How Long Does It Take for a Buzz Cut to Grow Back?
If you want to know how long it takes for a buzz cut to grow back, the plain answer is about a month to get a clean, even look and three to six months to reach a full length cut. Hair grows roughly half an inch a month on most heads, and a buzz cut starts somewhere between an eighth and an inch, so you can do the math from the guard you picked.
In the chair at Lilacroix Barbers in Laurelton we hear this question from men who went too short, from dads who let the clippers run, and from guys who just want to grow it out for a new look. Here is how the timeline really goes for Black men with coily and 4C hair, what the textured buzzcut is, and how to get through the awkward middle weeks.
How long does it take for a buzz cut to grow back?
Plan on about four weeks for a number 2 or 3 buzz to look like a soft crop, and three to six months to grow a buzz into a full haircut you can shape. Everyone grows at a slightly different speed, so treat these as a range and not a promise.
What changes the answer is where you start. A number 1 guard leaves an eighth of an inch. A number 4 leaves half an inch. If you started with a skin level cut, you are starting from zero and everything takes longer to notice. The other thing that changes it is hair type. Straight hair shows every sixteenth of an inch it grows. Tight coils spring back toward the scalp, so the length you see is always less than the length you have.
Take the buzz cut at our shop as the starting line. We cut it with clippers, we use the guard numbers you pick, and we clean up the neckline and edges so even a short cut looks finished. That is the shape you are growing out from.
What does the growth timeline look like week by week?
The table below uses the common rule of half an inch a month. Your own speed might be a little faster or slower, and coily hair will look shorter than the number says.
| Starting guard | Length at start | Soft and even | Ready to shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number 1 | 1/8 inch | About 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 months |
| Number 2 | 1/4 inch | About 3 weeks | 3 months |
| Number 3 | 3/8 inch | About 2 to 3 weeks | 2 to 3 months |
| Number 4 | 1/2 inch | About 2 weeks | 2 months |
| Number 6 | 3/4 inch | About 1 to 2 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks |
Weeks 1 and 2
Almost nothing shows. The cut still looks sharp because the edges are the only thing that moved. This is the best time for a quick line up if you want to stay clean.
Weeks 3 and 4
The top fills in and the shape of your head stops looking so exposed. Waves, if you have them, start to read again. The hairline and the neckline are the first parts that look fuzzy.
Months 2 and 3
You can now hold a pick or a brush to it. This is where most guys either book a taper to keep it neat or decide to commit to growing.
Why does 4C hair look like it grows back slower?
It does not grow slower. Coily and 4C hair has the same growth rate as other types, but each strand coils tight, so a one inch strand can sit as a quarter inch of visible hair. That shrinkage is why a buzz cut looks like it is stuck for weeks and then suddenly turns into a full afro shape.
It also hides uneven growth. If the sides of your head grow faster than the top, you will see it on a coily head only when the length gets past the shrink point. That is why a lot of our clients in Laurelton and Springfield Gardens come in at the three week mark. The barber can even the sides and the back while the top catches up.
A moisturized scalp helps here. Dry, flaky skin under a buzz cut makes the hair look dull and patchy. A scalp treatment that cleanses and exfoliates is a good reset if you plan to grow the cut out, and our barbers can tell you if you need one when you sit down. Pricing for it is by call.
What is a textured buzzcut and how fast does it come back?
A textured buzzcut is a buzz that is left a little longer on top, usually a number 4 to a number 6 guard, so the hair has some body and shows its curl or wave. It is not a skin short buzz. The sides are tapered or faded down, and the top is left with enough length to look soft.
Because it starts longer, it grows back faster. A textured buzzcut is back to a full, styled look in six to eight weeks for most men. On coily hair the top reads as a short spongy texture. On wavy or looser curls it can be brushed forward a touch.
How to ask for it
Say you want a number 4 or number 5 on top, with a low or mid taper on the sides, and that you want the top left natural and not flattened. If you would like the edges crisp, add a line up for the hairline. A line up at our shop is $16, and the haircut is $25.
How to keep it
Brush it daily if you have waves. If you have 4C hair, a light moisturizer on the top keeps it from looking ashy. Plan a touch up every two to three weeks.
How do you grow out a buzz cut without the awkward phase?
Keep the sides and the back clean while the top grows. That one habit is the difference between a growth stage that looks planned and one that looks like you forgot to book.
- Stop cutting the top and tell your barber you are growing it. Do not ask for a number 1 on the sides again.
- Switch to a taper. A taper keeps the neckline and the ears neat while the top grows out. Our guide to the buzz cut taper explains how that looks.
- Book a clean up every two to three weeks. Edges and neckline only. It is the cheapest way to look finished.
- Use a soft brush or a pick once the top passes an inch, and keep it moisturized.
- At two to three months, ask for a shape. A short rounded top with a fade on the sides is a natural next step.
If your hairline is receding, you do not have to grow all the way out. A short cut often looks fuller, which we cover in buzz cut with a receding hairline.
How often should you touch up a buzz cut while it grows?
Every two to three weeks is the usual rhythm for a taper or fade buzz, and every one to two weeks if you want a skin level cut to stay crisp. A buzz grows out of its shape faster than longer hair because the contrast between the sides and the top disappears.
If you cut at home between visits, there are rules that save you from a bad night. Read how to give yourself a buzz cut before you pick up the clippers, and keep your hand off the hairline. The edges are the part you want a barber to handle.
A fade buzz is the version that uses clippers on the sides in a blend. If you like that look, the buzz cut fade shows the options. A fade at our shop is $30. A taper is $25.
The military cuts, high and tight, induction and regulation, are buzz based as well. Our military haircut guide explains how those differ, and a military haircut is $25.
What should you ask your barber when you want it to grow back right?
Tell your barber the length you want to reach and how many months you are willing to wait. A good barber will work backward from that, and the cut they give you today will change.
- Say the guard number you had last time, so they can tell how much you have grown.
- Say whether you want to keep the sides short or grow them too.
- Ask for a neckline that is squared or rounded, so it grows out neatly.
- Mention any scalp dryness or razor bumps so the barber can use the right pass.
Most men in the Laurelton, Rosedale and St. Albans area book a haircut for $25 and add a line up for $16 when they want it sharp. You can walk in, and it is a good idea to call ahead to check the wait. If you want the buzz tied in with a bigger groom, the grooming packages are priced by call.
Book your buzz cut or grow out plan in Laurelton
Lilacroix Barbers is a family friendly shop on Merrick Boulevard, and a buzz cut is one of the quickest ways to be in and out. Lilacroix Barbers is at 232-12 Merrick Blvd in Laurelton, NY 11413, and the number is (718) 749-5800. We are open seven days, Monday to Thursday from 7:30 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday from 7 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday from 7 AM to 5 PM.
The Q5, Q86 and Q87 stop outside at 233rd Street, and walk ins are welcome. Start with the buzz cut service and tell the barber how short you are going now and where you want to be in three months. For directions and wait times, use the contact and directions details.
Questions readers ask
Does a buzz cut grow back thicker?
No. Cutting hair does not change how thick it grows or how many follicles you have. A short cut can look thicker at first because the ends are blunt.
Will my hairline come back after a buzz cut?
A buzz cut does not remove hair from the root, so the hairline you see is the hairline you have. If it looks different, it is usually because the hair is shorter and the edges are no longer softened by length.
Can I wash and moisturize a buzz cut every day?
Washing every day can dry out coily hair. Most of our clients rinse daily and shampoo a couple of times a week, then use a light moisturizer on the scalp.
What is the quickest way to make a buzz cut look good while it grows?
Keep the neckline and the edges clean and let only the top grow. A line up between full cuts does most of the work.
How short is a number 1 compared with a number 4?
A number 1 leaves an eighth of an inch, and a number 4 leaves half an inch. That difference is about a month of growth.