this growth cycle and that can be anywhere between 12-42 inches.
Factors Affecting Hair Growth
While there are some hair growth factors you can’t change like your age or genetics, however here are some factors you can impact:
Scalp Health: Repeat after me - hair health starts with the scalp. Keeping your scalp balanced can help your hair from prematurely entering the resting phase. When our scalp is overly oily or dry the dead skin, sebum and other buildup can block the hair follicle and impact its ability to grow. This is why we recommend both hydrating and exfoliating hair products below. Maintaining this balance is integral to achieving long, healthy hair!
Breakage and Damage: This is a pretty obvious one, but continuous damage from colouring, bleaching and heat styling will impact the ability of your hair to grow. Essentially, these processes damage the cuticle and can cause it to weaken to a point where it snaps, unless your hair is properly cared for.
Physical Health and Diet: Overall health and diet both have a huge impact on your hair growth. We aren’t qualified nutritionists, and believe these things should be assessed on a personal basis, however supplements that include Iron, Zinc, Biotin and Vitamin D are often encouraged to promote hair growth.
Stress: High stress can lead to conditions that accelerate the Anagen phase, and can even result in hair loss. When it comes to de-stressing, that’s all up to figuring out what works for you. Personally, we’re partial to a bit of a self care moment.
So then, what are the best products for hair growth?
Generally, gentle hair care that is suited to your hair type is always going to be your best bet. However, these products have been chosen to help you along with some of the factors we’ve mentioned above.
