Jealous of A Cancer Survivor's Hair Growth: Growth vs Texture

[envybeauty]

I can't believe this thread started talking about chemo patients/cancer survivors. Folks who are just grateful to be alive much less to have hair on their heads or even think about how fast it grows. Wow.

That's like being jealous of an amputee with a prosthetic who can run faster than folks who never lost their legs to begin with.

Wow.


Scenario leaves me shaking my head..............

 

[remilaku]

I think it is how you take care of your hair. I have seen and heard some white, native american and indian people say that they can't get their hair to grow past their shoulders and people say that these race of people can have long hair just by waking up in the morning. I think it is how you take care of your hair.

 

[empressri]

See folks have tried to tell me that it's mostly genetics which is why my hair grows the way it does, but if that's the case why the hell didn't it get this long when I had a perm?? OH OH I KNOW WHY! Because I had to keep getting it trimmed because I was using chemicals and heat.

Stopped using chemicals and heat?? BAM!! Didn't need to trim as often and my hair retained the majority of it's length. Not just from not having to trim as often, but because the heat and chemicals wrecked my hair.

 

[Hysi]

i believe that genetics has A LOT to do with hair growth. All of my aunts during their younger years had hair down their a$$. Literally I have a pic of my aunt sitting on her hair. it was past waist length. we are of indian/ black descent on father's side. my mother half black/white had lOOng hair too. I never had to do anything to get my hair to grow and people are usually alarmed at how fast it grows if i don't cut. when i was younger i had so much hair long & thick that my mother- a hairdresser would get tired and take me to the salon and everyone would pretend that they were booked just to not have to press my hair, except for one lady, (thank you Dee) it was not until recently that i began to have issues with my hair. my father became ill and stress did a number on me. and also since joining this board i think i have done so much that it has thrown my hair in utter SHOCK so i don't know which way is up. My reggie is usually very plain jane and usually no oils- i've never used them before. i noticed that when i went back to my old reggie a couple of weeks ago my hair loved me for it. i have turned to a PJ AT IT'S WORST! and i think i will do me again and see what happens- no oils, nothing. i never used that stuff before only dc with every wash and sometimes leave conditioner in and my hair loved it. now i am in the process of trying to figure out what i need to cut out and what lhcf tips i can keep. (i do notice bald spots returning with my mix of oils on scalp only, though)

 

[Ivey14]

When it comes to growing long hair, I think it's a combination of genetics (growth rate) and how you care for your hair (retention). My mom is light-skinned (part Italian/Puerto Rican Indian) and has fine 3a hair. But she totally bleaches her hair constantly and dyes it completely any time her roots start to grow in. Since she's started bleaching her hair, I've never seen it pass NL. Even my best friend, who is a light-skinned Cuban/Peruvian with type 2a hair, started to bleach and dye her hair from black to blonde to red and back. And my hair grew longer than hers while her hair stayed the same length within a year period. When I did her hair one night for a party, her ends were FRIED and completely split. But I know her hair grows FAST when she leaves it alone because I saw a picture of her when she was 12 and she had tailbone length.

So in my opinion, damage shows no preference to race, it affects everyone. And if you don't treat your hair well, you're not gonna see any growth or health, simple as that. I think as long as you find a balance with your hair care regimen (moisture/oil/protein/diet/washing/manipulation/etc.), you should be able to witness growth. Just gotta find strengths and combat your hair's weaknesses. I notice that if I leave my hair alone and natural, and just co-wash and go, it flourishes. I swear in two weeks I had grown half an inch. Sometimes, when we stress and try too hard, we overdo things. If you just let it be and not fight with it so much, it may work to your benefit. Remember, stress can cause all kinds of side effects internally, maybe even affect your growth rate?

Also, at points when we think we're not experiencing growth, it could just be that your hair is at the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. This usually lasts 3 months or so, if I remember correctly. Maybe due to genetics, your resting stage may last longer than your growing stage, so that's why it appears it's not growing fast enough? Just throwing some thoughts out there...I may be wrong. I'm still trying to learn more about hair through this forum...

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

Aside from nurture, I believe there to be great differences in rate of growth between....different kinds of Black peoples. Some ethnic groups have very fast growth and some others do not. I know of Black people whose hair outgrows "white" hair.

 

[BlkOnyx488]

I swear my hair only grows about .25 inches per month.

but I am going to put this Idea to the test, I am going to keep my hair in braids for 6 months, then check my length and see if just leaving it alone makes a difference.

I do notice that everytime I detangle my hair even when it soaking wet, My back is covered with little curly spirals. My hair is very then and very fragile.

I love the sistas with thick hair

 

[Celestial]

For me it's 100% genetics. If not then it is 99.99999% genetics. My hair grows approximately 1" a year. My hair rarely grows so I don't see any changes between months but I usually can tell changes after a year or in 1 1/2 year.

 

[lalla]

I do know that in Africa, different ethnic groups have different growth rates. Some Black women there ( bella) have straight hair down their backs; Fulanis, Haoussas and Koroboros are known to have softer and faster growing hair. Other than that, women in Western Africa do not usually have long hair, although it is considered beautiful culturally. It may be because of the dry and arid climate, or because a lot of women use relaxers without neutralizing or moisturizing properly. Some even prefer petrolatum based products to shea butter which is easily available. All in all, it does look like many of the old hair practices and styling methods have slowly given way to the idea that straight is best and should be attained by all available means. The old styles are solely used in events such as weddings.
In central Africa, I have mostly seen women with extremely thick hair,and even with 4C hair who could grow it to their waist or longer without relaxing it. People from Central Africa do seem more relaxed about hair in that they cut it more easily than Western Africans ever would. The climate is much more humid there, and that may explain part of the apparent growth.
In France, West Indians women often have longer hair than Africans, theirs is also touchable. They rarely if ever use fake hair, but relax and blowdry often, and use oils such as carapate oil as hot oil treatments.

I think these differences stem both from ethnicity and care, but not from race. I think ethnicity is also linked with ways to care for hair that are transmitted, to the point where it would be very difficult to say which causes faster apparent growth. In my experience, texture is not related to growth rate.

HTH

 

[gymfreak336]

Genetics loads the gun and your environment pulls the trigger. Every bodily function is controlled by DNA. It sets the framework up for how tall you could get, how easily you gain and lose weight and if you are going to look like hell by the time you turn 50. Now exactly how much of that growth potential you tap into is a matter mostly controlled by your environment but to say that genetics had nothing to do with it would be being willfulling ignorant. We can get there, it just takes us longer.

 

[Celestial]

I think it is how you take care of your hair. I have seen and heard some white, native american and indian people say that they can't get their hair to grow past their shoulders and people say that these race of people can have long hair just by waking up in the morning. I think it is how you take care of your hair.

I never ever in my life seen any white, native american, or indian who couldn't grow hair past their shoulders. I saw several with hair above their shoulders but that was because they cut it. Native americans and indians hair grow very very fast so much faster than black hair. I know a native american who grew his hair to his butt in 10 years and my white friend grew hers to her butt in 12 years. I'm still waiting to see those kind of results with black people.

 

[locabouthair]

For me it's 100% genetics. If not then it is 99.99999% genetics. My hair grows approximately 1" a year. My hair rarely grows so I don't see any changes between months but I usually can tell changes after a year or in 1 1/2 year.

Do you mean one inch A YEAR?? Maybe your hair is breaking off at the ends, therefore you don't see a change in length.

Are you relaxed? If so, you would probably only need a touchup once a year. If you are relaxing more than that, you are probably growing more than one inch and your ends may be breaking off.

 

[Celestial]

Do you mean one inch A YEAR?? Maybe your hair is breaking off at the ends, therefore you don't see a change in length.

Are you relaxed? If so, you would probably only need a touchup once a year. If you are relaxing more than that, you are probably growing more than one inch and your ends may be breaking off.

Yes I only get approximately 1" within one or one and half years. In some areas it is even shorter. My hair doesn't break and I'm a natural.

 

[ellebelle88]

I can't believe this thread started talking about chemo patients/cancer survivors. Folks who are just grateful to be alive much less to have hair on their heads or even think about how fast it grows. Wow.

That's like being jealous of an amputee with a prosthetic who can run faster than folks who never lost their legs to begin with.

Wow.


Scenario leaves me shaking my head..............

I think its because you missed the point of the story. She was using the example of the cancer survivor to make a point and that point what when she noticed how the survivor's hair grew so fast, it made her reflect on the rate at which black women's hair grow. There is nothing wrong with noticing something that happens in life and thinking critically about it. It's a natural part of life and I would hope that you would do it all the time as well. The OP didnt say that she was jealous of the woman, she even said she was happy that she was well, but at the same time, it made her think deeply about the notion of growth rates of hair in the black community.

See folks have tried to tell me that it's mostly genetics which is why my hair grows the way it does, but if that's the case why the hell didn't it get this long when I had a perm?? OH OH I KNOW WHY! Because I had to keep getting it trimmed because I was using chemicals and heat.

Stopped using chemicals and heat?? BAM!! Didn't need to trim as often and my hair retained the majority of it's length. Not just from not having to trim as often, but because the heat and chemicals wrecked my hair.

Yes, but yt people use heat and chemicals all the time and their hair is still longer and in many cases, much more healthier than ours. So please explain that. Why do we have to cut out heat and chemicals and they dont, yet their hair is longer than ours....You want to know why? It's because of genetics. And there is no denying that.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

I have a dear friend--a white woman--who survived breast cancer. She was bald. I was at shoulder length. About six months later, her hair is nearly shoulder length, my hair is barely past shoulder. Well, I saw her again this past weekend. Her hair is mid-back. My hair is near BSL. I think her hair just grows fast. She has always had long, flowing hair and that's that.

Sadly, my friend's cancer has returned. She is dying.

 

[taz007]

Sadly, my friend's cancer has returned. She is dying.

Awww, Serenity! I am so sorry!!!




Your friend will be in my prayers tonight.

 

[ellebelle88]

I have a dear friend--a white woman--who survived breast cancer. She was bald. I was at shoulder length. About six months later, her hair is nearly shoulder length, my hair is barely past shoulder. Well, I saw her again this past weekend. Her hair is mid-back. My hair is near BSL. I think her hair just grows fast. She has always had long, flowing hair and that's that.

Sadly, my friend's cancer has returned. She is dying.

I am so sorry to hear that Serenity. I pray that she becomes well though. Don't give up hope yet, please. For your friends sake.

 

[Mystic]

Did you do the test? If so, what is your finding?

I swear my hair only grows about .25 inches per month.

but I am going to put this Idea to the test, I am going to keep my hair in braids for 6 months, then check my length and see if just leaving it alone makes a difference.

I do notice that everytime I detangle my hair even when it soaking wet, My back is covered with little curly spirals. My hair is very then and very fragile.

I love the sistas with thick hair

 

[NubianPrize]

Hair growth is a mix of genetics & nurture. There are 3 stages in growth cycle:

anagen: hair is actively growing; this lasts 2-8 years
catagen: shrinks the hair follicle & the hair growth stops. This stage lasts 1-2 weeks.
telogen: the resting phase. It takes 5-6 weeks for normal hair. Hair does not grow at this stage, but is still firmly in the scalp.New growth begins at the end of rest.

The length of the anagen phase is the key to hair length & that is genetically determined. Hair grows 6"/year on average. If you have a 2 year anagen,your hair will max out at 12" & that's as long as it'll ever get.If your anagen is 3 years it's 18",etc. The bottom line is that your hair will NOT grow longer than your anagen phase will let it & thus some folks will be able to get hair to their butt and others will not. HOWEVER ! Since no one knows their anagen length what you can do is to take the best possible care of your hair & do as Dr Oz says...treat it like a silk blouse. I see many little black girls with long braids & others with short dry,jacked up hair. The ones whose mothers care for their hair properly have the best looking hair. No kiddie perms,weaves,etc. When I was a kid mom took good care of my 4 a/b hair & there was no pressing till I was about 7 or 8 & then only with a warm comb. I had nice long braids. Watch what happens when many folks go natural...their hair gets a lot better & healthier looking! I've watched numerous coworkers & pals' hair start to BLOOM once they did the BC & went natural,esp since we have a lot of new natural products just for us.
Black women's hair has been abused & mistreated more than any other race's hair because we were taught to hate it as soon as we first drew breath. Our lives centered around trying to make it do things it wasn't designed to do,there were few products made just for its texture, & when I was a kid there were no nice wide tooth combs like there are now.Our hair was,and is routinely subjected to chemical fire cream,400 degree flat irons& hot combs, braids that are too tight & cause traction alopecia, badly done weaves,etc.

I'm a midlife woman who wore an afro in the late 60s-1981. I'm going natural again after 28yrs of curly perms. Since I've been natural, the thin spots have filled in, & my hair is growing nicely. That's happened to ALL of my midlife pals who've ditched the perms & wear naturals,sister locs,locs,twists,etc.