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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 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) per month. As people age, their rate of hair growth slows.

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ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerH. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last RevisedApril 26, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 26, 2011
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.

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