If you have found yourself wondering: “does hair grow faster in summer?”, you’re not alone. This hair rumour has been going around for years, but is this just a myth, or is there any truth behind it? In this blog, I’ll delve into the fascinating topic of hair growth, breaking myths and exploring the science behind the factors that influence your tresses’ growth. Keep on reading to uncover the secrets of luscious locks, and discover how to promote healthy, shiny new length in your mane.
Understanding Hair Growth
To understand whether hair grows faster in summer or not, we first need to grasp the basics of hair growth. Hair undergoes a natural cycle that consists of three phases: the anagen (growth) phase, the catagen (transition) phase, and the telogen (resting) phase. Let’s see the more in detail:
Anagen Phase (Growth Phase)
This is the active growth phase, and also the longest. It can last from about two to seven years, depending on your health status and genetic factors. During this phase, the hair follicles are actively producing new cells, making the hair shaft lengthen over time. The average length per month is about half an inch, or one centimetre.
Some people have a longer anagen phase, and can achieve princess-like tresses with relative ease – whilst those with a shorter phase may struggle in growing their hair beyond a certain length. Whilst waiting patiently, using hair extensions could provide the desired length and thickness in your hair.
Catagen Phase (Transition Phase)
Right after the anagen phase, here comes the catagen phase – a short, transitional phase that can last for about two to three weeks. This is when your hair follicles start getting smaller and smaller. This phase is also referred to as a “preparatory stage”, where the growth activity slows down and gets the follicles ready for the dormant stage.
Telogen Phase (Resting Phase)
The final stage of your hair growth process is called “telogen phase” (not to be confused with “telogen effluvium”, a type of temporary hair loss. The telogen phase is the resting phase of the hair cycle, and can last for about two/three months; during this stage, the hair follicles are live but inactive, with the hair shaft fully formed but not actively growing. This is also when older shafts fall off and leave room for the new ones.
Factors Influencing Hair Growth
As previously stated, many are the factors that can influence our individual hair growth rate. Some of them are genetics, age, and our overall health status. While genetics play a significant role in determining our hair growth patterns, other factors come into play later on in life. For example, age: as we grow older, our hair tends to grow slower. Additionally, factors like nutrition, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical conditions can all have an impact on the speed at which our tresses grow. A healthy and active lifestyle, a balanced diet and taking proper care of any underlying conditions will improve our general hair growth rate.
Seasonal Changes and Hair Growth
The changing of seasons can have a huge impact on overall hair health and beauty, and their direct influence on hair growth is a constant subject of debate. Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and exposure to direct sunlight and its UV radiations can bring either minor or dramatic changes in the appearance and condition of your tresses; for example, exposure to UV rays can cause hair to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage – not mentioning the lightening effect that many people try to recreate with highlights and balayages. You can read more about this topic in our dedicated blog: Why Does Hair Get Lighter In Summer?
Additionally, those who have been blessed with gorgeous curly hair will know about the effects of humidity on their textured mane. Whenever we deal with dryness and breakage, this may give us the impression that our hair isn’t growing out properly nor healthily.
But a study in Sheffield, United Kingdom, found in their subjects that 90% of the growth phase peaked in March, whilst most of the shedding happened around August and September.
Does Hair Grow Faster in Summer?
Although this hair rumour hasn’t been confirmed yet (there isn’t enough data collected around the world to prove it), the general anecdotal evidence suggests that there might be some truth in this. The heat, becoming more physically active and improving our diet with fruits and vegetables as we look for cooler recipes for the summer can all improve our hair growth, as these factors respectively influence increased blood circulation and enrich our bodies with nutrients that are beneficial to hair growth and skin health.
Hair growth rates tend to vary among individuals, as they are also dependent on genetic factors that are completely out of our control. Also, those that religiously follow a healthy hair care routine are more likely to see positive outcomes and a healthy growth.
Tips for Promoting Healthy Hair Growth
If you’d like to grow your hair longer, shinier and healthier, there are a few steps that you can take to make sure your tresses get all the tender love and care they need. Let’s see them together:
Nourish from Within
Maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins to support healthy hair growth. Include foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats; to name a few, avocadoes, berries, salmon, nuts and spinach. Find out more on our dedicated post: #Healthyhair Foods To Eat For Healthy Hair.
Gentle Hair Care
Treat your hair with care by avoiding aggressive styling, harsh chemical treatments, and excessive heat. Use a wide-toothed comb or a detangling brush to gently glide on your tresses and get rid of knots, and always use sulfate-free and alcohol-free hair products.
Try Hair Extensions
Using clip in hair extensions can offer some temporary relief whilst you wait for your natural hair to grow out, and can provide you with lots of confidence and fun – allowing you try out new hairstyles, adding a dazzling dash of colour, or simply replenishing your mane with volume, thickness, bounce and movement. What else?
Scalp Care
Regularly detox your scalp and use rosemary oil to promote healthy hair growth. A healthy, happy scalp provides a thriving environment for hair growth! Curious about the role rosemary oil could play in this? Read all about it here: Is Rosemary Oil Actually Good For You?.
Hydration
Stay hydrated. Period. There is no way your body, skin and hair can feel and look good if you’re not providing your system with the right amount of water! Drinking water helps to hydrate the hair strands from within, keeping them strong and resilient and maintaining the correct level of elasticity.
Regular Trims
Trim your hair regularly to prevent (or get rid of) split ends and breakage, which can become an obstacle to hair growth.
Conclusion
Whilst the debate on “does hair grow quicker in summer” is still ongoing, understanding the science behind the growth process itself can help you identify the stages in which your tresses are more active. On top of that, there’s a lot that you can do to provide your mane with everything it needs to grow longer, healthier, and more glorious than ever.
