How much does hair grow in a month? This is one of the top questions I get from readers. Maybe you’ve cut your hair too short or had an accident with the shaver. If you have a big event coming up like a wedding or the start of school, it’s normal to be anxious about whether or not your hair will grow out quickly. How long hair grows in a month depends on your health, age, genetics, and your styling habits.
Exactly how much does your hair grow in a month?
While a number of factors influence the growth rate, one-half inch per month is average. This means the average yearly growth of hair is somewhere around six inches, although there are several factors that can influence the actual amount. However, there are some steps you can take to help your hair grow faster.
How Your Hair Products Affect Growth
First, consider the products you use on your hair. While conditioners, hair sprays, and styling products can make hair look nice, they can also slow its growth. When these products are left on the scalp, they can prevent new hair from growing.
For faster growth, it is best to use a mild shampoo and avoid additional products. Check out our sulfate free shampoo list to find something gentle that doesn’t contain harmful ingredients like sulfates that contribute to hair loss.
As natural oils build up on the scalp and slow the growth of new hair, you should gently wash your scalp and hair often. Using your fingernails and scrubbing hard are two practices to avoid.
To Brush or Not To Brush?
An old wives’ tale claims that a hundred strokes with a hair brush will make your hair grow longer faster. This is simply not true. In fact, too much brushing can lead to hair loss and breakage. In addition to breaking hair, it can actually pull hair out by the roots. Brush or comb your hair very gently using a brush with coated bristles. If you have the habit of brushing or combing throughout the day, begin limiting your grooming habits to two or three times a day.
Many people find that they don’t need to brush their hair as often as they think. Save brushing for just before you leave the house, and avoid using a comb or brush on wet hair.
Your Hair Can’t Take the Heat
A third factor in reducing breakage and hair loss is keeping your hair healthy. As heat will dry and damage hair, avoid styling irons, hair dryers, and similar products. For many people, it’s not realistic to give these tools up entirely. But if you are asking how long hair grows in a month, you are probably looking for a quick fix ahead of a big event and it would do you a world of good to lay off the curling and flat irons while you’re waiting for your hair to grow out.
Does Trimming Hair Stimulate Growth?
You may have heard it is necessary to trim hair regularly when you want it to grow. This is a myth. Trimming cannot increase growth. The only benefit of trimming is it will remove split ends, making hair appear fuller and healthier. If you do not have split ends, all trimming will accomplish is making your hair shorter.
Topical Solutions to Speed Up Hair Growth
As hair grows from inside, products made to be applied directly to the hair cannot speed up growth. Instead, keeping your body as healthy as possible will give you the results you want. Begin by making a balanced diet a part of your everyday life. You should have plenty of vegetables, fruits, and protein. Taking vitamins for hair loss can help make up for the nutrition a less than stellar diet lacks.
While products applied directly to the hair don’t help much, products used topically on the scalp can make a difference if they are left on long enough to penetrate the hair follicles. A few good choices for improving the condition of your scalp include hair growth shampoo like Nioxin and vitamin E oil for hair.
Mind Over Matter
If you are asking how much does your hair grow in a month because you’ve had a styling accident, one important thing you can do is try not to stress about it! General good health keeps hair in its best condition, and helps it grow faster. Reduce the amount of stress in your life as much as possible. Make a point of getting a full night’s sleep every night. Fresh air and exercise are also useful. Not only are these habits good for your body, they will help hair grow faster.
You can look at the condition of your hair as a sign of your general health. Even a bad cold can leave hair looking dull. You may see more hair than usual in your hairbrush when you’re under the weather.
If you follow this advice, these problems do not need to be permanent. The growth of new hair will start from within, and you will soon see the beautiful results.
To summarize…
How much does your hair grow in a month?
About half an inch on average.
Things that can slow hair growth:
- Stress
- Heat Styling
- Too much brushing
- Harmful Products
Things that can increase hair growth:
- Healthy diet
- Vitamins for hair loss
- Topical Solutions
- Avoiding stress
