Dr Ditta (GMC) — Updated on November 19, 2024
On average, your hair grows 0.6-1.5 cm each month [1]. While your genes largely influence how long it can get if left untrimmed [2], most women choose to get it cut to various, sometimes shorter lengths. A hair length chart can help you get a better idea of what haircut would best suit your appearance, preferences and lifestyle.
The length you choose for your hair can significantly influence your overall appearance and vibe. However, not all hair sizes are equally suitable for everyone. Factors such as the shape of your face, the hairstyle you want and the amount of effort you are willing to put into your hair care routine make the difference. This article will tell you all you need to know about:
- The characteristics of different hair lengths and who they suit best
- What different hair lengths can look like for different hair types
- How to care for, maintain and style the most common hair lengths
- How to achieve longer, healthier hair growth
How can the hair length chart help you get the best look?
Knowing the main hair lengths on this chart can help you get the haircut of your dreams in multiple ways. Here are some of the most important:
- It makes it easier to communicate your preferences to your hair stylist (e.g. some people ask for their hair to be cut at shoulder length when they are actually picturing collarbone length and are disappointed with the results).
- It makes it easier to choose the right hairstyles for your current or desired hair length.
- It can help you get an idea of how long it takes to grow certain hair lengths.
- It can make it easier to picture how different lengths may look on your hair type.
How to measure your hair
Most average length estimations for each item on the hair length chart are made with straight hair in mind. That is because it’s difficult to account for each woman’s distinct hair texture. However, there are significant differences in apparent hair length between people with different hair types [3].
Wavy, curly or kinky hair is longer when fully extended than when worn in its natural shape. This is why straightening your hair can significantly increase its length when measured against your body.
Wavy hair can appear to be 1-2 inches shorter than straight strands, curly types can seem 2-3 inches shorter, and very coily hair can appear to be shorter than straight hair by as much as half. If you are unsure what kind of hair you’ve got, take this hair type quiz to find out.
If you are interested in how long your hair can grow against your face and body, use a measuring tape from the top of your crown to your hair ends, without extending the strands. You can then use the hair length chart as it is.
However, if you would like to get an accurate idea of your real hair length, brush it well and keep it fully extended while measuring (straightening it may yield better results).
What hair lengths are there and which is right for you?
The hair length chart is comprised of several commonly recognised lengths which are used by hair stylists when suggesting haircuts. Here are what some of the best-known hair lengths are called and what they entail.
Please be aware that these are average measurements and can vary significantly with height and body proportions. Moreover, the lengths presented here are for straight, type 1A hair, but will differ for wavy or curly hair.
Crown-length hair
This is the shortest hair length available, usually worn by bold, confident women. It is very easy to maintain and can be an excellent option if you are trying to fix heat-damaged hair or transition to grey hair more quickly. It can be worn with all hair types and it is also one of the best hair loss hairstyles for thinning on the crown.
Average length: 0-4 cm (short)
Recommended hairstyles: buzzcuts
Best suits these face shapes: oval, square, round
Ear-length hair
Short hair that reaches down to your ears can be youthful and tomboyish, or it can be styled for a retro or even an androgynous vibe. What it loses in length, it makes up in versatility. And a little bit of hair styling product can make all the difference in shaping and styling your look.
However, if you don’t want the hassle of using products, simply tousling your hair can still make for a good outcome on well-cut hair.
Average length: 10-15 cm
Recommended hairstyles: pixie cuts or short bobs
Best suits these face shapes: round, square, oval
Chin-length hair
This chic hair length is reminiscent of old French movies. It is ideal for elegant stylish bobs. While it is often worn by women with straight hair, a messy, wavy or curly version can work just as well and give you a carefree vibe. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can always opt for a little asymmetry, leaving one side of your hair longer than the other.
Average length: 15-20 cm
Recommended hairstyles: works great for bob haircuts
Best suits these face shapes: round, oval, diamond-shaped
Neck-length hair
This length falls between the chin and shoulder lengths, so it borrows from both their qualities. It is short enough to wear shaggy or messy, but also long enough to create a classy bob. So you can easily switch between looks as the mood strikes. If you have straight hair, style it in loose waves or curl it up to your chin. If you have curly hair, straighten it out and let it hang down to your shoulders.
Average length: 20-30 cm
Recommended hairstyles: medium-short shaggy styles, bobs
Best suits these face shapes: oval, heart-shaped, round
Shoulder-length hair
This medium hair length is favoured by many because it can look great on almost anyone. It is also extremely versatile in terms of styling, as it can be layered, curled, or worn bluntly, with or without a fringe. It is also the first option in the hair length chart that can be comfortably tied up in a sporty ponytail or an elegant bun. If you are unsure which hair length works for you, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
Average length: 30-40 cm
Recommended hairstyles: lobs, medium waves, shaggy, layered cuts
Best suits these face shapes: all face shapes
Collarbone-length hair
Hair that reaches down to your collarbones is the first on the hair length chart to be considered long. That means more effort needs to be put into maintaining and styling it, but it also allows for a feminine look. It can be easily layered or worn with a fringe, and will suit women with longer oval faces as well as those with heart- and diamond-shaped faces.
Average length: 30-35 cm
Recommended hairstyles: lobs, curtain bangs, feathered layers
Best suits these face shapes: oval, heart-shaped, diamond
Armpit-length hair
This hair length is feminine and versatile and flatters most women, provided you choose a suitable haircut. It works excellently with layers that add more volume to your hair and with highlights that create depth. Bangs are also a great choice, especially for women with oval or diamond faces.
However, be aware that longer styles require additional maintenance, as your tresses need to be regularly detangled and moisturised to avoid dry, brittle hair that leads to unnecessary hair breakage.
Average length: 35-45 cm
Recommended hairstyles: layered cuts, curtain bangs, shaggy bangs, butterfly cuts
Best suits these face shapes: all face shapes
Bra strap-length hair
Very similar to armpit-length hair, bra strap-length hair can be seductive and stylish, especially if your tresses are full, shiny and well-maintained. It allows for sleek blunt wear or spectacular updos alike. Adding a fringe that frames your face makes this style ready to wear with no more preparation than some gentle brushing.
It is long enough to support a variety of hairstyles, but not so long that it weighs down waves or curls.
Average length: 45-55 cm
Recommended hairstyles: layered, sleek and blunt, wavy with wispy/face framing bangs
Best suits these face shapes: round, diamond, heart-shaped
Mid-back-length hair
If your hair reaches down to your mid-back, it can give you a soft, dreamy look, especially if you have a natural wave. If it is straight, adding some texture to the ends can make for a more complex appearance. Be sure to keep your hair well-hydrated and brush it gently, as this is the length where breakage and thinning can affect the ends.
While it can look lovely and more voluminous with curls, try to avoid heat styling, as this can make your hair feel like straw and become damaged over time.
Average length: 55-65 cm
Recommended hairstyles: layered or shaggy cuts, textured ends, half up half down hair
Best suits these face shapes: round, square, heart-shaped
Waist-length hair
This is the first of the very long hair lengths and it is generally recommended for women with fuller, thicker locks. That is because if your hair is already thinning, it is likely to have a sparse appearance, especially towards the ends.
However, voluminous, healthy waist-length hair can make you look extremely feminine. Many women with this hair length choose to wear it straight because the sheer weight of their locks tends to straighten out waves or curls, altering the desired hairstyle. However, a graduated layer cut can provide all the texture you need with very little hassle.
Average length: 65-75 cm
Recommended hairstyles: loose waves or curls, graduated layers
Best suits these face shapes: heart-shaped, diamond, round
Hip-length hair
Hair that reaches down to your hips is not something everyone can achieve. It takes good hair length genes, great hair care routines and often, a straight hair type (it is rare for curly hair to reach this length without extensions). It can also take decades to grow your hair this long, but if you can achieve it, it can give you a regal look.
However, hair this long tends to also tangle easily, so many women choose to wear it in a bubble ponytail or a braid. If you choose these hairstyles, be sure to keep them loose at the scalp, since ponytails can cause hair loss by triggering traction alopecia [4]. And since your hair is already quite heavy, it can add its own weight to the tension on your hair follicles.
Average length: 75-85 cm
Recommended hairstyles: graduated layers, sleek and blunt, Dutch braids
Best suits these face shapes: square, round, heart-shaped
Tailbone-length hair
There are only minor differences between hip-length and tailbone-length hair, which is also mostly encountered in women with straighter hair types. If thick enough, your tresses can look mesmerising when allowed to flow freely, though it is recommended to keep them loosely braided or tied back, to avoid tangling and matting.
However, if your hair is thinning, of uneven length, or if you are experiencing severe split ends, you may want to try a shorter cut. Beautiful, shiny, voluminous waist-long hair may do more for your appearance than longer hair in poorer shape.
Average length: 85-95 cm
Recommended hairstyles: loose bubble ponytails, loose mermaid braids or crown braids
Best suits these face shapes: square, round, heart-shaped
Classic-length hair
Although the name alludes to something that used to be common, classic hair length is quite rare nowadays. That is because it can be very difficult to grow out and properly maintain.
However, shiny, luxurious classic-length hair can make you look Rapunzel-esque. Loosely braiding it and wearing it over your shoulder can lighten the load of your hair and protect it from unnecessary wear and tear. And if you would like to try to grow classic-length hair, you need plenty of patience and time to spare, as you’ll be spending a significant amount of time grooming it on a daily basis.
Average length: 95-110 cm
Recommended hairstyles: loose bubble ponytails, loose French or Dutch braids
Best suits these face shapes: square, round, heart-shaped
Mid-thigh-length hair
This super-sized hair length is full-blown fairytale territory and reserved for the very few women able to both grow it and care for it appropriately. This hair length is often worn braided and only let flow freely for special occasions, as detangling it can take a substantial amount of time.
If you’re considering this hair cascade, you need to be 100% aware of and committed to the time and money you need to keep it healthy. Simply considering the sheer amount of daily brushing and hair growth oil necessary to moisturise its entire length can deter many women from letting their hair grow this long.
Average length: 110-125 cm
Recommended hairstyles: Rapunzel braid, loose bubble ponytail
Best suits these face shapes: Square, round
Caring for, styling and maintaining different hair lengths
All hair needs to be regularly cleaned, brushed and nourished to remain healthy and beautiful. However, different hair lengths require specific kinds of care to thrive. Here is what you should know.
Short hair
Short haircuts are the easiest to maintain, as they don’t take long to clean, brush or moisturise. It is also easier for the natural oil produced by your scalp to coat them from roots to ends, keeping them hydrated and supple.
However, it can sometimes take more hair product to keep a short hairstyle in the desired shape than a longer one. If you are going for a spiky, wet or messy look, using hair gel, wax or mousse may be necessary. Just remember to wash products regularly off your scalp and hair, to avoid buildup that can clog your pores and lead to hair follicle infections.
Medium length hair
This hair length may be the easiest to wear without much fuss. It is short enough to wash, dry and detangle quickly, but long enough to look good without too much styling.
Using essential oils for hair growth regularly can help keep medium-length hair shiny, nourished and full. And a puff of hairspray will often suffice to lock your styles in place (don’t worry, hairspray is not bad for your hair).
Long hair
Long hair gets more severely weathered than shorter lengths [5], so it requires extra care in terms of cleaning, moisturising and styling. It needs to be brushed and detangled gently every day to prevent matting and breakage. And given the fact that cleaning your hair 5-6 times a week is ideal for keeping it healthy and preventing dandruff and hair thinning [6], washing and air drying long hair can be tedious.
Moreover, long hair is predisposed to drying and becoming brittle towards the ends, so you need to use gentle shampoos and conditioners. Try to avoid heat styling, as it can cause further hair shaft damage. Frequently using bleach or hair dye can cause hair loss.
If your long hair gets damaged, you can try a scalp and hair detox to reinvigorate it, or regularly use nourishing, deep-conditioning hair masks. However, if you allow your long hair to flow, you will likely not need many hair styling products. A few spritzes of salt spray can help enhance your look if you’d like to accentuate your natural waves.
Extra long hair
Wearing extra-long hair requires all the care long hair does and then some. Super-sized tresses can look fabulous, but they can also be exhausting to maintain. Most women with hair this long usually keep it braided, to avoid tangling and breakage.
Extra long hair also needs abundant moisturising, but it can be tedious and expensive to spread hair oils on its full length constantly. Frequent deep-conditioning hair masks are a necessity. You’ll also need to keep the ends well-trimmed, as it’s common for them to split and break, making your hair length uneven.
Furthermore, since extra long hair is very heavy, it can be difficult to style for depth and texture. Waves and curls get stretched out by its weight, while highlights are expensive and time-consuming for this hair length. However, extra-long hair can be a fabulous style in itself, giving you otherworldly, fairytale vibes.
Do you want to grow longer and thicker hair?
If you feel like your hair isn’t reaching its full potential in terms of length or thickness, book a consultation today with one of our experienced trichologists. They will carefully analyse your hair and ask about your health history, lifestyle and styling habits. If needed, they may also run diagnostic tests to rule out different types of alopecia (e.g. female pattern baldness).
Once they have a full understanding of your hair’s condition, our specialists will provide you with a personalised hair care routine and valuable, science-based advice on how to grow hair quickly. And should hair shedding be at the root of your problems, they will recommend the best hair loss treatment for women. So don’t hesitate to take this first step to healthier, fuller, more beautiful locks.
Frequently asked questions
If you still have questions about hair length, you may find the information you need by reading through the answers to the following common queries.
Why does my long hair get thinner towards the ends?
Longer hair is more likely to become weathered and damaged than shorter hair because it has had more time to be exposed to tension, heat, harsh chemicals and oxidative stress [6]. This can weaken it and make it break more easily.
Moreover, natural hair oils have a harder time reaching the hair ends. So without proper haircare, your hair can become dry and brittle, breaking off more easily towards the end.
Why can’t I grow longer hair no matter how hard I try?
The growth phase of the human hair growth cycle lasts, on average, 2-7 years [7]. Each strand will continue to grow for 2-7 years before it sheds naturally. However, the exact duration of the hair growth phase and hair growth rate varies from one person to another.
While most of these variations are influenced by genetic factors, other considerations such as your age, hormonal activity, hair and scalp conditions, lifestyle and hair styling practices can also play a role in determining how long your hair can grow.
If your hair growth seems to stall, it’s possible that the ends are breaking off. This often happens due to excessive heat styling, colouring, or bleaching your hair.
Can I trim my split ends without losing hair length?
Yes, if you are looking to get rid of split ends without shortening your hair, use a technique called dusting. It involves holding scissors parallel to your hair strands and trimming only the splitting sections. However, trimming your ends regularly does more than just remove split ends. It also helps prevent unsightly length differences that occur between your strands due to hair breakage.
Why does my wavy hair become straighter when it grows longer?
Long hair is heavy. The weight can stretch out your waves, making them appear looser. But don’t worry — this change is not permanent. Trimming your hair shorter will help you regain your natural curl shape and size.
Furthermore, if your hair is not extremely long, spraying some saltwater on it may help your waves maintain their shape. However, be aware that if overused, saltwater may not be good for your hair, as the salt may dry it out. So be sure to condition your hair after using it.
- Anatomy and Physiology of Hair, and Principles for its Collection
- The genetics of human hair growth
- Hair Rules!: The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair
- Traction Alopecia
- The Impact of Shampoo Wash Frequency on Scalp and Hair Conditions
- Healthy Hair: What Is it?
- Physiology, Hair
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
Dr Ditta (GMC) — Updated on November 19, 2024
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