How Fast Does Hair Grow

On average, your scalp hair grows a half inch per month, which is about six inches a year. But this rate can change due to a variety of factors, including age, your race, your diet, and your stress levels.

Guide to Hair Types for Men way to encourage your hair growth is by eating a healthy diet that includes lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. And when choosing your hair care products, opt for those that are natural and made without sulfates. Adding a supplement with biotin, a B vitamin, and zinc can also help promote faster hair growth.

But there’s a limit to how much your diet can do to boost your hair growth. “Foods are always a better choice than supplements,” says trichologist Penny James, citing that your body is more likely to absorb nutrients from food than from pills. She recommends upping your intake of foods containing the amino acid forms proline, lysine, and cystine, such as avocado, eggs, beef, fish, nuts, leafy greens, and spinach.

Guide to Hair Types for Men: Find Your Perfect Style

You can also promote faster hair growth by avoiding styling techniques that can cause damage. This means avoiding tight braided and ponytail hairstyles, using heat styling tools sparingly, and washing your hair with a gentle, moisturizing shampoo that’s free of sulfates and harsh chemicals. Finally, brushing your hair with a wide-toothed comb and being patient while detangling are both good habits for preventing breakage. And always be sure to blot dry your hair, rather than aggressively rubbing it with a towel, which can weaken the strands.