Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 05:30:35

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 05:30:35

well... anybody know?

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: paul.fr on 15/06/2007 05:43:29

3.7 cm ( 0.1 mm per day) per year, which is  roughly the same distance the tectonic plates move in a year

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 05:45:57

is that for hair and nails? both of them i mean?

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 06:14:26

I know mine grow better when I am eating well balanced meals and drinking proper fluids.. there have been time when growth slowed to almost a stop.. LOL I was really low on iron..LOL Maybe something to do with protein! who knows..

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 06:28:38

my nails grow like crazy... my hair seems to grow slower... but then again my hair is almost down to my waist so it's hard to keep track of

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 07:11:12

You have gorgeous hair.. it looks wonderfuly thick!..I am jealous mine is extremely fine and thin..! It used to be way thicker but as I get older it gets thinner soon I will be in need of a transplant of the hair variety! LOL

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 07:26:01

my individual hairs are quite thin, i just have a TON of hair! my vacuum hates me..

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 07:27:50

Mine has no complaints! except big dirty boy boots and dog hair! LOL

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: another_someone on 15/06/2007 10:40:50

Quote from: kdlynn on 15/06/2007 06:28:38

my nails grow like crazy... my hair seems to grow slower... but then again my hair is almost down to my waist so it's hard to keep track of

Not sure if this really is an indication of hair growth, since, as you indicated, your longer hairs are regularly falling out, and being replaced by younger hair that is still growing, so the average length of your hair may not be growing much, but the individual hairs would be growing much faster as they are growing in order to replace those that have fallen out, and are being vacuumed up.

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: another_someone on 15/06/2007 10:43:47

Quote from: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 06:14:26

I know mine grow better when I am eating well balanced meals and drinking proper fluids.. there have been time when growth slowed to almost a stop.. LOL I was really low on iron..LOL Maybe something to do with protein! who knows..

As you say, many factors can effect hair and nail growth.  Anything that effects your blood supply to your skin can effect hair and nail growth.  Diet, temperature, and age, can all effect hair and nail growth.  You can also sometimes get a brief spurt of apparent growth which is not really the growth of hair or nail, but rather is your skin shrinking back to reveal more nail or hair.

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: paul.fr on 15/06/2007 10:46:13

the figure i gave is the average for finger nails. Although being an individual you may grow slightly quicker or slower than the average.

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 20:50:03

I agree! Thanks Paul and George! Nice question Kadie!

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 15/06/2007 20:53:04

I play classical guitar so I keep the nails on my left hand short and those on my right hand long. The nails on my left hand, which I file a lot more often, grow more quickly than those on my right hand and are quite a bit tougher.

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/06/2007 21:03:29

I find that true with the hand I use also. My right one grows faster but the nails are tougher then my left.

Title: how fast do hair and fingernails grow?
Post by: Yucky on 22/06/2007 09:23:36

in my exams, for the nails edge [the part that "overgrows" your fingers]to grow the same length as your whole nail, it takes 4-6 months while the TOE nails take twiche as long.. My nails grow faster than that though...

my hair grows very slowly...