Human hair often grows consistently and steadily, however, a variety of factors can lead to a slowing of this growth, such as hair damage or internal factors. So, how long does hair grow in a year? Hair on the scalp is often recorded to grow at least 6 inches on average per year. How long does hair grow in a month? This amounts to about half an inch a month.

While growing hair faster than the average rate is not viable, it is possible to speed up growth to match the average rates with several interventions, both medical and lifestyle-associated. If you’re looking for solutions on how to grow hair faster for men, most tips revolve around the removal of agents that slow hair growth, and promoting the growth of healthy hair. In this article, we discuss the various stages of hair growth and several essential tips so you know how to make hair grow faster in men. 

Hair Growth & Its Stages

Hair growth all over the body occurs in different stages. While there exist upwards of five million follicles all over the body, about 100,000 of them are present on the scalp of an average male. While the growth phases are common to both the body and scalp hair, the length of these phases varies. These phases are:

• Anagen Stage: This is the first stage in the growth of a hair strand. The strand remains in the follicle and continues to grow steadily. Depending on the type and location of the follicle, a hair strand can be in this phase from anywhere between 2 months to 6 years. 
• Catagen Stage: In this intermediate stage, the hair strand is between the growing anagen and the resting telogen stages. About 10-20% of the hair remains in the catagen stage. It lasts for a period of 2 to 3 weeks, following which the hair transitions to the telogen stage. 
• Telogen Stage: Also called the resting stage, the hair remains in the follicle, but stops growing. Between 10% and 20% of all hair on the body is in this stage of growth. The telogen stage lasts about 2 to 3 months, eventually leading to the final exogen stage. 
• Exogen Stage: This is the final stage in the cycle of hair growth, where the hair strand is ejected from the hair follicle, leading to its shedding from the scalp or other parts of the body. The ejection of the hair prepares the follicle for the growth of a new strand. A new strand will grow as long as the follicle is not damaged or affected by an underlying condition. 

How to Grow Hair Faster for Men

If you’re struggling to get your hair to grow normally, or are finding issues due to hair loss and miniaturization, you can look into medical interventions to help your hair growth reach normal levels and implement certain lifestyle changes to support the treatment. Here is how to make hair grow faster for men: 

Maintain a Clean Scalp

• Maintaining a clean scalp is integral to promoting hair growth. Cleaning the dirt and grime from the scalp allows the follicles to better access nutrients and prevents harmful bacteria and fungi from infecting the scalp. 
• Pollutants in the air can also cause damage to the hair and its follicles. Cleansing the scalp at least twice or thrice a week can help maintain a clean scalp, free of dust and pollutants. 
• You can also use mild conditioner to keep hair strands moisturized, helping you prevent hair breakage and split ends, which are significant contributing factors to stunted hair growth. A conditioner helps you add back essential oils to the hair, helping it maintain its form and moisture.
• Medicated shampoos, on the other hand, can help you keep dandruff at bay and also enrich scalp health with essential minerals such as Iron and Zinc. These minerals are known to be important in the maintenance of hair health. 
• These shampoos, however, must be used only upon the recommendations of a registered dermatologist. 
• The cleaning and maintenance of the scalp are integral in making hair grow faster in men. 

Massage the Scalp

• Certain studies have shown that scalp massages tend to improve hair growth and promote the growth of thicker hair. 
• While massages might cause short-term, temporary hair loss, the replacing hair of these lost strands is thicker upon regrowth. Though people commonly wonder ‘Does cutting hair make it grow faster and thicker?’, that is rarely the case. However, massaging the scalp is shown to have a considerable impact on quality and thickness.  
• Massaging the scalp improves blood circulation to the region, promoting better nutrient and oxygen supply to the hair follicle, and improving hair quality. 
• It is, however, important to be gentle on both the scalp and hair during the massage to prevent hair loss. 
• Avoid using your fingernails and ensure they’re trimmed before the hair massage to avoid injuries. 
• Consider getting a scalp massaging machine for a more efficient, comprehensive massage. 
• Scalp massages also relieve tension in the scalp muscles, which is another contributing factor to hair loss. 
• Regular scalp massages are an important tool to grow hair faster for men. 

Eat Healthily

• Diet is one of the most important components in making hair grow faster for men. 
• Alongside protein and unsaturated fats in the macronutrient sphere, micronutrients like vitamins & minerals are just as important for the growth of hair. 
• Adequate protein intake from lean meat and pulses is essential for balancing the needs of growing hair. 
• Vitamins such as Biotin and Vitamin E can promote better hair growth and aid in the maintenance of a healthy scalp. 
• Alongside vitamins, Zinc, Iron, and Selenium are integral to the structural integrity of the hair.
• Low iron levels have been associated with persistent hair loss, linking the mineral to the maintenance of ideal hair growth levels. 
• Micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances, which can often be noticed in people that have lost weight drastically, can also lead to hair loss. 
• It is integral to consume a well-balanced diet to be on track with your hair growth goals in both the short and long term. 
• If you find that your diet is lacking in certain areas, speak to your doctor or a registered nutritionist before supplementing. 

Sleep Well 

• An important part of hair growth that’s often overlooked is sleep. Sleep has an overall impact on your body, and is an essential part of its recovery and healing mechanisms. 
• Growth hormone levels along with cellular regenerative factors are often released in deep sleep states. 
• Sleeping adequately also helps in maintaining hair growth just as much as the rest of the body. 
• Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep every night to supplement other steps in your hair growth regimen. 

Avoid Smoking & Minimize Drinking

• Both smoking and drinking contribute to a drastic increase in the oxidative stress faced by the body. 
• Oxidative stress results in an increased release of free radicals in the body. 
• Free radicals, the toxic compounds found in tobacco smoke, and the breakdown of alcohol in the body all lead to an increased rate of aging. 
• Free radicals also negatively impact hair growth, as free radicals damage hair follicles. 
• Quitting smoking can help you avoid the toxic chemicals that promote additional free radical generation in the body. Limiting alcohol intake too can help in this regard. 
• Understanding how to grow hair faster in men also involves making these essential lifestyle changes to aid in better hair quality and overall health. 
• Increased intake of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, flavonoids, and Vitamin A can also help slow down the aging processes and indirectly help with hair health. 
• While vitamin C helps with higher collagen production, others can directly impact hair health and promote better strand quality. 

Be Selective about Your Hair Products & Practices

• Certain hair products and appliances can cause more harm than good. 
• Products like bleach and permanent hair dye can cause damage to hair structure by stripping essential oils from the hair surface. 
• Excessive use of hair irons and blow dryers can also cause hair loss and scalp burns due to the high temperatures of these appliances. 
• Frequently curling, twisting, and braiding hair can also deform hair structure. 
• Hairstyles that cause tension on the scalp and tug on the root can also make it easier for hair loss and deformation to occur. 
• Using products detrimental to hair not only delays growth but sometimes permanently damages its structure. 
• Peroxide, sulfates, and alcohols in hair care products like certain shampoos are also not ideal for hair health and have a long-standing impact on hair structure and follicular health. 
• Be sure to pick and choose hair care products that do not contain the above-mentioned compounds to further your hair growth goals. 

Consult a Dermatologist

• Qualified doctors can help you better understand how to make hair grow faster for men. 
• Alongside medical interventions, they can also check your progress regularly to better help and guide your hair growth journey. 
• Effective, FDA-approved medications include topical agents such as Minoxidil and oral medications like Finasteride. 
• Dermatologists will try and diagnose the exact cause of your hair loss or stunted growth to provide a practical approach to growing hair better. 
• They will often conduct tests such as vitamin assays and vitamin panels like those offered at Lenco laboratory to understand the nutritional component behind your hair concerns.
• Doctors will also help you retain and maintain hair quality over time to help you maintain existing hair and also prevent further hair loss in the long run. 

If you’re facing hair loss concerns and growth issues for more than a few months, it may be time to get in touch with your doctor about your concerns!