Hair Growth:
How Fast Does Hair Grow?

-- WHY do we measure hair growth and hair length?
-- Isn't that a funny thing to do?
-- It seems to fascinate us....

According to Guinness World Record Records website, the world’s longest documented hair belongs to a woman named Xie Qiuping from China (measured May 2004).

She’s been growing her hair since 1973 when she was 13 years old. She even has an assistant help carry her hair when she walks around.
-- How long is it? -- 18 ft 5.54 in (5.627 meters). Wow!

Well, normally a single hair follicle typically grows
1/2 inch per month, about 0.4 to 0.5 mm/day, for about 2-6 years. So, you it would probably take approximately
3 years to get shoulder-length hair and about 10 years to grow to 5 feet long.

It’s also thought that hair may grow more quickly in the winter than in the summer...so, perhaps seasons may somehow affect hair growth.

Here’s what happens:

Each hair follicle will grow a single hair for up to
6 years, then rests a few months, and then that hair falls out before growing a new one.

Fortunately, the number of hair follicles resting is usually the same as the number growing.....so hopefully the number of hairs on our head remains the same! When this hair growth balance is out of whack, bald spots show up.

It is natural, normally, to lose up to approximately 100 hairs a day but fortunately new hairs are always replacing ones that fall out. But realize that drugs, hormones, diet and nutrition, stress, age, chemicals, and skin trauma can affect hair growth and hair loss.

(Photo by Katrina Brown)

Did you know that your scalp hair also grows in a ‘pattern’ on our head, in a sort of swirl? This determines how the hair will look on the head or how the hairs lie.

Typically, these spirals grow in a clockwise direction. It’s important for hair stylists to note how the hair grows, hairlines, etc., when styling.

It’s elastic!

Did you know your hair can stretch? Yup, keeps it from breaking. If the hair gets wet, it can stretch up to 30%... but of course it returns to the original length when it dries. But be gentle when brushing/combing wet hair as it's easy to damage it.

Hair density:

Redheads are said have fewer hair follicles on their head. Blondes supposedly have more and brunettes the most. How many hairs we have on our head varies a lot.

The average person has roughly 100,000 - 120,00 follicles or so; but, this number then could fall to only around 300 by the age of 50 or so for some people. Also, how close the hairs are to each other (density) also varies from person to person.

DID YOU KNOW there's only one Person who knows the number of hairs on your head?

.....The Creator of the Universe, God.

(Luke 12:7) "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered."

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