by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Reader Hyspin left the following comment on Hair Confessions: Are you Attached to Hair Length?
Yes I am a little paranoid about length because one of the main reasons why I went natural was to grow my own hair without the use of relaxers, extensions and weaves. But when you don’t see any progress for 1 year and have people give you same response over and over “Give it time, it will grow” the focus seems to become some what resentful.
Worse when you know what typical hair growth is supposed to be (half an inch per month at average no matter where you’re from). I think I would be less focus on length if I saw some growth. What makes it worse is that I have less breakage/shedding then when I was young (about half), before perming, than I do now, after perming, but still no length.
Also I guess what adds to this focus is my target goal, collar length in natural state slightly shrunken. I want my hair to be healthy too but I want growth just as much. I trimmed twice last year about 1/4 inch each time because I was told up and down that it was necessary but I know for me it makes no difference.
When you have a goal and think you have resources, the time and ability to measure progress, and it is (supposed to be) attainable (SMART goals) your going to focus even more to getting what you want, which can easily become somewhat of an obsession. So new tactics will evolve if the same old tricks don’t work.
If anyone can help me with this I would greatly appreciate it.
I think this is the story for MAAANY naturals (perhaps more than actually vocalize it). One popular YouTuber, Kim Love of KimmayTube, speaks at length in this video about how she was natural for several years (5 or 6 I think) and saw little to no growth.
Has anyone had this experience? Where you went natural and still weren’t able to retain length? Has it been frustrating? Also, have you managed to develop techniques and practices that enabled you to retain length? Please share!
63 Responses
Oil it, braid it, and leave it alone! It WILL grow! Growth is from the scalp, not from the ends!
u could consider loc’ing ur hair, If u feel like its for you. i
It locs in all the hairs that would have otherwise broken off.
TYPO
no, after I transitioned for a year in braids, I had a head full of big 4a hair. If your hair is not retaining any length after a year, I would suggest getting blood test done for anemia.
no, after I transitioned for a year in braids, I had a head full of big 4a hair. If you’re hair is not retaining any length after a year, I would suggest getting blood test done for anemia.
This won’t be popular but for me it is true. I retain length best by keeping my hair straightened. I don’t mean stretched but straightened. I think it’s because of no tangles, no knots…It’s just either flat or curled(via curling iron)
i know you posted this a yr ago, but i’m just now seeing this and i have to say that flat ironing works best for me too. i retain length best that way. when i give up the iron, detangling results in much more breakage for me. so though it’s not popular among naturals, i see where you’re coming from as i’m in the same boat. i love my natural curls and it’s because i want to see them longer and longer that i continue to straighten because barring braids/twists that’s the only way i can get my hair to retain length without a whole lot of needless tangling. kudos to you for having the courage to admit it!
just do exactly what kimmay does on youtube.com/kimmaytube. guaranteed at least 5 in a year
“We do not listen to our hair choosing instead to do what works for a different person”
Exactly right. It always surprising to hear women say their hair hasnt grown, AT ALL. I mean unless your a corspe, then everything on your body is continuously GROWING. Whether we notice it or not. And everything has it’s limit and growth cycle. Im 28 years old and my hair is the same length as it was when I was 16. (Slightly at the shoulders) That doesnt mean that im doing something wrong. Eating right, moisturizing right. Its just my length, for my body. Its called genetics.
Its also important to look at the shedding strands in your comb/tub/bathroom floor. Do the majority of them have a white bulb at the end? That’s a normal process. Is most the hair without the bulb? That’s your “potential hair growth” right there. Its breaking off. And if your tightly coiled, you may not see the hair growth, unless you stretch it or straighten it out. Because I’m tightly coiled Im always surprised at the growth when I do get it pressed out. Anywho, thats just my two cents.
First off, let me correct my original post because I used to be a math whiz so I do know how to figure out percentages: TWENTY (100 – 80) percent of 10 inches is two inches. What I should have said was that my hair shrinks down to 20 percent of its length.
Secondly, Hyspin, I’m going to pull out the following comments you’ve made so far:
—
1. I started tracking my progress at beginning November 2009 and did a check more than half point August 2010 and Did the last check Mid November 2010.
2. I thought my goal was realistic my end target is collar length but that was for 2-3 year goal, I am starting at ear length. That would mean I was aiming for just touching the shoulder (un stretched) at end of this year which was about 3 inches so I thought it was fully attainable even if my hair grew a little slow.
3. Shrinkage, okay well its natural state shrunken is ear length to a about 1-1 1/2 inch below the earlobe and when straighten shoulder to collar bone length.
—
Does your type 4 hair actually hang when shrunken? Get out a ruler and actually measure it. How many INCHES is your hair shrunken? How many INCHES is it stretched?
Since you seem to be focusing on a certain shrunken goal you really need to have a better handle on what percentage of shrinkage you’re dealing with.
As I said in my previous post, starting from 1 inch I was able to grow 9 inches of hair in about a year and a half. And then I stopped retaining length…because I was always messing in it when it really needed to be left alone (per Jc’s post). But aside from that…despite shrinkage, I was still averaging somewhere around a half-inch of growth a month.
Say I had a goal of 4 inches shrunken. With my shrinkage rate (20%), that would equate to 20 inches straightened, which on me would be somewhere around mid-back length from the crown. Say I’m starting from 1 inch shrunken (5 inches straightened, which on me is somewhere around ear-length from the crown). In order for me to gain 3″ of shrunken hair I’m going to have to grow 15″ of hair. At an average of 1/2″ a month, we’re talking 2.5 years…and that’s assuming 100% length retention.
Realistically speaking, given MY hair (thick but very fine mix of type 4 coils and kinks), the only way I’d achieve 100% length retention is if I locked. Not saying you have to loc…just illustrating the challenge of maintaining this hair type. How close can you get to 100% without locking? Again, see Jc’s post.
If you’re going to base your growth on a shrunken length goal then you need to calculate your shrinkage rate and then, if you want to (don’t know if you do), figure out how much *shrunken hair* you’re growing in a given time period. In my example above, it would take me 2.5 years to grow 3 inches of shrunken hair…which translates to a yearly growth rate of about 1.2 inches, which means I’m only going to see 0.1 inch of shrunken length per month. (Um, yeah…this is why I don’t obsess over length.)
Are your growth goals realistic? Without knowing your actual shrinkage rate, I can’t say. But if you really haven’t seen ANY stretched-length progress in a year, you’ve gotten a lot of good advice from the other commenters here.
Shesingslovely on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8p4DI2NxMA is currently on a hair challenge for length using the tips and techniques provided by Lisa Akbari https://www.lisaakbari.com/. some of the issues with retention that she shares resonate with the concerns mentioned here. i appreciate that she is tracking her progress and letting us all be a part of it… perhaps you may gain something from it as well. there is no harm in trying to achieve your dream length as long as we are realistic about what we are born with (genetics), the effort it will take (sacrificing the time and diligence), and PATIENCE– sucks to hear it, i know but sometimes my hair just says “stop checking me boo, do you and i do me” LOL.
the only solutions i have found beneficial to the health of my hair and consequently length retention are stretched styles (low manipulation), clean scalp, water, and extra virgin olive oil (especially in the winter! God’s gift)
@ anonda: I guess I will have to suck up my pride and go back to my doctor again and see if he can give me a dermatologist recommendation while I am there. I tried the last appointment but he was reluctant to suggest a dermatologist and my reason seem so superficial so I didn’t push it. But since I going to have go get blood work done might as well as again
@ nina: If I could huge you I would that was very thorough process. Thanks for all the specifics and suggestions. Using your suggestion and the others like the doctor check and small die test to track progress will definitely make it easier to manage my goal and take in account of what I may have not been doing.
Thanks again
@Hyspin – Do what you’re comfortable with, but be gentle. It’s funny, but if you were relaxed, you’ve already done this experiment and your “new growth” was proof that your hair was growing. If you’re going to a professional stylist, you can explain it to him/her and get it done without too much worry, mess or wasting an entire packet of dye. Henna is more noticeable on some textures/tones and has conditioning properties, but if you can’t tell the difference, it may defeat the purpose.
As for the protective and low manipulation styles, two and three strand twists done small and neat can withstand careful washing (check Youtube,it will be a huge help)but box braids are a personal favorite because they (in my opinion, based on my hair texture) hold up the best. An applicator bottle might be a good investment for cleansing your scalp, and a spray bottle with diluted shampoo could help you to gently wash your hair in sections without “scrubbing”. You can still thoroughly clean your hair and scalp without rubbing your twists/braids into complete fuzziness or having them unravel on you. Think smooth, downward motions and squeezing the shampoo through your hair in sections, only really using the pads of your fingers to massage and clean your scalp. You can also condition them, but you will get less unraveling with leave-ins than thick creamy conditioners. You also want to avoid the conditioners that give you the “slip” you need when detangling, while your hair is twisted/braided. When it’s time to dry, same thing, avoid scrubbing and try to gently squeeze the moisture out, using a microfiber towel (you can get brown or black in the kitchen section of most home goods stores so lint won’t be a problem) and allow to air dry. I understand you’re in Canada, so if you must use heat and you don’t have a bonnet dryer, use a diffuser on a low setting to avoid drying out your hair and scalp.
Now, if you get to your second wash (or first, lol) and can’t stand the sight of your twists/braids, you can still keep them fresh with minimal manipulation. You can transform your twists/braids into bantu knots. Or revamp your style by throwing a row of flat twists (or two strand flat twists, or cornrows when you perfect them)into the front or on the sides. Or you can just retwist/rebraid a small section in the front, just to hold out for another week. It may take a while for you to fall into a routine (or find a style) that allows you to stop manipulating your hair every week, but set short term and long term goals for yourself and before you know it, you’ll notice you’re touching your hair less and less, and giving it a chance to grow and retain length. Keeping it tied up and going easy on the products will work wonders too. Covering your hair may be one of the best things you can do–even if it’s just at night.
Hi Hyspin,
That’s very kind of you to address all the advice here.
Anemia can affect a lot of things, but again its best just to let the doc tell you if it’s an issue or not. Self administration of iron supplements can be toxic, so I always advise people don’t try to self-diagnose or treat suspected anemia. From your last post sounds like shrinkage 🙂 Hair growth may not be the issue as much as controlling shrinkage (though i have my doubts one can truly “control” shrinkage as its characteristic of afro-textured hair). Stretched styles may be more for you.
Shrinkage, okay well its natural state shrunken is ear length to a about 1-1 1/2 inch below the earlobe and when straighten shoulder to collar bone length.
Sorry if this is already covered but GENETICS plays a major role in hair length. period.
TRY wearing your hair stretched and seeing how you feel. I never let my hair shrink all the way down…it tangles and knots (single strand) too much to let it shrink fully. I wear it in braids at night when out and in updos made out of “cellie” braids. I use the braids to make braid outs. I can only see the growth of my hair in a slightly stretched state. I don’t know if I will ever get to shoulder length unstretched, even though this is my goal. So my goal is shoulder length while in a braid out/twist out.
Aside from a big old loud AMEN!!! to Jc…
KJ brought up a very good point. Hyspin, if your goal is collarbone length SHRUNKEN…how much shrinkage do you actually have? I don’t know how you feel about hair typing but it would help to know what yours is.
My hair shrinks well over 80% in the front and top of my head. That old belief about gravity making it hang? Yeah right. My Afro-textured hair grows UP and OUT, not down. So I will NEVER have shrunken collarbone length hair because my hair simply doesn’t hang like that. I grew my hair for the better part of two years and let me tell you…80% of 10 inches is TWO INCHES. If I weren’t aware of shrinkage I too might think I hadn’t seen any progress in my hair growth.
Apologies if you’ve already covered this…
I agree with KJ. I’ve been fully natural for 1 1/2 years and, when shrunken, my hair looks nearly the same now at 11 inches as it did at 4 inches. There is just a slight difference in body and it looks more even all around.
SOME SUGGESTIONS:
MAYBE your scalp/hair is in its natural resting phase?
Maybe the low manipulation styles your hair is in aren’t the protective styles for you. Some protective styles are bad for my hair. Bigger looser ones are better for my fine hair.
Are you super stressed? This causes hair to go into resting/shedding phases.
But maybe your hair grows REALLY slowly and you might need to wait like 6 years to get your hair to the ultimate length you want.
I think that the issue here is shrinkage. She said she wanted colarbone length hair in a shrunken state. That can take a very long time considering how much shrinkage a person has. The question is: how long is it when stretched? and is there progress there?
Hair is still washed weekly in twists or braids without undoing them. There is no question of being ‘filthy’.
Loolahloo has an excellent twist series on her blog https://hairandhealth.blogspot.com/
@Hyspin – RE styles that last 3-4 weeks. Try mini-twists or mini-braids. My mini-twists can easily last 3-4 weeks, same with the braids. I can wash them in between and maintain a professional look with pin-up styles if it starts looking ratty worn down. I have pics of me rocking them over a 2-week period on my blog. Currently rocking mini-braids, they’re going on week 2.
Peace,
Monique
well, i still dont know what a normalized relationship to hair is…
in my experience hair grows, and all the factors mention here can affect growth. moisture, protection, and minimal manipulation seem to be the key – outside of taking care of your body, and genetics – which you cant control.
Wow missed so major corrections
@KB: I trying to say I can’t really drink pop anyway.
@TrendySocialite:train=trainer “the always talked about plateau”= “they always talked about plateau”
@Monique, Sofull Sista— I meant “shouldn’t” not “should” “Life definitely shouldn’t revolve around hair”
Wow you guys are overflowing with great advice.
@Black Girl With Long Hair— Thank you for your valuable point, my hair has gained 0 length in 1 year, that why I am nervous and frustrated with myself.
@KB— I will reduce the sugary drinks (I love juice) Can’t handle pop everything else you suggest I drinking. I eat a lot less carbs because I don’t really like bread and my when hangin with mom she doesn’t eat gluten.
@TrendySocialite— Plateau for hair that definitely a different way of looking at it I mean I used to work out with train a year prior to this hair goal and the always talked about plateau, but never thought of that about my hair as I did about exercise I will definitely look into that.
@Monisola— Product consistency is a hard one I live in Canada whether change causes me to change up routine by season. I find if I don’t fall the season my hair seeks revenge especially the cold winter months. But everything else I do.
@Anon: You make some and valid points but just because you fail doesn’t mean you should just stop trying. As the saying goes “It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up”- Vince Lombardi and your correct, it is not me in the picture.
@Monique, Sofull Sista— Life definitely should revolve around hair this one of 5 goals I have on the go. Unfortunately its not yielding and results so my focus has turned to my hair. I one of those people who willing to say I doing something wrong and ask for help. I don’t know about my genetics or if my hair would be considered fragile.
@anonda— I have had my blood work done for my sugar and cholesterol at the beginning of the year I was good on both good and bad cholesterol. But I haven’t done an iron test in a long time do you think that could affect it about 3-4 years ago I did a blood count and the doctor said I was on the bridge of anemia, but I thought the got that balance. Do you think that could affect it if my blood count dropped again?
@M.J.— Scary, I am starting the accept my hair may be growing slower. I thought my goal was realistic my end target is collar length but that was for 2-3 year goal, I am starting at ear length. That would mean I was aiming for just touching the shoulder (un stretched) at end of this year which was about 3 inches so I thought it was fully attainable even if my hair grew a little slow. Sigh I will get it right eventually I just need to figure out what I should do next.
@Nina—Brilliant suggestions I guess a slight lightening of a few strands might let me know what my growth rate is. I will definitely need help with that I never died my hair before or bleached it. So it is possible that once a week might be too much for styling, hmm… I might have to get a professional on that one to get a good style that last longer.
@Anon—I probably should stop, but I need something to compare to see what a reasonable goal should be. How would learn a French language if I didn’t listen to different people speak it, but I do realize I will never be able to say it without an accent.
@Ashley—Good point that is why I am asking for help.
@SankofaScholar—Lol, “frolicking in our hair”
@Dee on team stretched—What does DT stand for?
@binks— Scalp problems? Well maybe I should go see a dermatologist, for some reason this year skin sensitivity has been such an issue, I been contemplating it but I figured I could weed out the problem. I recent found out I allergic to most chemical sunscreens, I going to be doing a test on physical sunblocks shortly. I need to use the sunscreen when I eliminating hyperpigmentation. Maybe I should go in for an overall skin analysis if they do that.
@Michelle—Thanks for the montivation. I afraid of getting pictures of me though, I avoid them like spiders but I slowly working on that.
@JC—I know that I am the reason my hair is not growing that why I am asking for help. Thank you for the reference of (type 4) women I knew of 3 of them but the others I never know about. 3-4 weeks between style your the second individual who suggested something like that. Since I looking from a months long style what the best method in keeping it clean without ruining the style? I would like to try that but I never know how to wash my hair without having to restyle. I need to still go to work at international corporation at the end of the day so I can’t look hap-hazard but also don’t want to feel filthy or stink. Any suggestion will be taken regarding a solution, that would make it easier for me to keep it up.
@trell—*embarrassed* I don’t know how to cornrow properly yet. *blush*
Oh yeah…
After twisting my hair during detangling, sometimes I keep the twists in for a day or so, sometimes I just let it dry and wear it in different styles until the next wash. Either way, I try to allow it to dry in a style that will stretch it, and that makes the next detangling easier, even if I wear it loose for days afterwards.
Thanks for putting yourself out there, Hyspin, and for initiating this particular discussion. Many things said before me are spot on, but I’d like to highlight one specific thing:
Be careful how you treat your ends.
I have very tightly coiled hair, and over time I realized it was best for me not to detangle it while sopping wet. The reason? Sopping wet hair is easy to snap. Instead, I used a microfiber towel (hit up the automotive dept for that) and blot it until damp. (I wash it in sections. Mist your hair first and section it off with ouchless bands…it doesn’t have to be pretty.) When I start to detangle, my hair isn’t sopping wet, just really damp. I add leave-in to the ends all over, then concentrate on detangling the ends with my fingers FIRST and then a shower comb. I twist up each section in large chucks after detangling and keep going. I also keep hair shears (not just any old pair of scissors) handy to snip single-strand knots or shed hairs that get caught up on my ends.
So, be gentle with your ends. Also, evaluate what types of instruments (if any) you use on your hair. If you use bands, are they prone to snagging your hair? Do you use a scarf for puffs often? Are you covering your hair with cotton scarfs/relying only on a cotton pillowcase at night? I keep my styles and my techniques simple, but I noticed a true difference when I cared for my ends.
Good luck with all of this.
AMEN!!! I completely agree with Natural Haven. I rarely wear protective styles and I am okay with my hair length
*growing out, sorry
@Hyspin: the comments about taking lots of pictures to document your growth are great, too… i take tons of pics (as you can tell lol) and it helped me out. i thought my hair wasnt growing for awhile, but pictures dont lie… and even when it seems like my hair isnt growing down, i can look at pictures and definitely pinpoint that its gorwing OUT. so while you may not be getting the vertical length you want, is your hair growing any thicker or bigger?
low manipulation is key for me. my regimen is simple (cowash and moisturize) and i sleep in a satin scarf at night. i dont like protective styles, so during the day i keep my hair wrapped up all the time. like, ALL the time… and im pretty sure this has helped me in retaining length because im never touching it. HOWEVER i also think the comments on everyone being different and genetics playing a part are valid as well… because, even when i was relaxed, i had long hair.
Thanksgiving 2010: https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/thanksgiving11.jpg
My infamous turbans/scarves, Oct 2010:
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/threepeat8.jpg
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/docmarten20.jpg
Aug 2010:
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/96103-1.jpg
May 2010, one year after going natural:
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/anni2.jpg
Relaxed in 2008:
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/happy.jpg
https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/bluefaery05/P1020813.jpg
I keep my daughters hair braided in cornrolls every 2 weeks then rebraid them again. If you try this for about 3 months straight you should see some progress. Take pictures of your hair before and after…
i wanted to cosign on this. my parents did this with my hair and by the time i was twelve, my hair came to my midback. it works.
As MJ said, I have previously written about the possibility of African hair actually growing at a slower rate. However it should still get you to one foot of hair. I think that there is a huge disconnect for us in the triangular relationship that is retention, breakage and mechanics (i.e Hair does not gain length because the ends broke off. The ends broke off because they were either weakened or were pulled with excessive force.)
Truth is many of us are not willing to accept that WE are the reason why hair is not growing. We want it to be genetics or a hair product. It simply cannot be our fault.
Going natural is not going to automatically help your hair get longer (especially so if your curl is tighter).
Here is what I have observed
1. Long haired naturals (with a type 4 texture) LIVE in twists or braids (especially so in the beginning 2-3 years). The basic regimen is wash, condition and twist up for 3-4 weeks (and even longer). Hair is out for a weekend or a few days and then back to to the 3-4 weeks of twists. Examples Sera, Nikki/Mwedzi, Loolahloo, Maestradiva, Giselle, Kemi/Aijo, Mika, Leslie, BBD on youtube, Denise/Den1 , Roshini
2. Long haired naturals with a looser texture LIVE in protective styles. They do not typically twist up for 3 weeks but would regularly do so for 1 week then bun up or wear off the shoulder styles for example Jenteel, Rustic beauty, Kim, Nikki,
3. Natural hair thrives in a heat free regime. This is especially true for people with thin strands. People with thicker strands can get away with murder. Type 4 hair is usually assumed to be thick and this is simply not true. Some have thick strands some have thin.
4. Most long haired naturals rarely if ever use extensions.
5. Trimming is more important than people make out. The less damage you have to your hair, the less you need to trim. It is not about trimming a quarter inch every 2-3 months but rather about examining the ends of your hair and assessing how much needs to be trimmed and how often (i,e look for split ends!). Splitting and thinning hair ends will not gain length. period.
Meanwhile the most common questions that people ask when it comes to growing hair are
1. Which hair product to use
2. Which washing method is best
3. How to avoid ‘chemicals’ in hair products
4. How to style hair
5. How little should we trim (emphasis on little)
6. How should I moisturise my hair
7. How can I make my hair soft
8. What can I apply to my hair/scalp to make my hair grow faster
9. What should I eat to make my hair grow faster
In my opinion, people have used different products and methods in their hair care and still gained length. The fundamental similarities are what we should see instead of investing time on the differences.
The simple truth is that people do not want to wear 4 week old twists which have been washed weekly and are a little puffy and undefined. We listen to and do things that are not suitable for our particular texture (i.e we do not listen to our hair choosing instead to do what works for a different person).
I don’t see an issue if a person has certain hair goals and is concerned because that goal is not being reached. It’s like any goal in life…. you re-evaluate to see what the root cause is if you aren’t reaching that goal so hair shouldn’t be any different. I have been natural for years and I have pinpointed the reason why I have seen the growth I wanted to, mainly due to the me neglecting my hair and doing things that didn’t promote growth. So, it isn’t always an issue of obsession when a person is seeking a certain length. If your hair is supposed to grow a certain length per month and that amount of growth is not being attained sure, I would be concerned and try to see if it is something that I am not doing and could be doing.
My suggestion is to carefully evalute the products you are using, eliminate the ones that don’t give good results. Make sure you are using the right styling tools, and that you aren’t overstyling, i.e. protective styling. Also, look at your diet and ensure that you are eating the proper nutrients. Another good idea is to take pictures of your progress monthly. This helped me a lot and let me see that where I may not see growth, it is definitely growing. Just be patient… being natural is trial and error. You have to find out what works and what doesn’t work. Hang in their and you will reach your hair goals.
Love & Light
First,you are NOT length obsessed, you have a valid concern because most people would like to see their hair grow in that time span so don’t feel ashamed for stating it. My hair use to be like that, especially when I use to relax it. It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that your hair can’t grow to a desirable length you want it. Even though, each person’s do have a breaking point of where their hair won’t simply grow anymore I don’t think that is the case with you it could be other factors like scalp conditions because if you want to promote healthy hair growth you need a healthy scalp or even if you do have a healthy diet you might be deprived of something or have an excess of something that affecting your hair growth. I notice that my hair grows when my overall health is good. I take vitamins, I try to keep my routine simple of products I use, do protective styling, now I’ am weening off the comb and the biggie for me sleeping my hair tied down. I mean your hair is probably growing but it is probably breaking off or shedding at the same time that reduces the length. So try a different route or see a doctor and ask when you get your check up.
i never had hair growth problems it seemed my hair has been sprouting since i bc a year ago. Here are some key tips that worked for me;
1. keep scalp clear of dirt and product build up by clarifying at least 1x weekly
2. scalp hot oil treatments weekly always add a few drops of rosemary/peppermint/tea tree oil in it
3.PS my hair responds well to braids
4.DT
HTH, for details check out my blog
KB is right and so is CarmelStacks,
Health from the inside out IS ESSENTIAL, before I loc’d my hair I ate
very healthy, but now that I have started up bad eating habits, I notice a change in my hair and overall energy, if you want your hair to be healthy everything else on your body should be too. Oh and if us women stopped frolicking in our hair soo much it would not break off or “shed” like we think it does. leave it alone. your hands are your combs too.
Don’t forget to massage your scalp. The looser the scalp the better and the easier it is for the hair to grow out of the scalp.
One thing that I noticed when I had relaxed hair was that my hair wouldn’t grow past my shoulders and I think it had a lot to do with my hair constantly rubbing on my clothes. It would also break at the place my ponytail holder was. Because many of us have fragile hair, we need to consider what styles we wear our hair in and how much our hair rubs against our hoodies, scarves, and other garments.
I think people should be concerned if they don’t feel like they see their hair growing. It doesn’t mean that one is obsessed with length. If after a reasonable amount of time you don’t see your hair budging, then your not retaining length and should change your approach. It’s nice to feel/understand that you have control over whether or not your hair is going to be long or short.
@E. What someone else with different genes got to grow out of her head isn’t going to help someone who doesn’t have her DNA.
That’s the problem here. This poster is convinced that her hair isn’t growing, or isn’t growing fast enough to suit her precisely b/c she looks at what other people have. Duplicating their lifestyles isn’t going to turn her into them.
And she also mentioned that she has a good diet. I don’t know why everyone is assuming you can eat/exercise your way to long hair either. There are plenty of people with bad diets who have long hair. Sure, hair, nails, teeth can reflect your overall health, but long and fast-growing doesn’t mean that you are healthier, and the fact that her hair doesn’t grow quickly doesn’t mean that she’s living an unhealthy lifestyle (as she herself wrote in to mention), just as someone else’s healthy nails, hair, and teeth could result from no effort or extra care at all and just good genes.
I think she should STOP looking at someone whose hair grew down her back in half a year. It’s not helping anything.
@Hyspin – If you’re open to experimenting, you can see if the problem is growth or retention by simply lightening a very small, discreet patch of hair. Just a few strands somewhere in the middle or back of your head, with a mild lightening agent, just enough so that you can see the difference in color. First you measure it, then you wait. Keep a journal and over time compare it to the rest of the hair. Not only can you literally see the growth, but you can see how much you retained and if the retained hair is “shrinking” despite your styling and moisturizing routine.
If you’re not interested in experimenting, manipulating even once a week could be a problem. So could detangling. Or not wrapping your hair up at night. Or not wrapping it with the right kind of smooth material. You probably need some long term styles that require little or no manipulation, so that you don’t comb, tug or pull it. I had a similar problem retaining length, and braids often got me over the hump. Now I have locs, so retention is longer an issue, but I see that the problem for me all along was actually dryness, shedding and subtle breakage.
I am glad some folks have added comments about being realistic. Most black women of West African descent do not have long hair. ITS OK. Part of embracing natural hair is embracing whatever charachteristics it comes with on your head. If you are healthy, have a good hair care system and still don’t have long hair-its not meant to be. And ITS OK.
Natural Hair Length Check #2 Video for “Naptural85” fellow Youtuber.. My goodness everyone you have got to check out her latest video, I love it and she got all of this amazing growth within 2 years. This goes to prove that if you take care of yourself both inside and outside your hair will thrive.
forget the last part of my statement. I didn’t realize you SAID you were aiming for collar length hair. Rosemary oil diluted with a carrier oil increases circulation and rate of hair growth and so does exercise.
Definitely take these ladies’ advice. I’m sure you will see some healthy-hair results, but let me say this (and I hate to be a “boo-bird”). Your hair may not grow 6in/yr. A rate of 3 in/yr MAY be normal for you. On another website, JC posted a journal article (with a very small sample size..so bear that in mind) where south african women had hair growth of 3-4in per year. We can argue that maybe they weren’t caring for their hair the way they “should”, or we can be open to the fact that not every woman of African descent is going to have the same rate of hair growth (just like we’re not all the same height). For SOME of us, 1/2 inch per month is much faster than normal…and that’s okay. I tend to think that if you’ve been on these hair websites, employing some of the great techniques and you’re not experiencing mind-blowing growth, your hair is simply progressing at its OWN, normal pace. Be patient!
I’ll also say this…make sure you’re setting realistic goals. If your natural hair, as a little kid, never grew past the middle of your neck (yes, with the old-fashioned, Black hair care methods grandma used), set a long hair goal of collar bone length. IF you reach that, THEN aim for APL etc. To expect to be Black Rapunzel right off the bat may be an unattainable/way-too-frustrating standard. I don’t mean to rain on any parades…just my 2 cents
When I was younger I’d be in the mirror messing with my hair, combing it, styling it, etc. I’ll never forget when my dad said “you’re going to comb all that hair out of your head.”
And he was right. I had locs for 5 years that grew ridiculously long, simply because the hair isn’t manipulated much. Now that I’m loose I’m addicted to wearing twists and flattwist crowns with buns and I’ve noticed major length retention just from not messing with my hair.
I’m so glad other posters mentioned health from the inside out.
Are you getting enough exercise and good fats? Have you had blood work to determine a micronutrient deficiency? If your haircare practices are otherwise sound, then putting more stuff on top of the hair may not be the solution. Address the root, not just the branch.
Ditto another poster said keep things simple.
Monisola I really appreciated you mentioning the slimy hair syndrome lol. You really have to know what’s the natural texture of YOUR hair. Nobody’s hair should feel like brillo, but if your hair is coarse then it’s probably at its best in a balanced (not dry) coarse state.
There are so many other scientific factors that can affect hair growth. Some people have naturally thin hair that breaks easily. Others have scalp conditions that hinder growth. There are white women with hair that has never grown long (past shoulders). There are women who have challenges with retaining length.
Additionally, if you have fragile hair understand that you may be extremely limited by styling options. For example, I know I should not straighten my hair if length is my ultimate goal. Any time I straighten it, I’m weathering my ends and moving back from my healthy/long hair journey.
A lot of it is about learning what works for you. Sometimes it’s diet, other times, it’s genetics. Hair grows an average of 0.5″/month. That means there are people who will fall above and below this average, and there are always outliers. Meaning, some people may see MUCH less growth – of course this isn’t the norm, but you could be an outlier. I fall below the average at about 0.4″/month and I accept that. Look at your hair growth from different points in your life, this should give you a better idea of what you’re working with.
Finally, if length obsession is really driving you crazy, find a style that makes you feel beautiful and works with your lifestyle. I’m sure I’ll lock one day, because all this free-strandedness is WORK, with little reward at times! LOL, and life can’t always revolve around hair!
I’ve had this experience but just for a short period of time. Its a combination of not treating your hair gently ie using combs, brushes, heat, etc. and also what you put in your body or lack of.
Here’s my advice:
–Our hair loves water so why not drink more of it
–Keep the hair moisturized
–Keep your hair protected for longer periods of time than being worn out, such as twisting/braiding your hair, wearing wigs or extensions (carefully placed in….not tight)
–Take multivitamins
NOTE: There are literally thousands of videos out there of YT’s who document there growth experience, including me, and I think the one main person you can look at that is very informative and get you at a great baseline for hair growth is KIMMAYTUBE.
Hopefully this helps!
I get that it can be frustrating but I’m not sure why everyone thinks that they’ll be able to grow super long hair. There are plenty of things that relate to the body and mind that some can do and others cannot, despit their best efforts. I mean, I could work out 5 hours a day but doesn’t guarantee me that I’ll be as skinny as Naomi Campbell or Halle Berry. I could hire a voice coach and never sing like Leontyne Price. It doesn’t mean that I’m doing anything wrong. It just shows how we are very different people with different attributes. I think that what hurts people a lot is that people benchmark themselves against other people. You want to compare yourself to someone because she has your hair texture. You want to compare yourself to the girl who finally grew the long hair after years of nothing. The problem is, that whether you are talking about your skin, your hair, your body, there is still a fundamental genetic component that cannot be overcome by pampering or anything else. You are not that person and you can’t be. You MIGHT get the same result as her eventually, but I thought everyone understood by now that just copying someone’s program, diet, hair techniques etc, does not guarantee anything.
I mean, I think that most people accept this in other avenues of their lives(so some people have perfect skin or teeth, and some will never achieve that, and some people have the figure they want and others don’t achieve that either, some people want to be doctors but will never get to do that). We set goals, and some we reach and some we miss. We might lament it but at some point you have to move on from it.
To me, it’s not that anyone is criticizing your goal, but part of having any goal should also be accepting that in some cases you won’t reach it.
Many non-black women don’t have long hair or hair that doesn’t retain length. A lot of those women then choose to have hairstyles that work with their hair.
I don’t have any advice on how to make your hair retain length better(but since you know your hair is growing, it sounds like it must be pretty delicate), but I would say that if it isn’t getting longer, then going natural only changed the length retention issue to a point. Too many women have convinced themselves that the reason that they never had long hair was because of heat, relaxers, cutting, etc, despite the numerous women who have managed to have long, healthy hair whether relaxed or natural, heat styling or getting real hair cuts. And many women continue to be disappointed either because they don’t have the silky curls that they see on one woman, or the giant afro or long natural that they see on another. As much as they want to accuse others of living an unhealthy lifestyle or hating their blackness, it seems that for many, this journey was started mainly b/c they thought it was the key to having long hair.
Maybe you’ll find your magic bullet for your hair, and maybe you won’t. I’d bet that you probably do the things that the commenters have given. But part of this journey is supposed to be accepting it no matter where the path might lead, and it doesn’t sound like it is going to lead to waist length hair.
Ask yourself, are you okay with that? At one point will you just kind of stop making it the goal ? Will you be unhappy forever if the hair you have is the longest that it will ever be? And if not, why?
Someone please tell me why not having long hair will lead to eternal unhappiness. And why no more discussion about accepting things that we cannot change (the serenity prayer comes to mind). How do you accept other things that you want and can’t manage to get? Is this really the most frustrating challenge that many people are facing in their lives? And no, advising someone to accept the status quo is not telling them that they dont’ have the right or should stop striving for it; it just means mentally prepping yourself if you don’t get it. I know how riled up people get when you dare suggest that someone won’t get the long hair she seeks.
At the end of the day, we can only do the best with what we have, and then at some point we need to decide that something else is important and move on.
@Monisola, I’m pretty sure that once again the photo is a stock photo and not the writer, so I don’t think that advice about coloring is applicable here.
Oh yeah I started tracking my progress at beginning November 2009 and did a check more than half point August 2010 and Did the last check Mid November 2010. Otherwise I didn’t check length just watch out for if there was any unusual breakage or shedding or if my scalp or hair was behaving badly but noting out of norm.
Oh yeah I only iron twice in the first two months and used heat protectant both times (and deep conditioned), I never coloured my hair in my life. Hair style of choice mini buns at the beginning and twist, braids, and braid outs for the majority (5/6 of the year)
Let me know if you guys need any more details.
To give people an idead of what I did for a year heres a list:
I had trimmed my hair twice last year at about 1/4 inch each time.
I had a very healthy diet I lost additional 5 pounds without trying.
drank lots of water
I don’t smoke, and am not taking an prescription drugs, or other drugs.
I was gentle with my hair
I air dry for the most part but hood dry if I am crushed for time.
I had less breakage/shedding than I did then any other point in my life (I used to be proud of that).
I keep my hair moisturized as needed (more so now for winter)
Low manipulation styles, which were only changed at average on once a week.
Watched my moisture protein balance
Payed close attached to how my scalp was responding.
I even started messaging scalp every now and then.
Still no response.
Since doing those five things, my hair is grown more in five months than it did in the entire year! Seriously.I went from TWA to shoulder length in 6 months…i mostly attribute this to protien/moisture balance (which upholds the strength and integrity of each strand) and to protective stlyes, which maintain the integrity of each strand and lastly to using the same products consistently…which nourishes each strand in a consistent way that your hair and scalp will adjust to and get used to.
I had a VERY similar problem. I was natural for a year and saw no growth. Maybe the ssssmmmmmallllest bit. Then five months ago, I started doing five things:
Keep my hair in protective styles 60% of the time or for 20 days out of a 30 day month. I would do ten days in (protective styles) and three days out, ten in …three out.
STOPPED switching products (product junkie-ism) and just stuck to what worked.
STOPPED combing
STARTED keeping my hair in large loose braids at night with a scarf over them, no tangles, snags single strand knots.
MONITORED MY protein/moisture balance DILIGENTLY! I protein condition about once a month or whenever my hair feels mushy and weak. My hair stops feeling coarse when it needs protein. And one might think…ohh how smooth! but really my 4c kinky hair is coarse in its natural healthy state and when it starts feeling too pliable, too limp, too smooth, it is weak and needs protein.
FINALLY: consider stopping coloring your hair. it is terrible for the hair. No offense it is just scientifically not healthy to alter the hair in any way. I would ease up on the bleaching.
I think that some of it is about perception as another poster eluded to. I went through the same thing earlier this year. I ended up getting kinky twists and it seemed to get me over that hump. It’s similar to the advice you get when working out. When you reach that plateau and stop losing weight, sometimes you have to switch up your exercise and the weight loss will start again. It’s the same thing for hair.
I also suggest a vitamin regimen. When I take vitamins, my hair is more manageable and I’m able to retain more length.
The best advice I can give is KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! You don’t need a ton of things in your hair for it to grow. Remember also what you put into your body as well 🙂
If you’re doing everything to help your hair on the outside (like protective styling, keeping the hair moisturized and sealed etc) and you’re STILL not achieving any length, you need to look at what you’re doing to help your hair from the inside…what are you consuming?
Take this from me! What you eat and put into your body is extremely important in helping your hair to grow and stay strong/healthy. I am remedying bald patches that came from stress and faux ponytails, and I’m finally getting a hang of growing hair on a scalp that once looked bare and scarred…
So my advice is to:
-Drink more water, cut out sugary drinks.
-Make dark green leafy greens your best friends. They are rich in iron and B vitamins which are both helpful in hair growth.
-Eat garlic as it prevents shedding
-Enjoy beans for added protein
-Avoid white carbs and anything that will make you feel “stuffed up.”
Obviously I’m not a doctor, but seeing my bald patches coming in has been enough evidence for me. I should also mention I’m taking biotin supplements as well. A healthier, balanced diet loaded with fruits has really helped me to grow my hair.
My length retention then comes from the fact that I braid my hair and leave it alone for a few weeks at a time. I spray my hair daily with glycerin+water (yes, even in the harsh Canadian winter glycerin moisturizes), but I don’t touch it until it’s time to wash it again.
is it a matter of keeping the ends healthy so that they don’t break? so maybe protective styles? what about eating differently like adding more salmon and such to the diet that helps promote healthy hair? or is it the products used? I hope that you ladies who can’t retain length figure out the solution, that’d be so very frustrating 🙁
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I have definitely been here. I’ve been natual for about 7 years now and I had to restart my journey all over again last january because my hair was literally growing 1 inch per year. Since my BC my hair had grown 6 inches. It’s getting better now, but it definitely did a number on my self esteem and my willingness to trim. Especially when my mom and sister’s hair has always grown like weeds permed or natural. This post rings true to me.
That said, I have learned a lot more about my hair than i ever had before, which is more than likely one of the causes for my growth and retention this year. I also had a major Vitamin D deficiency that I remedied this year which helped too.
@am… I don’t think it’s always an obsession. I think the KimmayTube video does a great job of chronicling what many naturals go through. It’s one thing to be impatient. It’s a totally different thing for a year, two years, three years to pass and your hair to have barely budged. That’s not normal.
I’m overdue for posting a hair update on BGLH, but when I do I definitely want to address this issue. Because I’ve struggled with length retention. When two years have passed and you’ve only managed to retain 4 inches — that’s a problem.
Many people are quick to attack black women’s “obsession with length” without paying attention to the root issue. Many are obsessed because they don’t have a normalized relationship with it.
Women of other ethnicities have an easier time cutting their hair because they know, and have seen, that it will swiftly grow back. Many black women tend to cling to their hair because they see it as a non-renewable resource — once it’s gone, it’s gone.
I think teaching proper techniques for length retention will go a long way in easing the massive insecurity and paranoia that permeates black women’s relationship with their hair.
And I say this all from personal experience.
i dont understand the obsession with length! the old adage rings true – a watched pot never boils! you know what this means – it will boil – but it seems to take much longer when you’re watching it; i think the same holds true for hair.