WebMD
Font Size
A
A
A

Hair growth

Most scalp hair grows steadily. After a growth phase that lasts between 2 and 6 years, scalp hair enters a resting phase that lasts 2 to 3 months. Hair is shed at the end of the resting phase.

A person normally sheds from 50 to 100 hairs a day. After a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle, and the growing cycle starts again. Scalp hair grows about 0.5in. per month. As people age, their rate of hair growth slows.

Author Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD
- Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC
- Dermatology
Last Updated July 3, 2007

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 03, 2007
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
@ 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.