5 Ways To Spot Signs Of New Hair Growth

Hair strands grow from the follicles, increase in length, and then fall out. Once old hair falls out, new hair grows back in its place, and the cycle continues. You can notice this by understanding the actual signs of new hair growth on your scalp. Most humans normally lose around 100 strands of hair daily (1). But some conditions may cause severe hair loss. A trichologistⁱ  XA specialist dealing with hair and scalp-related treatments such as hair loss, hair thinning, scalp psoriasis, and itchy scalp. can help you resolve these hair loss issues. The right treatment options can stimulate new hair growth. Keep reading to understand all the signs that suggest your hair is growing back.

Trivia

Hair grows 1.25 centimeters per month or between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm a day.

The 5 Signs Of New Hair Growth

Part your hair, down the middle and away from your face, and check your scalp under proper lighting. Take time to inspect the roots, scalp, edges, and hairline, especially the area close to the forehead. If you have not colored your hair, you will easily notice the signs of hair regrowth. Look out for:

1. Dark Spots Or Shadow

If you have dark hair, look closely for dark spots or specks. These are often referred to as a “shadow.” These dark spots indicate that your hair follicles are in the active phase of hair regrowth. The spots look dark because of the color pigment (melanin) in the hair shafts about to grow in the anagen phase (2).

Trivia

Anagen, or the growth phase, lasts about 2 – 6 years – during which the primary hair growth begins. Up to 90% of hair follicles are in this phase at any given time.

2. Fine and Short Hair Growth

If you notice fine and baby hair strands on your scalp, it is a sign of hair regrowth. If your scalp is healthy, these short hairs can grow noticeably faster than usual. However, these baby hair strands are delicate. Hence, pay attention and be gentle on your hair and scalp. Avoid scratching, massaging, and brushing aggressively.

3. Fuzz

When hair starts to regrow, it appears like fine “peach fuzz.” It is usually translucent and thinner than the rest of the hair on your scalp. If you recently underwent surgery or had a head injury and are worried about hair growth on the bald spot, the appearance of peach fuzz is a positive sign. It means the hair follicles on that lesionⁱ  XA structural or biochemical change in a tissue or an organ of the body incurred due to a disease or a wound. are active.

4. Strong Hair

Strong hair is a sign of healthy hair growth and indicates further new hair growth. The growing hair strands become active in a few months. They gain volume and grow longer and are not breakage-prone. This is a clear sign that your scalp is healthy to initiate hair regrowth.

5. Soft And Manageable Hair

If your hair has become easier to manage, it is a sign of new and healthy hair growth. A healthy scalp supports healthy hair growth, and healthy hair is always soft and manageable. This is more noticeable in people who have undergone hair loss due to a health condition. Once you start recovering, you consume a healthy diet and take vitamin supplements (3). This improves your overall health and hair health.

Let’s look into some convenient ways to grow your hair faster at home.

How To Grow Your Hair Faster

As mentioned earlier, maintaining good hair health is fundamental for faster and healthier growth. The following solutions may help you achieve the same:

• Nutrient-Rich Diet: Deficiency of multiple nutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamins A, B, D, and E, fatty acids, selenium, amino acids, and proteins, can lead to hair damage or loss (3). Include them in your diet for good hair health.
• Essential Oil Treatment: Essential oils are known to have strong antifungal properties that can protect the hair from dandruff and keep the scalp healthy (4). Samara, a blogger, shares her personal experience of battling excessive hair fall and how she found her answer in essential oils and other oils to overcome her hair care woes. She added the recipe and hair care process. For the results, she states, “Weeks turned into a month, and then another. I noticed something incredible — fewer strands on my brush and less hair left behind after a shower (i).” She further adds, “My hair felt different too — smoother, shinier, and undeniably healthier.”
• Topical Medication: Studies have shown that topical application of ointments such as minoxidil, spironolactone, and melatonin can help treat excessive hair loss and thinning in women (5), (6).
• Keratin Treatment: Keratin is an important hair protein that can help reduce hair loss, increase volume, and repair damaged hair (7). Opt for a keratin treatment if you have damaged hair that has become difficult to manage.

Infographic: DIY Hair Mask To Nourish New Hair Growth

New hair growth is a sign of a healthy scalp. However, you should take care of this new hair to protect it from damage. It is crucial to provide enough nourishment and pampering to grow long and healthy hair. One way to do this is to use easy and effective DIY hair masks that help improve hair elasticity and strength.

Check out the infographic below to learn how to make an easy flaxseed hair mask for your new hair.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to notice new hair?

Dr. Hyemin Pomerantz, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “It depends on what type of hair loss you are experiencing and whether the treatment you are receiving is effective. Hair grows slowly, even if it’s to return about 0.2 to 0.5 inches a month. It may take 3-6 months until noticeable hair growth.”

Does itchy hair mean it’s growing?

According to Dr. Pomerantz, “An itchy scalp does not necessarily mean new hair is growing. Itching is usually from inflammation in the scalp’s skin, and it can actually mean there is inflammation that can cause hair loss.”

How many new hairs grow in a day?

“If there is no hair loss condition, we grow 50-100 hairs a day. This is about the same number of hair we lose each day,” says Dr. Pomerantz.

What are the three stages of the hair growth cycle?

Dr. Pomerantz states, “The three stages of the hair cycle are anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is commonly called a growing phase, where hair follicles continue to grow larger and deeper into the scalp to be able to support the growing hair strand. During the catagen phase, the hair stops growing, and the hair follicle becomes detached from the blood supply. Hair falls out during the telogen phase. After the follicle stays in the resting phase for 3-4 months, it returns to the anagen phaseⁱ  XThe most active and longest phase of hair growth where the cells in the hair divide rapidly so as to form new hair. .”

Can hair grow back after thinning?

According to Dr. Pomerantz, “Hair regrowth depends on what type of thinning you have and whether you stay on effective treatments. There is reversible and irreversible hair loss. In reversible hair loss, hair can come back after months of appropriate treatments. Among reversible hair loss conditions, telogen effluvium (hair loss following a stressful event like surgery, post-partum, or illness like COVID) can stop on its own without treatments, and hair can grow over time.”

Does hair shedding mean new growth?

Hair shedding typically means some hair strands have reached the exogen phase of hair growth, which means their lifespan has ended. Once the hair sheds, new hair starts growing.

Does hair grow back if the root comes out?

Yes, hair does grow back, but it may take time as a new hair follicle needs to grow in place of the old before the hair shaft springs out. However, if the hair does not grow back, you should consult a trichologist as it could be a sign of a medical condition.

Why is my hair growing so slow?

Hair can grow slowly because of multiple reasons, like aging, hormonal changes, and stress.

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Tiffany YoungCertified Trichology Practitioner

     

Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick and a certified trichology practitioner with 6 years of experience. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty industry with celebrity clientele. Her own personal struggles with hair loss created an opportunity for her to deep-dive into learning all things related to medical conditions and external factors that...more

• Dr. Hyemin PomerantzMD

  Dr. Hyemin Pomerantz, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with 11 years of experience in general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She graduated from Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts in 2012 and specializes in treating acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer, and other concerns.
  
  Dr. Hyemin Pomerantz, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with 11 years of experience in general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She graduated from Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts in 2012 and specializes in treating acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer, and other concerns.

Ramona SinhaEditor

 

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru. Her passion for writing and editing and her background in psychology help her create content that...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to skin, hair, and beauty propelled her to pursue a career in writing....more