Kayla Young
Hair growth is steady, constant, and doesn’t stop until you die. Hairs are also very sensitive to touch. Can you feel your hair growing?
You probably already know the answer to this question: no. You cannot feel your hair growing (unless you ate some mushrooms that… didn’t come from the farmer’s market).
But that leads to many questions. Why can’t you feel your hair growing? How do you measure how much it’s growing? How to make sure your hair is growing out healthy and strong?
There’s a lot to explore in the vast world of hair and hair growth.
Contents
Can You Feel Your Hair Growing?
When you shave or wax off your hair and it starts to grow back, you can feel the stubbly, prickly little hairs trying to come out.
But after that initial stage, you can’t feel your hair growing, no matter how long it grows.Â
One reason is that there are no peripheral nerves in your hair. Hair and nails are modified skin, they aren’t living tissue, so there is no peripheral nerve tissue.
One reason is that there are no peripheral nerves in your hair. Hair and nails are modified skin, they aren’t living tissue, so there is no peripheral nerve tissue.
We do feel pain if we pull hair out! This is why waxing is famously painful, as is epilation. That’s because the hair follicles are made up of living tissue. This is why we feel that irritation and itchiness when our hair starts growing again.Â
How to Measure the Rate of Hair Growth
On average, hair grows at a rate of 0.5 and 1.7 centimeters per month. For the Americans out there, that’s around 0.2 to 0.7 inches. Here are a few signs you can look for (besides length, obviously) to see whether your hair has grown:
Dark Spots
To check whether you have dark spots, part your hair and check your scalp and the hairline. Dark spots are also called shadows. Unlike the dark spots that occur on the face, these dark spots are not something bad. In fact, they’re good news!
They indicate that your hair is growing, and they look dark because the hair shafts will emerge from your scalp and grow out.
Fuzz
Just like the peach fuzz on your face, thin hair grows on your head initially. This also indicates hair growth. Give the hair some time to grow longer and thicker, and don’t fret too much if it’s thin in the initial stages.
Fewer Split Ends
Congratulations if you notice that your hair has fewer split ends than before! Split ends can be caused by extreme weather, harsh chemicals, and styling methods such as blow-drying, straightening, and curling.
Nobody likes dry and brittle hair, so if you notice fewer split ends, your hair routine is probably working. This is also a sign of healthy hair growth.
Fine and Short Hair Growth
Baby hairs can be a nuisance, but they also signify new hair growth. These hair strands will grow quicker than usual if your scalp is healthy.
Do remember! Be gentle with baby hair since it’s delicate and can break easily. Avoid aggressively brushing or scratching your scalp to prevent breakage.
Less Hair Loss
Losing about 100 strands a day is normal, but excessive hair fall is a sign of weak hair. Hair loss usually happens when your hair is dry, brittle, and unhealthy.
Have you noticed less hair fall and less breakage of hair? Good news for you: your hair is on its path to recovery.Â
How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster
Hair care is a long journey involving much trial and error. Here we have compiled a few simple steps that are bound to be good for your hair, no matter what your hair type is or what your goals are:
A Healthy and Balanced Diet
We know you know the benefits of a healthy and balanced diet. This is just a little reminder. Ensure you get all your nutrients, especially your vitamins, keratin, and biotin.
Scalp Massages
A nice head massage not only feels good but definitely does good! Scalp massages help improve blood circulation, which helps hair growth. Using an oil like olive oil or coconut oil is even more beneficial as it nourishes the hair follicles.
Avoid the Heat
Yes, your hair does look great when you style it, but sometimes you need to put down the curling iron to let your hair breathe. The constant use of heat causes your hair to dry out, leaving them rough, damaged, and frizzy. Try heatless methods instead, or just go all natural!
Trimming
It kind of feels counterintuitive to cut your hair to grow it. But to avoid frayed and rough split ends, trimming becomes necessary. Go for a trim every few months to eliminate the dry split ends and enjoy healthier hair growth.
Conclusion
Although you can’t feel hair growth, you can see it.
Not just in length but also in how your hair looks much healthier and shinier. How you take care of your hair and style is a huge part of how you choose to express yourself. Finding something that works for you might take ages, but it’s always worth it in the end.Â
