Does Hair Grow Faster In The Summer? A Pro Gives Us The Real Answer

We were more than a little intrigued when we heard that there might be a correlation between the summer's heat and increased hair growth. While it's one of the wilder beauty myths out there, we decided to get a pro's take on this potentially-awesome phenomenon.

In this week's installment of Beauty Myths, we enlisted Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Clinic in New York City who has been studying hair and scalp health for over 22 years, to help clarify whether hair grows more in the warmer summer months.

Since we do eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in the summertime, we were wondering if our good behavior paid off in stronger, longer hair.

"There may be a slight increase in the rate of growth," says Cunnane-Phillips, "but it’s really marginal. A natural hormonal shift and increase in UV may contribute to some changes, but again I must stress it's marginal."

Well if there's nothing to back up this claim, why is it such a widely-circulated rumor? "More highlights and sun oxidation can cause the demarcation between base and scalp to be more apparent than in the winter months," notes Cunnane-Phillips. "This contributes to the myth."

Conclusion: There is no direct link between warmer weather and increased hair growth. Hair lightened by the sun may give the illusion that hair is growing faster.

For Beauty Myths, we've enlisted the help of pros to help debunk and demystify some of the most popular advice out there. Do you have a myth you'd like us to investigate? Let us know in the comments below, and check out previous questions in the gallery below.

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