How long does hair normally take to grow back in a healthy person with no hereditary hair loss?

Question

For example, if hair follicles fall out (or gets yanked out from aggressive brushing), how long does it usually take to start growing? I have had long hair, bleached it, and since it became dry, I started brushing more aggressively and noticed a lot of hair on my brush and thinning at the top. Could this have triggered androgenic alopecia or will it grow back? I know I have to see a real doctor, but I feel many clinics are trying to sell me one of their treatment plans. Would like some advice please.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Hair grows at a rate of about 1cm or more a month.  After your hair is pulled out traumatically, it may take a few weeks for the hair follicle to start to generate a new hair.  If the same hair follicle is traumatized repeatedly, it may never generate new hair.  This is called traction allopecia.

Ryan Welter, MD · Answer

If you pulled your hair out traumatically, then expect the follicle to be dormant for a few weeks.  After that a new baby hair will sprout and slowly mature over the course of several months.  The rate of growth is about 1/2 inch every month.  Assuming you have no other conditions, your hair should grow back.  If it doesn't you should be checked out by a doctor.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

After yanking out a hair, a new hair gets produced within 2-3 weeks. In response to your second question, it's not possible to state the cause of increased shedding without seeing your scalp up close and knowing your history from A to Z and seeing all your blood tests.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

If you pulled out your hair just in a short period of time, the hair that you pulled out will return within the first 6 months after the pulling episode and grow at 1/2 inch per month. If you keep pulling on it constantly, letting it grow back and then pulling it out over and over again, they you could end up with permanent hair loss, a process called traction alopecia

How long does hair normally take to grow back in a healthy person with no hereditary hair loss?

Answers (4)