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Have you ever wondered why the hair on your arms stays a particular length no matter what? Why is it so short and why doesn’t it grow as long as it can like on our head? Knowing why it stays short or knowing if it grows at the same rate, as the hair on our head is intriguing. Hair grows in tiny pockets called follicles and grows from the bottom or root, which is made of keratin or cell proteins. The proteins are fed by blood vessels, and as those cells feed hair, hair starts to grow through the skin by passing an old gland (sebum”> and by the time it pokes out of the scalp hair is already dead.
Hair grows in cycles
You will be interested to know that we are born with all the hair follicles we will ever have and that’s around 5 million. 100,000 follicles are on our scalp. Men grow hair faster than women. The only part of our bodies that grow faster than hair is bone marrow, but our hair grows on average about 6 in. per year depending on the person’s genetics, age, and health.
There is the anagen phase that is active and growing and can last anywhere from 2-6 years. The second phase is the catagen phase or transitional phase that lasts about 2-3 weeks and growth has stopped. The last phase is the telogen phase or resting phase where the follicle remains dormant anywhere from 1-4 months and eventually falls out. The process starts all over again and we lose around 50-100 hairs a day.
Does body hair grow as the same rate as the hair on our head?
Body hair and the hair on our head do go through the same process. The difference is cycles are less intense. They last only a month or so and that’s why hair body does not grow very long as the hairs on our head. The hair on our arms, legs, armpits, and pubic areas grow around 30-45 days in comparison to 2-6 years for the hair on our heads. So, while hair on our bodies outside of our heads go through the same cycle, their lengths are vastly different and the reason they at a relatively shorter length.
Why body hair has a shorter cycle
Researchers are not exactly certain why body hair growth has a shorter cycle but the general consensus is that hair gets its instructions from stem cells, which activate the hair growth. Despite that theory every person’s hair is different and the texture, color, or density is determined by genetics which influence follicle shape. As we grow older our hairs will grow with less melanin, appear gray, and those follicles stop growing hair, hence why older persons suffer from thinning hair or balding.
So, if you ever wondered why body hair stops at a shorter length it is because it has shorter growth cycle. For many of us that is good to know, because while we hunger for longer strands from our scalp, no one wants to have to shave their entire body or wants body hair that is long enough to braid or style.
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FAQs
The average person's hair grows about half an inch per month. However, pubic hair grows at a different rate for everyone. If you're wondering how fast your pubic hair will grow, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. However, you can expect the hair to grow about as fast as the hair on your head.
Does body hair grow faster than head hair? ›
Additionally, hair growth rates vary across different body areas, with facial and scalp hair typically growing faster than body hair. Ultimately, the interplay of genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors determines why some individuals have faster-growing body hair than others.
Why does your pubic hair grow faster than the hair on your head? ›
According to dermatologist Dr. Anikhet Mishra, that could just be an optical illusion. If you trim or shave your pubic hair often, you may feel that the hair grows back faster than the rest of your body but that is not the case. We simply tend to notice the most hair growth in short hair.
Does facial hair grow as fast as head hair? ›
Everyone's body is different to there is no hard and fast rule that will tell you how fast your beard is likely to grow. It is a general rule that facial hair comes in quicker than the hair on your head, although again this is debated as, when it comes down to it, it's all in a person's genes.
Does your body hair grow faster if you trim it? ›
No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out.
Why does body hair grow so fast but not head hair? ›
Stem cells that become follicles on the scalp will hold in the Anagen hair growing stage for a longer period of time than follicles elsewhere. For areas with shorter hair, the Anagen stage is much shorter than for follicles on the scalp.
Does pubic hair grow faster than scalp hair? ›
“People who trim or shave their pubic hair often think it grows faster than the rest of their hair, specifically the hair on their head, but this is not the case,” she says. “We simply notice hair growth most, and the speed of that growth, the shorter the hair.”
Why does armpit hair grow so fast? ›
Hormonal Influences
Androgens, such as testosterone, are responsible for stimulating the growth of body hair, including underarm hair. Hormonal imbalances or fluctuations can lead to an increase in hair follicle activity, causing armpit hair to grow more rapidly than usual.
How fast does pubic hair grow? ›
Pubic hair grows in the same pattern as all the other hair on your body. This pattern has three different phases: growing, stagnating and falling out. A cycle takes between 30 and 44 days. Your pubes will grow back about ⅛-inch a week or around a centimetre every three weeks.
Does plucking chin hair make it grow more? ›
Regular, repetitive plucking of facial hair may stimulate more hair growth. Researchers at Naims found that plucking multiple hairs within a small area leads to significant hair regeneration.
Rest assured that grooming won't change the texture or growth rate of your hair, but we recommend using a trimmer instead of a razor blade. Shaving with a razor can make regrowth look thicker because it removes the fine tips of your hair, giving your strands a more blunt appearance.
Does pubic hair stop growing? ›
Does pubic hair cease growing once it's reached a certain length? All hair grows at a contstant rate, but eventually falls out. With body hair, which typically does not grow as long as head hair, the rate at which it falls out is greater. This results in hair that appears to reach a certain length then stops growing.
What is the best hair growth supplement? ›
So for people worried about their hair health, Dr. Davis recommends a vitamin D3 supplement as “pretty much essential.” Iron deficiency and B12 deficiency can also impact your tresses, Davis adds, and so can too low levels of zinc, adds Dr. Del Campo.
Which hair grows the fastest? ›
Asian hair is also the fastest growing, at over half an inch per month. Caucasian hair can be stick straight, wavy, or curly. The follicles have a slight oval shape, making it quite dense with an average hair growth of just under half an inch a month.
Why does body hair grow faster? ›
A sudden increase in hair growth or loss in women is often caused by an imbalance of male hormones (androgens) which are naturally present in both men and women in differing amounts. If you get a boost in testosterone, for example, excess hair can be the result.
What grows faster leg hair or head hair? ›
The hair on our arms, legs, armpits, and pubic areas grow around 30-45 days in comparison to 2-6 years for the hair on our heads. So, while hair on our bodies outside of our heads go through the same cycle, their lengths are vastly different and the reason they at a relatively shorter length.
How quick does body hair grow? ›
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person's hair grows about half an inch per month. So, if you're wondering how fast your leg hair grows, it's around six inches per year. Of course, this is just an average, and some people may experience faster or slower growth rates.
