The selective Au deposition at the Au-substrate interface is known to give ultrathin Au nanowires and the synthesis usually employs strong thiol-based ligands. It is shown that, by increasing the rate of Au deposition, weak cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can be made to behave like a strong ligand, so that it induces Active Surface Growth and gives Au nanowires. The ligand strength also depends on the packing interactions in the ligand layer, in the order of C