For How Long Does My Hair Grow?

The hair cycle consists of many phases. The growing phase (called anagen) is the most relevant time to ascertain hair length. This phase of the hair cycle lasts for about one thousand days (three years). The hair grows at an average speed of a half inch per month (or six inches per year); therefore, the average length an individual hair strand grows is approximately eighteen inches. Some people's growing phases are much longer (more than five years), and some are much shorter (less than two years). This means that some people can grow their hair down to their feet, while others cannot grow it beyond their shoulders.

Why Is There Such a Large Difference between the Amounts of Hair a Person Should Lose Every Day?

Although the average amount of hair on a person's head is approximately 100,000 strands, not everyone has exactly this amount. Moreover, not everyone's hair cycle is three years. For instance, the small percentage of people who can grow their hair down to their feet may have a five- to ten-year hair cycle! Some people only have a two-year cycle, so they are unable to grow their hair beyond their shoulders. This explains that different people can and will have vastly different normal hair fall amounts. Also, remember that forty to one hundred twenty hairs are only an average. Some people will naturally see more than one hundred twenty hairs fall out, while others will see fewer than forty. In addition, if your average is one hundred, you will not lose one hundred hairs every day. Some days you may find very few hairs; other days you may find lots more hair. So don't panic if you see more hairs coming out, as long as you see less on other days.