Genetics plays less of a role in hair length than haircare does. Very few people know their terminal length. Based on what I have heard people say about genetics Black folks should have the terminal length of shoulder length. And furthermore, let us believe that everyone else can have hair to the knees but Black folks.
I think genetics does play a role in hair structure, texture and POSSIBLY length. As I have no evidence that genetics is a factor I am not fully supporting the theory, but it is possible. But I do know that if you are genetically predisposed to have low iron, lack other essential minerals and illnesses this will play a role in how healthy your hair is. Which will lead to breakage. So therefore you will need to give your hair what your body lacks the ability to do.
I think with certain foods, vitamins and haircare many of us can grow to very long lengths in short periods of time even if your hair stops growing after 3 years. And I base this on what I have seen on fotki, LHCF and personal experience. I think it's possible to get around genetics if they are a factor in hair length.
As we do see folks in LHCF chugging Biotin like it's the last supper and getting more growth per month than they normally would.
You took the words out of my mouth!!!
Don't want to add to any argument, but I do want to say that (and I hope I am not being too repetitive) because most women with ethnic hair are just starting to learn what their hair can do, most of us have no clue what our "genetics" actually will allow for in terms of hair length. I am a living example of this because my DD doesn't have hair that is much easier to manage than most of my family members...but I
treated her hair differently than I did my own...and I did it entirely by accident. I kept it moisturized, I used heat maybe 3-5 times in her entire life up until she was around 9 years old, and I always tucked her single (natural) braids up so that her ends were neat. I tucked with rubber bands. I didn't realize I was protective styling.
Until we moved to Britain with DH and the military, I had no problems with her hair...only mine.
Her hair was waist length with no particular special treatment outside of moisture and protecting the ends. I've now cut it to MBL because the hard water made it difficult for me to know how to take care of her hair and the ends split badly...but after a 3-4 inch cut in April, it's already growing back healthily again. I can see her at WL again by year's end...
I am now taking care of my own hair like I did hers, and I am seeing growth and health that I didn't know was possible with my own hair.
My vote: let's learn about taking care of our hair first, let's see how long we can grow, and maybe in a few years time, we can talk (based on actual evidence) about genetics.
My personal inspirations: Sylver2, Mwedzi, Q, Kinkerbelle, Samantha Jones (Lucky's Mom), JustKiya, and ME (not long yet, but I'm on my way!
) There are MANY others, but I don't know everyone here. Please forgive me for leaving out so many beautiful heads of hair on this board....
Sorry this is so long, but I just don't think anyone can say we should just accept that our hair might not grow to a certain length. Let's take care of our hair and see what happens and then have this debate based on tried and tested information.
Love,
cj