The number one question that I receive through the AskKaren column is how to make hair grow faster.

Many people write to tell me they are in a hair growing hurry because they are getting married, going to a Prom, meeting the future in-laws or fill in the blanks.

They want me to advise them how to grow their hair from short to long in a matter of just weeks.

Note: Although you might see similar articles as this, unfortunately many Web hair copycat sites have illegally "lifted" content from this original article and slightly "rewritten it" to avoid copyright issues. Please note that this original article first appeared in 2001 and has been constantly updated. It is the original article.

As many of you know, I am going to tell you the truth, as I know it, about hair. So the answer to "instant hair growth" is that there isn't any.

There is no magic bullet. If you want to go from a short Bob to long flowing locks instantly than you do have some options, but depending on a variety of factors, they may be limited. Your best bet for overnight long hair is to consider hair extensions, clip on ponytails or long wigs.

Yes, there are lots of things that can maximize the potential of your hair growing cycle but it is absolute folly to imagine that you can go to bed one night with shoulder length hair and the next day wake up with a new inch of growth.

There are some very rare exceptions, but most hair on most people is genetically programmed to grow a maximum of 6 inches a year.

There are some people like Crystal Gayle who obviously grow hair at a much faster rate than the average human soul. However, she is definitely the exception and not the rule.

Your Hair Is Dead - Let It Rest In Peace

Unfortunately many people aren't aware of the fact that while hair can be extraordinarily resilient, once it has emerged from your scalp is has no facility for renewing itself. It is considered to be dead protein.

The average person has around 100,000 strands of hair on their head and the average rate of growth is a mere one-half of an inch per month.

By the time the ends of your hair actually grow down to your shoulders, they are approximately two years old.

Think about it. Two years is a long time for hair to be subjected to the daily wear and tear of the environment, washing, drying, brushing, combing and any chemical processing. Just imagine what a piece of silk or fine fabric would look like after 2 years of constant handling.

Even if you take the best care of your hair possible, your hair still goes through a natural aging process which can also impact the growing cycle of your hair.