Why won't my hair grow past a certain length?

When you’ve been trying to grow out your hair for what feels like forever, it can seem hopeless. There’s nothing more annoying than feeling like your hair is dealing with a serious case of “Groundhog Day” syndrome. However, even if your hair is stuck at square one, you don’t have to be. There are tons of ways you can combat stunted hair growth without spending a ton of money or trying a lot of crazy treatments. From basic breakage to split end drama, here are a few common culprits and what to do about them.

Strengthen Against Breakage

If you can’t get your hair to grow past a certain point, one of the most likely causes is hair breakage due to brittleness. Just like the rest of our bodies, our hair can’t survive on water and air alone. Hair needs a certain amount of nutrients not just to stay looking shiny and healthy, but to actually grow. You may be experiencing breakage without even knowing it, which can contribute to the seeming mystery of why your hair just refuses to grow. Luckily, you can easily get your hands on some strengthening agents that can work as an emergency vitamin booster for your hair, nipping that pesky breakage problem in the bud.

Balance Out Your Diet

It might not seem like it, but what you eat definitely has an effect on your hair, albeit a subtle one. It’s not a simple matter of eating more kale and expecting your hair to magically grow three inches, but adding a few more vitamins into your diet, either via supplement or by ingesting vitamin- and iron-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, will eventually give you a much more promising return on hair growth. If you’re already pretty good about eating salads, think about adding a sprinkling of Omega-3 rich walnuts, flaxseeds, and avocado slices on there for a faster route to healthy hair. 

Fight Those Split Ends 

Just like breakage, split ends are a pain that develops from a combination of poor hair care (i.e. brushing with the wrong tool, applying too much heat to wet hair, etc.) and over-treating with chemicals like bleach. It might take a minute to undo this kind of damage, but if you have the right tools in your arsenal, such as a great reparative hair mask, a strong comb, and a tall glass of water (no, really…hydration helps) you’ll be on your way to a stronger head of healthy, beautiful hair.