How Long Does It Take for Hair To Grow Back After Thinning?
Almost everyone experiences hair loss to some degree as they age. With thinning hair can also come some confusing and frustrating feelings. But many factors that can lead to thinning hair can be addressed and resolved, thus leading to the potential of hair regrowth!
Some causes of thinning hair are easier to remedy than others. Keeping your scalp and hair follicles healthy is the key to regrowing thinning hair, but there’s more to it than that.
Let’s take a closer look at how long the hair growth process can take and how you can give your hair a little boost in the right direction to thicker, fuller hair as you age.
What Is the Growth Cycle of Hair?
Like the seasons, hair experiences cycles of change and has four stages. The four stages of hair growth are known as anagen, catagen, telegen, and exogen. These four phases of the hair growth cycle see hair strands from their beginnings in the hair follicle until they leave your scalp.
Anagen is the first stage of this cycle, known as the growing phase. This phase of the hair growth cycle is the longest step of all four. A single hair means approximately three to five years of growth. Depending on the individual, some hair growth can last up to seven years or more.
On average, about 90 percent of all the hair on your scalp will be in the anagen phase. The anagen hair phase is much different for hairs on your head versus hair on other body parts. As an example, hair on our eyebrows or legs will experience the anagen phase for only about 30 to 40 days.
Catagen is the second hair growth cycle, known as the transitional period, after the anagen phase. The catagen phase only lasts about 10 days, which is much shorter than the previous stage of hair growth!
During the catagen phase, hair growth slows while the follicle shrinks. The strand of hair separates from the follicle, but it does not fall or fully detach. Five percent of the hairs on the scalp fall into the catagen cycle at any given time.
Telogen is the third part of the cycle and is considered the resting phase of hair growth. Ten to fifteen percent of all hair on the scalp falls into this category, which lasts for about three months. In this phase of the hair growth cycle, the hairs do not grow but do not fall out. Thus, the hair seems to take a “break” or “rest.” However, there are still some tasks that are going on! New hairs will now begin to form within follicles that are released in the catagen phase.
The fourth and final phase of hair growth is known as the exogen phase. The exogen phase is sometimes lumped into the telogen phase. However, this stage is distinct in its ending part of the cycle.
In the exogen phase, the hair will shed with the help of washing or brushing. This is known as hair fall or hair shedding. The average person will lose 50 to 100 hairs in this part of the cycle. The exogen phase can last from two to five months, with new hairs replacing the hair that has fallen out.
Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning?
Hair thinning can be caused by several reasons, from genetics to lifestyle, medical conditions, stress, giving birth, hormonal changes, and many more. Even hairstyles that pull on the scalp too hard can lead to hair thinning.
Hair thinning can be lumped up into a few different diagnoses. As an example, alopecia areata begins as hair loss in patches. Telogen effluvium is something that may be experienced after a stressful event — hair shedding in excessive amounts.
A lot of reasons for hair thinning can be managed in some way through lifestyle changes and products to aid the reversal or management of thinning hair.
How Do I Regrow Thinning Hair?
Hair thinning that comes from reversible sources, such as telogen effluvium, can grow back in about three to six months. Products, supplements, and lifestyle changes can help regrow hair that has thinned or been lost.
The scalp is the center of hair growth. This makes sense, as it is where the hair follicles begin the hair growth cycle. Treating the scalp with a stimulating scalp massage is a good place to start.
Scalp stimulation can improve blood circulation, and hair follicles need proper blood flow to promote healthy hair growth. A scalp massage can be easily worked in during your normal hair-washing routine. As you wash your hair with shampoo, you can use your fingertips or a scalp brush to rub the scalp with gentle pressure.
Another way to help your thinning hair is to make sure you’re eating well. Diet can play an important role in hair growth because your body needs to supply the proper nutrients for hair production.
As we age, our bodies have a harder time getting all of the necessary nutrients to our hair. That puts even more importance on eating well-balanced meals on a regular basis. Many find that even with eating well, they still need a boost from a supplement.
There are several hair products available to help stimulate the scalp, volumize hair, and promote natural hair growth after thinning. The first step to choosing the right product is to make sure you know the reason for your thinning hair. If your hair is thinning due to age, our products are made to promote hair growth or give it a fuller look.
What Supplements and Products Can Help Thinning Hair Grow?
If your hair loss or hair thinning can be reversed, knowing what products can help your hair grow back will make all the difference when it comes to adding items to your hair care arsenal.
For scalp stimulation, our Superpower+ Advanced™ Hair & Scalp Duo nourishes, massages, and revitalizes. All of the things our hair follicles crave, especially when it comes to growing healthy hair!
With the massaging applicator, you can physically stimulate the scalp while applying our Superpower serum. This Superpower Duo is a lightweight and fast-absorbing way to get your hair to reach its fullest potential.
Our Hair Loss Bundle is a great way to tackle thinning hair from all sides. This powerhouse bundle contains our Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo, Wake Up Call Volumizing Conditioner, Superpower Advanced™ Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum, and Significant Other Supplements. Talk about everything you need to help your hair to grow back!
The companion Wake Up Call shampoo and conditioner deliver a volumizing approach to washing hair, which provides a look of fullness.
The shampoo is a gentle, sulfate-free way to deliver moisture, strengthen, and diminish hair breakage. The conditioner volumizes, strengthens, and hydrates without weighing hair down. The thickener is a double-award winning spray that is lightweight. It can lift hair at the roots and provide instantly thicker-looking hair.
For those needing extra nutrition on a daily basis to promote hair regrowth, our Significant Other Hair, Skin & Nails Supplement can help. Significant Other is designed to support strong hair from the inside out. This supplement uses vitamins A and B and biotin to support strong and healthy hair. These vitamins are easy to take — in the form of tasty sugar-free strawberry heart-shaped gummies.
You can expect your hair to grow back after thinning in about three to six months, although the exact time period will depend on the individual. It will also depend on how long your hair is and if the cause of your hair thinning is completely resolved.
That said, there are some things you can do to assist your body in cultivating a helpful foundation (inside and out) for hair growth. This includes changing your lifestyle and potentially discovering tools, products, and supplements to promote healthy hair growth.
Is regrowing hair after thinning a cause for concern in your life? Our Better Hair Quiz can pinpoint your exact hair needs and goals.
Sources:
Stages of Hair Growth | Healthline
Do You Have Hair Loss or Hair Shedding? | AAD
Telogen Effluvium: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Regrowth | Cleveland Clinic