Long hair often represents the ultimate beauty aspiration—certainly, it does for me! I find myself frequently searching “how to make your hair grow faster” online, and if you’re here, chances are you’ve done the same. However, my journey to achieving long hair seems to hit a roadblock. My strands reach a certain length and then appear to halt in growth. On average, hair grows about half an inch every month, equating to approximately 6 inches per year for most people (1). Some individuals have a longer hair growth phase, allowing their strands to reach remarkable lengths. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those lucky individuals. Find out reasons why your hair isn’t growing.
Reasons your Hair won’t Grow
1. Genetic Factors
It may come as a surprise, but your hair doesn’t have a set length it stops growing at; instead, it ceases growth at the end of its natural hair growth cycle, determined by your genetics. This growth phase typically spans between two to six years. Once this cycle concludes, your hair stops growing and may either break off or shed. Genetics also influence the levels of thyroid hormone, which can impact hair growth.
2. Aging
Age is another determinant of hair growth, as the hair growth cycle shortens with advancing years. Initially spanning a six-year cycle, it gradually diminishes to around two years, resulting in thinner and less robust hair growth. Additionally, aging reduces oil production in the scalp, leading to drier hair more prone to split ends and breakage.
3. Stress
Stress can also hinder hair growth, both emotional and physical stressors can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Managing stress levels is crucial for promoting both mental well-being and hair health. Activities such as meditation, exercise, and indulging in a relaxing hair treatment can effectively alleviate stress and support hair growth.
4. Nutritional Factors
Just as diet affects overall health, it also significantly influences hair health. A diet rich in iron, vitamin D, zinc, B-complex vitamins, and collagen is essential for healthy hair. Iron-rich foods like eggs and chicken, as well as vitamin D sources such as mushrooms and yogurt, promote hair health. Zinc is found in red meat, beans, and nuts, while collagen is abundant in dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. Supplementing with a B-complex vitamin containing biotin can enhance hair follicle growth rate.
5. Hair Shedding
Shedding is a natural aspect of the hair growth cycle and affects everyone, regardless of their hair quality. However, excessive shedding, where hair falls out faster than it regrows, can impede hair growth beyond a certain point.
6. Hair Breakage
Breakage ranks among the primary culprits hindering hair growth. If your hair is breaking off at a rate equal to its growth, achieving length becomes impossible.
Numerous common habits contribute to hair breakage. They include:
- Heat Styling: Excessive heat styling is another common factor behind split ends and breakage. Each time hot tools make contact with your hair, they cause damage by burning and altering the hair’s structure. Dry, brittle strands can only withstand so much heat styling before split ends develop and breakage occurs.
- Over-processing: Subjecting your hair to chemicals strips away its natural oils and roughens the outer cuticle, resulting in strand damage and breakage. A healthy hair cuticle lies flat, providing strength and smoothness to the hair. Conversely, a lifted, damaged cuticle weakens hair, making it brittle and prone to breakage. Over-processing, including procedures like perming, relaxing, and coloring natural hair, leads to significant split ends and breakage, preventing hair from surpassing a certain length.
- Poor Hair Care Routine: The products you use in your hair care regimen are significant. Many products contain harmful ingredients that outweigh their benefits. Opt for natural and sustainably-sourced products like ours for hair breakage, free from harmful ingredients. Treat your strands gently and incorporate the following tips into your hair care routine.
- Aggressive Styling: Being overly aggressive when styling your hair can also contribute to breakage. Brushing or combing too vigorously, sporting tight hairstyles, or using uncovered elastics all cause hair breakage.
- Split Ends: Split ends are nearly as detrimental as breakage. Once a hair strand splits, it cannot be repaired. Moreover, split ends continue to split further up the strand until they eventually break off. Therefore, while hair grows from the follicle at the root, it simultaneously breaks off from the ends, impeding overall hair growth.
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