No, dermatologists answered that trimming your hair often to promote hair growth is a myth. Your hair growth is based solely on hair follicles in your scalp which determine how your hair grows. Therefore, cutting the ends doesn't affect the follicles which are located in your scalp.
The myth is due to a perceived increase in hair growth after cutting and from the reduced hair breakage after your trim the ends.
Experts View on Hair Trimming
From Oprah interviews, experts were asked about their views regarding frequent hair trimming.
Dr. Paradi Mirmirani, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, says "Cutting the ends of your hair doesn't affect the follicles in your scalp, which determine how fast and how much your hair grows"
Matt Fugate, a hairstylist at Sally Hershberger Downtown in New York City said "Hair grows an average of a quarter-inch every month whether or not you cut it. Regular trims might make your hair look a little longer, though. Getting rid of split ends reduces hair breakage, and breakage is what makes hair look thinner at the ends (and shorter), Every eight to 12 weeks, ask your stylist to take off the minimum necessary to eliminate split ends."
Other sources also said similarly about why you would think hair is growing faster after trimming (due to how hair ends grow visually):
Martha Kirtley, B. A. Chemistry, Rice University (1974) said "By the time it’s long enough to trim, even on men and boys, the growing part of the hair is several mm away. What makes it appear to grow faster is that when it is cut, the ends are blunt and you see the full diameter of the shaft. When a new hair grows in, the first part of the hair is tapered and nor as big around as the middle of the strand. If you don’t trim the hair very often, you have a higher percentage of the tapered ends and you don’t see the length growing as much because you don’t see as much of the hair. "
Then, What Promote Hair Growth Instead?
From RealSimple, diet, supplements and scalp treatments help your hair grow instead. The experts shared about diet and supplements:-
Dr. Paradi Mirmirani (again) said about Diet: “Hair is made of protein built by enzymes that are activated by iron. So eat a balanced diet that includes 46 grams of protein and 18 milligrams of iron a day. (E.g. Black beans offer generous doses of both.)
Dr. Wilma Bergfeld, a senior dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, added "The hair follicle is among the top cell-turnover sites in the body and demands many nutrients and hormones to function adequately,”
Dr. Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist in New York City, said: "If you’re eating poorly, the extra boost (of supplement), taken as directed, might help make your hair grow faster."
Therefore, having a great diet is definitely the key to promoting hair growth and not trimming hair.
Next, we will share more about
- Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss
- Understanding Hair Follicle
- Understanding Hair Growth
- Research on Hair Growth
Excessive Hair Shedding Vs Hair Loss
Firstly from the America Academy of Dermatology, you need to understand the differences between hair shedding and hair loss. Hair shedding is just the normal process of losing hair. Excessive hair shedding is the condition telogen effluvium whereby you lose more than 50-100 hair a day. Hair shedding usually recovers on its own and happened due to a stressful or life-changing event such as becoming a new mom, relationship issues, career changes, business struggles, or health issues.
Unlike excessive hair shedding, hair loss is the condition anagen effluvium whereby the hair stops growing. This is the problem most people seek professional help from as it cannot be resolved on its own.
Understanding Hair Follicle
Our hair follicle resides in the dermal layer of the skin and is made up of 20 different cell types, each with distinct functions.
Hair growth is determined via the reactions between hormones, neuropeptides, and immune cells.
These reactions affect different types of hair on our body, including eyebrows, armpit and of course hair on our head.
Hair growth happens in the following stages:
1. Anagen (Growing Phase): The anagen, or growing, phase usually lasts 2-7 years, and the length of this phase determines the length of our hair.
2. Catagen (Transition Phase): This is the transitional phase that lasts about ten days. During this stage, the hair follicle decreases in size and detaches from the dermal papilla.
3. Telogen (Resting Phase): This is the telogen, or resting, phase, which generally lasts around 3 months. Around 10-15% of the hair on your head is in this phase at any given time. While the old hair is resting, a new hair begins the growth phase.
4. Exogen (Shedding Phase): This is a part of the resting phase where the old hair detaches and sheds, and new hair continues to grow. Approximately 50 to 150 of your hairs may fall out daily. That is considered a normal rate of hair shedding.
Understanding Hair Growth
Hair grows an average of a quarter-inch every month whether you trim it often. Regular trims get rid of split ends and reduce hair breakage. The breakage makes hair look thinner at the ends and shorter.
Research on Hair Growth
On 23 September 2018, hair follicles in the scalp expresses a unique reaction when it came into contact with a specific scent—sandalwood in one report—it stimulated hair growth, instantly suggesting a new way of preventing hair loss. Does it mean there is a cure for hair loss? Don't bet on it as such researches take a long time and usually only works in the labs.
Conclusion
Don't be deceived by the myths and keep an open mind and eye on the latest researches. We will keep finding more information for you too at HairQueenie.com. Remember to fall in love with your hair again and also subscribe to us if you wish to learn more.