Hair Isn’t Growing!! Help!
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: African American Hair
Forum Name: African American Hair
Forum Description: Devoted to the special needs of African Americans.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=30629
Printed Date: November 05 2025 at 12:13pm
Topic: Hair Isn’t Growing!! Help!
Posted By: emmerdale94
Subject: Hair Isn’t Growing!! Help!
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 11:35am
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I'm a newbie here, and really need some help! About 2.5 years ago I got my hair cut relatively short...it was a short layered cut a little longer than ear length. I got it trimmed every few weeks, but once when I went, the hair stylist took off a little too much, so ever since then I've been hesitant to get my hair cut. So I havent been to a salon since winter of 2003. Fastforward to today, my hair is a little bit past my ears, with the longest hairs reaching the nape of my neck. But its been this way forever it seems now! Its a cute style, but people are always asking "did you just get your hair cut?" My hair is pretty straight and kinda fine, but I use a gentle perm (Just for Me) about once every 6-8 weeks because it tends to get very frizzy and hard to manage if I don't. I've tried going without it and I ended up needing to blow dry and bump it with the curling iron even more than I normally did when I was perming it. I'm clueless as to how to tell if my hair is damaged!! I'm not much of a hair person, so I have no idea what products are out there. Currently, I use Neutrogena's Triple Moisure line and use a blow dryer and curling iron maybe every two days or so. Does anyone know what I can do to help my hair grow? How can I tell if its damaged? What products can I use? Its been so upsetting, because I used to have such long hair and now it seems as if it just doesn't grow. Help!! |
Replies:
Posted By: sugaplum
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 12:45pm
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Hi emmerdale94 and welcome to the forum. I can tell you what worked for me. I started taking GNC Nourishair. Now let me say that it didn't make my hair grow faster, it just made my regrowth more healthier and shinner. My skin as well. I don't know if there is a product out that can make your hair grow faster, but I do know that there are some products that can stimulate the hair growth. Now as far as relaxers. I had the same experience. What I did was I strecthed my relaxers further apart. Also I stoped using heat. Just stopping using the curling irons, blow dryers, etc. I noticed that I didn't have any breakage/shedding and my ends were stronger. I would suggest a moisturizer and cholesterol treatments like or anything containing carrot oil or olive oil. Organic Root Stimulator is a really good one. I hope this info helps. ------------- 100% Natural BC - 4/21/07 Love All Gods' Creatures |
Posted By: Sistaslick
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 1:16pm
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Welcome!
Well, what worked for me is finding a good regimen and sticking to it. I started trying to grow my hair in June of last year- and it has grown and improved considerably as you can see in my hair album. What I changed was: Stretching relaxers to at least 10-12 weeks. Increased washing frequency from once every 2 weeks to twice a week. Weekly deep conditioning. Avoidindg SLS and ALS in my shampoos and only using moisturizing shampoos. Limiting direct heat to once a month. Daily protective styling (buns). Less manipulation. Using water based moisturizers and avoiding petrolatum and mineral oil in my products. Sealing in water based moisturizers with good natural oils like olive, carrot, almond, and coconut oil.
HTH ------------- 
http://blackhairscience.com - The Science of Black Hair |
Posted By: kally
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 3:41pm
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I think the problem may be the box perm kiddie perm or not I hear they are one of the worst things you can do to your hair. I would try one that has a condtioning formula with the lye. I have read alot about the box perms being to damamging and drying. I know Mizani, Affirm and Proclaim are a good line or perms that have moisture in it. ------------- "God makes no mistakes" he created you the way you are suppose to be. |
Posted By: emmerdale94
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 9:16pm
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I've heard bad things about lye though. I've been using the perm since
I was like 7 or 8, and my hair grew back then, so I think that over the
past couple of years, I've been leaving the perm in too long and
applying one sooner than I really needed one. Also, should I get my ends trimmed? Do I ask the person trimming my hair to just take off the split ends? I don't want too much to get taken off again! |
Posted By: Renee
Date Posted: May 14 2005 at 7:18am
| about the heat styling, you should get a hooded dryer so you dont use direct heat. And when it gets really hard to manage your newgrowth, you can try curly styles by rollersetting or doing bantu knot sets. Thats what i do when i cant wear my hair straight when im like 8 weeks post |
Posted By: cmesweet
Date Posted: May 14 2005 at 10:19am
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Well if you aren't going to stretch the relaxers at least use less heat. Using the blow dryer and the curling iron on a regular basis can be really damaging. Your hair is probably breaking off because of the heat, BUT IT IS GROWING, just breaking off faster than the growth. There are many ways to stretch relaxers and many of the ladies on here can assist you with that. Make sure to comb your new growth when wet, don't ever try to comb it when dry. That is a battle your comb won't win. ------------- Natural BC May 9, 2004 |
Posted By: emmerdale94
Date Posted: May 16 2005 at 12:08am
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Thanks for the tips everyone! I've decided to try to stretch out my relaxers a bit more...how long should I try for? And how often is it okay to use heat? Is 2-3 times a week okay? Does using a lower setting on my appliances at all help too? Other than that, based on what I've been reading on this site, I've started drinking much more water than I used to, taking some vitamins daily (flaxseed oil, ultrahair plus, etc.), sleeping on a satin pillowcase and applying some carrot oil to my ends and scalp (since its dry) nightly. I also ordered some all natural shampoo and conditioners from Carol's Daughter. Apparently, some of the chemicals they put in commercial hair products can cause hair to dry out and stuff. I'm willing to try just about any and everything at this point! I am so completely fed up. |
Posted By: carameldiva
Date Posted: May 16 2005 at 9:10am
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It sounds like you are on the right track emmerdale with the exception of the heat usage- i think you should limit it to once a month at a bare minimum. but definitely not 2 to 3 times a week. use cornrows, twists, individual braids, wraps , buns and ponytails or wigs as protective styles to keep u away from the heat. You may also want to increase your veggie/fruit intake and increase your physical activity. ------------- Me and you, your cousin and your momma too rollin on da strip on bow's |
Posted By: Layla
Date Posted: May 16 2005 at 2:53pm
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I'm trying to stretch out my relaxers to 13 weeks. ------------- Type: 3c/4a Natural Current Length: 6" Goal: Healthy, tip of nose /neck/shoulder length hair. BC: 02/08/06 |
Posted By: emmerdale94
Date Posted: May 16 2005 at 5:49pm
| Hmm...well cornrows and twists wouldn't work with my hair texture, its pretty fine (i'm half irish). I've tried just washing it and not blow drying it but then it curls up, is too short to wear in a clip or anything and i end up just looking a bit like a bushwoman. but i'll play around with it some more. i'll try to limit heat to once a week...once a month just isn't realistic for me at this point! |
Posted By: cmesweet
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 4:13pm
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Well, start with small goals and work up to the larger ones. If you reduce the heat to once a week sooner or later you can make a goal to once every 2 weeks and then you can change as you go along. I'm sure you will see a major difference and progress that will encourage you to make goals and help you reach what you are trying to achieve ------------- Natural BC May 9, 2004 |
Posted By: Pokahontas
Date Posted: June 17 2005 at 2:34pm
Your hair is definitely damaged because you're not seeing any growth so that means it's breaking off. I'm sure your hair is growing, it's just damaged and breaking. Hair grows approx. a half an inch a month. You need to be getting your ends trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks or they will split and continue to split up the hair shaft until it breaks off. It also sounds like your are using heat on your hair way too often. The heat and the chemicals from your relaxer are way too strong. Try to find a style that is low on heat. If you have to have curls in your hair, try sponge rollers or maybe pin curls to cut down on heat. Also don't blow dry. Either air dry or sit under a hooded dryer. Do protein conditioner treatments every two weeks. They help a lot.
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Posted By: diversiti
Date Posted: June 17 2005 at 3:41pm
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Emmerdale ... girlfriend, sounds like you and I have the same type of hair - length, texture, finess, and damage issues... been reading alot on this site and the girls on here are very knowledgeable, so continue listening to them. Me on the other hand, just started taking my hair seriously and I had to try different things to see why my hair was breaking and it wasnt growing as fast.. one thing I learned is that my hair loves moisture, only likes protein when necessary.. this might sound funny, but to get your hair to grow, u have to try different things and take in if your hair responds to it or not. just a bit of encouragement, and dont worry ive been asked the 'did you just get ur hair cut?' question many, many times - just nod and say yes. Tip - if you dont want to blow dry or to use so much heat on your hair after you wash it - try air drying it for a bit, apply your hair's favourite (sorry Canadian) moisturizer and then either wrapping it or tying it down with a silk scarf. Either for the night or a couple of hours - it dries my hair smooth and silky without any heat. Goodluck! |
Posted By: tgurl
Date Posted: August 01 2005 at 6:01pm
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i know a few things that can cause your hair not to grow: 1.not eating right ,drinking alot of pop,and eating junk food,also not drinking alot of water 2.combing/brushing hair too much(hair should only be combed once a day and should be combed from ends of hair to roots) 3.maybe your hair is dry so you may want to moisturize hair like once a day with some kind of light moisturizer(a hot oil treatment once a month may help) if you eat right,and take care of hair,you will get some of the best results from hair.last but not least,growing your hair requires ALOT of PATIENCE.you will have to be patient
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Posted By: SimplyAlex
Date Posted: August 02 2005 at 12:20pm
| If you want you hair to grow heat 2-3 times a week is ridiculously too much. If you live in a humid climate let me tell you humid climates and relaxers dont mix. |