If you’ve got curly, kinky afro hair, it can feel as though your hair is not growing. Kinky hair doesn’t show it’s length unless it’s stretched or straightened. That’s why you’ll see social media posts with naturalistas pulling hair to show our true length. No, we’re not crazy, our hair is just super elastic.
You may already be taking good care of your hair by deep conditioning, moisturising and handling gently. However, despite this you may still be wondering why doesn’t my hair grow?
To help answer your hair growth questions, this guide will cover everything you need to know about growing black hair, including what prevents growth as well as what treatments and remedies you need to promote hair growth.
Why Has My Hair Suddenly Stopped Growing?
There are so many reasons why hair growth may be stunted. However, more than likely will be caused by a disruption to the natural hair cycle, which has four phases:
- Anagen - the growth phase
- Catagen - the transition phase
- Telogen - the resting phase
- Exogen - the hair shedding phase
To help you understand the cause of the disruption, here are some of the common causes of stunted hair growth:
Age
Most women are too worried about their aging face, as they get older, and therefore don’t focus too much on their hair. However, just like men, women can experience stunted growth and hair loss as they age, due to weakened hair follicles.
This can, of course, be prevented by taking proper care of your hair and making sure it maintains the right level of moisture and has an excellent barrier against damage.
Stress
If you have going through a stressful time, this could prevent your hair from growing at its usual rate, as stress can trigger a disruption to the hair growth cycle. This is typically caused by a condition known as Telogen Effluvium which forces your hair to remain in the telegon (resting) phase for a prolonged period. This restricts around 30% of hair growth and can also lead to hair loss.
We understand it can be hard to combat stress, however if you are experiencing hair growth issues as a result of stress, you should try to take time to focus on yourself. This could involve a self care day or even ten minutes of morning meditation.
Split Ends
One of the main causes of lack of growth are split ends, or if we’re being technical, trichoptilosis, which occurs when the hair is dry and weak, causing the fibres to break down. This can be caused by a wide range of things including stress, colouring, cold dry weather, heat styling and more. If split ends are left, they can cause the hair to stop growing, as the breakage will travel further up the hair shaft, making it more difficult to obtain length.
To prevent split ends, you may want to stay clear of heat styling and colouring, and protect your hair when you are out in the cold. You should also try and get a micro cut to remove any split ends, however, make sure you go to a hairdresser who understands curly or coily hair.
Improper Haircare
If you do not invest time and care in your hair, then this will result in a lack of length. For instance, if you straighten or colour your hair a lot, this will cause significant damage, especially if you do not have a regular hair care routine that will strengthen and moisturise your hair.
To promote growth, you should work on a hair care routine that works for you. For example, you should invest in a good-quality shampoo which contains no sulfates or parabens. You should also try to treat your hair with natural products, such as our Babassu Oil Treatment Hair Masque which can be kept on your hair overnight to revive, nourish and strengthen your hair to achieve growth.
Alopecia
One of the more serious causes of hair growth problems is alopecia areota, which is a medical condition that can cause severe hair loss, with some people experiencing patchiness or complete baldness, as well as tingling or pain.
There are some medical treatments that are used to treat alopecia, however, at Equi Botanics, we believe natural is always the best way. That’s why we suggest that you use products that contain natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial ingredients such as marula oil.
What Can Stimulate Hair Growth?
If you are dealing with any of the above issues, there are some ways that you can stimulate hair growth, such as:
Blood Circulation and Exercise
One of the key ways to hair growth is by making sure the scalp is stimulated by blood flow. A hair coach recommended massaging my scalp with follicle stimulating oils every other day for a few weeks at a time. I found this encouraged my edges to grow back within three months. Exercising such as cardio, dance and yoga also drives blood flow through our body, sending some to the scalp.
The Right Food
Green, green, green. The more variety of colours you have in your diet, the better your hair length will be. I would encourage nuts, lean meats, vegetables and fruit for essential nutrients that could help grow your hair. I try to avoid nutrient empty foods, such as sweets so I’m not wasting my calories. Instead, fill up on kale, spinach, broccoli, eggs and fish.
Hair Breakage
In the majority of my hair consultations, I’ve found that the real issue was not hair growth. It’s mostly that the ends are breaking off and so the hair is not retaining its length. Our ends are the oldest part of our hair so they need more oils to lubricate them so they don’t break. This also prevents split ends and single knot strands. To keep things simple, I use our Black Seed Hair Oil Elixir for my scalp as well as my ends. It also works for beards as my husband borrows the oil for his beard and has found he’s retained his growth.
Vitamins
As we get older, our bodies need the support of extra multivitamins in addition to a good diet. Hair is technically dead cells and is the last thing our body sends nourishment to. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), biotin, herbs such as fenugreek and amino acids are extremely helpful in stimulating hair growth, repairing the protein bonds of the hair and strengthening the hair shaft.
Hair Growth FAQs
Are There Any Medical Reasons Why My Hair Won't Grow?
There are various medical conditions that may affect hair growth, such as alopecia, thyroid conditions, anemia, polycystic ovary disorder and more. If you notice that you are experiencing hair growth issues, as well as other notable symptoms then you should book an appointment with your doctor immediately.
At What Age Does Hair Stop Growing?
There is no specific age that hair stops growing, as everybody is different. There are some men and women who experience hair growth issues in their 20s, while others continue to achieve excellent length well into their 80s. However, in general, hair growth does slow down and for both men and women this usually starts in their 50s or 60s.
What Is It Called When Your Hair Stops Growing?
There is no specific term related to hair growth problems, unless you are diagnosed with a medical condition that affects the scalp and hair, such as alopecia.
Does brushing your hair at night help it grow?
Many people believe that brushing your hair at night helps to distribute the oils and massages the scalp to stimulate growth. However, if you are using a brush or a comb that is harsh on the hair follicles this can actually cause stunted growth, and will of course pull out any beautiful curls or coils.
Does drinking water make your hair grow?
Drinking water can actually help make your hair much healthier, as it provides your body and your hair with the nutrients and hydration they need. By strengthening and moisturing the hair follicles, this will help you maximize length and the overall condition of your hair.
How Equi Products Can Stimulate Hair Growth
If you are struggling to achieve the length you want, we recommend that you try our Hair Care Growth package, which includes our all-natural Marula Oil Leave-in Conditioner, the Babussa Oil Treatment Masque and the Black Seed Oil Elixir. These all work together to moisturise, nourish and strengthen the hair in order to create the long locks you’ve been dreaming of.
To find out more about how our products can help you achieve better growth, get in touch today!
