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| Does this make my hair look longer? |
Does your hair stop growing at a certain length? Do you find you can’t seem to grow your hair past a certain point no matter how hard you try?
Hair Romance reader Breanna felt this way and sent in her question:
I’ve searched the internet, read forums and message boards, and asked my hair stylist, but I still can’t seem to get a straight answer. Does hair stop growing at a certain length? My fine hair seems to grow a few inches past my shoulders before stopping. I’ve had extensions, but I’d like long hair that’s mine. I’ve used mane and tail, taken hair vitamins, done weekly olive oil treatments, had regular trims, you name it. So is it a lost cause, or is there hope yet?
Well Breanna, I have an answer but I’m not sure it’s what you want to hear.
Yes, hair does stop growing at a certain length. I spoke to a hairdresser, a scientist and a trichologist and the trichologist was the most helpful.
First up, I know you’re wondering, what’s a trichologist? Trichology is the paramedical study of the health of the hair and scalp.
So to further answer your question, hair growth is really quite individual as there are many factors that affect it.
Hair has a growth cycle of approx 24-48 months, and grows approx 1cm per month. So depending on the individual (and this depends on both genetic and environmental factors) your hair will grow to 24-48cm long before it falls out.
Some people have a longer hair growth cycle of up to 7-10 years and so they can grow their hair to crazy lengths.
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| This is the kind of crazy hair I mean. I do not recommend this look. |
Your hair growth cycle is genetic, and so you can’t make your hair grow for a longer period of time. The only other way to get long hair is to make your hair grow faster during the 24-48 month growth cycle.
How to make your hair grow faster
Your hair growth is affected by your metabolism. So if you can speed up your metabolic rate you can make your hair grow faster. Your metabolism is set by both genetic and environmental factors. Changing your diet will have an impact on your hair. Eating a high protein diet with good levels of iron and zinc can make your hair grow faster. Silica supplements don’t make a significant difference, but making sure you are eating a diet high in iron and protein will help.
Also, to keep your long hair looking beautiful, be kind to your hair. There’s no point growing your hair super long if it looks awful and is in bad condition. If you want long hair it needs to be well looked after for a very long time.
If you want really long hair, maybe you should stop colouring your hair and keep heat styling to a minimum. By avoiding these environmental stresses on your hair, you give your hair the best chance to grow and look fabulous. Your hair will also love you back if you spoil it with a conditioning treatment once a week.
Have you noticed that your hair stops growing at a certain length? Have you ever noticed your hair growing faster?
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Hello, Very useful page, thank you !
Ive dyed my hair since i was in my teens, im now 42! I have very very thin, lifeless hair and it does not grow very fast. My diets not that great, so i guess that could improve it? also, should i try and grow out my hair colour ? {if it WILL grow at all}
My hair colour is Plum, but would love to be blonde. How would i go about this pls?
I know im asking two contradicting questions, but im just considering my options, would going blonde help it not look so thin? {as i hate my scalp showing through my hair} x
Thank you
Hi Caron! Thanks for commenting. Unfortunately colouring your hair is damamging, so it’s probably not the best idea to go from plum to blonde quickly or you’ll cause more stress on your hair. It’s possible to change your colour but i would do it slowly so that it minimises the impact on your hair. Have a chat to your hairdresser about the options, and good luck!
Thanks. Would blow drying my hair with it on cold air mode Damage my hair?
It might take a while to blow dry on cold. I still blowdry my hair, as I don’t have all day for it to dry. Just use a medium heat setting and don’t do it everyday 🙂
Hey there! I am currently 12, turning 13 in less than a month. I have a small to medium amount if very fine hair that us a bit past shoulder length. By the time I was about 10 I wanted to grow my hair longer. It was about at the back of my neck when I started to try and grow it longer. It’s been 2-3 years and as I said before, my hair is a bit past shoulder length and I have been tryin to get it longer but it gets split ends so easily and my mom wants me to cut it short again but I REALLY want long hair that is about to my mid-back so I can cut it for cancer. Is there any way that you suggest to get it growing or to at least get the ends from getting split so easily?
Hi Becca, I think it’s great that you want to grow your hair so that you can donate it. Some hair does tend to split more easily, but you can minimise this by making sure it is hydrated and by avoiding heat styling tools. Try using a conditioning treatment once a week on the midlengths to the ends of your hair. Where possible, don’t blowdry or flat iron your hair. Get regular trims to keep your split ends in check. If you don’t cut them off they can keep splitting your hair further up, meaning you need to cut off more hair. Good luck! Xx
Hi I hope U LL hv a time to answer my ? I m happy for ur posting my metabolism s veryslow
Hi! Nice post. I grew up with very thin, short hair, uneven hair. Last year it was the longest it’s ever been (bra strap length in some places). It was so uneven I cut it 1″ above my shoulders this past Feb. Now it’s 2″ past my shoulders. That means that it only grew 3″ in 9 months. (That only averages to 1″ every 3 months). I take supplements, drink plenty of water, watch what and how much I eat, limit sweets, don’t use sulphates, do hot oil treatments, etc. My hair keeps getting thicker, but it is not getting longer for some reason. It’s not breaking off either. So it’s just at a standstill. It’s been that way for the past 3 months. How much longer can it just do nothing? I know when my hair is growing and I know when it’s not. It looks so yucky! I don’t know what to do with it. Someone even thought that I had CUT IT!! Gee am I frustrated! All of the dermatologists said I have nothing to worry about and everything’s fine. No one can find anything wrong. My hair has also gotten so DRY that it literally looks like a brillo pad. But yet it’s very soft. Go figure? When I use coconut oil on it, my hair still looks dry and just feels oily (yuck!). Is there any type of supplements specifically for growing hair (lenghtwise) that anyone might know and FAST? Thanks!
Hi Charlene, soudns like you’re doing everything right. There is a product called evolis which lengthens the growth phase of your hair which could help. Christina x
Hi! Both my mother and my father have slow hair growth so I guess my hair will never grow past my shoulders 🙁 I’m 15 and my hair is down to my shoulders and curly and I only straighten it a few times a year and when I do its really long. I cant seem to get it to grow though! I’m eating a lot of protein lately and taking fish oil and healthy hair, skin and nails vitamins and they do seem to be making my hair healthier but not longer. All I want is to get my hair down past my shoulders but my metobolism isn’t good 🙁 Is there anything I can do to get it grow longer? I only want it a few inches longer 🙂 Thanks for the truth 🙂
Hi my, sounds like you’re doing all the right things. It takes 6-12 weeks to notice a difference from taking vitamins. Keep going and I hope you’ll notice a difference x
Interesting, I’ve always wanted long hair well for years and years anyways. There was a time I could grow my hair down to my waist but ever since I hit my mid 30’s onward my hair just doesn’t grow that long any more. Now the longest I could get it was just pass my shoulders. That and the fact that it grows a lot slower then it use to too. So it got me thinking does age also have part in hair growth?
Hi Katt, yes it does and usually connected with metabolism. The same way we can’t eat as much as when we were younger and look the same, our metabolism affects our hair growth too. I think I may have missed my chance for mermaid hair 🙁
Hm, ill try this :’) hopefully it’ll work for me… i have indian in me… so i have really thick hair, its past my shoulders, but i want it longer… >.< and i have split ends as well… i cut them though…. thing is, i have alot of them…my hair was longer before… i never took care of it, straightened it everyday, i was a dumbass. now its too late.
my hair has been collar bone length for like seven or eight years now. when i was 11 and younger my hair grew down my back. but it got choped off by a jealous friend. so now my hair is extremely short and has been for a long time. i barely cut it and i dont cut it to maintain this length. so i wondering why it doesnt grow past this length.i do trim my ends regularly but not a big chop. i dont know why its not longer by now =( can anyone help me? you can message me on my tumblr account. allthingssami.tumblr.com
I can’t believe a “friend” cut your hair! Sometimes it feels like it’s taking forever for your hair to grow but it is. Try to avoid heat styling your hair and make sure you’re eating a well balanced diet and your hair will grow back x
I’m a male, and when i had my hair long it never grew past my shoulders neither. It was pretty damaged also so that may have been a factor in why, but I never did anything to it so idk it was lol. But now its short again.
Hi, i was wondering from been around 4 years of age i had hair i could sit on right up to been 20 with regular trims, i then decided to go for a bigger cut getting shorter and shorter untill about 3 years ago it was shorter than chin length. I am now growing it back and it is just above my bra strap at the back ( i did have a good 4″ cut not long back to get rid of a layer). My question is since my hair has been that long before does that mean even now at 31 with time and care it will grow back that long again. Thanks 🙂
Hi Belle, sounds like your hair grows quickly and it should reach the same length again. There are lots of factors that affect it (such as diet and environmental damages) but you’re not old enough to worry about ageing hair yet x
Yep, +1 on the healthy diet comment. There are even some great vitamin supplements that can really make your hair grow healthy (and faster). And for pete’s sake stay out of the sun or wear a scarf or hat. UV rays are terrible for your hair! Thanks for the the great post!
Interesting! I swore my hair grew incredibly fast at boot camp, but chalked it up to just not paying attention to it until the end. I put on about 2-3 inches in 2 months. I was working out constantly and eating twice as much as normal, so my metabolism was going crazy. And so was my hair, apparently. Now I know the secret!
Now I just need to get past this awkward place where it’s too long to wear down and too short to put up. This blog is the only thing keeping me away from the scissors right now!
Thanks Kristen! Keep going, I know those in-between phases take forever but one day you wake up and your hair is long again 🙂
1mc per month? that has to be a very very low estimate. I cut about 10 inches off every year and donate it to Locks of love. However when it gets down to my waist it will stop growing. I did not donate yet this year and am about 4 months past when I usually cut it off and it is not any longer. 🙁 I was hoping to grow it very long this year
Your hair definitely grows faster than most, but everyone has a limit to where their hair grows. That’s great that you donate so much hair!
Some people may find that along with a healthy diet, caring for your hair to reduce breakage can also make a huge difference. No heat styling, less ponytail rubberband use, and conditioning have been mentioned, but I have also tried something else: No Poo. =) You can Google it, but basically it is staying away from the chemicals in shampoo, which can be damaging and either using nothing at all, or baking soda for “shampoo,” and Apple Cider Vinegar for “conditioner”. It may sound crazy, but that with a cold water rinse has greatly improved the condition of my fine hair, which currently reaches mid-back, the longest I have ever had it. Good luck to everyone, and here is a link to some information if you are interested: http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html
Hi Stella, great point. I know lots of people who have amazing hair with the no poo. Unfortunately I do too many other things to my hair (eg. colour, styling) so I went back to shampoo but I switched to sulphate free products which has made a difference in my hair.
I had the same problem. I read on the Internet if you put prenatal vitamins in your shampoo it will help it grow faster. So I got tail and mane shampoo wit the vitamins in And now my hair is almost to my waist.it really works. I have gotten many compliments on how my hair is growing and I don’t get split ends. Shiny and soft too=)
I will try this and make my hair grow faster I want my hair long again I miss iT lol
When I was younger my hair seemed to grow so quickly and I think it was because i didn’t do anything to it! no straightening and no colouring and just kept it in a pony tail. It took just 2 years to get from shoulder length to halfway down my back! However now i’m really struggling, I’m 20 and it doesnt seem to want to get past my shoulders, I have a feeling it’s got something to do with the pill, I’m on Yasmin which stops my skin being too oily which in turn does not allow valuable nutrients to access my hair from my scalp. I suggest you girls get off pills that make your skin and scalp dry and it will grow faster.
My hair sucks.
It grows very fast (when I cut it short, it reached shoulder length in just 4 months). But when it reach shoulder blades, it stop to grow, totally.
I never dye it, I never use iron and in almost never cut it, not even to split points because i never have it. I can also brush it easily.
I don’t even take medicine, so…
Sounds like you’re doing all the right things but it’s genetic. The good news is shoulder length hair and super short cuts are really on trend x
My daughter has very fine, curly, hair. Between the ages of 1 and 3, I never cut it hoping it would come in. I started trimming it but she hates to let me do it because it takes forever to grow back even the smallest amount. Now she can barely get it to a pony tail and the ends get soooo dry. We condition, condition and condition. It was interesting to see how much diet can affect this. I am going to add some vitamiins to her diet. She is now 7 and all she wants is long straight hair. Is she doomed?
Oh she’s not doomed! Your hair can change many times during your life. Mine was dead straight and fine when I was little and then turned curly when I was a teen. Ask your hairdresser for some advice at her next cut.
I have been very ill on lots of medications & due to less and less use of my hands i cutt my hair super short now it won’t grow its very depressing and im getting teased i look like a little boy my husband to be hates it please help me
Hi Renee, I’d talk to your doctor to see if any of your medications can be affecting your hair or your metabolism. I’m sure it will grow back, but it always takes time. Christina x
My hair is very short and i’ve had about 10 hair cuts my whole entire life. I’m 19 almost 20. My hair has never grown past my ears. I’ve had so many test done and everything is normal. My hair is finally starting to grow a tiny bit more. But i still don’t have enough for any sort of pony tail. I am miserable. I was bullied half my life because i was constantly mistaken for a boy. I mean at least twice a day someone would ask my mother how old her ‘son’ was. I am on a mission to figure out what the hell is wrong with my hair. If anyone can help please give me some advice. that’s not ‘accept your fate’, heard that all. No it’s not happening. i want at least shoulder length hair! My hair is very thin and in the past i had colored it a lot but for the past two years i haven’t touched it. I never use any heat ever. It’s a strawberry blonde color. I heard that gingers hair grows slower. I want my hair to grow. I haven’t found a single person in my situation. I hope whatever f’d up genes i have don’t pass over to my daughter because it has been pure torture. Kids are ruthless and society is unforgiving. Girls have long hair boys have short hair. I can’t pull off the real short ‘pixie’ cut. Please help me.
Bridget..my hair will not grow at all. I havent had a hair cut in 3 years and it keeps breaking off. Will not grow past my ears. I do in fact color my hair on the reg. I went from bleaching it to dying it black now. I actually went and bought a wig and hairpieces. It makes me feel better when I feel like a boy too honey!
I am in the same boat. My hair is totally fine/thin and not a lot of it. (My nick name in HS was Ghandi, cuz you could see my scalp). Currently it is about 2 inches long. I have been slowly cutting off the damaged hair over the last 9 months. I have been dying my hair since I was 14 and am 45 now.
For the last 9 months I’ve been using a coconut oil treatment on my hair which has helped my damaged, dyed hair. Beginning in March 2013, I started doing this hair mask twice a week: heat up a tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and a dash of olive oil (I actually heat all this together on a double boiler: pot of water and a small metal mixing bowl). Mix this with an egg yolk. Saturate hair, wrap with plastic, cover with a towel, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. I also use the honey/coconut oil/olive oil mixture as a mask on my face. My skin just loves honey! BTW, honey will lighten your hair. This treatment has drastically improved the quality of my hair, BUT, my hair was still not growing at all.
After researching the internet, I learned about monistat which has amazing before and after photos. You can buy the generic version for about $5. I have used it for a week and a half. After my hair not growing at all, it grew 1/8 of an inch over one week.
That treatment sounds awesome Brigitte! Good luck with growing your hair xx
Hi Bridget
I understand your plight. My hair has been short my entire childhood and young adult years. I am 39 now and have begun my healthy hair journy. I researched to find out what I was doing detrimental to my hair and I found:
1. Relaxing to often. I now wait 10-12 weeks between relaxer and make sure I coat the previously relaxed ends with a good conditioner and Jamacian Black Castor oil to prevent any relaxer over lap.
2. Know my moisture/ protein balance.
3. Sleep in a silk or satin scarf at night. EVERYNIGHT.
4. Shampoo with sulfate-free shampoo.
5. Deep condition after every shampoo.
6. Hair vitamins
7. WATER, WATER, WATER
8. Do a hard protein AT LEAST 1x a month.
9. Moisturise and seal at night
10 Be patient. Identify the things you are doing wrong and correct it, but you wont see results overnoght, you gotta have patience.
I am 48 years old and changed my diet 5 years ago by eating healthier because my cholesterol was high. I incorporated more fruits and vegetables in my diet and eat plenty of fish with omega 3 in them. I take biotin 5000 mcg, b6, hair vitamins and multivitamins and my hair won’t even reach my shoulders whereas it used grow near the middle of my back. Does age play a role in hair shortage because I condition my hair 2 to 3 times a week and now I’m getting frustrated. What else can I do to get my hair to grow back to length I grew up with?
HI Lady G, unfortunately hair does change with age. Maybe chat to your hairdresser about your hair condition and the best routine for your hair now. Sounds like you are doing all you can x
I understand and sympathise with you Lady G. When I had my second child just over 13 years ago, I had long curlyish hair. Length wise, it reached jut below my bra strap and comfortably fell over my shoulders to boob length. At my first post-baby hair appointment, the stylist recommended cutting the “extra pregnancy growth rats-tails” off. I agreed because it needed tidying. Subsequently, my hair has never grown beyond my shouders and is now very curly/frizzy and dry. Can’t find anything to help. Its not really long enough to put up or into the styles I used to … so I’m stuck with a dry and frizzy mess. Hate it!
I’m about your age and mine will not grow. Mind you as a child it never grew particularyl long – hardly enough to braid[plait. I haven’t vut it once for 2 years now and it has grown a bit to shoulders but seems to have stopped now (I eat a very healthy diet by the way). Perhaps I shouldn’t wash it every day. I don’t use heat or blow dry it either nor brush it when wet.
I don’t understand my hair! Okay so my hair is really short and medium-sized spots on the side have none. I’m 11 and I get made fun of. Can somebody please help. this sort of help me so i will try to eat more healthier.
It could be psoriasis or a form of alopecia. I would see your doctor to find out the cause. And ignore the kids who tease you xx
Try castor oil. Rub and massage on the bald spot once every two days. Also, use sulphate free shampoo.
About 4 years ago I had a bad perm and was forced to cut my hair. Its been nearly 6 years now and my hair hasn’t grown passed my shoulders.my sister has been doing treatments for the last two years because my hair lacks moisture. My edges don’t lay down and in the crown of my head is shorter than the rest of my hair I have a lot of stress because of it and it causes it to break more. I have no idea what to do now
Hi im a female and I started perming my hair at a young age..I remember I had a lot of hair back then and long up to my shoulders….but as the years past by my hair started to get shorter, alot of split ends, dryed. point was that my hair was completely damaged…every time I used to cut my ends it never managed to grow back …my hair was so longer on my shoulders it was above my neck. I also did extensions but that made my hair even more damaged….
so I decided to shave my whole head..I shaved it at the end of january and my hair been growing but not fast enough…and I decided to go natural and not perm my hair this time…..my question to you is how can I make my hair grow faster…are there some products I could use? But most importantly is my hair going to grow at my shoulders again? That’s my main concern, for it to be long and healthy
Thank you
Hi Veronica, you’ve been on a massive hair journey! The best way to get long healthy hair is to watch what you eat. You have to put good things in to get good results. A healthy balanced diet is important and speeding up your metabolism is key to faster hair growth. Some supplements can help but check with your doctor or dietician before starting. Try not to flat iron your hair too as this can cause breakage which will slow doen your progress. Stay away from the perms too as it will damage your hair and slow it down. Good luck!
Hi, thank you for this. I just wanted to ask abouit hair loss. I’m 16 and my hairs been falling out for a year. It was sooo long and thick and beautiful and now its just not right. I was just wondering if you think a haircut would stop it.
Hi Kelly, I’m so sorry to hear that. Getting a haircut can help your hair look thicker but it won’t stop the hair loss. There are lots of reasons such as diet and stress that can affect your hair. It could also be medical such as hormones, thyroid or other conditions. I recommend seeing your doctor to see if there is an underlying cause. There are some products that can help that I am testing at the moment but you need to find out the cause. Good luck. Christina x
I have noticed a very long time ago when I was a teen that my hair doesn’t grow past my shoulders. It didn’t really shock me that much since my mom’s hair doesn’t grow at all. The only thing that saddens me is that whenever I am stressed out (which is almost every year, this past decade), my hair just stops growing. It barely goes past my neck nape.
I’m sorry to hear that Anna, stress has so many effects on our body and it’s easy to see the damage to our hair.
Thank you all for putting your thoughts onto the internet! I have been wondering for a while about the cycle of hair growth. I didn’t realize until I was in college for a few years and so many people coming up to me telling me their stories of not being able to grow their hair out. I am fortunately lucky to have hair down to my behind. I didn’t realize that hair had a certain length but it does make sense that your genetics have a key role in how long your hair will grow. I have wanted my hair to grow even longer but this seems to be my length until my metabolism hopefully speeds up a bit. I have started to take my daily chewable vitamins; since I do believe that chewing a vitamin will help in the absorption. Thanks Again! 🙂
Wow your hair is long! I’m going to start taking my vitamins too. Thanks Jessica x
It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
This is stupid. I do not believe it how does your hair know when it’s the same length? It doesn’t it’s just dead cells. It grows and falls out but it never stops growing.
Hi Alexis, You’re right, the hair shaft is dead but the hair follicle grows. Each follicle grows at approx the same rate and has the same life cycle based on your genetics and environmental factors such as your diet, and if you dye or heat style your hair. There is a rolling cycle of growth and if your hair grows 1 cm per month and has a cycle of 4 years your hair will only grow to 48cm long. Your hair always keeps growing but will only grow to a certain length in that time before it falls out.
I’m having trouble believing that’s all there is to the story, too. I don’t think it’s “stupid”, but if the whole point is that there is a limited amount of time for each follicle to grow hair, and a certain amount it can grow per month, then cutting it would only take away some of the possible total length. However, we’ve read that many people get longer hair by the end if they get regular trims. Sure, it may keep the hair healthy, but what if if I cut six inches off, those same follicles keep the hair growing to the same expected length, don’t they?
Because if it’s all as simple as Hair Romance stated, then I would never reach 48″ if I ever got a trim, certainly not if I ever cut the same hairs that I wanted to reach that 48″ more than six inches. I would have to wait until I had all new hair growths and not trim those hairs, I guess.
Consider (sorry to gross anyone out, but…) pubic hairs and leg hairs. They don’t keep growing after a certain point; they seem to know what length they want to be. If you trim them, they will grow back in to about the same length they were before, (possibly longer if you keep trimming, who knows?) but you can do this multiple times with the same few hairs before they fall out, meaning, the same hair follicle can stop growing, and start growing, the hair within its growth cycle multiple times, can’t it?
Maybe that’s wrong, but isn’t there anything that gives the sensitive nerves in the follicles a sense for how long the hair is, maybe it’s weight or something? My leg hair does the same thing. How does it know?
Hi lala, trims don’t make your hair grow faster, but they stop damage and split ends travelling further up your hair. This means you won’t need to cut more off and your long hair will be healthy. Each follicle has a set growth pattern which can be sped up by increasing your metabolism.
I think it might be a function of weight/mass of the hair to the follicle nerves which might both sense the amount of force needed to push the hair out, depending on it’s length, the inertia of the hair shaft, etc. Any type of hair is programmed for a different length and btw it’s genetic, shaving has no effect on it :).
I have waist length hair which has taken me 5 years to grow from shoulder or just above. I highly recommend mane N tail shampoo and conditioner but only use it once a week, the other time i use inecto coconut shampoo and conditioner. I wash only 2x a week and do not blow dry my hair or use heat appliances on it.
What happens is when you use heat, it makes the older ends fragile and so they split and break off, so whatever you grow, you lose in breakage. Id guess those of you who cannot grow past shoulders are using heat and washing too often.
Regarding shampoos, dilute them and try sulphate free ones; much gentler on the hair, conditioners use moisturising ones that say for damaged hair it helps those older ends. When your hair is long enough to put up, buy either olive oil or coconut oil and using a pea sized amount, rub your hands together and spread this on the bottom few inches of your hair, this will act as a barrier and help prevent breakage and then put your hair up.
Trim individuality splits as you see them and only trim every 3-4 months and only then have a teeny bit taken off.
Follow these steps for 12 months and you will have longer hair; i guarantee that! pre natal vits helped me as did having a tablespoon of peanut butter a day! seriously try it!!!!
Fantastic advice Jodie! Agree about too much heat styling & over-washing causing damage and breakage to your hair. I haven’t heard about the peanut butter before, is that to add protein to your diet?
@Mrs B – I wish my hair would gro wot waist length! I agree that shoulder blade length hair is really versatile!
I am one of those people whose hair seems to never stop growing. It is extremely thick (amount of hair) but the individual hairs are very fine. I cut it chin length once and it took approximately 9 years (with regular trims) to grow it waist length again. Although a love to have it really long, it is so much work (and can be expensive) to keep it looking healthy. My favorite length is just below shoulder blade – it feels "long" but cuts maintenance time in half (and saves a fortune on hair products). Just my 5 cents 🙂
@Lauren Alice – Thank you! Will have to try that Lee Stafford prod. What would we do without dry shampoo?!
@nicola lynde – haha no judging here 🙂
@Melody – I never let mine get long enough to find out either!
@Monique {Oh Darling Bride} – Thank you!
@Rachel – Thanks! I'm not sure about Biotin. I'll look into it.
@kpriss – Pregnancy has a huge effect on your hair! I don't know from personal experience, but anecdotal evidence from friends says your hair grows like crazy. Hormones make a big difference, and pregnancy puts your whole body into a different gear.
@Annette @ Wellness WA – Diet is so important (not just for your hair)
@relentlessabundance – that is the craziest and most interesting tip! I am going to look into that…
Another grow-your-hair tip from a top stylist in my city (he says his product suppliers hate him for it but…) – apparently using horse shampoo does amazing things for hair growth. It's often prescribed for chemo patients, and when I asked at my local vet, they said they sell loads of it to people trying to grow their hair. Not sure what the active ingredient is, but it does seem to work.
I agree with the vitamin and healthy eating bit!
I found my hair was growing strong and like weeds when I had a diet high in omega and healthy oils and fats too x
wow! I never thought it was as radical as this – coping with hair not growing because I didn't have a healthy diet or because I didn't take good care of it was easier to chew on than living with a shorter hair life. Oh well (sigh).
I have the exact same problem – no matter how long and hard I try, my hair doesn't seem to grow after a certain point. The only time this happens and in great health, is when I'm pregnant. Could it have anything to do with hormones as well?
It’s my understanding that it does having something to do with hormones i.e. if you’re pregnant, you tend to grow hair very fast and then it stops or falls out or goes back to normal. Also, you can lengthen your growth stage by taking MSM (a sulfur) you can buy at any health food store. However, it just makes my hair very THICK!!! I no longer cut my hair because all it does it make it shorter. My hair grows super, super, super, sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooow! Cutting it makes it grow back fast, but then it goes back to it’s old routine. I wish I knew of something that no only lengthens the Anagen (growth) phase, but also lengthens the LENGTH phase.
Great post! It makes so much sense! Anyways, I was wondering if taking Biotin daily would help grow out hair faster.
Thanks!
Wow, I found that so interesting and it's given me all the more reason to workout a little more regularly 🙂 Thanks so much!
Oh gosh, me too! 🙂 after reading this i went straight outside and ran for an hour. wasnt much, but doing this can also make me loose a couple pounds and make my hair grow.
The longest I've had mine is at the middle of my back. I'm not sure if it won't get any longer than that or if I just always got bored around that time and chopped it off!
Completely agree. I didn't cut my hair for three years (shouldn't say that too loud on here, but then again you know my beauty routine, so makes sense) and it stayed more or less the same length. Even now that it's had some TLC it still stays around the same length, not that I'm complaining at all!
Great post! I will definitely lay off the curling iron! My hair was stuck at boring shoulder length for ages and I used Lee Staffords hair growth treatment. I was dubious at first but it really worked! I also find that trying not to wash my hair too often makes it grow quicker (could not be achieved without dry shampoo!!)
Gorgeous blog!
@Breanna – Thanks for a great question! Tough choice, growing out is the worst. I think I would accept that your hair won't grow long and to embrace a cut that makes the most of your hair.
@miss chew – your hair is super long and always looks amazing. Keep doing what you're doing!
This is such an interesting article! I must be having a longer cycle as my hair is starting to get quite long and my diet is pretty healthy these days too. Strange that at a point the individual hair will fall out. I hope it will keep growing!
Thanks for answering my question!
At the moment I'm not sure whether I should cut my hair into a shorter, more layered style or hold out hope that it might grow longer if I'm very patient. It's a hard thing to accept that it might not grow much more!
My problem is that my hair is quite fine, so this in between stage isn't so flattering. Decisions, decisions!
Good luck and don’t give up. I haven’t ” cut ” my hair in almost 5years. It was at ear length then and now it’s at my waist. I moisturize every day, stopped dying and only blow dry and straighten with products once a week. I get complemented every where I go so it lets me know all these years of dedication are paying off. You will sooner or later get to your goal and love it too. Again Good Luck.
Hiya just a quick question how long did you hair stay at ear stage and does your hair normally grow fast if not what did u do differently???
Hi Abzz, I’m not exactly sure as it was a while ago. The interesting thing with hair is that it takes about 3 months or any lifestyle changes to change your hair. You have to think long term, and focus on eating well and minimising stress. Good luck x
@Maribeth – I hate that grow-out stage. Try getting creative with ahir accessories and hats, helped me get through mine!
@CupcakesOMG – same. I always wanted mermaid hair but my hair is never going to get there, sigh. i'd probably just complain about how heavy it was and how long it took to dry anyway 😉
@Cassidy Thomas – eek! It's ok, I should have said that your hair is in a continuous growth cycle where you lose about 100 hairs a day so you won't ever wake up to a hairy pillow!
@Anonymous – It's definitely better to have healthy hair than long hair, healthy hair loves you back!
My issue is that I stopped coloring my hair a little over 6 months ago and it hasn’t gotten longer yet my roots have grown out, just around 4 inches. Drives me crazy that my roots are growing but my length doesnt seem to show a difference…..and I am a hairstylist so I know what to use and what to avoid….Ive had longer in the past but I feel like I have been stuck at the same length for two years now.
I’ve had karatin treatments every 3 months for the past 2 years, and started to think that these treatments were the reason my hair has been the exact same length for 2 years! I look at pictures from 2 years ago, and my hair is exactly the same, and I have not had it even trimmed (I know, bad, bad). But this totally makes sense now. I had been wasting hundreds of dollars trying to get my hair to grow waist length, and it’s just not going to happen 🙁 Good advice here to keep the length I do have healthy. Ahh genetics 🙁 Thanks for the honesty.
I know the feeling! My hair is been just above my bra strap for as long as I can remember yet I’ve always wanted waist length hair. I only wash my hair once a week, never use heat like curling irons, so deep conditioning treatments every once and a while, I’ve literally watched SO many videos and I’m kinda desperate. I even listened to hair subliminal videos! (They say things like “grow hair stronger and longer” but it’s like super sped up so you can’t hear it but it lets your subconscious mind know. Anyway, I hope you all get your ur hair desires!
This is EXTREMELY interesting!!! I have always had hair at around shoulder length and is extremely curly and always wanted LONGER hair. Now I know why when it gets about 2 inches past my shoulders I can't do anything. It is ALOT healthier now that I have been caring for it properly so it is MUCH easier to manage!
Falls out? I just had this awful image of waking up with all my hair on my pillow.
Those are the kind of nightmares I have. Haha
onstagehair.blogspot.com
my hair is thin and breaks easy nothing helps I would like to put hair extensions in but will my hair fall out and can not find a good salon in my area to do it
Mine breaks off too and is thin. nightmare.
wow, this is so helpful!! I've been wanting my hair to be waist length for like years, but it always stops at about my bra strap. I have noticed more regular trims seem to help (having gone from 1 a year to 3 or 4!), but still, it's not as long as I wish it were. Fascinating stuff!! Even if it is a little disappointing…
http://www.cupcakesomg.blogspot.com
You know, I never really thought about this, but it makes total sense. I've had my hair extremely short for the past 7 years and just recently began growing it out (SO painful…taking forever!) so I am paying more attention now. I have been being extra nice to it in hopes that when it finally grows, it will be in good shape!
I agree with the article. However, I have something to add to it. I wanted my hair long. My girlfriend who has hair to the floor told me this, then we tested it on my hair. The moon controls many things on earth, the tide, weather etc. When we did a hole on a full moon and put the dirt back in the hole, there isn’t enough soil to fill the hole. On a new moon if we dig a hole and put the dirt back in, there is too much soil. The affect of the moon drawing moisture out of the atmosphere. Anyway, she told me if I didn’t want my hair to grow, trim it, even a tiny bit on a full moon. IF I wanted it to grow, trim on a NEW MOON! We measured my hair and for almost a year trimmed it on a full moon. Then we measured it and trimmed it on a new moon. Seriously and truthfully, it grew so much faster on a NEW MOON! I believe planets affect us humans like they do our weather etc. We don’t have a protective shield around us. The moon pulls the ocean tide. Of course it affects us, we made up of about 70% water! 😉 Won’t hurt to try for those of you who don’t believe scientific facts. 😉
OMG are you serious? your e-mail is so confusing and convoluted with information… it’s ridiculous. Stop spreading lies and myths.
Ina, it’s not a lie if the poster, Theresa, believes it. Who knows, there are stranger things that happen in this world. I once watched a plant (a floppy Baby’s Breath) perk straight up when exposed to soft music from a radio playing next to it. I could see them perk up one at a time. So who knows? There is always a bit of fact in things we call superstitious. Keep an open mind to everything!
It actually is a lie. Hair never stops growing! It may slow down but it never truly stops! So Ina is right!
Lynn and Teserssa, y’all are two nuts, people like y’all need to move to the moon.
Just think of all the wonderful things you two will enjoy.
“It’s not a lie if the poster believes it”
Welcome to the 21st Century, folks. We should stop trying to follow the scientific method. Who cares about formulating reasonable hypotheses? Reproducible experiments? No, thank you. Get those peer-reviewed articles out of my face.
Why do we spend three years getting a degree, 2 years on a masters and another 3-5 for a PhD?? If only we could have known that just believing in things made them true. Damn. What a waste of time and money my two science degrees were.
With a response like that, you make yourself appear to be ignorant.
I whole heartedly agree with this.
So if I do it on new moon my hair will grow ? Thank u I got to do tis
I swear by this. It may sound crazy but in fact plants ARE affected by moon cycles. I ve tested this out. If I trim hair on a new moon it appears to grow more quickly than if it’s trimmed during a waning moon. This holds true for plants so it’s not irrational to think it holds for hair. The moon affects water ( think ocean tides ) Our bodies are 70% water. There s a measurable effect. You will notice 1/2 – 1cm growth différence per month if u religiously measure it compared to less appearance of growth gained when trimming on a full moon or waning moon. It s related to water content. BTW it helps to drink warm water for hydration and blood flow.
So how much faster did it grow for you?
My hair is 2 inches about my waist. I want it to grow ankle length if possible. I will try trimming it on the next new moon. Thanks.
I’m totally going to try this bc why not. If it doesn’t work, what can it hurt. Also, if you are wanting more growth I keep Rosemary oil in shampoos and conditioners it keeps the scalp clean to promote growth. It had helped me a lot.
I’ve heard this too and I believe it! I’m going to try it cause I’m wanting to grow my hair out & having trouble getting it past my shoulders…
Thanks for the reminder!
That’s because you’re actually trimming your hair regularly like most people should, but don’t. I believe in the moons powers as much as the next person, but as a professional hairstylist, just making a point to trim every month is crucial to remove breakage
I think helpful to me
lol. It’s not that it “stops” growing… it’s just that the rate it breaks off is faster than the rate it grows. My hair wouldn’t grow past my shoulders either… at least that’s what I thought. Then I stopped washing my hair everyday… I shower, aka wash my body everyday. Except I only wash my hair every three, sometimes four days, or whenever it starts to look greecy which isn’t very fast. I also stopped straightening my hair and using other heat products… not to mention, stopped focusing on the fact I wanted long hair and buying every damn product under the sun to make it do so. Without the contact sulfate from shampoo drying it out, heat products frying it off, and products weakening it before I knew it, it was past my boobs. It grew about an inch a month for 6 months. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I literally, thought that my hair WASN’T able to grow…. it is sooo healthy and nice now. The very bottom of my hair was the middle of my hair when I began all of this so the bottom of my long hair had split ends four inches high. I cut them off and, literally, four months later it was back to where it was(it great six inches and was past my boobs, super soft, and pretty thick) I actually got 26 inch extensions and they looked great because they were only 3 inches shorter than my actual hair so it didn’t look so strange… also before human hair extensions were so much softer than my hair I liked when they would get a little worn because it would match my hair texture. NOW my hair is silkier than the extensions… it’s a really strange answer but it’s the truth… if you want long hair stop trying… only wash your hair as few times as possible(don’t let it get gross but it shouldn’t be washed everyday and dry as hell…. things only break off when there what? DRY.), stop using so many products besides non-sulfate shampoo and conditioner, maybe only a scalp stimulating product, use a detangler to prevent breakage after showering and maybe a nice once a week a serious conditioner for an hour, and use heat products as least as you can maybe rock some beachy waves? or if you have to use heat products make sure to use a heat protectant and do a style that will last all week… bottom line LEAVE IT ALONE
My hair is coming from chin length now I am at middle neck now .October my hair is going to be at shoulder length if I am still taking care of me.