I always get emails asking why your hair won’t grow as long as when you were young.
It seems like a simple question, but it had me puzzled for a while.
On one hand, it’s true that your hair growth cycle does change as you age but there’s more to this question.
How your hair growth cycle changes
As you get older, your metabolism slows down and so does your hair growth. Plus as we age, we tend to cut out hair, colour it more often and use heat styling products which will also change the growth cycle of our hair.
But the answer to the question of “when I was younger my hair use to grow right down to my lower back and now it only reaches my bra strap” might be even simpler.
Another way to look at the problem
Think about when you were nine or ten and compare it to now. You are probably a lot taller. Your hair may be exactly the same length but visually it doesn’t reach as far down your back as it did when you were younger.
The actual length of your hair from the root to the tip may still be the same length but just looks quite different on your body now as compared to when you were younger.
However if you grew early, a bit like I did, and have been the same height since you were about 13 or 14, then you have to look at other factors as to why your hair isn’t as long anymore.
A reason your hair may not be growing…
The usual culprit to blame for slow hair growth is heat styling.
Trust me when I say how much I love heat styling, but it does affect my hair growth.
The heat actually can slow your hair growth and it can also cause physical damage to your hair. This means you need more haircuts to get rid of split ends and this cuts off any signs of hair growth as well.
I’m not putting away my heat tools any time soon, but I’m just being little bit more mindful and using them only when I need to.
Long hair growth tips
If long hair really is your goal you need to keep it as natural as possible: eat fantastic foods, exercise and look after your body as a whole. That’s the only way to get long and healthy hair.
If you’re looking for a shortcut (like I always am!) clip-in hair extensions are so the way to go. They’re quick and easy to style. You can just can pop them in when you want long hair.
So tell me, have you noticed that your hair growth has slowed as you have got older? Or do you think it’s because you’re just taller?
Let me know your experiences in the comments below.
Melissa says
I think it is because of medications changed the texture and body of my hair. Additionally , I normally end up putting my hair in a bun because I’m always on the go. My hair doesn’t have that tight curl anymore due to it always being tied up all the time . My hair use to be past my bra strap. It also thinned out over the years. I gues because I am in my mid 40s.