Hair Growth Rate Factors – How Many Of Them Can We Control ?
It can be very helpful for us to understand what factors contribute to our hair growth rate. By knowing this information we can act on the ones that we have the most control over to help us increase are hair growth as much as possible.
Our hair growth rate is determined by several different key factors, these include the following :
1.) Our age – Our hair grows faster in our younger formative years, roughly speaking from birth through puberty and into our mid to late twenties, than it does as we get older. At a certain point, usually when we reach our mid to late 30’s it tends to slow down and even stop growing altogether.
2.) Ethnicity of the person – Some races or nationalities do tend to have a longer hair growth length and cycles than others, and there are always exceptions in almost every case.
3.) Hereditary factors – A persons genes can have an effect on the persons hair growth rate.
4.) Diet and Exercise – a healthy, protein rich diet and proper exercise plays an important role in supplying oxygen and the proper nutrients and hair vitamins needed to promote our maximum hair growth rate and length.
5.) Hair care, styling and upkeep – Things like excessive heating or blow drying, doing damaging hair styling, getting excessive chemical treatments, excessive braiding, using rubber bands in your hair, especially at night, wearing tight fitting hats, caps or scarfs can all have a damaging affect on your hair.
While shampooing, massaging, conditioning, oiling, gently combing and brushing your hair can help to promote your maximum hair growth rate and length as well.
6.) Rest and Peace of Mind – Stress, worry and lack of sufficient sleep or rest can have an adverse effect on our hair growth and can also lead to premature or early hair loss.
Currently it is estimated that a persons hair growth rate is from .8 cm per month to +/- 1.5 cm per month or about six inches per year. This amount will vary based on gender, race and other factors.
It is estimated that Asian hair tends to grow at the highest growth rate of +/- 1.5 cm per month, while Caucasians growth rate is estimated at +/- 1 cm and African hair growth rate is estimated to be +/- .08 cm per month, roughly speaking. This is what you should realistically expect for normal to average hair growth rates.
Hair length is estimated to be predetermine by a growth cycle, therefore a longer growth cycle will promote a longer hair growth length. In general women’s hair has a longer growth cycle of between 4 and 7 years per strand, while mens hair growth cycle is usually between 2 and 4 years per strand and therefore women will tend to have longer hair growth than do men.
There are actually three different growth phases or cycles for hair and different strands of hair will be in different phases of growth all at the same time. The three different phases are as follows :
1.) Anagen – The most active growth phase for a strand of hair which will usually last 2 or more years.
2.) Categen – A short transition phase from active growth where the strand of hair is cut off from it’s blood supply and forms a club hair, this process last around 2 weeks.
3.) Telegon – This is a completed, resting or shedding phase for a particular strand of hair. This is about a 3 month period at which point the stand of hair will proceed to shed or fall from the scalp.
As you can see from the first list of 6 factors, we really only have control over the last 3 factors which are diet, hair care and rest. So as long as we do our part in these 3 areas to maximize our hair growth rate, then nature will be able to take care of the rest.
