How quickly does hair grow?

It depends. If you just got a really bad hair cut, then hair seems like it does not grow at all, while hair that you have to shave every day seems to grow like a weed!

David De Lossy/Getty Images Your hair grows about half a millimeter each day.

Ignoring these perceptual differences, human hair seems to grow at a pretty consistent rate of about half a millimeter or so per day, or about half an inch every month (this study quotes a specific rate of 0.44 mm per day). It may grow faster or slower depending on your age, your genetics and your hormonal state (pregnancy seems to have an affect on hair), but half a millimeter per day is a good average.

What this means is that the maximum growth rate for hair is about 6 inches (15 cm) per year. If you have short hair and are thinking, "It sure would be nice if I had hair down to my waist," then you are going to have about a four-year wait. ­

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