My hair never seems to grow 1 inch past shoulders
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free skin care · Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:10 pm

Gaining Hair Length

Q: I've been trying to grow my hair out for a long, long time. I get it trimmed regularly to keep it healthy and remove split ends, but it seems like I've reached a "dead end" as far as gaining any more length. Am I doing something wrong, or do I just need to keep letting it go (and letting it grow)?

A: The maximum length to which you can grow your hair is basically a matter of genetics. Some people can grow thick, lustrous tresses that tickle their toes (like 70's country music star, Crystal Gayle), while still others find that getting their hair to grow past their shoulders is a Herculean task.

       Human hair cycles through three stages:

       The anagen phase, or growth phase, is when all new hair growth occurs. During the anagen phase, hair grows at its normal rate (an average of one-half inch per month), and 90% of the hairs on your head will be in the anagen phase at any given time. Each specific hair can be in the anagen phase for an average of three to five years, but it can last as long as ten years in some cases.

       The catagen phase, a transitional phase that follows the anagen phase, signaling the end of the growth phase. During the catagen phase, the hair follicle contracts and detaches from the dermal papilla (where it gets its nutrients). The hair bulb disappears and the root end of the hair forms a rounded club. Less than 1% of the hair will be in the catagen phase at any given time, and this phase usually lasts one to two weeks.

       The telogen phase is also known as the resting phase and is the last phase in the hair's growth cycle. The telogen phase lasts until the fully grown hair is shed. Hair that is in the telogen phase is usually shed during this phase, or after the start of the next anagen phase when it gets pushed out of the follicle.

       10% of the hair of your head will be in the telogen phase, which can last from three to six months, usually. Once the telogen phase ends, the anagen phase of that follicle begins again. The whole cycle of hair growth - all three stages - repeat on an average of every four to five years.

       This means that if your hair averages a four-year anagen phase, and you have your hair trimmed one-half inch every three months, you can expect your hair to grow four inches each year, or a total of sixteen inches before it reaches the catagen phase. The hair can appear considerably shorter if it has more than a minimum of wave or curl. Your head size, shape and your height all can make your hair appear shorter by comparison to someone else whose hair length measures identical to your own.

       If you've been trying to grow your hair out for more than five years, you may have to consider that your hair just isn't predisposed to grow as long as you'd hoped. Otherwise, be patient for a while longer, and see if you can't get a few inches more.

http://www.hairfinder.com/hairquestions/grow_hair_out.htm

free skin care · Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:15 pm

Factors Affecting the Length of Hair Growth
Why Some People Can Grow Hair Longer Than Others
Mar 6, 2009 Sarah Tennant

Genetics, diet, vitamin supplements, hormones, hairstyles and haircare practices can all affect the terminal length of human hair and its rate of growth.

http://www.suite101.com/info.cfm/terms_conditions

[Admin: full copy of article removed due to copyright. Please check copyright before re-posting articles on EDS.]

free skin care · Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:00 pm

great thread! thanks DM for the info.

my hair is knee length but i want to keep it healthy and lush. i have found that with age, it is less lush and a bit stringy.

free skin care · Thu Jan 28, 2010 9:37 pm

DarkMoon wrote:

I had mine down to my mid thigh from 13 until I cut it after my first child at about 1 month before I turned 27, my best friend couldn't get past waist length! We trimmed each others hair every month and did deep conditioning with heat caps weakly. Just our experience! She never could get as much length as I could. BTW we both used to put it up in a loose ponytail on the very top of our heads to sleep, it really made it easier than waking up tangled up in a ton of hair everywhere, including places I won't mention! Smile

DM

its sooo true. Laughing

like after a shower. *sorry don't want to gross anyone out* you keep all your hair to the back to shampoo and rinse. i think it has a habit of wedging itself between *stuff* how the heck do you do your fancy artwork DM?

and once after a nice shower, i was having a romantic moment but had to pause... to jump around with my hands in my underwear trying to find hiding hair that was tickling me. Embarassed

oh god, not a sexy move!

free skin care · Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:55 pm

DM,
i think we're all in the wrong profession. it seems alot of the members are real hardcore skincare/beauty enthusiasts. i really wish i had chosen another profession... perhaps in skincare or beauty. *regrets*

free skin care · Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:50 pm

kims wrote:

My hair doesn't grow much past my shoulders either and when it does, it looks stringy and scraggly since it is ultra fine and thin. My daughter's hair is the same way so I believe that genetics plays a huge role in how long our hair will grow.

Yep, totally agree. Genetics is definitely at play. DM posted that info, as well, above.

Interestingly, my hair used to hardly grow and when I could get is past my shoulders it was like yours kims stringy and scraggly. After I got pregnant, my hair got very, very thick and it has never returned to that thin state. So, besides genetics, I am thinking hormones at play.

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