You probably know people whose hair seems to grow overnight, going from short locks to a luscious, flowing mane in a matter of months.
Meanwhile, growing out your post-breakup pixie cut seems to take forever.
Although it's true that there's some variation in the rate at which hair grows, this difference isn't nearly as pronounced as you might think.
To work out how long it takes for hair to grow you first need to understand the hair growth cycle, which in turn can help you manage your hair's growth
So, if you’re wondering how to get your hair to grow longer, you might also want to pick up a few of these fantastic hair growth products.
So...How Long Does It Take for Hair To Grow?
All hair follows a natural growth cycle. While it might look like all your hair is growing simultaneously, some hairs are growing while others are actually resting. 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)
After the resting phase the hair eventually falls and the cycle is complete. The idea with hair growth is to prolong the growth phase, however hormonal changes, health issues, and genetics can all disrupt the hair-growth cycle.
How fast does my hair grow?
On average our hair only grows about half an inch per month, with variations of a quarter inch to half inch in either direction. If you are wondering how long it takes for hair to grow, here’s how much you should expect to see in these time frames:
4 months of hair growth: 2-4 inches
9 months of hair growth: 4-6 inches
1 year of hair growth: 6-8 inches
Of course, a number of factors can make hair growth appear faster or slower. Things that cause variations in hair growth include (but are not limited to): hair and scalp health, seasonal changes, medications, diet, as well as pregnancy and childbirth.
How to get your hair to grow longer:
Beyond these variations, it can be difficult to get your hair to grow longer. However, if your hair is struggling because of your hair health, there are ways to bring it back from the brink and promote healthy hair growth.