WHY IS MY HAIR STILL SHOULDER LENGTH?

[Wolftrap]

Ok I'm frusted. It seems that no matter what I do my hair is shoulder length. It looked like I had gotten growth from the surge I even have progress pictures and it seemed to be a difference. BUT I am now thinking that difference is only when my hair is wet. When it is wet it is past shoulder length. When it is blown out it looks exactly the same length as it was months ago. I even took a picture of a blowout last week and compared them and I notice nothing. Is my hair growing? Why does it only seem longer when it is wet? Am I ever going to notice growth. I am getting really angry that it doesn't seem to be growing.

 

[Wolftrap]

bump

 

[silvergirl]

How long have u been mesuring ur growth?? i think a month is a lil short of see a big diff in hair growth. for months i felt my hair wasnt growing till i look back at pics from 2003 an i realised it has, alot! give it time. watching ur hair is like waiting for paint to dry.. i know its hard but try not to think about it an let it do its thing. in a matter of months ull wonder where it all came from

 

[Wolftrap]

Well I've been starting growing since January and it was just grazing my shoulders. Since January I have gained 3 inches. It is now July. It just seems like SOO little growth. and it bothers me that it is longer when it is wet. I am a very impatient person. That probalby has a lot to do with it.

 

[sengschick]

When something seems to be broke, think of ways to fix it! Now, it's very possible that your hair is in a resting stage. Since you're relaxed you should be able to tell whether or not you have new growth, if you do, you know your hair isn't resting, it's growing! If it's not, then that's great, b/c you know it's not breaking, it's just resting and you'll wait it out.

Now if you have new growth... you must be loosing length at the ends. So that calls for change. Maybe you can wash n' wear, twistout or braidout for the next few months and stop using heat all together. You should definitely notice some change

.

 

[Wolftrap]

I don't use heat at all. So that is not a problem. I have started doing more protective styles NO BUNS. I'm sure everyone knows my stance on that by now. LOL but I do other styles. I don't notice any breakage or hairs falling out when I comb so I should be retaining length. Its just I want to see the length.

 

[jainygirl]

I know it's frustrating at times. Wait a while longer then start doing comparison pics because most of the time we cant tell our hair is growing just from looking at it, we need something to compare against. I'll bump up a post on it for ya that i wrote yesterday -- jainygirl

 

[Lovelylocs]

3 inches since January? That sounds about right to me. They say that hair only grows around 5 or 6 inches a year. These are things that I look for when I am determining whether I am making progress and not noticing it.
Do you see broken hairs anywhere? (ie. the sink, the shower, when u comb, etc.)
Does my hair look healthy?
Does my hair feel weak, dry, etc.?
I think you get the point. If your hair is in good condition then I am sure that it is getting longer. Have u been watching it everyday?

 

[Wolftrap]

I don't notice any breakage. Although I do notice when I handle my hair wet. Sometimes a lot of it come out. Not in the shower when I comb it but if I am trying to braid it for a braidout or something else. I don't now why. But other than that it is is in great condition. I do watch it all the time though. that can't be good. 6 inches in a year I hear that is about right but I'm guessing I want more than than that.

 

[AJamericanDiva]

[ QUOTE ]
Lovelylocs said:
3 inches since January? That sounds about right to me. They say that hair only grows around 5 or 6 inches a year. These are things that I look for when I am determining whether I am making progress and not noticing it.
Do you see broken hairs anywhere? (ie. the sink, the shower, when u comb, etc.)
Does my hair look healthy?
Does my hair feel weak, dry, etc.?
I think you get the point. If your hair is in good condition then I am sure that it is getting longer. Have u been watching it everyday?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was about to say the same thing. Hair grows on average 6" a year. You are on target. I say compare backshots after every relaxer. Your hair is growing irregardless of what you do. Continue take care of it so you can accumulate length.

 

[sengschick]

[ QUOTE ]
Wolftrap said:
I don't use heat at all. So that is not a problem. I have started doing more protective styles NO BUNS. I'm sure everyone knows my stance on that by now. LOL but I do other styles. I don't notice any breakage or hairs falling out when I comb so I should be retaining length. Its just I want to see the length.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh good

, so you shouldn't be breaking. So maybe it's resting. What's happening @ the root? New growth waves or none?
Have you considered 'putting it away' for a few months? I've been expecting an inch for the month, which has yet to appear in the back. So I keep measuring, stretching and basically harassing my hair

. If I put it away, I wouldn't be able to exact this torture upon myself!

 

[silvergirl]

lol very true, i get the average 1/2 a month to 3/4 a months, an measuring my length every month is like torture to me. cause i never see any real diff. it isnt unless i space my comparison pics apart ex - 4 months span or more that i truly see my hair has been growing.

 

[Wolftrap]

I know I am torturing myself. Maybe because I just started this journey 6 months ago I was expecting more than this but maybe I will not really take another comparison pic until December. That will be almost a year and if I don't have growth by then I will scream. This wet/dry thing has got me a little ticked.

 

[sengschick]

That's a good idea. I think I'm afraid to take a progress pic. I know my little emotions are fragile!

I get easily discouraged and if I don't see progress, I'll be posting this same thing!!! I have a few more months to go before my 6 month anniversary, so grow hair, grow! Best Wishes WT!!!! We can be impatient together

.

 

[Valerie]

I looked at your picturs and I can definitely see growth, I would continue to rinse daily, if you rinse daily. Also I find that the shoulder stage is very difficult. My hair at that stage also. So it is gradually creeping along.

 

[Wolftrap]

[ QUOTE ]
Valerie said:
I looked at your picturs and I can definitely see growth, I would continue to rinse daily, if you rinse daily. Also I find that the shoulder stage is very difficult. My hair at that stage also. So it is gradually creeping along.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Valerie, maybe because its my own hair I don't notice it when I look at the pictures. But I just don't see it in the Domincan Blowout pictures.

 

[Leslie_C]

wolftrap,
I posted a similar frustrated post recently. I definitely have a love hate relationship with my hair these days. I feel like Im putting soo much effort into it and not getting back what I put in.

Look on the bright sife, at least its not breaking off. Mine has some slight breakage for NO reason...I dont use heat, I manipulate and comb as little as possible, I moisturize and condition constantly. I think maybe we are just obsessing over it too much. I am learning just to let it do its thing bc stressing wont make it better.

I will continue my regimen and relaxer every 10-12 weeks, and hopefully a year from now Ill have that bra strap length Ive been wanting so bad I can taste....just keep doing what u do, u know that u are doing the right things and your hair can only benefit from that! I think of it as like losing weight(which I also know all about)...sometimes regardless of what u do, u just hit a wall. eventually u will bust through it though, just takes persistence!

 

[Wolftrap]

Thanks for the encouragement. I know some of you that are already bra strap or close to it have said that from shoulder to bra was the hardest goal. I am believing it now.

 

[Wolftrap]

[ QUOTE ]
Valerie said:
I looked at your picturs and I can definitely see growth, I would continue to rinse daily, if you rinse daily. Also I find that the shoulder stage is very difficult. My hair at that stage also. So it is gradually creeping along.

[/ QUOTE ]

Valerie what do you mean by rinsing daily? You mean conditioner washes? Or just wetting my hair daily?

 

[Valerie]

Wolftrap, I mean both, you can do conditioner washes, two or three times a week, and you can make up a 50 ml bottle of distilled water, rosewater and glcerine, or you can add herbs to it, such as rosemary tea, fill up the rest with distilled water, glycerine and rosewater, shake well and pour on your hair every other day, or if you don't feel like doing the conditioner washes, just do the glycerine and rosewater daily. Hopefully, you will be able to retain your length. So it for a month and see what happens.

 

[Wolftrap]

[ QUOTE ]
Valerie said:
Wolftrap, I mean both, you can do conditioner washes, two or three times a week, and you can make up a 50 ml bottle of distilled water, rosewater and glcerine, or you can add herbs to it, such as rosemary tea, fill up the rest with distilled water, glycerine and rosewater, shake well and pour on your hair every other day, or if you don't feel like doing the conditioner washes, just do the glycerine and rosewater daily. Hopefully, you will be able to retain your length. So it for a month and see what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't know this. I do conditoner washes about every 3 days but I don't wet my hair everyday with anything. That is kind of hard for me to do because I wear my hair wrapped most of the time. I wear 4 weeks wrapped and then 4 weeks in styles like braidouts or bantu knots. I couldn't wet the ends everday because my style would not stay.

 

[Neroli]

[ QUOTE ]
Valerie said:
Wolftrap, I mean both, you can do conditioner washes, two or three times a week, and you can make up a 50 ml bottle of distilled water, rosewater and glcerine, or you can add herbs to it, such as rosemary tea, fill up the rest with distilled water, glycerine and rosewater, shake well and pour on your hair every other day, or if you don't feel like doing the conditioner washes, just do the glycerine and rosewater daily. Hopefully, you will be able to retain your length. So it for a month and see what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love the idea of rosewater and glycerin (I already use glycerin extensively for skin care, I add the 100% pure gel to various items for skin softening with excellent result and sometimes add to leave-ins for my rollersets during winter when I really need the moisture). I use rosewater as in refreshing spriz during the hot humid Atlanta summer -- it refreshes AND provides the lovely rose sent I love.

I already love conditioner washes, but if I could do this glycerin/rosewater thing without having to wash, then I would condition wash once a week and do the rosewater/glcerin in between. So, how much glycerin and rosewater do you add to the distilled water? How do you dry your hair after you do this? Do you rollerset afterwards? Do you put leave-ins afterwards? Sorry for all the questions, but this is very intriqueing and I will try, but would like some tips from you. I have 4b relaxed hair. TIA!

 

[HollyGolightly]

[ QUOTE ]
Wolftrap said:
Thanks for the encouragement. I know some of you that are already bra strap or close to it have said that from shoulder to bra was the hardest goal. I am believing it now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm with you gurl. It seems like my hair has been shoulder length for months and months. Does anyone know how long it takes to go from shoulder length to bra strap?

 

[silvergirl]

most ppls brastrap is about 7 - 10 inches from sholder so im guessing around a year to a year an half. depending on how fast ur hair grows.

i was about shoulder lenght in sept of 2003 an i have about 2-3 inches till i reach past brastrap. so that would make it close to about a year a couple months for me

 

[miss_brown]

I can definitely see your growth, Wolftrap

This whole thing is frustrating, but I agree that if you put your hair away for a while and be consistent with your vitamins, you'll definitely be pleasantly surprised once you see your hair again. Earlier this year, I wore cornrows for about 6 weeks, and when I took them out, I my hair had grown at least an inch and it was in great condition because I wasn't tugging on it all the time.

Be encouraged because your hard work WILL pay off! Gook luck!

 

[Wolftrap]

[ QUOTE ]
miss_brown said:
I can definitely see your growth, Wolftrap

This whole thing is frustrating, but I agree that if you put your hair away for a while and be consistent with your vitamins, you'll definitely be pleasantly surprised once you see your hair again. Earlier this year, I wore cornrows for about 6 weeks, and when I took them out, I my hair had grown at least an inch and it was in great condition because I wasn't tugging on it all the time.

Be encouraged because your hard work WILL pay off! Gook luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I am trying to stay encouraged. Its hard sometimes to see your own growth. But I am incorporating more protective styles. I have also started my vitmains again. I took a break from them because I think they were not working anymore. So I recently started them again.

 

[skegeesmb]

I can see your growth too. When I hit shoulderlength in 2003 it took forever for it to get past the shoulders.

From my shoulderlength to braclasp it took me 16 months to get there. So don't feel bad if your hair isn't showing progress in so quick a time. Believe me it takes patience of steel to get there.

 

[Wolftrap]

Why do you guys think it is so hard to get past shoulder length? Or takes so long? I hear it is easy to get from ear to shoulder or like from a TWA to shoulder.

 

[skegeesmb]

You know what Wolftrap, I think it is so hard because your head to your shoulders you have markers to show off your progress, for instance, your eye is definately not in the same place as your ear, so you can see when your hair has grown from that spot, and the same thing when it gets to shoulder.

But man that shoulder has between 5-10 inches before you hit that braclasp. Unless you are wearing a tank top you really can't see the progess until after you get past the armpit. It's really frustrating too!

 

[Wolftrap]

[ QUOTE ]
skegeesmb said:
Unless you are wearing a tank top you really can't see the progess until after you get past the armpit. It's really frustrating too!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh no not you can't see progress until after you get past armpit. I'm dying here