‘My Hair Won’t Grow Past a Certain Length’: The Causes and Remedies
‘My hair won’t grow past a certain length’ is quite a common hair complaint. The stunt of hair growth or lack of length can be contributed to a number of reasons. Diet, over-processing, handling your hair too roughly and even cutting it too often are all factors to consider if your hair isn’t growing longer.
Firstly, we will deal with the cosmetic side of hair length. More often than not, it’s not that your hair isn’t growing, but that it’s breaking off. No matter how good your diet, if your hair is frequently snapping off at the ends the length will be affected. Hair grows about half an inch a month, so, if your hair is breaking approximately that much in the same time period, it will stay the same length. This hair breakage can be caused by the incorrect and frequent use of straightening irons, curlers and tongs. And also using a hair-dryer without protective serum, using uncovered elastic bands, or brushing your hair too often or too roughly. All of these processes can cause your hair to lose excessive amounts of moisture, causing dryness, brittleness and loss of elasticity, which lead to breakage. The way to minimize this breakage is to use products that will inject moisture back into the hair shaft and products that protect your hair from heat. Also, be gentle with your hair when styling, brushing, removing tangles and towel drying.
This same logic applies to cutting and trimming your hair. For instanace, many women go to the hairdressers every 6-8 weeks to get their hair trimmed. In 8 weeks, your hair will grow approximately 1 inch. Therefore, if you are cutting off 1 inch of hair (or more) every 2 months, your hair will remain the same length. It is important to keep the ends of your hair in good shape, but if you want length, either have your hair cut less often or only ask for a minimal amount to be taken off. Furthermore, if you take better care of your hair on a daily basis, as described above, you will also need to get trims less often.
Diet is another reason for hair not growing past a certain length. Low ferritin levels can affect the growth cycle of hair, especially in women. Ferritin is your body’s iron storage. It can have a profound impact on the health of your hair as good levels of ferritin optimize hair growth. A lack of ferritin can result in the hair moving out of the ‘growing phase’ and into the ‘shedding phase’ sooner than it should. In women, ferritin levels should be over 80 for optimum hair growth. Anything below this can result in your hair falling out before it has reached the desired length. An underactive/overactive thyroid can also do this. Getting your thyroid and iron levels checked is also a good idea if your hair isn’t growing past a certain length.
Vitamins B12 and Zinc are also important when it comes to hair length and texture. Insufficient levels of zinc can affect hair texture by causing brittleness and therefore breakage. Adequate protein intake at breakfast and lunch should be taken into account as well. However, always consult your Doctor before taking any supplements as too much of any vitamin/mineral can be detrimental to your health.
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[...] Iron deficiency is a common underlying cause of hair loss in women. Correct iron and ferritin (stored iron) levels are essential to hair growth as they supports healthy hair cell proliferation and help to keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Iron deficiency anaemia, be it mild or severe, can cause your hair to enter the shedding (telogen) phase sooner than it should, leaving you with excessive hair fall and also hair that is not growing to the length that it used to. [...]
I have seen doctor’s an had everything checked.I wash my hair daily with conditioner an nothing seems to get my hair to grow lone.I have fine baby like hair.I don’t blow dry my hair an use a curling iron once in awhile.I do take a b-vitamin an biton but still no luck,any suggestions what to do next?HELP!
Hi Colleen, thinning hair, or hair not growing to the length it used to, can be attributed to many factors including genetics, diet and hormonal imbalances. We suggest you contact our London clinic to book an appointment to see a trichologist – they will take a full medical and family history and probably send you to have blood tests (as well as examining your hair and scalp). You can reach us on 0207-629-4004. Please let us know if you have any further questions. The PK Team.
I’ve had all thyroid tests done which came back normal, I take my daily supplements (including B12 and Zinc). Also I drink adequate protein shakes daily and drink plenty of water. I refrain from eating too much sugar and am in very good health. My hair doesn’t appear to grow longer. It just keeps getting thicker and thicker, but not any longer. I used to have a thinning problem, but since I’ve added MSM to my regime, my hair has gotten significantly thicker. How can I get it to finally start growing?
Hi Char. Your hair may be breaking at the ends if it is getting thicker, but the length is not improving. Do you process or regularly heat style your hair? Hormonal and metabolic imbalances can also cause your hair to shed before it reaches its optimum length. Have you has these levels tested as well? The PK Team.
Hi PK Team!
Thanks so much for your reply. I truly believe that it’s hormonal. In answer to your question – NO I haven’t had my hormones checked. I just became so frustrated. Maybe I’ll get them checked. Thanks again!
Hi Colleen. I’ve been trying to grow my hair out for the past three years and it still won’t grow longer than a few inches below my shoulders. I have very thick, wavy hair and ive been taking vitamins for hair growth every day for about a year now and only seeing minimal results. I don’t heat style my hair regularly, maybe I will about once a month and when I do I use a heat protectant spray. I also only use shampoo and conditioner without sulfates but my hair continues to be prone to split ends and breakage. I don’t know what else I can do now, please help me if you can!
Hi Jessica. If your hair is breaking and splitting at the ends, you should use a weekly pre-shampoo intensive conditioning treatment 1-2 times a week. We make one called ‘Elasticizer’ and it’s extremely effective at restoring hydration and elasticity to hair. It’s also a good idea to have split ends trimmed off, as they can break further up your hair shaft and cause more damage. While the correct use of vitamins and supplements can help improve the condition of hair that is growing from the root, they won’t not have any effect on the ends of your hair. It is also very important to eat a nutritious diet to encourage strong, healthy hair growth. We hope this helps! The PK Team.
HI PK Team,
Thanks for your replies. Please note that my splitting ends have been trimmed many times and all this does is make my hair shorter and neater. I always have a nutritious diet and I consume at least one gallon of water per day. I exercise regularly and keep my hair moisturized and hydrated. I’ve even gone to a couple of dermatologists as well as my doctor, only to be told that I’m in perfect health condition (no thyroid problems, etc.). I deep (intensive) condition my hair every week. Please note that my hair goes through “growing spurts.” There are times when I will actually gain 2″ of hair growth in 1 month, but then most of the time it only grows 1/4″ per month. I hardly ever see any hairs on my brush or comb and rarely see any fallen hairs after showering or washing my hair. When my hair is done by professionals, they say that I don’t have split ends, but that it is actually new growth that is trying to catch up to the rest of my hair growth. It just seems pretty weird to me. Since I had originally written to you, my hair has grown 3″, except for the “new growth” which is actually 2″ longer now. Is there any information out there about something of this nature? When I had split ends, I knew about it. This is not the case. My hair just tends to grow unevenly. Could it possibly be due to the Anagen/Catagen/Telogen phases of hair growth that is making my hair so uneven all of the time? Sorry for all of the questions, but I’ve tried everything out there and continue to end up with the same results. Thanks again!
Hi Jessica. You are absolutely correct – your hair will never all be the same length due to the hair growth cycle. If your hair is not splitting or breaking, and you are not seeing increased shedding we suggest you make an appointment to see a trichologist if it doesn’t seem to get past a certain length. There can be many factors involved in the disruption of hair growth and without seeing your hair & scalp and/or looking at blood tests, going through your medical history, diet and lifestyle it is very hard to say what is causing it. You can reach our London Clinic on 0207-629-4004 if you wish to make an appointment. The PK Team.
Hi, so my hair absolutely will not grow past a certain length and I really want long hair very badly it’s just not working. Any suggestions I do use tue flat iron and curling iron quite often but I use heat protection…?? I don’t know what’s wrong?
Hi Gillian. Flat irons and curling irons can cause a huge amount of damage and breakage to your hair if you use them too often, leave them on your hair for too long, use a very high heat setting or apply too much traction when pulling them through your style. This is even if you are using heat protection, as applying heat to hair that is already dried reduces moisture content & elasticity. If your hair is constantly breaking at the ends, this could definitely cause your hair not to reach beyond a certain length. We suggest you reduce your use of the irons to as little as possible, and use an intensive moisturizing mask 2x a week, such as Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. Also, be gentle when you brush and style your hair and always remove tangles starting at the ends of your hair and working up to the roots. You should also look at your diet, such as protein and iron intake and ferritin levels. We hope this helps! The PK team.
Hey!
So I’ve been trying to grow my hair out now for 5 years and it will not grow.
I had an eating disorder for years which caused my hair to thin but now (4 years later) my hair still will not grow. I’ve tried Biotin, PreNatal Vitamins, Multi-Vitamins, Hair Skin and Nail Vitamins.. you name it, I’ve tried it. I also tried not washing my hair as often (which isn’t too nice since I have greasy hair) I do a weekly hair mask for any damage and I always use a heat protectant when straightening my hair. I stopped blow drying my hair and bushing it less, also, I get about 3 trims a year for any dead ends. Any hair stylist I go to thinks my hair is super heathy, no breakage, and smooth but it won’t grow? My thyroid has been checked an iron levels, I don’t know what to do.
Please, help.
Thank You!
Hi Larkin. We are sorry to hear you are having difficulty growing your hair. Eating disorders can certainly have a huge impact on your hair health, but if you have been eating correctly for the past 5 years this would have corrected itself. It is very important to eat a balanced diet, including both proteins and complex carbohydrates, as well as take the supplements you are perscribed as supplements alone are not enough to sustain hair growth. There are one of two things that could be causing your problem though: either your hair is breaking (which it doesn’t sound like it is) or there is something metabolic going on. How long is your hair growing to? And did you hair used to be able to reach a longer length? Also, have you ahd your ferritin levels checked? Age can be a factor to consider as well. We suggest you make an appointment to see a trichologist who will send you for all of the relevant blood tests and be able to analyse them – the way that your GP will view test results differ from how a trichologist will look at them. Your hair is not a vital organ, so the numbers needed to support hair growth are different to those needed to sustain other bodily functions. Also, you should wash your hair at least every other day (preferably daily). Daily shampooing does not cause hair loss, it in fact helps it! We hope this helps. The PK Team.
Thank you for the great reply!
Yes I will definitely get some more tests done to see what the problem may be. I was always told that you shouldn’t wash your hair everyday? But ill definitely start washing it more frequently now.
My hair only grows to right above my chest. It’s been this length for years and I hate it. I’ve only dyed my hair once and that was to a more darker shade. I do however straighten my hair once a day (with two types of heat protectant) but I never use a blow dryer.
Everyone loves it when folks get together and share ideas.
Great site, continue the good work!
Awesome! Its in fact amazing post, I have got much clear idea on the topic of from this article.
Hi my hair is thin i wish i had thicker hair and longer but it seems like it stopped growing and i have it in my shoulders what can i do so it will grow at least long? ?
Hi Glenda,
Have you had any recent blood work done checking your ferritin, iron and thyroid levels? Deficiencies in these can be a cause of hair not growing past a certain length. Lack of protein, your age, and also hair breakage can be factors to consider as well. The PK Team.
I use a flat iron or curling iron just about every day, but my hair seems to be fine. It is exceptionally soft – people always compliment me on it – and has a great color. I have never colored my hair before. However, I cut off about three inches of hair two years ago (they were all split ends since I skipped a year of trims) and it has never grown back. My hair is decently thin and disproportionatly wavy. I know I shouldn’t be styling it every day, but my natural hair is not pretty. Any tips on how to style my hair without irons? And I don’t want to wear updo’s every day. Thanks!
Hi Lindsey. Unfortunately, if you use straighteners every day you will damage your hair and cause breakage. However, using a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment twice a week will help to restore elasticity – and using a heat protecting styling product will also offer some protection. If you would like to try giving your hair a break and let it dry naturally, we do have a product called ‘Curl Activator’ that helps reduce frizziness associated with curly hair while giving you nice, shiny waves. We hope this helps! The PK Team.
I am almost 35 and have been growing my hair since I was 12 but it does not appear to grow. Infact it is the same length and I have not had it cut professionally for 23 years only trimming it myself periodically. I have had thyroid disease since my early twenties but would be most interested to hear any advice as to why my hair does not ever appear to get any longer. Even an extra inch would be amazing as it is so frustrating knowing that hair should grow this every two months and mine most definitely does not.
Hi Nikki. We are sorry to hear you are having difficulty growing your hair past a certain length. This is quite a complicated question to answer due to all the factors that can be involved with thyroid disease, such as medications you are taking, the type of thyroid disorder, nutrient absorption and also your individual metabolism. Hypothyroid can definately affect hair in up to 50% of cases, and hyperthyroid can also have a detrimental affect. We suggest that you see a trichologist for a consultation for the best advice as blood tests, a full medical history and a scalp exam will probably be needed. In the meantime though, make sure to take care of your hair with weekly pre-shampoo conditioning treatments and wash your hair daily to keep your scalp in optimum condition. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
I am 20 years old, and I can not seem to get my hair to grow more than a few inches past my shoulders. Both my sisters have very long hair. I take vitamins daily, and even take prenatal vitamins ( I am not pregnant) because i heard they help increase hair growth. I do not comb my hair when it is wet, and i always let it air dry. To be honest the only 2 things i can think of that i should not be doing are straightening it ( which i cut back on) and i get foils every 6 months. What can i do ?
Hi Justina. If you are straightening your hair very often and also going over the same areas this could be causing your hair to break off at the ends. However, hair not growing past a certain length can also be do to metabolic imbalances. We suggest you have blood tests done to check your thyroid, hormone and vitamin/mineral levels. You can either have these measured through your GP or consult with a trichologist. Even though you are taking supplements, it’s good to know if you have any deficiencies and what exactly they are (if any) – an excess of certain nutrients can cause hair problems as well. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
Hi, great article! I have a question. I have been using the PK products and following your advice and my hair has never looked better
I barely ever heat style, am gentle and use the elasticiser once a week. I still have about 3-4 inches until I get to my ideal hair length, but am getting really sick of my natural colour!! I want to get highlights but I’m afraid this will ruin my hair growth?? I notice that hair colouring was not mentioned as a common type of hair breakage here so does that mean its okay to colour while growing out? Will it still grow? Thank u!!! Xx
Hi Anna. Any colouring method, and bleach in particular, can cause breakage and damage to your hair. However, it won’t affect the rate of growth from your scalp and actually highlights can make your hair look thicker and give more body! We don’t suggest not colouring/bleaching your hair, you just need to take extra care to counteract and prevent damage. Use Elasticizer twice weekly (even leave it on overnight once a week) and also try not to overlap previous colour in future applications, or have it done too often. Always have highlights applied by an experienced professional, and make them aware of your concerns. In general, the lighter you go the more damaging the process. We hope this helps! The PK Team.
Thank you so much for your reply! This has really cleared things up for me. I was also wondering if I need any other products in my arsenal ? at the moment i am using the body building shampoo and moisture balancing conditioner, and the elasticiser. my hair is quite fine (but a lot of it), wavy, processed, couple inches below collarbone. am i using the right shampoo and conditioner?
Hi! Yes – it sounds like your are using the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. You may also want to try Daily Damage Defence, which is a leave-in conditioning, detangling, heat protective spray, that also helps to gaurd against environmental damage!
Hi, I am really bored with my hair and wanting to change things up. I either want to highlight it (quite heavily…) or get tape in extensions (I would do both but I feel that it would be a bit of overkill!!). In your opinion, which would be the best option to keep my hair healthy and growing? By the way, love all the Philip Kingsley products! xK
Hi Kiki. If you want to keep your hair healthy and growing, we would suggest highlighting your hair instead of using extensions! While both can be potentially damaging and cause breakage, hair extensions can actually pull hairs from their follicles and eventually lead to permanent hair loss (traction alopecia). When highlighting, just make sure you go to an experienced professional and make them aware of your concerns. Also, use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment twice a week to keep your hair hydrated and help prevent damage. We hope this helps! The PK Team.
now i don’t know how should i do more. My hair very thin and short for 3 years why it doesn;t growing? i try to use good shampoo good conditioner. trim or massage but resulit is still the same. pleaase help.
Hello. Thinning hair can be caused by a wide range of factors from genetics and follicle sensitivity to nutritional deficiencies, illness and metabolic imbalances. Nutritional, hormonal and metabolic factors can all be checked during a blood test, which you can request from your doctor. You may also want to book an appointment to see a trichologist who will be able to determine the cause of what is causing your hair to thin and not grow past a certain length. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
So how do you explain my problem? I have been trying to grow my hair since I was 15, I am now 28 years old, my hair will not grow past the middle of my back, I take all B vits, zinc and iron, eat very healthy I like lots of fruit and veg and little meat, have none of the medical conditions discussed, get my hair trimmed minimally every 3 months, like 2cms and I NEVER use a hair dryer, irons or curlers, I let it dry naturally use only real moroccan oil and no other hair products, I never tie it up and I only brush it gently once every 3 days! (it doesn’t tangle and has natural wave so doesn’t need brushing) When I was 8 I had it to my bum in length and my parents made me have it cut VERY short , just touching shoulders I vowed from then on that I wanted it to my bum again, but it won’t grow! Yet because of the dye I use (have used same on for 15 years now, hair dressers one with just dye and water, no chemicals) I can see my roots growing LOADS. I really want my hair to grow!
Hi Nell. As you don’t process or heat style your hair it’s unlikely your hair is not reaching past a certain length due to breakage. It sounds like your hair growth cycle may be being disrupted – Your hair is growing, but it’s shedding before it reaches its maximum length. You say you eat ‘little meat’, which can be a problem as hair is composed primarily of protein. You needs adequate amounts of daily dietary protein in order to sustain hair growth – at least 120g of any first class protein with breakfast and lunch (i.e. chicken, fish, eggs or lean meats). Hair shedding prematurely can also be due to hormonal and metabolic factors, so we recommend you have blood tests done by your doctor. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
Hi this forum is very interesting. I have always had long, thick beautiful hair. In fact, if someone told me that by the time I was 25 my hair was going to have issues, I would have laughed at them. Well here I am at age 30 and my hair is so dry from the past 5 years. One day I ran my fingers thru my hair only to discover a huge chunk was super short. So I had a hair cut to blend things out. Then my hair over the past few years won’t seem to grow past my shoulders. I have only colored my hair 3 times in my life ( a darker brown than my original brown color) using Aveda’s coloring. I have NEVER used the perman. dye and only got it done without amonia so that it washes out within 12 weeks. I have seen a nutritionist, got a food allergy test, saw a iridoligist, all with no luck.
I wash my hair every other day, using John Masters Organics shampoo/conditioner. I use a leave in conditioner, I have tried Argan, Coconut, and Sesame Oils… no luck there.
My hair gets super tangled though after just a few hours which is so strange to me. It’s like the texture of my hair has changed.
I don’t use a blow dryer – haven’t in about 5 years. I curl my hair maybe twice a year at the most. I never straighten it. I don’t use hairspray or gels.
I eat an all organic diet, with grass fed local meat, free range eggs from my hens, leafy greens, protein shakes etc… I don’t like sugar and never eat processed foods.
I didn’t cut my hair for 1.5 years to see if that would help. Then in december of 2012 I got my first trim. The stylist told me to start getting trims every few months. I have had 1 in March and am due for another one in another month. I started growing my bangs out and they were slightly above my eyebrows in december and now (may) they are almost to the end of my nose. So I know my hair must be growing… My hair is always SUPER dry though at the ends…
I live here in the United States, can you offer any recommendations given all this information…
thanks so much.
I also read that maybe not getting enough fish oils in the diet can make hair dry.
Hi Monique. It seems like you take good care of your hair, so the fact it is not growing past your shoulders might be due to an underlying imbalance. These could include low ferritin (stored iron) levels, PCOS, stress, thyroid disorders and nutritional deficiencies – have you had recent blood work done? While your diet may be healthy, some people don’t absorb nutrients efficiently. However, the only way to determine this is to see a doctor. In terms of dry hair, another thing to consider is exposure to the sun, wind and/or sea and chlorinated water. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
Hi. I have been trying to grow out my hair for about 4-5 years now and it hasn’t gotten pass my collar bone. I have tried every kind of vitamin pill/hair, skin, and nail pill in the book and I only found more breakage. I even used that Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner…and no growth. I have very fine, wavy hair, wash my hair every other day (as it is summer time here), and I barely use the curling iron. I was just wondering if anything more can be done to help it grow? Like, any other tricks or tips that I can try.
Hi Jessica. If your hair is not growing past a certain length because it is breaking, use of a weekly pre-shampoo conditioning treatment will help. Another useful tip to follow is to always remove tangles gently, starting at the ends of your hair and working up to your roots. Also, try not to ‘over-dry’ your hair when you style it. However, hair not growing beyond a certain length can also be down to improper nutrition, metabolic factors, certain medications, anaemia and low ferritin (stored iron) levels. We suggest you make an appointment to see your doctor and/or trichologist to have blood tests done, and also to have your hair & scalp evaluated. In the meantime, please have a look at our website – there’s a lot of useful information regarding hair breakage and healthy hair growth. http://www.philipkingsley.co.uk. We hope this helps. The PK Team.
Hi wondered if you could help me. I am 58 years old. Over the last couple of years my hair has been thinning and now there is a section from the crown of my head that only ever grows down to just above the nape of my kneck. Underneath sections grow ok. I have the underneath section trimmed irregularly but the crown section never catches up and if anything is becoming thinner. Please can you help? Just dont know what to do for the best. Jusy hope its not my age. I get quite jealous when I see other ladies of a similar age who have wonderful thick hair. Would appreciate any help you can give.Many Thanks
Hi Chrissie. Thinning hair is most commonly androgenic – whereby your hairs are sensitive to the action of circulating androgens (male hormones). However, diet, lifestyle, age, certain medications, metabolic imbalances and general health can also be contributors. We suggest you make an appointment to see a trichologist to determine the cause and best possible treatment. Rest assured though, there are many successful treatment options available for women with hair thinning. The PK Team.
hey actually i am a medical student and have to study a lot and have no time to care for my hair i want very long hair in length but dont have time for oiling i have hairs till my shoulders but i want long hairs till my buts in 4 months as itz my uncles marrigewhat to do please suggest
Hi Minz. To help maintain long & healthy hair, and also to prevent breakage so that you can grow it, we suggest using a weekly pre-shampoo conditioning treatment. PK makes one called ‘Elasticizer’. As you are short on time, try leaving it on overnight and then washing it out in the morning. Other tips to help promote healthy hair growth are making sure you eat adequate protein, complex carbohydrates and iron. We hope this helps! The PK Team.
I get my hair relaxed every other monthand it seems not to grow I even take biotinand my hair seems to be still breaking offso what can I do my hair faster I am 58 years old thank you
Hi Jerry. We suggest you use a pre-shampoo intensive conditioning treatment twice a week to restore elasticity and strength and also to prevent further breakage. We make one called ‘Elasticizer Extreme’.