How Fast Does African American Hair Grow in a Year?
Along your natural hair journey, you'll inevitably start pondering the question...how fast does African American hair grow in a year? Or maybe you're more curious about the short term - how fast does black hair grow per month? Does black hair grow slower, or is it all in your head? Fortunately for you, we're going to address all your questions about the African American hair growth cycle in this blog post.
African hair seems to take forever to grow--so much so that it feels like black hair grows the slowest among all types of hair. If you've felt this way lately, you could be onto something. According to a study published by the International Journal of Dermatology, African hair does indeed grow the slowest compared to hair types of other races.
So, how fast does African American hair grow on average? How fast does black hair grow in comparison with other races? And what are the factors that can affect African American hair growth rate? We will answer all of these questions and more in this article, so keep on reading to learn everything you need to know about African hair growth rate!
How Fast Does African American Hair Grow in a Year?
Let's not waste any time. So - how fast does African American hair grow in a year? On average, human hair grows about 4 to 6 inches per year. However, the rate of hair growth is not the same across all races.
This leads us to the question: how fast does black hair grow in particular?
The African hair growth rate is only around 4 inches per year. Of course, the rate of growth is not the same for all African Americans. Hence, black hair can grow anywhere from 4 to 6 inches per year.
Other factors also come into play, such as hair health, hair care habits, age, and one's general state of health. In general, here are the conditions that typically lead to faster hair growth for African Americans:
- Good hair care habits (e.g. adequate conditioning, infrequent heat treatment)
- A diet rich in biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and other nutrients essential for healthy and strong hair
- Younger age
- Adequate hydration
- Absence of hair and scalp issues (e.g. dry scalp, bald spots, thinning hair, etc.)
Does Black Hair Grow Slower or Faster Than the Average?
Want to see how the African American hair growth rate stacks up against other types of hair?
African Americans' natural hair grows slower compared to Asian hair and Caucasian hair. Asian hair grows the fastest at about 5.8 inches per year, while Caucasian hair growth rate falls somewhere between African and Caucasian hair.
Why Does Black Hair Grow Slower Than Other Hair Types?
Now that you know the answer to - how fast does black hair grow - you might have a new question that's popped up in your head. Why does black hair grow slower than other hair types? Keep in mind - the African American hair growth rate isn't too far off from other types. Over the course of a year, you won't notice too much difference.
The reason you may feel that your hair growth is so much slower, though, is because of the tightly coiled style of your natural hair. Asian and Caucasian people typically have very straight hair. Thus, their hair grows straight down and really shows its length - while yours coils up and appears much shorter.
What Can You do to Speed Up the African American Hair Growth Rate?
The African American hair growth rate for black hair is around 4 to 6 inches per year, but as we've mentioned earlier, hair retention plays a huge role in how much length you get to keep.
Having good hair retention is all about knowing how to care for natural hair. The healthier your hair is, the more resistant it will be to all sorts of damage. That said, start by reading the basics on black hair care for beginners, where you can learn all about proper moisturization, cleansing, and styling.
Then, consider these tips:
Determine If Your Shampoo Is Helping Or Harming Your Hair Growth Rate
Do you know what ingredient in shampoo causes hair loss? If not, then it's time to start doing your homework and looking more closely at your shampoo's ingredient list.
Unfortunately, many shampoos contain harmful ingredients that do more harm than good for natural hair. This includes parabens, sulfates, lanolin, and petroleum, just to name a few. Keep in mind that black hair is more sensitive and requires special attention, which is why it is imperative that your shampoo does not contain any ingredients that can cause your hair to weaken.
Remember: hair grows faster in optimal conditions, so be sure to pick a shampoo that cleanses your hair but does not strip off too much moisture. As much as possible, stick to organic shampoo, ideally one that is specifically formulated for black hair.
Take A Hard Look At Your Diet
Yes, your diet also plays a role in how fast your hair grows, as well as how healthy it is. If you want to achieve faster hair growth, enrich your diet with foods rich in biotin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and other nutrients that promote healthy hair growth.
Check out this list of foods that promote hair growth to see what you can start adding to your next grocery list.
Consider Getting Routine Trims
Contrary to popular belief, growing out your hair means you should also get regular trims. But why, exactly?
No, cutting off the ends of your hair does not signal your hair follicles to start growing more hair. Instead, what happens is that you are getting rid of the split ends that are actually slowing down your hair growth. These split ends not only affect the ends of your hair strands but the roots of your hair as well, so it is essential that you know when to cut hair for growth.
Be Gentle With Your Hair
Hair grows faster if it is not under constant stress, and this is especially true for black hair which is more fragile than other types of hair. To achieve maximum hair growth, avoid rough habits like aggressive towel drying or excessive brushing. Similarly, allow your hair to rest in between protective styles or chemical treatments (e.g. relaxing, straightening) to prevent excessive damage to your black hair.
If you can help it, it is also recommended to avoid dying natural black hair. But if you must color your natural hair, make it a point to moisturize your hair thoroughly to minimize the effect of the coloring chemicals on your hair and scalp.
Be Proactive With A Hair Growth Serum (Specifically For Black Hair)
Doing proper hair care, eating a healthy diet, and getting routine trims can help speed up hair growth. But sometimes, black hair needs a helping hand.
Speed up your hair growth with a hair growth serum made specifically for African-American hair. Aside from helping your hair grow faster, this growth serum also helps address common hair issues, like hair loss, bald spots, invisible edges, thinning hair, and more.
Plus, it mostly contains natural oils and organic vitamins, meaning you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals getting on your hair and scalp. Learn more about the best hair growth serum for black hair in our blog.
How Fast Does African American Hair Grow in a Year? Wrapping Things up
So, how fast does African American hair grow in a year?
The general answer is between 4 to 6 inches per year. But as you can see, there are a lot of factors that we need to consider, such as hair retention, hair care habits, and one's general state of health. In essence, however, hair grows the fastest when it is healthy, strong, and well taken care of.
Aside from proper hair care habits and getting routine trims, using the right hair growth serum can also help maximize your hair growth. However, not all hair growth serums are made equal--and not all of them are applicable to the unique nature of black hair.
Don't fret--we have the solution right here. Allurium Beauty has the best hair growth products for African Americans, specifically made for the special texture and composition of black hair. Fix your trouble areas and encourage faster hair growth all risk-free with our 100% 90-day money-back guarantee. But with so many positive experiences from existing users, you'll want to buy more instead of getting your money back!