Most people's hair grows about ½ inch per month. If you figure your hair needs to be at least six inches to tie it up, that's puts you at a minimum of one year. To be safe, figure it's going to take at least 18 months to get completely free and clear of awkward stage hair.
Create a Focal Point – Sometimes just drawing the eye to one part of your hair or face is enough to detract from the awkward regrowth. Try some updos for a change or get a little crazy with the gel and slick sections back.
In this installment, part II of my three-part series to help you through the awkward stage, we're focusing on the period 8-12 months into growing it out, or what I like to call “the thick of it.” At this point things can get messy...and they certainly did for me.
Most hair strands grow at an average rate of about 0.3 to 0.4 mm a day. So, this means it may grow up to one-tenth of an inch or a little more in a week. However, this growth differs with people. Genetics, hormones, nutrition, and stress levels all play a role when it comes to the health and growth of tresses.
Vitamins B and D factor big in healthy hair. So do zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and the B vitamin biotin. Your doctor can test you for deficiencies. Ask them whether you should take a multivitamin or supplement and how much.
How fast does hair grow? It's hard to say exactly how fast your hair grows — everyone is different! — but on average, hair grows about half an inch over the course of a month. That being said, it's not unusual for hair to grow as little as a centimeter or as much as an inch in a month.
But curly hair, as well as straight hair, usually grows about 1/2” per month.
On average, hair grows half an inch per month, or about six inches per year - but with curls, it can feel like a much slower process. "Curly hair grows at the same rate as straight hair," says Dr. Michelle Henry, board certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Two to three years:This is the usual length of time that transitioning takes. This does not mean that your curls do not have any more growing to do or that you will not require additional trims to get you hair to its final state, but this benchmark will let you see your crown in all its glory.
You might be surprised to learn that your hair doesn't actually stop growing at a certain length, it stops growing at the end of your hair growth cycle. Your hair's growth phase is determined by your genetics and can last anywhere between two and six years.
So, should you cut in the awkward stage? The short answer is yes. It will be a different type of cut depending on your hair type, where you're at and where you're trying to be, but generally there is a good trimming strategy for most guys suffering with awkward stage hair.
Anagen: Growing phase
The stages of hair growth begin with the anagen phase. It's the longest phase, lasting about 3 to 5 years for the hairs on your head, though for some people a single hair could continue growing for 7 or more years.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your hair grows at a rate of approximately six inches per year, or about half an inch per month. This means that over the course of six months, you can expect the hair on your head to grow by approximately three inches.
How Much Can Hair Grow in a Month? "The scalp hair grows at about 1/3 to 1/2 inch per month on average, so about four to six inches per year for the hair on your head," says Vasiloudes. Of course, there are a few factors at play that can affect that number.
As it grows in length, the weight of your hair starts to pull down and stretch out your curls, making them look looser. The less weight you have on your ends, the springier your curls will look.
Less than 20% of people have naturally curly hair. The percentage gets even smaller when you consider the scores of guys out there who don't embrace their curls.
As you get older, your curls may drop, loosen, or even form new curl patterns due to hormonal changes, like menopause. Environmental factors such as gravity, climate, and pollution also play a part. The thinner and weaker your aging curly hair is, the less likely it is to actually curl.
While not as dense as its counterparts, the hair is less likely to experience hair loss or breakage. Asian hair is also the fastest growing, at over half an inch per month.
Ignoring these perceptual differences, human hair grows at a fairly consistent rate of about half a millimeter per day, or about half an inch each month (more specifically, the study says hair grows at 0.44 mm per day). Depending on your age, hair may grow faster or slower.
“Other than age, hair can grow slower due to health conditions, vitamin or nutrient deficiencies caused by a poor diet, stress, hormonal imbalances, certain medications and even excessive heat damage from everyday styling,” explains Pierre.