With longer hairstyles becoming more popular for men, it comes as no surprise that many men wonder how long their hair can actually grow. Indeed, few men grow their hair longer than the shaggy look they likely sported for some time in school. So, it is normal to wonder if your hair can actually grow long, and if so, how long it will get if left untouched. Getting straight to the point, hair length comes down to a few factors, but the most important is your genetics. Here’s what you can expect if you start to grow your hair out, plus a few tips for getting it to grow faster.
The average length of male hair growth
Both men and women generally have hair growth of about half an inch per month. In a year, that is around 6 inches. Left untrimmed, most men who start with super short hair, such as a buzz cut, will require about two years to grow their hair to their shoulders. However, this growth rate depends on a number of factors, some of which are in your control, and some are not.
Firstly, hair growth is determined by your genetics. So, while most people, on average, grow hair about half an inch per month, some people may experience more or less hair growth in this amount of time that is purely based on their DNA. Secondly, your dietary status, overall health, and stress levels influence your hair growth rate. The healthier you are, the more likely you are to see growth. Thirdly, and not surprisingly, hair growth can be hindered by harmful hair care practices and, of course, getting haircuts.
So, how long can it grow?
Hair length is determined by how long each strand is in the active growing phase of the hair growth cycle. This cycle is divided into three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is the active growing phase, which generally lasts 4-7 years in most people with normal hair growth cycles. As you probably can guess, the longer your hair stays in anagen, the longer it will grow. Adding that up, hair length that is on a 4-year anagen cycle can get as long as two feet.
Of course, hair loss and health conditions can affect the length of time your strands spend in anagen. Most notable is androgenic alopecia, a hair loss condition that runs in both men and women. Also known as male pattern hair loss, people with this condition experience a shortening of the anagen phase and shrinking hair follicles. Ultimately, this leads to shorter, finer hair strands. Eventually, the hair follicles will cease to produce hair altogether.
How to boost hair growth
If a longer hairstyle is in your goals, one of the first things you should do is ensure you have healthy ends. You will want to get fewer haircuts that are spaced farther apart, but you also don’t want to compromise your hair health either. After all, if your ends are unhealthy, it can actually take longer to grow your hair because of breakage and split ends. So, get a good cut from your stylist with the goal in mind that you are growing out your hair.
Next, give your hair the proper foundation for healthy growth. A good diet is always an excellent place to start. Your hair needs plenty of protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals (like zinc and magnesium), so be sure you eat a well-rounded diet that is washed down with plenty of water for hydration. And to be certain you are getting the right ingredients for healthy hair growth, consider adding in a hair growth supplement like the Revita Nutraceutical Tablets.
Lifestyle changes are also key. If you are under a lot of stress, you likely will find yourself stressing over slower hair growth. High-stress levels directly affect hair growth and can even lead to hair loss, which will certainly set you back. Do what you can to decrease day-to-day stressors and ensure you have plenty of time for exercise and sleep.
Finally, what you use on your hair matters. A good shampoo and conditioner (yes, guys need to use a conditioner, too) are essential for healthy hair growth. You want your hair to have plenty of moisture and to effectively cleanse your scalp to prevent the buildup of toxins, oils, and other irritants that can lead to inflammation. And if you suffer from male pattern hair loss, as at least half of men do by age 50, it is important to use topical solutions to prevent hair loss as soon as you notice any changes in density. The sooner you take action against hair loss, the more likely you will be able to keep the hair on your head. And yes, grow it out.
