Pulling out hair, whether by accident or as a bad habit, tends to come with an immediate pang of regret and one burning question: does pulled out hair grow back again?
The short answer is… It usually does, but the long answer involves a few what-ifs about follicle health, scarring, and how often this happens. Your follicles are tougher than you think, but they’re not indestructible.
The fate of pulled hair largely depends on whether the follicle remains intact. A single, unfortunate tug from a hairbrush? No problem.
Chronic pulling or aggressive hairstyling? Now we’re entering dicey territory. Repeated stress can lead to permanent damage if scar tissue forms or follicles go dormant. It’s a game of follicular Russian roulette, and nobody likes those odds.
But here’s the good news: understanding the mechanics of regrowth, knowing how to protect your scalp, and adopting habits that encourage regrowth can make all the difference.
In this blog, we’ll break down the science behind regrowth, common causes of pulling, and steps you can take to keep your hair—and follicles—in top shape.
Anatomy of a Hair Follicle
Understanding a pulled hair follicle starts with appreciating its role as the anchor of every strand of hair on your head. It’s like the foundation of a skyscraper—without it, everything else falls apart. But unlike concrete, hair follicles are living structures with their own cycle of growth and rest.
The Hair Growth Cycle: How Your Hair Keeps Going (Until It Doesn’t)
Your hair grows in three key phases, and the state of your follicles determines how healthy, strong, and consistent that growth is:
Anagen (The Growth Phase)
This is the follicle in its prime, actively producing hair for anywhere between two and seven years. About 85-90% of your hair is chilling in this phase right now, working hard to keep your strands lush.
Catagen (The Transition Phase)
Here, the follicle essentially takes a break. Hair stops growing, and the follicle shrinks. This phase lasts only a few weeks but sets the stage for the next one.
Telogen (The Resting/Shedding Phase)
In this phase, the follicle waves goodbye to the hair strand it just nurtured. Shedding is normal here, with up to 100 hairs falling out daily. This makes way for new growth—assuming the follicle is healthy.
When hair is pulled out, the follicle is forced to skip these natural transitions, which can disrupt regrowth timelines. If the follicle remains intact and undamaged, it usually recovers but repeated trauma risks pushing it into dormancy.
Why Follicle Health Matters (A Lot More Than You Think)
A pulled hair follicle is resilient—up to a point. However, chronic damage or scarring can render it inactive, leaving it unable to regenerate hair. Here’s what happens when things go south:
Damaged Follicles
Pulling hair too frequently can inflame the follicle or cause micro-tears. This disrupts its ability to cycle normally, delaying regrowth or halting it altogether.
Scarred Follicles
When pulling is extreme or repeated over time, scar tissue may form. This effectively seals off the follicle, making regrowth impossible. Conditions like traction alopecia or compulsive pulling (trichotillomania) are common culprits.
Reasons for Pulling Out Hair
Hair pulling might seem like odd behavior to some, but it’s surprisingly common and happens for various reasons, ranging from psychological conditions to accidental damage. Whether it’s due to trichotillomania, stress, or even hairstyles gone wrong, understanding these causes can help you protect your scalp from unnecessary harm and long-term consequences like traction alopecia.
Trichotillomania
This is a recognized mental health condition. Trichotillomania causes an irresistible urge to pull out hair, often leaving visible thinning or bald patches over time. It’s considered an impulse control disorder, and those affected often feel a mix of relief and regret after pulling. The repetitive stress on the follicles can lead to significant damage, and if the behavior continues unchecked, scarring can occur, making regrowth much harder.
Accidental Pulling
Sometimes, pulling hair out isn’t intentional—it’s the result of habits or styles that tug too hard. Tight ponytails, braids, or extensions can exert constant tension on the hair, weakening the follicles over time and leading to traction alopecia. Even aggressive brushing or overzealous detangling can yank out strands unnecessarily, especially if the hair is already brittle or damaged. The good news is this type of hair loss is usually avoidable with gentler practices and scalp-friendly styles.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress doesn’t just live in your mind—it wreaks havoc on your scalp, too. In moments of high anxiety, some people develop hair-pulling tendencies as a coping mechanism. While this type of pulling might not stem from trichotillomania, it can still cause damage if done repeatedly. Chronic stress can also weaken hair roots indirectly by disrupting the natural hair growth cycle, making strands more prone to shedding.
Can Pulled-Out Hair Grow Back?
Hair is surprisingly resilient, and in many cases, hair regrowth after pulling is entirely possible. Here’s the catch, though—it all depends on whether the follicle remains intact. The follicle acts as the production line for each strand, and as long as it hasn’t been damaged or scarred, your hair can stage a comeback.
Regrowth isn’t an overnight affair, though. Hair operates on a growth cycle that includes active growth (anagen), a brief transition (catagen), and a resting phase (telogen). If your hair was pulled during the anagen phase, regrowth may take a few weeks. Pulled telogen hairs, which were already shedding naturally, will typically regrow faster.
However, repeated pulling is where things can go south. Chronic habits, like those seen in conditions such as trichotillomania or prolonged tension from tight hairstyles, can cause scarring or inflammation around the follicle. Once scar tissue forms, regrowth becomes unlikely. For those trying to regrow hair after trichotillomania, early intervention is critical to preserve follicle health.
What Increases the Risk of Permanent Damage?
Repeated Trauma
Tugging on the same areas weakens follicles over time. Persistent pulling from tight ponytails or braids (traction alopecia) can lead to scarring alopecia.
Inflammation and Scarring
If pulling triggers excessive inflammation, the follicle may scar over, leaving it inactive.
Improper Care
Neglecting the scalp’s health after hair pulling can slow regrowth or worsen the damage.
When Hair Might Not Grow Back
Not all hair loss from pulling hair out is reversible. While your follicles are built to withstand the occasional mishap, chronic abuse or severe damage can push them past the point of no return. Here’s what you need to know about damaged hair follicles from pulling and the warning signs that regrowth might not happen.
Signs of Permanent Damage
Scar Tissue Formation
Hair follicles are resilient but not indestructible. If pulling leads to scarring, the follicle can become permanently sealed, making hair regrowth impossible. This is a common issue in conditions like traction alopecia, where ongoing tension on the scalp physically damages the follicle structure.
Chronic Hair Pulling
Habitual pulling, whether it’s from a condition like trichotillomania or repeated styling practices (think tight ponytails or braids), can exhaust your follicles over time. When this happens, the follicles may shut down permanently, leaving you with thinning patches or bald spots.
Late Intervention
The earlier you address the issue, the better your chances of recovery. Once the damage becomes chronic or scarring sets in, the options for natural regrowth diminish significantly. Ignoring signs of stress on your follicles is like ignoring a flashing warning light—eventually, the system fails.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Time is your best ally when it comes to saving your follicles. If you notice hair loss from pulling hair out, take immediate steps to reduce the stress on your scalp. Preventing further damage can mean the difference between temporary shedding and permanent loss.
Scalp Soothing Practices
Minimize irritation by using calming treatments like aloe vera or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory creams.
Adjust Hairstyles
Avoid tight, tension-inducing styles and focus on protective ones that reduce strain on your follicles.
Seek Help
Chronic hair-pulling habits might require therapy or medical intervention to break the cycle and save your scalp. Consulting a Trichologist, a hair and scalp expert trained in addressing these issues, can provide targeted solutions. Trichologists specialize in understanding hair and scalp conditions, offering tailored advice and treatments to support both regrowth and scalp health. For severe cases, combining their expertise with therapeutic or medical intervention can be the game-changer your hair needs.
Tips for Encouraging Pulled Hair Regrowth
When it comes to pulled hair follicle recovery, patience and the right care are non-negotiable. Whether the pulling happened accidentally or was a result of stress, your hair follicles need a healthy environment to return to their growth cycle. Here’s what you can do to encourage hair growth after traction alopecia or any other hair-pulling incident.
Healthy Hair Care Practices
Reduce Tension on Follicles
Tight hairstyles, such as high ponytails or braids, can place undue stress on already fragile follicles. Switch to loose styles that give your hair room to breathe.
Hydrate Your Scalp
Use shampoos and conditioners designed to maintain a well-moisturized scalp. A healthy scalp is essential for follicle recovery, so avoid harsh products with sulfates or alcohol.
Minimize Heat Damage
Heat styling tools can weaken the hair shaft and strain follicles. Cut back on blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners to give your scalp the chance to recover.
Nutrition and Supplements
Feed Your Follicles
Your hair is built on protein and powered by vitamins and minerals. Biotin, zinc and iron are commonly referred to as the holy trinity for hair health, but it's important to consume a varied, well-balanced diet that is loaded with hair and scalp-supporting vitamins and minerals. Add foods like eggs, nuts, spinach, and fish to your diet to fuel regrowth.
Consider Supplements
If you can’t meet your nutritional needs through food alone, supplements can be a helpful boost. Collagen peptides strengthen hair structure, while omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation that might delay regrowth.
Laser Phototherapy
Stimulate Dormant Follicles
Laser phototherapy is one of the most effective ways to revitalize hair growth after pulling. By improving blood flow and delivering light energy to the scalp, this treatment helps jumpstart the regrowth process.
Choose FDA-Cleared Devices
Devices that are backed by science and cleared by the FDA offer safe, non-invasive options for restoring follicle activity. These tools work to rejuvenate damaged follicles without causing further stress to the scalp.
Theradome is an FDA-cleared hair helmet designed to help regrow pulled-out hair. It uses laser phototherapy to stimulate hair follicles, promoting growth and improving scalp health. Easy to use at home, Theradome is a hands-free, cordless device that fits like a helmet. Regular use can increase blood flow to the scalp, strengthen hair roots, and encourage thicker, healthier hair.
Conclusion
Understanding pulled hair follicle recovery starts with knowing that regrowth is usually possible—if the follicle is healthy and undamaged. Chronic pulling or scarring, however, can lead to permanent loss, so prevention is key. Maintaining proactive scalp care, adopting a nutrient-rich diet, and exploring advanced therapies like laser phototherapy can significantly improve outcomes. Whether you’re focused on preventing hair loss from pulling hair or encouraging regrowth, treating your follicles with care ensures they stay active and productive for years to come.
