Why Won’t My Hair Grow?
Written by Samara on May 5, 2008I was once again searching through the key words and phrases looking for how black women are finding my site and one of the key phrases that struck my attention was “why won’t my hair grow?”. This really touched me to find that there are women out there that actually think their hair won’t grow, but they desire long hair.
The truth is your hair is growing. It’s growing every day and in fact it grows just as fast as Caucasian, Latina, and Asian women (1/2 inch a month). The only problem is either you’ve stunted your hair growth by using hair grease and other products on your scalp or you aren’t preventing your hair from breaking. Please remember that clipping your ends every 6-8 weeks is not going to make your hair grow faster or prevent and stop breakage.
Conditioning your hair with a good protein, oil, and scalp stimulant conditioner every 3 days to a week is key. Also remember to moisturize your hair with a water based moisturizer free from mineral oil and petroleum and also protein. Do not apply anything to your scalp, and avoid using a blow dryer which will do nothing, but cause severe damage to your hair.
Good luck on growing your hair long and always remember:
Your hair does grow! It’s what your are doing or not doing to it that’s preventing it from gaining length.
30 Responses to “Why Won’t My Hair Grow?”
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Tina said:
1[ Reply to this comment ]what conditioner would you recommend that contains protein, oil and scalp stimulant?
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Samara said:
2[ Reply to this comment ]what conditioner would you recommend that contains protein, oil and scalp stimulant?
Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise and add a few drops of peppermint or tea-tree oil to the conditioner before applying it to your hair. All product recommendations are located on the Product Guide page.
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Tobi said:
3[ Reply to this comment ]Hi, 1st I just want to say how much I appreciate you coming out with a site like this!
My question is regarding hair and exercise: For those who are very active, I mean the real exercise 3X-5X/ week, 1-2 hour sessions, and sweat so hard that your entire hair is drenched with sweat, what would you recommend to do?
-I heard that the sodium in sweat can slow down the hair growth and clog the pores, so someone told me to lightly spray water on the scalp after exercising…The problem is: I don’t want to be washing my hair every 2 days and have dry, thinning hair-I prefer to wash once/week, and I don’t want to be having my hair so wet with sweat or water (water from spraying the scalp) that I have to use my flat iron everyday, so what do you recommend for getting out all that sweat out, and to avoid flat ironing? -
Samara said:
4[ Reply to this comment ]Hi, 1st I just want to say how much I appreciate you coming out with a site like this!
My question is regarding hair and exercise: For those who are very active, I mean the real exercise 3X-5X/ week, 1-2 hour sessions, and sweat so hard that your entire hair is drenched with sweat, what would you recommend to do?
-I heard that the sodium in sweat can slow down the hair growth and clog the pores, so someone told me to lightly spray water on the scalp after exercising…The problem is: I don’t want to be washing my hair every 2 days and have dry, thinning hair-I prefer to wash once/week, and I don’t want to be having my hair so wet with sweat or water (water from spraying the scalp) that I have to use my flat iron everyday, so what do you recommend for getting out all that sweat out, and to avoid flat ironing?Washing your hair more often will not dry it out. Water is moisture so it can’t dry your hair out, but harsh shampoos can. Use a gentle shampoo in the hair when you wash and deep condition every time to strengthen your hair. If flat ironing is not an option try setting your hair instead or cornrows.
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Tobi said:
5[ Reply to this comment ]Thanks for the response. So, if I’m doing heavy exercising Mon-Fri, 5 days in a row, how often should I wash my hair, or what do I do to keep my scalp clean after exercising or is the sweat not an issue? How do I keep the sweat from unstraightening my hair?…What I really want to know is WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR HAIR BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER YOU EXERCISE?
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Tobi said:
6[ Reply to this comment ]Oh, I forget to ask: if you do wash your hair as you should and your scalp is ever dry/flaky, what do you recommend to do for that, since you can’t put anything on the scalp?
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Samara said:
7[ Reply to this comment ]Thanks for the response. So, if I’m doing heavy exercising Mon-Fri, 5 days in a row, how often should I wash my hair, or what do I do to keep my scalp clean after exercising or is the sweat not an issue? How do I keep the sweat from unstraightening my hair?…What I really want to know is WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR HAIR BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER YOU EXERCISE?
The sweat is going to unstraighten your hair regardless. That’s what moisture does when it gets on the hair. There’s really nothing you can do about it. Just remember to wash, deep condition and moisturize it.
Oh, I forget to ask: if you do wash your hair as you should and your scalp is ever dry/flaky, what do you recommend to do for that, since you can’t put anything on the scalp?
If your scalp is dry then it may be the shampoo you are using. Is the 1st ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or water? The first ingredient should be water and you should try a milder shampoo that contains sodium laureth sulfate, not “lauryl” such as the moisturizing shampoo by Dudleys because it is milder.
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Sweated out & Frustrated said:
8[ Reply to this comment ]Amen! Can I say how thrilled I am to find my exact problem being answered!? Thanks Tobi for asking and Samara for sharing her knowledge!!
I run 4x/week and each time sweat soaks my permed & flat ironed hair. I wake up most days with my hair flaying out with the classic air-dried ‘fro. Because of my job, I cant cornrow my hair and I can’t have crazy hair! Do I have no options besides daily wash and blow dry + flat iron!? Or quit the gym, have fantastic hair and get heart disease!?
-Sweated out and Frustrated!
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ellie said:
10[ Reply to this comment ]my hair is in braids so i am using ors olive oil sheen.It contains petrolatum and mineral oil which clogs up the scalp.but it also has olive oil so should i continue using it.
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Samara said:
11[ Reply to this comment ]my hair is in braids so i am using ors olive oil sheen.It contains petrolatum and mineral oil which clogs up the scalp.but it also has olive oil so should i continue using it.
No. Why use a product that clogs your pores and causes stunted hair growth? Find a braid refresher without this cheap oil. You need to also find one that contains little oil because oily hair sprays causes buildup in braids which leads to difficulty upon removal of the braids. It’s best to use moose once a week after you shampoo your hair and a oil free or low oil braid spray.
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charllisa said:
12[ Reply to this comment ]I been wondering why my hair wont grow at all, it grew a little then broke off again and now my hair low like a boy and i want my hair to grow back and i have tried everything as possible and it still haven’t grown back and i dont know what to do.I dont even feel like myself no more because all i cant even wear my own hair out no more i have to wear wigs and other false hairs and its killing me that it wont grow.And i am very devistated about my hair wont grow i am even embarassed about my hair and even at that i am even embarassed to go to the salon an see what they can do to my hair.So can you please help me grow my hair back out where i will feel much confident in myself.thx
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Samara said:
13[ Reply to this comment ]Hello charllisa,
To help you figure out what is causing your hair to break off and not grow, I need to know what you are doing to your hair exactly. What products you are using, and how you style and manage your hair on a daily basis. Thanks.
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Shawnize Brownlee said:
14[ Reply to this comment ]I am trying so hard to make my hair grow. Right now, it is barely on my neck when it is combed back. It is so short, I cannot wear it in a ponytail. The very middle of my hair is extremely damaged to where it is so short it cannot be braided, etc. Also the back of my hair is almost bald in some spots, and has been this way for almost a year. I have bought hair vitamins online that are rich in Biotin and MSM and have been taking them for about 3 months now and still I have noticed no difference. I stopped perming my hair about 6 months ago, using Optimum haircare products but it still will not grow. I do not know what else to do. I usually wear sewn in hair extensions or single braids that can be worn back in a pony tail that covers the middle and hides the back. Please help. What can I do to stimulate hairgrowth?
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Lisa Turner said:
15[ Reply to this comment ]Try using Nioxin and keep taking your vitamins. Stop putting stress on your hair with the sew-ins. Wear half wigs or wigs. Try it
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Angela Tate-Ware said:
16[ Reply to this comment ]Hello Samara,
I have been wearing sew-ins for about 10 years now. Im in my late 20′s and have bald spots. I have traction alopecia. I stop with the sew-ins and started wearing wigs and half wigs without the comb. I completely shaved my hair off and Im starting over with no perm. I notice my hair is not growing! I refuse to go to the hair salon because I dont want to be seen like this. I refuse to look in the mirror. I put Vitamin E oil on my hair and nothing but a Scalp Treatment on my hair twice a day for about 3months. I went to the doctorf and no health issues were found. I take Biotin and Multi Vitamins everyday and have a good diet. What should I do Im so depressed?
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Samara said:
17[ Reply to this comment ]Biotin and MSM and known to grow the hair faster. I don’t know if they will work for a damaged scalp. The bald spots are due to scalp damage from the pulling and tension of the items you are using in your hair. Optimum haircare products aren’t the best products out there, they are laced with horrible ingredients.
I would not put any more extensions or braids in my hair if I were you. Your hair and scalp is in need of a serious break. Deep condition your hair weekly and co-wash the hair every 3 days. Try wearing rollersets instead. They are less damaging and can help hide the bald spots. Wigs are good, but they can make it worse because the wig combs and elastic can cause baldness in the areas they are putting pressure on.
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Samara said:
18[ Reply to this comment ]It will take some time for your scalp to heal. You must give it a chance to repair itself. What you can do is massage your scalp daily for about 10 minutes to help wake up the hair follicles. Also use Jojoba oil instead of Vitamin E on your scalp if needed and Use shea butter on the hair. Oil is not a moisturizer. It only helps to seal in moisture, but it will not moisturize your hair. Co-wash every 3 days and deep condition often.
It will take a while for your scalp to heal. It took an entire year for my edges to grow in after I wore micro’s which ripped my hair out.
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Shawnize Brownlee said:
19[ Reply to this comment ]Thank you so much. What is a good product that can be used for an at home deep conditioner and to wash the hair?
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Samara said:
20[ Reply to this comment ]The Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner (Can be purchased at Walmart or Wholefoods), is a good co-wash and deep conditioner. Another deep conditioner that is excellent is the Curls Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner (can be used as a co-wash as well.) and the Karens Body Beautiful Hair Mask. I also really like the Botanical Spirits Sugarcane Clarifying Shampoo, but I don’t recommend shampooing the hair more than once or twice per month. With that said, this shampoo will not leave your hair feeling dry, hard, or stripped of moisture and it’s sulfate free.
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samira abdi said:
21[ Reply to this comment ]omg! this page is perfect! but i don’t know how to describe my hair to you…i’m Somali (hope it helps to show my hair type) but my hair is really curly when washed…really thin for some reason, when straightened goes silky smoooth and when blowdried into a soft afro! Problem now is..i wish my hair could stay like that i’m only 17, and my hair has never grown..well it has but i don’t think it has past my shoulders ever! Like 10 months ago i used sewn in weave for my whole hair for my prom night..kept it on for a good month i don’t know if thats really long or not :S but when i took it off…WOW! my hair fell off..went extra thin…nobody i know have hair problems i realized now, no family no friends so i didn’t take no notice and glued in extentions to thicken my hair..then the constant straighting to match my extentions to my straight hair
then split ends..baring in mind i got short and layered hair..half up to my ears half above my shoulders. Now, i don’t know what to do, i tried to cut my split ends in my fringe and my fringe..well i don’t have one! im so tempted to keep putting extentions on, but i really hate them. Especially when i know my hair can look amazing, i havent ever tried asking for help cuz im kinda embarressed to show any1 my real hair :’( please help me..what should i do? what do i use??????Samira
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Samara said:
22[ Reply to this comment ]omg! this page is perfect! but i don’t know how to describe my hair to you…i’m Somali (hope it helps to show my hair type) but my hair is really curly when washed…really thin for some reason, when straightened goes silky smoooth and when blowdried into a soft afro! Problem now is..i wish my hair could stay like that i’m only 17, and my hair has never grown..well it has but i don’t think it has past my shoulders ever! Like 10 months ago i used sewn in weave for my whole hair for my prom night..kept it on for a good month i don’t know if thats really long or not :S but when i took it off…WOW! my hair fell off..went extra thin…nobody i know have hair problems i realized now, no family no friends so i didn’t take no notice and glued in extentions to thicken my hair..then the constant straighting to match my extentions to my straight hair
then split ends..baring in mind i got short and layered hair..half up to my ears half above my shoulders. Now, i don’t know what to do, i tried to cut my split ends in my fringe and my fringe..well i don’t have one! im so tempted to keep putting extentions on, but i really hate them. Especially when i know my hair can look amazing, i havent ever tried asking for help cuz im kinda embarressed to show any1 my real hair :’( please help me..what should i do? what do i use??????Samira
There’s no magical product that will make your hair grow or become healthy. You will have to experiment until you find something that works for your hair because everyone’s hair is unique. I finally found what works for my hair and I’ve been natural for 1 year and 7 months now.
What I can suggest is some products to start off with and what to stop doing. For one, the weaves need to stop, as well as the use of heated appliances. These practices do nothing, but damage, and dry out the hair. This is why it seems like your hair isn’t growing.
Try using natural products only and expose your hair to water as much as possible. Wear protective styles as well. Shampoo your hair with sulfate free shampoo. Kinky-Curly and the Curls line is a good place to start your journey to find the perfect regimen.
Also subscribe to this site and read the articles already on this site to help assist you in your healthy hair journey.
Goodluck!
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Ashley said:
23[ Reply to this comment ]my hair wont grow back. for the past few weeks ive been to a stylist but eventually i’ll sweat it out because im very active. I work and workout everyday. i shampoo my hair twice a week and i condition every other day because i sweat so much. the products i use is tresemme and tresemme naturals. Am i using the right products for the amount of stress i put on my hair? what do you recommend? leave-in conditioner? oil? etc. and i recently got it cut because i had very bad split ends. i want to prevent breakage and split. i need help!!
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Nay said:
24[ Reply to this comment ]Hello Samara:
This page is great, I have a question. During the year I flat iron my hair. I used to get it pressed as a child with cornrows in the summer, and at this point my hair is pretty trained to stay some-what straight. The issue is its gotten thinner over the years, it grows slower and I have some recent breakage in the middle of my head. As a result for the summer Ive gone natural. I co-wash with Pantene Condition about every two days and wash once a week with with Pantene or Carol’s Daughter Shampoo. I use Ganier Frutis (spelled wrong i’m sure) leave in condition daily along with a water based condition and pull my hair up into a loose pony-tail. The issue is my hair does grow, but isnt growing where the breakage is and its also still somewhat thin. Can you please reccommend products that can help with both these things or other things I should try that would be a healthier move for my hair.
THANKS!
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Aluhni said:
25[ Reply to this comment ]is do grow hair oil the green kind any good ?
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jen said:
26[ Reply to this comment ]I cut my hair two years ago it was up to my belly button but I cut it off to about 2 inches under my shoulder, it hasn’t grown back since. I clip my ends when they turn dry, but it still doesn’t grow back. What can I do?
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Samara said:
27[ Reply to this comment ]I’m not sure. What are the ingredients? If it contains any mineral oil or pertroleum I would not use it
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Samara said:
28[ Reply to this comment ]I’m not sure what you are doing wrong. Perhaps your hair is breaking off since your ends keep getting dry. You must condition your hair weekly and moisturize it daily. Also utilize your protective styles.
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Samara said:
29[ Reply to this comment ]Hair cannot be trained. If your natural hair does not shrink and curl up when it’s wet, it is suffering from heat damage. You need to stop using heat in your hair as much. Also Pantene isn’t a very good conditioner. Carols Daughter isn’t a good brand either. I do however, love Garnier Fructis conditioners and I use it to detangle my hair when I shampoo is weekly. My suggestion is to use a sulfate free shampoo in your hair. Deep condition weekly with a more natural conditioner that does not contain cones such as the Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner. You can also visit karensbodybeautiful.com, she has a lot of good deep conditioners to choose from as well. Utilize your protective styles too. Your hair will bounce back once you’ve made these minor changes.
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Samara said:
30[ Reply to this comment ]I would suggest that you change your product selection and wear protective styles. My suggestion is cornrows, plaits, or twists. Twists can be style in a multitude of ways and won’t sweat out so quickly. This style should last about a week. My recommendation is to use a sulfate free shampoo (visit wholefoods i.e. Kinky-Curly, Giovanni). Also curls.biz has a great sulfate free shampoo. Cleanse your hair weekly and condition it weekly with something like Giovanni SMooth as silk deeper moisture conditioner, or try one of Karensbodybeautiful.com deep conditoners. Moisturize your hair daily with a water based moisturizer. You can make your own by mixing a natural leave-in conditioner with aloe vera juice and some water.
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