How Long Does Hair Take to Grow?
I’m the go-to guide gal and routine queen here at Adore Beauty. I have a background in media and communications, and over 3 years experience in the beauty industry.
When I’m not answering all of your burning questions, you can find me spruiking underrated products to my co-workers and trying to figure out what our best bloody mascara is.
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.
A shampoo that is great for rebuilding weak, damaged hair is the Kérastase Résistance Extentioniste Bain Shampoo. If your hair is struggling to grow due to damage, this shampoo helps with recovery. Packed with Pro-Keratin, Ceramides, and Taurine, this shampoo helps to strengthen your hair and restore the cuticle. This lightweight formula is a staff-favourite we love to recommend to anyone whose hair needs some extra nourishment and protection to help it through the growth process.
The full hair care system for noticeably thinning hair
If you are experiencing noticeable hair fall, we highly recommend trying the Nioxin 3D Trial Kit System 2. This 3 step system contains a shampoo, conditioner and hair and scalp treatment. Combined this system helps to reduce the amount of hair loss caused by breakage with strengthening ingredients that help your hair to appear denser. You can use this system regularly and can expect healthier looking hair in 4-6 weeks.
A vegan superfood supplement designed to improve hair health
Promote hair and scalp health with the Apotecari Hair Food 1 Month Supply. This nutritious formula is packed with plant based proteins, Vitamin C and a range of native Australian superfoods designed to defend against damage and fight free radicals. It comes in an ultra fine powder that can blend easily into smoothies or can be taken in water, alone or alongside their Mane Event formula. This formula is ideal for brittle hair or hair experiencing slow growth.
The VIRTUE Exfoliating Scalp Treatment is a scalp scrub that conditions as it exfoliates. This is ideal for unbalanced scalps that need some extra TLC. Fruit enzymes, BHAs and rice powder exfoliate, while Jojoba, Coconut and Melon oils hydrate your locks. It’s an ideal way to stimulate your scalp and improve blood circulation, which we recommend for hair growth. You can use this once a week after shampooing instead of a conditioner.
Watch Amelia from our Customer Service Team shares her hair breakage journey and how she saved her bleached & damaged hair in the video below...
Want more ways to promote hair growth? Check out these helpful guides from our Adore Beauty staff...
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
