How Long Does It Take for Hair To Grow Back?

Few things in society are more sought after than a thick head of hair. Need proof? 73% of people would swap a prized possession for it if they could.

Sadly, hair loss is far from uncommon and occurs for a host of reasons. Age, hormones, genetics, medication, and numerous diseases can all cause hair to thin or fall out. A small minority of people even shave their heads for the sake of it!

The good news is that hair can and will regrow in many situations. But the question becomes: how long does it take for hair to grow back? And, more to the point, what can you do to speed things along?

Keep reading to learn the answers to these kinds of questions.

How Long Does It Take for Hair To Grow Back?

Alas, there’s no simple answer here. The honest truth is that it depends on a wealth of factors. Everything from the cause of the hair loss to your gender and how healthy your lifestyle is can impact the rate of regrowth.

But that’s not very helpful for someone looking for answers! You want something solid on which to focus your attention and set your expectations.

For that, it’s worth knowing that the average person’s hair tends to grow between 0.5 and 2cm per month (or thereabouts). In other words, it could take a number of years to regrow luscious locks that once sat at your shoulders.

It’s also worth mentioning that some hair loss is permanent (e.g. pattern/hereditary hair loss) and/or unpredictable (e.g. Alopecia). Depending on the cause, your hair may be unable to grow back or start re-growing at a seemingly random time.

Want the good news? There are plenty of steps you can take that may speed up the rate of regrowth! More on this in the next section.

How to Speed Up the Growing Phase

Waiting for hair to grow back is a bit like watching the kettle boil. It seems to take forever! Unlike waiting for the kettle, though, there are numerous things that could speed your hair follicles up a bit. Here are a few of the best options at your disposal:

Speak to the Doctor

Like all things medical, speaking with your GP’s always a good place to start- especially if you’re feeling worried and concerned.

Aside from providing reassurance, they’ll have all the expertise and insights required to offer practical solutions to the problem. You’ll be able to ask about supplements, diet, key nutrients you need, and general suggestions for how to get results.

Eat Right

A healthy, well-balanced diet’s important at the best of times. Yet it’s even more pivotal in your pursuit of rapid hair growth! In particular, vitamin C and iron should spur your follicles into action (and provide a wealth of other health benefits in the process).

Don’t forget to eat enough protein either. Most people think of protein in relation to growing muscles, but your hair’s actually made of a particular type of protein called keratin. That’s why you’ll struggle to grow hair as fast as you could otherwise if you lack protein in your diet.

Stay Stress-Free

Nothing good ever comes from excessive levels of stress. It’s distracting, Sleeping with wet hair distressing, and debilitating in equal measure. Worse still, it can interfere with your bid to recover from hair loss.

We won’t go into the technical (aka boring) biological details that explain this phenomenon right now. But it’s true: sustained levels of high stress can hinder your ability to grow hair at a normal rate. Want to grow your hair back as quickly as possible?

Avoid undue levels of stress and anxiety as if it were the plague.

Stop Smoking

A healthy lifestyle is one of the best weapons in your arsenal against hair loss. That’s why it makes logical sense to get out of habits that are as unhealthy as smoking. However, for anybody who needs more convincing, it’s worth knowing about the particular problems that cigarettes pose in relation to hair.

Have you noticed how heavy smokers always seem to have thin hair? Well, that’s no coincidence. Toxic chemicals in cigarettes reduce the flow of blood to hair follicles, which reduces their access to key nutrients. Over time that can lead to significant hair loss.

Take Supplements

An array of supplements and essential hair vitamins are helpful for growing hair quicker too. Filled with everything your hair wants and needs, they can both prevent hair loss and facilitate its growth.

You could also wash your hair with shampoos rich in keratin and vitamin E. And consider speaking with a specialist for advice on medicated shampoos that can help with certain scalp conditions.

Get a Head Massage

Who said this process had to be unpleasant!? One of the nicest ways to convince your hair to grow faster is by getting a head massage. It may sound fanciful, but a firm massage will send more blood to the area, which should stimulate your hair follicles thereafter.

Keep that in mind as you wash your hair each morning too. Massaging your scalp throughout the cleaning process should have a similar effect and spur your follicles into action.

How Fast Does Hair Grow? Now You Know

Everybody wants to walk around with a thick head of luscious locks. Unfortunately, though, that’s not how life works! People lose their hair for a plethora of reasons- many of which are totally outside their control.

It goes without saying that this is rarely a pleasant experience. Indeed, losing your hair can make you feel self-conscious, ashamed, and even embarrassed to go out in public. That’s why it makes total sense that people in this predicament start asking ‘how long does it take for hair to grow back?’

With any luck, the information in this post will have shed some light on that situation. Keep it in mind and you should be one step closer to finding answers and speeding up the process of regrowth.

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