If my hair is growing so much, then why does it still feel short?

[Chevelure618]

I don't know. It seems like my whole life I've been chasing that elusive 3 inches. I'll see progress, look back at pictures and see the differences and say, "OK, only two more touch-ups and I'm at my goal", or "OK, only 3 more inches and I'll be happy". It seems like that goal never comes.

Could it be that I've reached my terminal length?

This is the longest my hair has ever been, yet I feel it should be so much longer with all that I do for it. Sigh.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

Your hair is definitely growing and I doubt that you've reached your terminal length. More than likely you are suffering from breakage. Have you tried coating your ends in a moisturizing product, sealing with a light oil and protecting your end (i.e. wearing in a protective style) for an extended period of time? I'm natural, but I know that stretching relaxers for a lot of women seems to be helpful.



Here is an article on terminal length that I found helpful.

 

[belldandy]

what's ur reggie? Are you heat free?

 

[Aireen]

Your hair is growing so that's a good sign but you're probably not retaining the length. So it seems to me that the ends of your hair are suffering the most. There are tips on the site that will help you but I'll write some here. You can pick and choose what you might be doing wrong and then correct it and adjust accordingly to help your hair for the long term.

ETA: Try to focus on the last 2-3 inches of your hair to help retain the length when using some of these tips. So low manipulation, spoil your ends through moisturizing and sealing or deep conditioning, etc.

- Stretch your relaxers as much as you can. (So don't relax every month because that is way too often, I stretch for AT LEAST 3 months. This reduces the chance of overlapping but if you stretch for too long you will get breakage so stretch as long as you can.)
- Get your hair dusted regularly. (Some trims are actually an inch or 2 so dusting is really good for retaining length. When you dust your hair, usually 1/4-1/8 of an inch comes off. If you want more off tell your stylist the specific amount.)
- Keep a moisture-protein balance! (Our hair is made up of protein and it gets broken down after relaxing so putting it back in is important. Too much protein can break the hair so balance the hair after a protein treatment with a moisturizing conditioner.)
- Use oil to tame the new growth after relaxing. (It makes it so much easier to comb through without having to break your hair.)
- DEEP CONDITION! (Whether it's with protein or moisture. Have it sit on your head with a plastic cap and/or heat.)
- Protect your hair with a satin or silk scarf or at least have a silk or satin pillow.

-Match the rest of your hair to your new growth, rather than matching your new growth to the rest of your hair (So, do braid-outs, twist-outs, wash 'n gos, and buns, instead of flat ironing, constant roller setting, or blow drying). This is easier if you do not relax bone straight.