Some methods to help your hair grow faster and stronger may include supplements, dietary changes, and topical ointments. That said, more research is needed to examine how the body regulates hair growth.
How fast does hair really grow?
You’re born with all the hair follicles you’ll ever have. Your head alone has about 100,000 follicles. As you age, some follicles stop producing hair, which is what causes baldness or hair thinning.
In total, the growth cycle for each hair on your scalp can take 2 to 6 years.
Hair growth speed depends on factors like your age, hair type, overall health, and certain medical conditions. Read on to learn what we know about the science behind hair growth and how to use that knowledge for healthier hair.
The stages of hair growth
Hair grows in three stages, and each strand of hair follows its own timeline:
- Anagen. The active growth phase of hair lasts 3–10 years.
- Catagen. The transition phase where hair stops growing lasts 2–3 weeks.
- Telogen. The resting phase where hair falls out lasts 3–4 months.
At any given time, the average scalp has 90 percent trusted Source of the hair follicles in the anagen phase, about 1 percent in the catagen phase, and about 9 percent in the telogen phase. The last group accounts for the approximately 100 to 150 strands of hair that fall out every day.
Can you increase the anagen phase for hair growth?
How long the anagen phase lasts depends on how long your hair is and if the cells in your follicle base are continuing to multiply and become hair cells.
Hair grows because matrix cells shed some of their structure as they reach the upper follicle. The shed structure combines with keratins to form hair strands that exit your skin’s surface.
Researchers are still looking into what triggers our bodies to switch on the anagen phase, and more studies are needed to know for certain what can be done to promote hair growth.
Still, there are steps you can take that may promote healthy hair during the anagen phase.
How to make your hair grow stronger
Hair is made up of keratin and dead skin cells.
While there’s no direct way to make your hair grow faster overnight, there are steps you can take to keep your hair healthy and long.
1. Keep up with vitamins and nutrients
While many companies promote vitamins or supplements for hair growth, they don’t always directly affect hair length. Your body requires a lot of energy to make your hair grow, so getting too few calories and certain nutrients can affect it.
Generally, it’s best to get your vitamins and nutrients from your diet. Still, you may also look into taking certain supplements — particularly if you have a deficiency.
Below are some of the nutrients commonly touted to promote hair growth and the science behind their efficacy:
