"Long Hair Gene"

[BlkOnyx488]

I have a friend who went natural a whole year before me, I currently at CBL and she's NL. Even though she PS's under wigs she claims NL is her terminal length because her hair is fine. I don't understand how NL can be anybody's terminal length, it just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not sure I even believe in the concept of terminal length because unless you have a medical condition your hair is always growing.

Her response was that me and my sister have always had hair that grows long easily.

I think hair management has a much bigger role to play in what length your can reach. I agree that the type 1-3 is more resilient to daily combing and styling, but type 4 hair can retain just as much length once you understand that it wasn't designed for daily combing and styling in its natural state. Even before lhcf I've always noticed that if I limit the daily manipulation of my hair by wearing braids it breaks a lot less and therefore I keep all of what I grow.

Asian hair may grow a few millimetres faster but I don't think that means that afro can not reach long lengths too. And I have long stopped believing that a only black girls with type 3 hair can have long hair.

Does she wear her fro out a lot?
in the summer of 2010, I wore my fro out every day. by September when I did a flatiron length check I discovered I had lost 2 inches . After that I put my hair on lockdown and I have been retaining length ever since.

 

[LovelyNaps26]

hair like Crystal Gayle:

is due in part to genetic factors,like above average hair growth, that makes it easier to grow and retain long hair. she says it took her like 5/6 years to gain this length (over 60 inches) and her hair is NOT even terminal length in this picture (she had to cut is regularly so it's not on the floor).

just being real i will NEVER have Crystal Gayle hair length even if i wanted it b/c i can't grow foot of hair a year. so, in this sense she has a "long hair gene".

if your goal is BSL to waist length, which is the case for i think the majority of us on LHCF, then with 1/2 inch growth a month and good hair practices a 'long hair gene' isn't necessary to reach hair goals.

 

[aquajoyice]

Retention = long hair

 

[Ogoma]

hair like Crystal Gayle:

is due in part to genetic factors,like above average hair growth, that makes it easier to grow and retain long hair. she says it took her like 5/6 years to gain this length (over 60 inches) and her hair is NOT even terminal length in this picture (she had to cut is regularly so it's not on the floor).

just being real i will NEVER have Crystal Gayle hair length even if i wanted it b/c i can't grow foot of hair a year. so, in this sense she has a "long hair gene".

if your goal is BSL to waist length, which is the case for i think the majority of us on LHCF, then with 1/2 inch growth a month and good hair practices a 'long hair gene' isn't necessary to reach hair goals.

"We" know of Crystal Gayle because she is the exception not the rule.

Is the idea this long hair gene is responsible for hair growth rate? strand size? terminal length? Or does it have to be a combination of all three?

 

[hairedity]

What I have always found interesting is how people think hair knows just long to grow to stay at X length. Hair just comes out the scalp; it doesnt know how many inches it takes to keep someone at a certain length.

Sent from my DROID3 using DROID3

Eyebrows, eyelashes, nosehairs, arms hairs etc.. know how to "stay at X length", so it's really not far fetched for people to believe in the terminal length theory.

 

[CurlsBazillion]

Eyebrows, eyelashes, nosehairs, arms hairs etc.. know how to "stay at X length", so it's really not far fetched for people to believe in the terminal length theory.

@hairedity That makes terminal length more believable when u put it like that. Edges aka baby hairs have a terminal length so why not the whole head?

 

[bedhair29]

All responses make so much sense.. probably more confused that when i started out lol. I do believe that some people are just lucky enough to grow really long hair with little to no effort while some of us have to work our butts off. I dont know about the terminal length thing... sounds plausible though

 

[Kurlee]

nope. I believe most people with proper care can grow their hair about 18 inches (MBLish). However,exceptionally long hair like down to the knees and stuff is definitely genetic.

 

[CurlyMoo]

I think there is a long hair gene but only by association of generations of people practicing healthy diets. Like the Asians. They live generations after generations by organic healthy foods. This is bound to give them a boost when it comes to living longer, sharper minds, nice skin and healthy long hair. Passing it on through to their children.

Whereas having generations of eating bad food, smoking and drinking polluted ciggies and alcohol is bound to be passed on to future children predisposed to have genes lacking in much needed nutrients.

For the record, Asians do not eat nearly as much meat and processed foods as we do in the Western world.

 

[crumbling_images]

Long hair is totally genetic. As we've seen on the hair board, some are able to grow longish hair via "good" hair practices, special regimens and products, and/or vitamins/growth aids/diets/exercise or whatever. At the end of the day, long hair is totally genetic. I've personally followed tips on this hair board. I've tried co-washing, pre-washing, oil rinsing, steaming, deep conditioning, conditioning on dry hair, coconut oil, ceramides, henna, sulphur etc..I've taken every vitamin and hair growth potion. I did the protective styling, twists, wigs, weaving, etc..I should have hair down to my behind. But I'm still shoulder length. I want longer hair but is longer hair in my genes? No woman in my immediate family has hair longer than shoulder length. So my shoulder length hair is healthy. No issues in that department. Everything in our bodies is determined by our genetics. Of course, we can help nature by doing our part to be healthier too. Genetically, I have really good skin. My best friend does not. No matter how much water she drinks, or how many products she dollops on her skin, her skin will not be like mine. I can give her advice on my skin routine, but since we have different skin, what works for me doesn't work for her. That's just life. So, I'm done trying Indian powders, hair growth potions, and spending endless hours on my hair trying to get something that I'm not supposed to have. I'll just enjoy what nature blessed me with instead.

 

[SkySurfer]

What I have always found interesting is how people think hair knows just long to grow to stay at X length. Hair just comes out the scalp; it doesnt know how many inches it takes to keep someone at a certain length.

Sent from my DROID3 using DROID3

It's because the hair follicle dies after a while (2-7 years), so the length of hair is determined by how long the life cycle of the follicle is, and your growth rate per month, which in turn is determined by genetics
So this is what people really mean when they say hair only grows to a certain length--> i.e. the length set out by the parameters described above