The most common hair aspiration, especially among Black women, is long hair.
Many women may go to extreme measures such as supplementing their diets, engaging in strenuous exercise, and adhering to a rigid hair care program, to get the look they so much desire.
If you’re curious to know how long it takes for your hair to grow out, you’re in the right place.
The short answer is: that your hair can sprout anywhere from a quarter of an inch to a full inch in a single month. However, due to shrinkage, it’s usually challenging to determine the length of curly hair, or rather, see this growth.
One secret that I’ve always shared with my clients includes not obsessing about your growth and setting realistic growths. Also, by measuring the length of your hair monthly, you’ll get an idea of how fast it grows. For instance, you might discover that each season impacts its growth. In my case, my hair grows faster in the winter than in the summer.
Remember: your hair is constantly growing, so you must always see some progress. If not, there’s a good chance that you’re experiencing breakages.
A variety of factors influence hair growth
The following things may affect this growth rate:
Genes
Your genes play a role in the rate at which your hair grows. In most cases, your rate of growth resembles that of your parents. And so, if you have some good genes, your hair should grow faster than usual
Gender
Men’s hair grows more quickly than women’s, although this isn’t always the case.
Age
Hair grows at its most remarkable rate from 15 to 30 years old. After 30, your hair will grow at a slower rate, although it is usually unnoticeable.
Food
Your human body tends to prioritize other body processes over hair growth if you don’t obtain enough vitamins and minerals in your diet.
Ethnicity
According to scientific research, the hair growth rate is affected by your ethnicity. Caucasians and Blacks have slower average annual hair growth rates (about 5 inches), whereas Asians and the Middle East have the fastest average annual hair growth rates (approximately 6 inches). There is a wide range of hair growth patterns among different races.
The Influence of Hair Type on Hair Growth
Curly hair is commonly thought to grow more slowly than straight hair. Indeed, curly hair appears shorter because of its kinks and twists.
A common side effect of wearing natural hair for most Black people is shrinkage. In a nutshell, it is the difference in the length of your hair while wet and when dry.
Having wet hair causes your curls to expand, but there’s nothing to keep them from flattening out again once it’s dry. And so your hair begins to shrink.
When your hair is dry and not straightened, it will appear much shorter than it is because of the shrinkage. It may be difficult to tell how much longer your hair has gotten for some time since it is difficult to see at its entire length.
How to get the most out of your hair’s length and look
Because curly hair grows in a curl rather than straight down, it takes longer to grow longer. As mentioned before, curly hair, like straight hair, grows at around a half-inch each month on average. So, if you’re patient and have a strategy in place with your hairdresser, you can grow your hair out. Consider the strategies below.
Consult with your hairstylist to devise a strategy
Working with your hairdresser is essential to growing your hair. Let them know precisely what you want, how fast you want your hair to grow, and how much of your hair’s ends should be taken off. The hair that grows below the parietal ridge (your head’s most expansive area, where the head curves away from your comb) is what gives you your length.
Your stylist can use this hair to create an attractive contour for your face. For instance, if you don’t want your hair to look like a triangle, they can cut your hair unevenly (same length haircuts often create the triangle shape).
Please do not thin or texturize your curly hair
Don’t flatten or texturize your curls. Thinning and texturizing your hair creates broken ends and frizz, which elongates your hair growth process. Frizzy and thin hair is the last thing anyone wants to have on their head.
Make frequent haircuts a priority
Split ends are the devil’s playground. To avoid split ends, it’s critical to obtain regular haircuts. Although split ends look harmless, they are causing your hair to become shorter. I recommend cutting every twelve weeks for wavy and curly clients, every four months for highly curly (3C-4A), and six months for those who are even more wavy and curly (4B-4C).
Focus on Length Retention
Aside from boosting hair development, it’s vital to check on length retention. Minimizing hair breakage promotes length retention. Regardless of how quickly your hair grows, you will never achieve your hair growth goals if you do not maintain that length. Here are several length retention methods to know:
Trim your ends
Frayed or split ends are perhaps the most likely reasons for breakage and loss of length. Trims (only when needed) prevent frayed ends from becoming breaking strands. The general rule is to trim your ends every 6-8 weeks, although your frequency may vary based on how frequently you touch your hair, color-treated, etc.
Encourage moisture retention
Dry hair tangles, splits and weakens. So, especially if you have curly hair, keep it hydrated. Here are some tips for moisturizing your hair:
After washing your hair, condition it
Shampoos tend to dry up your hair — even sulfate-free shampoos can do this. So, after shampooing, use a moisturizing conditioner rich in humectants, fatty alcohols, and oils. If you have colored hair or suffer from chronic dryness, apply a leave-in conditioner to add even more hydration.
Cover your hair at night
Some people wear protective covers at night to keep it fresh, but it also helps retain moisture. Cotton blankets and pillows wick moisture from your hair at night. A satin or silk cover will avoid this.
Hydrate and seal
Moisturizing and sealing are essential for tight curls and texturized hair. The procedure entails moisturizing your hair and sealing it with a lotion or oil. This will help your hair stay hydrated longer.
Detangle your hair with care
Many undervalue the damaging effects of rough detangling. Your hair strands are breaking if you hear snapping when detangling. Whenever possible, untangle your hair with your fingertips.
Avoid heat
Heat styling is among the most damaging hair practices. The heat weakens your hair shaft, literally burning it. When possible, avoid using heat.
Density of hair
When it comes to how long you desire your hair to grow, the volume of your hair has a significant impact. Naturally, curly hair can be grown longer without looking too thin if the strands are thick. Nevertheless, if you have thin hair, the longer it is, the thinner it will appear as it grows longer. If you have thin hair, I usually recommend that you go with a shorter cut to optimize the appearance of fullness rather than grow it out so long that it appears emaciated at the ends. In many circumstances, length is less appealing than fullness.
Spring Factor and Curl Design
Your curl pattern has a significant impact on the length of your hair. Due to the strong spring factor of very tight 4A-4C, curls take longer for them to grow. Because the spring component of looser 2A-2C waves is more minor, they attain length more quickly.
Each individual’s curl pattern is distinct. Having tighter curls at the nape of the neck means that your hair will take longer to grow long since it has a higher spring factor in the hairs responsible for the growth of your hair. If the curls in the nape are more delicate than those at the crown, you will achieve length more quickly. However, your stylist must understand how to combine the disparate curls in each instance.
Consider Your Eating regimen
Hair is made up of protein (keratin) and water. When you want to grow your hair longer, it is vital to drink lots of water and maintain a balanced diet. The best nutrients for your body are also the best for your hair, so consume plenty of veggies, fruits, nuts, and other healthy foods.
Take Supplements
You can take vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair development each morning. A supplement containing hyaluronic acid, alphabetic vitamins, biotin, peptides, and collagen or a combination of those mentioned above can aid in the growth of longer, stronger hair.
However, even if you use supplements, growing your hair longer will require patience. To achieve the optimum effects, you must be diligent with the supplements and continue taking them regularly for at least six months.
Bottom Line
Growing out your hair as fast as possible can be a realistic goal if you stick to the above advice. However, remember that hair growth speed is relative and depends on different factors such as gender and ethnicity. So don’t stress out if you’re not achieving the desired ¼ or ½ inch of growth every month. You’ll do just fine as long as you’re following the best routine and working with your dresser.
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