Thursday, May 15, 2014

Has Your Hair Stopped Growing? Know Why

There are many women out there who feel that their hair has absolutely stopped growing, the evidence of which lies in the fact that their hair maintains the same length year after year. It is not that the hair has stopped growing but the fact that women are unable to retain its growth that causes the problem.

On an average, hair grows at the rate of half an inch a month for most people. Growth and retention are two completely different things but closely linked with hair length. If the hair is breaking at the same rate as your hair growth, it is but natural that you are stuck with the same hair length. The main culprit is hair fall and breakage and there are some reasons why this may be happening to you.

Reasons for bad hair retention

Frequent trims – Obsessively trimming your hair in order to get rid of split ends can be one of the primary reasons for why your hair has stopped growing. A trim takes away at least half an inch off your hair, which is also the length it grows each month.

Over use of chemicals – Excessive use of chemical based products and chemical treatments can make the hair very weak, leading to breakage at the ends. So even when your hair is growing, you may not be able to retain it.

Lack of protein – Hair is primarily made up of protein. Sometimes due to overexposure to heat, chemicals and pollution, the protein structure may be out of balance and it in turn leads to breakage.

Lack of moisture – Moisture is a critical part of African American hair care. Afro-American hair is inherently dry and needs extra moisturizing to remain strong. Dry and brittle hair tends to break a lot more than properly moisturized hair, and can cost you your length.

Over use of styling aids – Most styling aids use direct heat to alter the structure of the hair strand in order to make it look different. Although it is okay to indulge in such styling sometimes, over exposure of hair to direct heat robs it off essential moisture and nutrients, leading to breakage.

Split ends – Just like trimming too often, not trimming enough can also be damaging to the hair. Trimming is required to get rid of split ends, retaining which can lead to breakage and even reducing the pace of hair growth.

If your hair refuses to grow even after taking these things into consideration, it may be a good idea to visit a specialist to understand the root cause of your problem. Do not ignore hair breakage for too long. 

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