How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow Back?

Written by Shehnaz Shirazi

Updated on June 23, 2023

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Medically Reviewed and Fact-Checked by Scandinavian Biolabs.

Your hair is a part of who you are. When people glance at you, they notice the hair on your head. Losing it might influence how you feel about yourself as well as how you believe others see you.

You may be wondering how quick hair comes back if you have thinning hair or have lost your hair due to a medical condition or because you shaved it. The solution begins with some fundamental hair knowledge and commonly asked questions.

How Does Hair Grow?

A follicle is the source of all hair on your body. There are around 5 million follicles on your body. Approximately 100,000 of them are perched on your skull. The rest is on your body and face. The hair root is located at the bottom of the follicle.

The hair shaft is made up of live cells that grow together to create the hair shaft. The hair shaft passes through an oil gland on its way to poking out through the skin as it develops. It doesn’t hurt to receive a haircut at this time since the hair is dead, but pulling out a hair by the root can be painful.

• Anagen
• Catagen
• Telogen

Hair development is active during the anagen period. The catagen phase is a period of transition. On the other hand, the telogen phase is when you lose up to 100 hairs a day. At any one time, around 8% of your hairs are in the telogen phase.

Hair development stages differ in length depending on the body part. Scalp hair can be in the anagen phase for two to six years. It grows at a pace of 6 inches each year on average. It goes through the catagen phase for 2 to 3 weeks before entering the telogen phase for roughly 100 days.

The anagen period of other forms of body hair, such as eyebrows and leg hair, is substantially shorter—about 30 to 45 days. This is why they are more concise than the hairs on the scalp. On the other hand, they have a significantly longer telogen phase, which is why you don’t shed as many.

How Long Does It Take for Hair to Grow Back After Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy, sometimes known as chemo, causes harm to quickly dividing cells. This is how cancer cells are killed. It also explains why some of the adverse effects, such as hair loss, occur. Chemotherapy medicines do not all induce hair loss.

Hair loss can affect both the hair on the scalp and the hair on the body. Hair thinning might be full or partial but it does usually grows back following chemo. The rate at which this happens varies from person to person and depends on the bodily part.

Because scalp hair grows the fastest, it is the first to regenerate after chemo. Within a few weeks of finishing chemo, you may see a soft fuzz on your head. More typical hair may take a month or more to develop. Hair in other parts of the body, such as the lashes and brows, takes longer to recover. You may notice thickness, texture, and color variations until the chemo effects fade off entirely.

Is It Possible to Regrow After Hair Thinning?

The quick answer is that it depends. Several factors can cause hair thinning or loss. Some are reversible, while others aren’t. This implies that the sooner you seek treatment—usually from a dermatologist—the more potential therapies will be effective.

There are a variety of hair loss remedies available. The best one for you is determined by the reason for your hair loss or thinning. Hair loss caused by an underlying basis, such as a thyroid problem, autoimmune condition, or low ferritin level, is typically treatable.

Finasteride is a frequent medication for males with male pattern hair loss (Propecia). In 88 percent of males, it reduces hair loss and causes hair regrowth in roughly 66 percent. The only FDA-approved therapy for female pattern hair loss is the topical medicine minoxidil (Rogaine). About 20% of women get moderate hair regrowth as a result of it. Doctors can, however, utilize a variety of different “off-label” therapies.

Hair loss remedies depending on the underlying reason should be sought from your doctor or dermatologist.

Does Hair Grow Back Faster After Shaving?

Hair grows back quicker, thicker, or darker after shaving, according to several misconceptions. On the other hand, shaving does not affect the hair follicle, which is responsible for hair development. After shaving, hair may look thicker or darker, but this is not the case. Hair shafts usually have a tapering end. Shaving it creates a blunt end, which can make the hair appear darker or coarser.

Is There a Way to Make Hair Grow Back Faster?

You may take efforts to guarantee that your hair grows and is in good condition:

• Treat your hair with care. When shampooing, massage your scalp. When you shampoo, don’t forget to use conditioner. To dry damp hair, don’t massage it with a towel. Instead of brushing wet hair, use a wide-tooth comb. Hairdryers should be set to a lower heat setting, and hot styling products should be used rarely. Avoid wearing your hair in tight buns or ponytails daily, and use hair weaves or extensions sparingly.
• When swimming, make sure your hair is protected. Wear a swim hat, rinse your hair immediately after swimming, and cleanse your hair with a swimmer’s shampoo.
• Include iron in your diet. An iron shortage can cause hair loss. Red meat, beans, lentils, fortified cereals, and green leafy vegetables like spinach are all excellent sources of iron.
• Consume a lot of protein. The hair root requires protein. If you don’t receive enough protein, your body will store it by slowing hair growth. Include meat, eggs, seafood, beans, and almonds in your diet to nourish your hair roots.

How to Make Your Hair Grow Stronger?

Keratin and dead skin cells make up hair. While there is no way to make your hair grow quicker overnight, there are things you can do to keep it healthy and long. Before using supplements like biotin, keratin, or other nutritional supplements, see your doctor. They may interact with drugs, resulting in unforeseen consequences.

Keep your vitamin and nutrient intake up to date.

While many firms offer hair development vitamins or supplements, they don’t always directly impact hair length. However, it takes a lot of energy for your hair to grow. Hair development might be hampered by a lack of balanced meals and minerals.

Essential oils should be used.

Add a few drops to your shampoo or mix it with jojoba oil to dilute it. According to one research, pumpkin seed boosts hair count by 40% in males with hair loss.

Applying essential oils straight to your skin is not a good idea. A few drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil can be used to dilute the oil. Rosemary and peppermint oil are two more oils that may be beneficial. Even though the trials were conducted on animals, the results show that these oils may help with hair development.

You can also combine these essential oils with additional hair-protecting carrier oils, such as castor, mineral, sunflower, and coconut oil.

Topical ointments are a good option.

People who are experiencing hair loss should use topical ointments. They may aid in the growth of your hair. These products are beneficial in treating alopecia (hair loss) and encouraging hair growth in studies:

• Ketoconazole shampoo
• Propecia
• Topical minoxidil 5 percent slows hair loss
• Topical melatonin reduces hair loss and increases hair density

Supplement with keratin

• Improved hair brightness and luster
• 5.9 percent improvement in hair strength
• 12.5 percent reduction in hair loss

Make use of protein

Protein promotes hair growth while also protecting it from chemical and environmental harm. If you often style or heat your hair, a protein treatment might help to preserve it. You may buy them online or make your own using coconut oil. Coconut oil aids in the reduction of protein loss both before and after hair washing.

A high protein diet can harm your kidneys. It may also make your hair brittle. However, this is uncommon. It is preferable to obtain protein through your food rather than from supplements. Vegetables, almonds, yogurt, and other meals provide protein.

Your follicles should be caffeinated.

Caffeine’s effects on hair growth are still being researched, although a cell study indicated that caffeine might promote hair development. Caffeine-containing hair products may be beneficial.

Takeaway

The majority of the elements that influence hair development are beyond our control daily. The best thing you can do is avoid hair loss and thinning due to a bad diet. Make sure you eat a well-balanced diet and drink enough water. If you think you’re losing a lot of hair, make an appointment with your doctor.

About the Author

Shehnaz Shirazi

Shehnaz Shirazi has been writing in the beauty and cosmetics industry for over 8 years, sharing her expansive hair care and beauty knowledge. Shehnaz researches and tests new hair care trends and publishes her insights here.