Why did my hair stop growing and what should I do?

Why did my hair stop growing? Discover all possible reasons underneath this circumstances, then figure the best solutions to achieve long beautiful hair.

Have you ever gone months without a haircut, but your hair remains stuck at shoulder length? We understand how frustrating it can be when you are trying to grow your hair, but it just won’t seem to grow!

Why did my hair stop growing? If you are wondering why your hair does not grow past a certain point, we are here to explain why and give you some tips to stimulate hair growth. If you want instant long hair, take our quick quiz below to find the perfect set of Jen Hair extensions for you. Let’s get started!

Why did my hair stop growing
Why did my hair stop growing

Why did my hair stop growing?

Breakage

On average, hair grows about half an inch each month, which adds up to approximately 6 inches per year. To give you an idea, that is less than half the length of our 20″ standard hair extensions. If you are not taking proper care of your hair and it is breaking off at the same rate as it is growing, it will remain the same length throughout the year unless you change your hair habits. Some habits can result in brittle hair and breakage, including:

Over-processing

Over-processing hair can cause breakage, whether dyeing, relaxing, highlighting, or perming. Chemicals strip natural oils and synthetic dyes lift cuticles. It will cause damage to the hair strands. 

To put it simply, a healthy hair cuticle lies flat, giving your hair a smooth and shiny appearance. On the other hand, a damaged cuticle that is lifted leads to dull, brittle, and frizzy hair. Ultimately, over-processing causes split ends and breakage, making it impossible for your hair to grow beyond a certain length.

Excessive processing can result in significant hair breakage. (Source: Coveteur)
Excessive processing can result in significant hair breakage. (Source: Coveteur)

Overuse of hot tools

Whenever the sizzle of a hot tool touches your hair, it can cause damage and affect hair growth. If you want your hair to grow long, it is important to keep it strong and healthy. Hot tools make things worse by drying out and frying your hair. 

Dry and brittle hair can only handle so much styling before it gets split ends and starts breaking. To help your hair grow, give it a break from all hot tools and let it recover its strength.

Aggressively Styling Your Hair

The way you handle your hair has a big impact on its quality and growth. If you are too rough with it, using uncovered elastics or struggling with curly or coarse hair, you might be causing breakage.

Split Ends

We have all experienced the annoyance of split ends that the ends of our hair split into two or three parts. This happens because the hair does not receive enough nutrients to stay healthy. As a result, the split travels higher up the hair. 

So, even though your hair grows from the roots, it simultaneously breaks off from the bottom. It will give the illusion that your hair is stuck at a certain length.

Once split ends appear, there is no way to fix them. The only solution is to trim them off and take steps to prevent them in the future. Leaving split ends untreated will only lead to more splitting and breakage and create a vicious cycle that hampers hair growth.

Genetics

Hair growth and health can be influenced by genetics, and each person has a unique hair growth cycle. Hair does not stop growing based on its length, but rather after a certain amount of time has passed. Once a hair strand completes its growth cycle, it will no longer grow and may break off. 

Since each hair strand has its own growth cycle, there may be varying lengths of hair strands on our heads. This cycle can range from two to six years. Regardless of how well you care for your hair, it cannot be extended beyond its DNA predetermined duration.

Age

Just like genetics, age can also impact hair growth. As you get older, your hair can start to weaken if you use too much heat styling tools, chemical processing, or you do not have a healthy diet. Bleaching and dyeing can also make it weaker. 

Normally, hair grows for six years, but that might reduce to only two years. This can make your hair thinner and make it harder to grow long. Plus, your scalp produces less oil as you age, so your hair is more likely to get dry and rough.

Just like genetics, your age can also impact your hair growth. (Source: HairMax)
Just like genetics, your age can also impact your hair growth. (Source: HairMax)

Nutritional deficiencies

Eating healthy is important for your whole body well-being and your appearance as well. Have you noticed eating junk food can cause pimples and drinking enough water gives your skin a healthy glow. Your hair is also affected by what you eat. A healthy diet with essential vitamins helps to make your hair strong and beautiful.

To keep your hair healthy, you should eat foods that contain iron, vitamin D, B-complex, and zinc. Iron is found in eggs, spinach, and chicken. Vitamin D comes from salmon, mushrooms, and sunlight. B-complex vitamins, like biotin, niacin, and cobalamin, make your hair thicker and shinier. Avocado, legumes, eggs, and whole grains are excellent sources of B-complex vitamins. 

To keep your hair strong, practice the proper nourishment from a balanced diet. 

Medications

Some medications, including chemotherapy drugs, blood pressure medications, hormonal treatments, or medications for autoimmune conditions, can disrupt the hair growth cycle. That’s why you should consult your healthcare provider for further evaluation and alternatives if possible.

Stress

Stress can disrupt your body’s normal functions, including hair growth. It can lead to hormonal imbalances and nutrient deficiencies, which will negatively impact hair follicles. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and self-care will help make hair growth healthier.

Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances and nutrient deficiencies, impacting the health of your hair follicles. (Source: VinWonders)
Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances and nutrient deficiencies, impacting the health of your hair follicles. (Source: VinWonders)

What should I do?

After discovering why did my hair stop growing, let’s explore some practices and tips for maintaining healthy hair. You can incorporate them into your hair care routine.

Brush your hair 

To minimize breakage and split ends, avoid brushing your hair when it is wet, which is more susceptible to damage. Instead, brush your hair before showering. 

In addition, you should opt for a brush with flexible bristles, which will prevent snags and breakage. This type of brush is gentle enough to use on both your natural hair and hair extensions. It will not pull on the wefts.

Finally, always brush your hair from the ends and work your way up, with gentle and slow strokes.

Turn the heat down

Lower the water temperature to protect your hair. Hot water can strip moisture from the hair and can result in brittle strands that are more likely to break and fall out. 

You should opt for medium heat and conclude your shower with a quick blast of cold water. This will seal in moisture and enhance the natural hair shine. Although the sensation is not the most enjoyable, the benefits make it worthwhile.

Keep your hair hydrated

When you wash your hair, make sure to spend time for your conditioner to work its magic. Apply the conditioner mainly to the mid-shaft and ends of your hair. 

A high-quality conditioner with organic baobab oil and shea butter will leave your hair smooth and silky.  Additionally, the linseed oil in the conditioner can promote healthy hair growth when you simply leave the conditioner on your hair for three to five minutes after shampooing.

In addition to conditioner, incorporating a hair mask into your routine can provide an instant boost of vitality to your hair. After washing the hair, you should apply the hair mask for about 10 minutes. Hair masks have essential nutrients to restore your hair’s health and vibrancy.

A high-quality conditioner enriched with organic baobab oil and shea butter will leave your hair feeling smooth and silky. (Source: GK Hair UK)
A high-quality conditioner enriched with organic baobab oil and shea butter will leave your hair feeling smooth and silky. (Source: GK Hair UK)

Avoid towel drying your hair

Refrain from towel drying the hair aggressively while gently doing it is highly recommended. Many of us have the habit of wrapping our hair in a towel-turban and rubbing it. Instead, pat your hair dry with a towel and allow it to absorb the excess moisture. Afterward, leave it air dry naturally. This method helps reduce friction, minimize damage and promote healthier hair.

Protect your hair

Gently brush your hair and apply hair oil before styling. This helps maintain your hair’s softness and manageability. The oil should absorb quickly into your hair without leaving a greasy residue. 

Look for products containing caryocar brasiliense fruit oil, which helps prevent split ends and breakage. Additionally, organic coconut oil and kukui nut oil are beneficial ingredients that penetrate the hair shaft. They will restore moisture and enhance softness and shine. 

If you experience excessive hair shedding or notice your hair stop growing, it is best to seek professional help. These symptoms could be alopecia or an unhealthy scalp. A professional will cover all possibilities and give you an appropriate guidance.

Or…

Apply hair extensions

If you look for an instant way to achieve long hair, consider applying hair extensions. The above methods require time to achieve expected results, meanwhile, hair extensions can add length and volume immediately. In just a few minutes, you can have the beautiful long hair in special events.

At Jen Hair, we offer a wide variety of hair extension styles, like classic seamless extension collection or clip-in buns. Simply tie up your own hair and attach one of our buns to create an elegant or messy bun. 

If you have been dreaming of a long and vibrant ponytail, our clip-in straight or curly ponytails are perfect for the wait. They are also easy to style and suitable for all hair types.

Hair extensions can add length and volume to your natural hair instantly. (Source: Pinterest)
Hair extensions can add length and volume to your natural hair instantly. (Source: Pinterest)

FAQs

Why did my hair stop growing after cutting?

Cutting hair does not affect the ability and the rate it grows. In fact, hair grows from the follicles beneath the scalp. That’s why, when you cut your hair, you only remove the visible portion.

If you notice the hair stops growing, even after a haircut or not, the reasons might be changes in routine or you might be experiencing some health issues. Then, it is time to ask for help from experts who can give you the right solutions.

Why did my hair stop growing in one spot?

If you notice some parts one your head with the hair stopping growing, you should think of alopecia areata which is a type of autoimmune disorder.  This issue can lead to hair loss in patches. In addition, you can consider other possible causes, including scalp infections, trauma to the hair follicles, hormonal imbalances, or medical conditions.

Why did my hair not grow longer then a certain length?

There is a maximum length that your hair can grow to that point. This point is different in each individual and it is decided by their genetics or daily care routine. When reaching its terminal length, the hair has a resting phase and sheds that prepare for a new growth. Again, hair care practices, overall health, and genetics can influence this perceived length.

Factors affecting hair growth are genetics, overall health, and hair care practices determine the growth rate.
Factors affecting hair growth are genetics, overall health, and hair care practices determine the growth rate.

To Conclude,

Why did my hair stop growing? There are various reasons for this circumstances, but mostly it can come from your genetics, overall health, and daily hair care practices. These factors also affect the growth rate and length of your hair. Whenever you notice you have lost significant hair or experienced patch growth, you should definitely go to look for professional advice.

During the time you are figuring the reasons for your hair stopping growing and the effective solutions for it, you might have to appear in special events? How could to do to add length and volume for your hair? The answer is hair extensions. A wide range of extension styles will help you achieve long beautiful hair you desire in a few minute. Contact Jen Hair today to obtain the best hair extensions!

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