How Long Does It Take For Hair To Grow?

How Much Does Your Hair Grow In A Month?

On average, your hair grows about ½ inch per month, adding up to half a foot of hair growth per year. However, this rate of growth can be slowed and disrupted by a number of factors. In this post, we’ll cover some of the ways that hair growth can be slowed, as well as the steps you can take to keep your growth rate from being inhibited by these factors.

The Hair Growth Cycle

Hair growth occurs in three stages – the anagen stage, catagen stage, and telogen stage. These three stages all occur in a cycle as your hair periodically moves from growth to rest, then back into growth. The stages of your hair’s growth cycle can be significantly influenced by factors like stress, hormones, aging, and genetics.

• In the anagen stage, your hair is actively getting longer.
• The catagen stage is the transitional period that occurs as your hair’s growth slows down and your follicles start resting.
• In the telogen stage, your hair follicles rest from growth.

If your hair’s natural cycle of growth is disrupted, you may notice your hair growing in much smaller increments or not growing at all. In addition, if you are dealing with hair loss, the telogen stage of your hair’s growth cycle may be extended to be much longer than the anagen stage. This means that your hair may still grow in some parts of your head, but that growth can be much more sporadic and slow.

How Stress Can Impact Hair Growth 

If you are experiencing chronic stress, there are a number of ways that your hair’s growth cycle can be affected. The hormones released by your body when you are stressed can have a profound impact on hair growth. Some hormones, such as cortisol, can trigger your hair follicles to shrink when they are produced excessively. 

Stress and the hormones your body produces when you experience it can also trigger the development of a form of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss prompts your hair to spend more time resting than growing, which can lead to shorter, thinner growth and even hair loss in certain parts of your head. Telogen effluvium is typically treatable, and its symptoms often become less severe as you reduce the stress-inducing factors in your life.

The Bottom Line: It can be tough to manage stress, but doing whatever you can to keep it from ruling your life is worth it for the sake of your hair and your overall health. If you are chronically stressed, your hair may grow much slower, and you may even experience thinning and hair loss.

How Hormones Can Impact Hair Growth 

One of the primary causes of hair loss for millions of adults is a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the main cause of a form of hair loss called androgenic alopecia, which is the most common form of hair loss in adults. Over 50% of men and 25% of women over the age of 50 suffer from androgenic alopecia. This type of hair loss can slow your hair growth down and cause significant thinning and partial baldness in certain parts of your head.

For the majority of your early life, DHT is a hormone that serves important purposes within your body and will not interfere with your hair’s growth rate. DHT is an androgen, part of a set of hormones that regulate masculine physical and sexual characteristics. DHT and other androgens are found in higher levels in the bodies of men than in women, but the bodies of both sexes produce androgens. 

The production of DHT surges during puberty to aid in the significant physical transformations that occur at this point in adolescence. However, the hormone’s production in your body can continue increasing long after puberty has ended. Increased production of DHT as you age can eventually interfere with your hair’s growth cycle, often leading to the development of androgenic alopecia.

Unlike some other forms of hair loss, androgenic alopecia does not cause a person to go completely bald. Instead, it typically affects certain sections of a person’s head, causing these areas to lose hair in significant amounts. DHT-related hair loss often leads to the classic “balding” look that is common in middle-aged men. For women, the condition can cause significant thinning at the hairline and in the divide between the two sections of hair on the top of the head.

What Can Be Done To Speed Up Hair Growth? 

If your hair’s growth rate has been slowed by stress, hormones, or other factors, there are a few simple, practical steps that you can take to get growth back on track.

In addition, it’s important to note that everyone’s hair growth and hair loss are unique and that the same solutions may not work for everyone. There are numerous types of hair loss, and each type can have unique causes and treatments. If you are unsure about the causes of your hair loss, talk to your doctor or dermatologist, who can offer expert advice about how to approach treatment. 

Care For Your Hair With DHT-Blocking Products 

GroMD’s products are designed to naturally inhibit the production of DHT, the hormone that is primarily responsible for the most common form of hair loss. If your hair growth has been slowed by DHT-related hair loss, using our shampoo, conditioner, and follicle activator spray can help to hydrate and nourish your hair, and these products can play integral roles in your hair loss prevention regimen. 

Our products are made with our signature blend of DHT blockers, including saw palmetto, caffeine, stinging nettle, Korean red ginseng, pumpkin seed extract, and many more. These ingredients’ impacts on DHT production and hair growth have been thoroughly researched. You can find more information about them and the other DHT-blocking ingredients in our products by clicking here.

By using GroMD products every day, you can help to combat the follicle-shrinking, growth-slowing effects of DHT. You can also pair our shampoo, conditioner, and follicle activator spray with minoxidil, one of the most effective hair loss prevention treatments on the market. Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical treatment, and you can get it without a prescription, making it easy to add to your hair loss prevention regimen.

Eat A Healthy, Nutrient-Dense Diet 

Your hair needs to be nourished to grow at a healthy rate.

Like the rest of your body, your hair gets strong when you provide it with the nutrients that it needs. These nutrients can come from dietary sources (food and drinks), as well as vitamins and supplements. Eating a nutrient-dense diet that is primary based around whole, unprocessed foods can help to ensure that you get the vitamins and minerals that your hair needs to stay strong and keep growing. 

Reduce Stress 

As you’ve learned, stress can have a significant impact on hair growth and hair loss. If you are constantly feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your life, it may be time to take steps to slow down. Your hair, as well as the rest of your body, will benefit greatly from reducing the stressful factors in your life. Combined with a healthy diet and a strong hair care routine, stress-relieving activities like exercise and meditation can have a major impact on hair growth.

To shop for all of GroMD’s growth-boosting products, click here.

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

Sources:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326764

https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961616P1001X

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/androgenetic-alopecia/