It's natural to think that an itchy scalp is a sign of healthy hair growth, but that's not necessarily the case. While an itchy scalp can be a sign of new hair growth, it can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as dandruff or scalp psoriasis.
The good news is that an itchy scalp isn't likely to cause hair loss, at least not directly. However, some skin conditions that cause you to develop an itchy scalp may affect your hair follicles and contribute to hair shedding and patches of hair loss.
Well, it's true that your hair was growing, but an itchy scalp is not a sign of hair growth. Itchiness can actually signify that your scalp is not at its healthiest, which can negatively impact hair growth. Whether it lasts days or weeks, the cause of an itchy scalp can usually be tracked down.
Although you can't change the number of hair follicles you have, you may naturally help increase your hair density by eating a well-balanced diet that includes hair-growth nutrients like biotin, vitamin C, and protein. Reducing hair damage by avoiding permanent dye and avoiding drying the hair with heat may also help.
Early on, any of the new hair growth you experience may just look like dark spots on your scalp, which can form as the new hair root grows from the follicle. These new hairs might be easier to see if you have dark hair and a light skin tone.
The Four Stages of the Hair Growth Cycle: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen & Exogen.
The “awkward stage” occurs when you have decided that you no longer want short hair and you will instead grow it out. Everyone's awkward stage is a bit different depending on their styles, but inevitably, you will find that your hair looks shaggy, uneven, or simply messy at some point in the process.
There is a 4-6 month wait before new hair grows after hair transplants or pharmaceutical treatment for hair loss. This is because the hair follicles have to shift from a resting stage to a growing stage. The new hairs also have to grow out long enough so that they are noticable. All of this takes some time.
Ignoring these perceptual differences, human hair grows at a fairly consistent rate of about half a millimeter per day, or about half an inch each month (more specifically, the study says hair grows at 0.44 mm per day). Depending on your age, hair may grow faster or slower.
Genetics, hormones, nutrition, and stress levels all play a role when it comes to the health and growth of tresses. An average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs every day and grows the same amount.
Alopecia, also known as alopecia areata, is one of the most common causes of hair loss and hair thinning. Alopecia has a wide range of triggers, from stress to hormonal fluctuations to other medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders. As well as hair loss, alopecia can present with itching and tingling.
Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis
These are the most common reasons for an itchy scalp. “Your body's inflammatory response to an overgrowth of yeast causes the itching and flaking associated with these conditions.
Anagen. Everybody has three different stages of hair growth. The Anagen phase is the active growth phase. This is the only phase where laser hair removal is effective.
Telogen is the resting phase and during this phase the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle. Approximately 10–15% of all hair is in this phase at any one time. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair follicle reenters the Anagen phase and a new hair begins to form.
The Anagen phase is the period of growth. The cells in the hair bulb divide rapidly creating new hair growth. Hair actively grows from the roots for an average of 2-7 years before hair follicles becomes dormant. In this time, hair can grow anywhere between 18-30 inches.
Getting Through The Awkward Stage: Hats and Buns
The awkward stage of hair growth is that 5 to 8 month period of time when you have started growing your hair out and it is just a mess.
On average, hair grows about half an inch per month. So, in two weeks, you can expect your hair to grow about one-quarter of an inch or half a centimetre every two weeks.
Keep in mind that rates of hair growth tend to decline after age 30.
Hair grows in cycles within your hair follicle: Anagen: The first phase of hair growth takes between two to seven years. Growth begins at the root (dermal papilla) in your hair follicle, which gives your hair blood supply and the nutrients it needs to grow. Your hair grows about 1 centimeter per month.
Unlike other mammals, human hair growth and shedding is random and not seasonal or cyclical. At any given time, a random number of hairs will be in one of three stages of growth and shedding: anagen, catagen, and telogen.