How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster
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Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD
Although you may not notice it, your hair is in a constant state of growth and loss. A normal hair growth cycle consists of four main stages: anagen (growth phase), catagen (regression phase), telogen (rest phase), and exogen (shedding phase). Most of your hair (90%) is actively growing, but it’s normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day as part of the natural shedding phase.
Hair loss, slowed growth, or reduction in fullness may happen as a result of various factors that affect the hair growth cycle, including the natural effects of aging, hormonal changes, illness, autoimmune disorders, various medications, and even severe stress. Although changes in hair growth are not life-threatening, they can cause distress and can negatively affect your quality of life.
Thankfully, there are various methods you can try to make your hair grow faster and fuller, including changes to your hair care routine, topical hair treatments, and treatments prescribed by a medical professional.
Related: 7 Ways To Regrow Thinning Hair
How Fast Does Hair Typically Grow?
Most people have about 2-5 million hair follicles on their bodies. Hair growth occurs all over the body, including arms, legs, face, and armpits. But the most hair grows on your head, which has about 100,000 hair follicles.
Normally, your hair grows about half an inch in any given month. Most hair will continue to grow for roughly six years before it falls out and then regrows.
A typical hair growth cycle is composed of four basic stages: anagen phase, catagen phase, telogen phase, and exogen phase. Here’s what to know about each phase:
Anagen phase: when active hair growth occurs. Usually, 90% of your hair is in this phase.
Catagen phase: when hair growth slows and the hair begins to detach from its follicle. About 10% or less of your hair is in this phase.
Telogen phase: the resting phase of hair growth, where hair is neither growing or shedding. About 5-10% of hair is in this phase.
Exogen phase: the phase when hair is shed. It’s common to lose up to 100 hairs a day during this phase.
Related: The 8 Best Vitamins for Healthy Hair Growth, According to Experts
Factors That Affect Hair Growth
There are many factors that affect hair growth, thickness, and texture. Many of these factors are out of your control, such as hereditary factors, hormonal changes, and the natural effects of aging.
Factors that can impact your hair growth may include:
Aging
It’s normal for hair to become thinner and less abundant as you age. The age and rate that this happens is largely hereditary and is controlled by hormonal changes. These changes tend to impact men more noticeably than women.
Male pattern baldness can occur as early as the teen years or twenties, but usually starts in middle age. By the time men reach the age of 70, up to 80% will experience some form of male pattern baldness.
Illness or Hormonal Changes
Certain physical conditions can impact the rate that your hair falls out. For example, having a high fever can cause hair loss. Many parents experience significant hair loss after having a baby (after experiencing a fuller head of hair during pregnancy), known as postpartum hair loss. Hair loss may occur after major surgeries, other illnesses and infections, and severe blood loss.
Severe Stress
You may notice that most hair accumulates on your brush or after you run your fingers through your hair after times of intensive stress or emotional upheaval. This may occur after a trauma, a break-up or divorce, or after losing a loved one. Once the stress dissipates, the hair loss should resolve, and your hair should return to its normal rate of growth and loss within 9 months.
Medical Issues and Hair Growth Disorders
There are certain medical issues that can contribute to hair loss. These include:
Alopecia areata, where you develop bald patches on your scalp and elsewhere
Hair loss from chemotherapy or radiation therapy (treatment for cancer)
Anemia (low iron)
Autoimmune disorders like lupus
Bacterial scalp infections
Tinea capitis (ringworm on your scalp)
Scalp burns
Thyroid disorders
Hormonal imbalances
Various Other Causes
Other factors that may contribute to hair loss include:
Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)
Hairstyles that pull on the hair follicles
Diets that significantly reduce protein
Side effects from medications, including beta-blockers, NSAIDs, retinoids, birth control pills, and some antidepressants
Related: What Causes Alopecia?
Ways to Make Your Hair Grow More Quickly
If you are dealing with increased hair loss as a result of factors like severe stress, illness, or the changes that occur after you’ve had a baby, your hair growth will accelerate naturally once the situation resolves.
However, there are situations when you may want to increase your hair growth or have thicker, fuller hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Associations (AADA), there are several simple methods you can try on your own, or under the guidance of a medical professional.
Change Your Hairstyle Routine
Wearing your hair pulled back tightly in a bun, ponytail, or tight braids (like cornrows) can damage hair and contribute to hair loss. The same is true of wearing hair rollers to bed, or wearing hair extensions for long periods of time. Experts recommend changing up your hairstyle frequently if you like to adopt these practices and give your hair more time to be loose and relaxed.
Change Your Hair Care Habits
Hair care habits to reduce hair damage include:
Using conditioner less frequently
Letting your hair air dry rather than blow drying it
When swimming in a pool, protect your hair with a swim cap or wash thorough afterwards
Use fewer products that guarantee a “longer hold”
Reduce your use of hair coloring or perms, or go longer periods between these treatments
Coily hair is especially prone to damage, and may require careful care. Tips include washing hair once a week or less, applying generous conditions to the hair, trying hot oil treatments, using heat protective products, and using irons or ceramic combs to straighten hair.
Consider Using Minoxidil
Rogaine (minoxidil) is an FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss that can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC).
Minoxidil is applied directly to your scalp once or twice daily and works to grow hair, stop continued hair loss, and increase thickness. It can take 6-12 months for results to become apparent and the treatment needs to be done daily for effectiveness.
Related: The 7 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2023
Microneedling
Microneedling instruments are hand-held devices containing many tiny needles. Although the research for their use in hair growth is limited, studies have shown that when combined with treatments like minoxidil, or medical treatments like platelet-rich plasma or corticosteroids, greater hair growth is often seen.
Supplements
Certain vitamin supplements may be helpful to encourage hair growth. However, the AADA advises that people only take these supplements when a healthcare provider has determined that they are deficient in these nutrients. Vitamin supplements that can help with hair growth include biotin, iron, or zinc.
Some people look to herbal remedies to help with hair growth. These may include grape seed, ginkgo biloba, emu oil, primrose oil, sage, nettles, and rosemary oil. These agents have not been widely studied and it’s important to remember that the FDA does not regulate the manufacturing of herbal supplements.
Related: The 8 Best Vitamins for Healthy Hair Growth, According to Experts
Professional Treatments for Hair Loss
After diagnosing your condition, dermatologists or other healthcare professionals can offer medical treatments for your hair loss. The specific treatment you receive will be based on what will work best for your particular diagnosis as well as any other underlying health conditions you may have.
Some of the medical treatments used to help with hair loss are:
Corticosteroids injections
Laser therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Prescription medication such as Finasteride (Propecia) or Spironolactone (for female hair loss)
Related: The 12 Best Hair Growth Serums of 2023
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Hair loss can have any number of causes, and only a healthcare provider can diagnose your hair loss condition. You should consider speaking to a healthcare provider if:
You are in your teens or twenties and are losing significant amounts of hair
Your hair loss seems to be happening in an atypical pattern, such as in patches
You are experiencing pain, itchiness, or red, scaly skin along with hair loss
You are female but your hair loss resembles male pattern baldness
Your hair loss is accompanied by irregular menstrual cycles or facial hair (in females)
You have other physical symptoms along with hair loss, like weakness, exhaustion, intolerance to cold
The cause of your hair loss can be determined after meeting with a healthcare provider. At your appointment, your provider will examine your hair and skin, take a full medical history, and ask you questions about your hair loss experience and timeline.
Certain tests may be performed to understand what’s causing the hair loss, such as:
Blood tests to look for vitamin deficiencies, hormonal issues, and diseases that may be causing the hair loss
Scalp biopsies to diagnose fungal, bacterial or other causes
A Quick Review
Hair loss is not harmful in and of itself, but it's normal if it causes you stress. It’s understandable that you may be looking for ways to increase hair growth and hair fullness.
Although there are several promising at-home treatments and lifestyle/hair care tweaks you can make to improve hair growth, it’s important that you discuss any medical treatments or concerns with a healthcare provider.
Sometimes prescription medication or medical treatments may be necessary to make your hair grow faster.
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