Growing your hair out can feel like it takes forever, and it helps to have a realistic timeline. On average, scalp hair grows about 1 to 1.5 cm (roughly half an inch) a month. Enter your current and target length in the free hair growth calculator below to see how many months it will take to reach your goal, plus the date you can expect to get there.
Hair Growth Calculator
See how long it will take to grow your hair to the length you want.
Scalp hair grows about 1 to 1.5 cm a month on average. Genetics, health and care affect the real rate.
How fast does hair grow?
On average, scalp hair grows around 1 to 1.5 cm (about half an inch) per month, which adds up to roughly 15 cm or 6 inches a year. The exact rate varies from person to person and is influenced by genetics, age, hormones, diet and overall health. Hair also grows in cycles, so not every strand is growing at the same time, and growth naturally slows a little as we get older.
What affects hair growth?
Genetics set the baseline, but several things influence how well your hair reaches its potential. A balanced diet with enough protein, iron, zinc and vitamins supports healthy growth, while crash diets and deficiencies can slow it down. Stress, illness, hormonal changes and harsh styling can all cause more shedding or breakage, which makes hair seem to grow more slowly even when the roots are fine.
How to support healthy hair growth
You cannot dramatically speed up how fast hair grows from the root, but you can protect the length you gain. Eat well, stay hydrated, handle wet hair gently, limit heat and tight styles, and get regular light trims to stop split ends travelling up the shaft. Looking after your scalp with gentle cleansing and the occasional massage also creates a healthy base for growth.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to grow hair to shoulder length?
It depends on your starting length. From a short pixie, reaching shoulder length can take roughly two years at an average growth rate. Use the calculator above with your own measurements for a personal estimate.
Does trimming your hair make it grow faster?
Trimming does not speed up growth from the root, but it prevents split ends and breakage. That keeps your ends healthy so you retain more length over time, which makes hair look like it is growing better.
Can supplements make hair grow faster?
If you are deficient in a nutrient like iron, biotin or vitamin D, correcting it can help. But taking extra supplements when you are not deficient usually will not make healthy hair grow faster, so it is best to focus on a balanced diet.