No, hair does not grow faster at night. Hair growth is a continuous process that occurs throughout the day and night. While metabolic processes slow down during sleep, this does not significantly impact hair growth.
Understanding Hair Growth
Hair follicles cycle through phases of growth, rest, and shedding. This cycle continues regardless of the time of day. While some sources suggest that optimal hair growth might occur during specific daytime hours (e.g., 10-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.), this is linked to overall metabolic activity, not a faster growth rate at night.
- Continuous Growth: Hair growth is a constant process, happening 24/7. Quora confirms that the hair follicle cycle continues uninterrupted throughout day and night.
- Metabolic Influence: While metabolism slows during sleep, impacting overall bodily functions, this slowdown doesn't significantly affect the rate of hair growth. One source states that since metabolism slows at night, hair growth does as well. [Source: unspecified news article, 08-Nov-2020]
- Growth Rate: Hair typically grows about 0.5 inches per month, with variations depending on individual factors. Reddit r/HaircareScience and other sources confirm this average growth rate.
The perception that hair grows faster at night likely stems from noticing the increased length after waking up. However, this is simply because the hair has had time to grow throughout the night, not because it's growing faster during those hours.
