QuoteReplyTopic: A Limit on How Long My Hair Can Grow? Posted: December 17 2005 at 12:50pm
Hi! I'm a newbie! This question has probably been asked before but I'll try it anyway.
Is there a genetic limit on how long one's hair will grow? I had
an Anat and Phys professor tell us that your hair is pre-programmed to
fall out and re-grow after a certain length of time which varies from
person to person.
I've been stuck at this same length for many years now.
Thanks in advance!
Bibbles
Hellfrozeover
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Your professor is correct. The length that one can achieve is mostly due to genetics. On average one's hair grows about three years prior to falling out and going into a short "resting" period. Then it begins to regrow. So "rate of growth" + "length of growth period" = "terminal length". Some people have much longer growth periods and/or faster growth, thus they can grow longer hair.
I've always felt that the health of my hair was more important than length.
Bibbles
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Hellfrozeover: I use Aveda Camomile daily and Aveda conditioner
(right now the volume clay is what I'm using). I don't towel
dry. I use Aveda confixor. I give my hair a break from
washing once a week (usually on Sundays). I use a wooden comb and
a Bass brush. During the week I blow-dry at the just before
my hair finishes drying naturally. On the weekends I usually
don't blowdry unless I'm going somewhere fast.
Sunsailing: It's all coming back to me now! Thanks for the
brush-up on my Anat and Phys! I think I'm stuck just below my
shoulder blades which would be about three years of growth at 6-8
inches per year.
It's longish but I've always wanted to go even longer.
It doesn't sound like you're doing anything bad to your hair. The minimal amount of blowdrying would do very little as far as damage goes. Strange. When mine was jaw length I always thought it was stuck there but one day I realised it was down to my shoulders. You'll probably notice that it's longer than you thought sooner or later or as Rini(I think) said in another post, you could wear it up all the time so when it's down, you notice it more.
Bibbles
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Maybe I should just avoid the trimming for a year and see how it
goes. My hairdresser and I have a different interpretation of
1/2" it seems. I do always end up looking better when I come out
though, but the length...
It sounds like your hairdresser is the reason your hair has been the same length for this long.
Usually people don't hit terminal length that early...but the hair does have resting phases and one of them is around that length, (it can rest for up to 2 years) so it may sit there for awhile before it gets going again. Stopping trims is not a good idea really if you want length. At one point the breakage will equal the growth rate and that will make it look like you hit terminal length earlier than you might otherwise, though with a good hair safe routine, even that shouldn't happen until your hair is WAY long. (Also, a trim can be as small as an 1/8 of an inch and still be good for that purpose, so the reason yours is stuck sounds more like you're getting too much cut off).
I've seen so many photos of people with hair to their feet and beyond that I'm starting to think terminal length is a myth fostered by poor hair care routines.
Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com
Sadly, terminal length is no myth. The hair all over your body grows at about the same rate. The difference is in the terminal length. So for example, the hair on your arm only grows for so long prior to falling out and being replaced. Your arm hair goes through many cycles for every one cycle of head hair. Thank goodness the cycles of our individual hairs differ so there is always hair in all the places....can you imagine having no eyebrows for a period of time? Or, should I dare say..........no hair on your head during the rest period after every single hair falls out at the same time
From everything I've read, on average mid to lower back is terminal length for the average person.
I personally think that some of one's head hair has a longer terminal length than some. Once mine reached tailbone length, I experienced excessive shedding and the ends got thin. I'm sure I could've kept growing, but I don't personally like thin ends on myself. So some of my hair might've reached a much longer length.
I agree with what some people mentioned above about trimming. I trimmed every 8 weeks during the whole growing process. But my stylist only took about 1/8" each time. She is great to work with. Since I'm basically maintaining the current length now, I get 1" trimmed every 6 weeks. (My hair is above my waist now.)
My hair would've looked horrible during the growing process without trims. Trims were essential for myself. Other people don't get trims, yet it seems to work for them. You have to determine what works best for you and your hair.
Patience is the most important thing. Once my hair reached about mid-back, it just seemed to take off and grew extremely fast. It was at my waist before I knew it (I had no intention originally to let it grow that long....it just kind of happened.)
Continue to keep it healthy and time will take care of the rest!
DaveDecker
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It sounds like your hairdresser is the reason your hair has been the same length for this long.
Usually people don't hit terminal length that early...but the hair
does have resting phases and one of them is around that length,
(it can rest for up to 2 years) so it may sit there for
awhile before it gets going again. Stopping trims is not a good
idea really if you want length. At one point the breakage will
equal the growth rate and that will make it look like you hit terminal
length earlier than you might otherwise, though with a good hair
safe routine, even that shouldn't happen until your hair is WAY
long. (Also, a trim can be as small as an 1/8 of an inch and
still be good for that purpose, so the reason yours is stuck sounds
more like you're getting too much cut off).
I've seen so many photos of people with hair to their feet and
beyond that I'm starting to think terminal length is a myth fostered by
poor hair care routines.
I agree with you, Susan. I haven't been to a salon in 6.5
years. Some of the strands on my head are at least 64" long - and
my hair always grows at the average rate of 6" per year.
A person can never simultaneously discover their terminal length and keep their ends neatly trimmed.
I'm seeking to discover my own terminal length. I think I'm almost there.
Haircare habits can seriously impact one's growth potential.
If I used the poor haircare habits of some people I know (and read
about), I might falsely conclude that waist-length (or something much
shorter than I have) were my terminal length.
I know a woman whose hair is very fine and thin and won't grow much
beyond shoulder-length, but she is the exception. Many people who
don't grow their hair long probably have no idea how long their hair
could get (and might be surprised that theri own maximum length
potential is a lot longer than they think).
Bibbles
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Thank you Dave. My next appointment is on the 21st. I'll
discuss with my stylist the 1/8" option. I'm sure if I explain my
long hair goals he'll help me get there. I don't think I've
expressed it correctly in the past.
Another thing-the hair will grow for a certain period of TIME not
length. That is why if you get trims, it won't reach terminal because
it will grow for the same amount of time but have further to grow (if
that makes sense!) I trim my hair occasionally but usually only about
once a year. As long as you don't trim off more than you can grow then
it'll all be fine
28.02.06 34 inches
Photos Lifes a grave. Dig it.
-Wednesday 13
Another thing-you can usually tell if you're at terminal because not
all your strands will make it to the same length and your hair will
become extremely wispy at the ends with maybe only one or two ends
going the whole way. If your ends are neat; you're not at terminal and
just need to lay off the cutting for a bit.
28.02.06 34 inches
Photos Lifes a grave. Dig it.
-Wednesday 13
Bibbles
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I went to my stylist yesterday and explained that I'd like my hair
waist length. He checked my ends and said I wouldn't need a trim
and suggested I use Scalp Benefits shampoo every other time to remove
build-up and allow more oxygen to get to the roots. I'm glad
we're both on the same page now!
DaveDecker
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Susan W wrote:
