How fast does hair grow?

We get this question quite frequently, particularly from clients who are eager to grow out their locks.

On average, hair grows about ½ inch per month, so about six inches per year, but the speed at which your hair grows can also depend on age, hair type, what you eat, and your overall health.

Hair grows in three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen: 

• Anagen is an active growth phase that lasts from 2 – 8 years
• Catagen is a transition phase where hair stops growing; this phase lasts about 4-6 weeks
• Telogen is a resting phase where hair falls out (natural shedding); this phase lasts 2-3 months

At any given time, 90-95% of the hair follicles on your scalp are in the anagen phase. Doing some quick math tells us that approximately 5-10% of your hair at any given time is therefore in the telogen phase, meaning 100-150 hairs fall out every day. And, the longer your hair is, the more you will notice it falling out. (So do not fret if you feel you are losing more hair the longer it gets — it just feels that way).

To help your hair grow stronger, be sure you are eating plenty of foods rich in vitamins and nutrients such as omega-3 and 6, zinc, B-5 and biotin, vitamin c, iron, and vitamin d.

Also, be sure to use quality hair products. We are adamant about this. We would never sell a product that we do not fully believe in and we absolutely believe that your hair will be more healthy if you follow the regimen we prescribe to you for at home hair care. We love the KEVIN.MURPHY line as it really is skincare for your hair. The KEVIN.MUPRHY product line is rich in vitamins and nutrients: it’s an investment to ensure not only the health of your hair but the longevity of the service you had at our salon. Did you know that many store-brand hair shampoos contain the same quality cleaners that they use in floor cleaners? You DON’T want to use that in your hair – they are drying, contain harsh chemicals and will strip the color and moisture from your beautiful locks. And, with high quality products, you do not need to use as much. We always recommend a nickel size amount of shampoo and conditioner with our KEVIN.MURPHY line. 

We are also following a recent study that is looking at the benefits of taking keratin supplements. The study found that the group who took the supplement showed a 12.5% reduction in hair loos; a 5.9% improvement in hair strength and improved brightness and luster of the hair. Not a tremendous change, however, every little bit helps and it’s pretty easy to throw a little keratin supplement into your smoothie 😉

We hope this helps answer your question of “how fast will my hair grow?” As a top salon in Loudoun county, your Salon Khouri team is here to help you love your hair.