Why Won't My Hair Grow?

Everyone's hair growth is specific to their unique situation. However, there are plenty of reasons why hair may not grow as long or as fast as we would like.

Several factors can contribute directly to hair growth. Anything from your diet, chemical imbalances, or the hair products you may be using can make it challenging for your hair to grow.

Here we break down a few reasons why your hair may not be growing and some tricks to aid in the hair growth process. 

Genetics Play an Essential Role

When it comes to an individual's hair growth, each person has a hair cycle growth phase where their hair has the potential to reach its greatest length.

Hair does not necessarily stop growing when it reaches a specific length, but it does after a certain period of time (the cycle of your hair growth).

The growth phase of hair is determined mainly by genetics and can last between two and six years. On average, most hair grows about half an inch per month, and each strand finishes the cycle at different points (the reason people have multiple hair lengths on their heads).

Excessive Shedding

Everyone sheds hair! Shedding hair is entirely normal and natural.

Shedding hair is a part of the hair growth process. Old hair sheds so that new hair can grow. Even the healthiest of scalps shed up to 150 strands of hair a day.

When your hair shedding starts to occur faster than your hair regrowth, then you run into a problem. Excessive shedding can result from several factors, including age, medication, diet, allergies, genetics, surgery, birth control, etc.

Age and Hair Growth

Similar to your genetics, age can also be a reason why your hair won't grow. Age affects hair growth because your hair's growth cycle becomes shorter as you get older.

As you get older, your hair tends to get weaker because of everything you put it through during your life. Styling, processing, bleaching, food habits, and physical health can contribute to more fragile hair. Your initial six-year cycle trickles to a two-year cycle, making hair thinner and sometimes unable to grow past a certain point.

Stress

Stress seems to affect pretty much everything about our health, including our appearance.

Studies link emotional and physical stress directly to hair loss and an overall decrease in hair quality. Stress is detrimental to our hair growth as it restricts the hair growth cycle.

Try treating yourself to relaxing activities to decrease stress levels. Lowering stress levels will improve your mental health and the health of your hair and your body.

Hair Breakage

Breakage can be a real stickler. The average person's hair grows about six inches every year. If your hair is not being cared for properly (too little care or too much care) and it is breaking off just as fast as it grows, then your hair will stay the same length until some habit is changed. The results of this are often misplaced, and people think that their hair does not grow. The solution is to stop the hair from breaking to see growth.

What Can I Do?

The best way to keep your hair healthy is to understand what your hair needs are. To do that, you have to understand your hair type and your hair's porosity, your hair density. Armed with that information,  you can easily create a hair care routine that fits your unique needs perfectly.

You cannot change factors like your genes and age. However, you can reduce stress and learn how to actively care for your hair to reverse any damage you may be doing to your hair.

By proactively engaging in your hair care, you will be well on your way to retaining the healthy hair and length you want (and deserve!).