Does Cutting Hair Speed Up Its Growth? Dermatology Experts Reveal the Truth

It has long been believed that cutting hair makes it grow faster or gives it more density, but dermatology experts confirm that this idea is nothing but a myth. The rate of hair growth is determined by what happens beneath the scalp in the follicles, not by what is cut from the ends.

How Hair Actually Grows

Desmond Tobin, a professor of dermatological sciences at the University of Dublin, explains that hair grows from follicles located 2 to 4 millimeters beneath the skin's surface, where hair fibers form before they appear above the scalp. Once the hair becomes visible and can be cut, it has turned into dead tissue, and thus cutting does not affect the biological processes responsible for its growth.
The average hair growth rate is about one centimeter per month during the active growth phase, which can last for years before the hair falls out and grows back. Tobin adds that this rate is genetically determined and cannot be accelerated by scissors or frequent haircuts.

The Role of Regular Trimming

Although cutting does not speed up growth, it improves the appearance of the hair. Heat styling, dyes, and chemical treatments can weaken the hair shaft and make it more prone to breakage. When hair breaks faster than it grows, it seems like it is not growing at all.

This is where regular trimming comes in: cutting split ends reduces breakage and gives the hair a healthier and denser appearance. Tobin likens it to "trimming a hedge": it does not change what happens beneath the surface, but it gives a sense of density and order.

Tips for Maintaining Hair Length and Health

Experts advise those wishing to grow their hair to focus on minimizing damage by reducing exposure to heat and chemicals and keeping the hair in its natural state as much as possible. Good hair care helps it retain length and gives it a healthier and denser appearance over time, without relying on cutting to speed up growth.