Naturals...Why is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 16, 2008

I am really, really, really getting pissed off now. I take care of my edges. I don't mess with my hair that often. I wear it up most of the times when i'm out, otherwise my hair stays open and free. I wear a scarf at night. But I have been looking through Fotki's and monitoring other people's progress...and when they do 7, 8, 9 month comparison shots...we see a difference. I checked my fotki (link below) and you will see there is almost NO difference from May of last year until July of this year. I look at my pictures to see how "far" I've come...and I haven't come far at all. I have to say the weirdest outcome that I ever expected....I retained more length as a relaxed girl than natural. And I'm not going to lie...length was my ultimate goal, because I haven't had shoulder length hair or beyond since I was 13.

I don't know what the heck is going on, but as a relaxed girl, with my weekly or bi-weekly rollersets, I could see a difference in length all the time. As a natural girl, I observe my natural hair length with shrinkage, and without. I stretch it to see the length, and there has been almost no change at all in the last 6 months.

WTF is going on here? Please calm me down y'all....

plastic · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

are you sure the measurements have not changed ? Your hair is tightly coiled so it may not look as if it was growing !!!

ot: because of your videos ... im buying the billyb brush set .. ALL OF THEM. Well imma get them when customer service gets back to me

Tenny · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

IIRC, didn't you cut out the colour you had?

ImFree27 · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

you should rollerset your natural hair that way you will be moisturizing your ends and you will have less tangles, thats what i been doing this month. i used to rollerset my hair when i was relaxed and it grew nicely, so i strated doing this for my natural hair

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

You know how you kind of pull the hair to see where it ends up?? Well my hair is still inches from my shoulders, MAJOR inches...my temples are still short, my nape is getting almost no growth. FRUSTRATING!!

And OMG, you are going to freakin' love the Billy B. brushes to death!! I have started to phase out my MAC brushes slowly but surely b/c Billy's paint brushes are taking over!!!!

plastic said:
are you sure the measurements have not changed ? Your hair is tightly coiled so it may not look as if it was growing !!!

ot: because of your videos ... im buying the billyb brush set .. ALL OF THEM. Well imma get them when customer service gets back to me

plastic · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

you know ? ... what sort of bands are you using when you do your puff ? maybe they are putting stress on the hairline ?

also how often do you rinse/cowash/wash with shampoo and brush ?

eta: you make billyb brushes look good .. you are a wonderful advertiser lol

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

We dyed over top of the light color, and she trimmed my hair just enough to make it even all the way around. My puff is STILL the length as is was in this pic in Nov/Dec!!! That would mean that it did grow a smidge since the trim, but only a tad!

Tenny said:
IIRC, didn't you cut out the colour you had?

Nonie · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Aww...there, there! What's your regimen? When I wore my hair out (high school days) I had a TWA about 3-4 inches long that would never grow. The only way I've been able to grow my hair is in braids...or when I had a jheri curl. Seems for me, little manipulation is key to retaining length. I'm sure your hair's growing, but perhaps retention is the problem? Could you rock cornrows or braids comfortably for a spell?

sunshinebeautiful · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I don't know what to advise, but I hope you get the problem figured out. Do you wear protective styles at all? I was having the same problem as a natural, then I relaxed and started retaining length again, ironically.

delitefulmane · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Im sorry I don't have any encouraging words but I feel like this too sometimes? I just wonder is some people's hair just naturally long? I get mad that I have to do backflips just to gain an inch that one careless mistake can take away. It'll grow!! And we'll both be swinging our long locks at in the face of all the optimists!! :bighug:

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Plastic-I am sure that the band is breaking off the back of my hair, I keep trying to move it around but it's not okay. I am dependent on it, but I may just throw them all out. I know that I've got to leave them alone!!! Tonight, I was working on twists so I could rock a twist out tomorrow without the band. But, the front of my hair isn't broken off like the back is, so I have no clue what's going on. I co-wash every other day or so, using Redken Extreme and Butter Treat products. I also rotate Oyin and a few other natural products as well.

LOL @ Billy B...I speak only my truthful opinion!!! You'll love them though!!

plastic said:
you know ? ... what sort of bands are you using when you do your puff ? maybe they are putting stress on the hairline ?

also how often do you rinse/cowash/wash with shampoo and brush ?

eta: you make billyb brushes look good .. you are a wonderful advertiser lol

genesis132 · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Dang, I feel like I don't qualify to come in this thread since I recently tex'd :ohwell:

....OH WELL.. I think it's normal for everyone to feel like their hair is not growing but everybody else's is! Hair constantly grows from the scalp whether slow or fast, but it does grow. So I guess my question is, what are you doing to hinder or retain your length? That's what I'm focusing on now, retaining my length as textrzd. My whole problem with retaining length as a natural is that I got impatient detangling and would "man handle" my hair and those knots didn't help me retain my length either when I was natchel....

ImFree27 · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

LilChocolateMa said:
Plastic-I am sure that the band is breaking off the back of my hair, I keep trying to move it around but it's not okay. I am dependent on it, but I may just throw them all out. I know that I've got to leave them alone!!! Tonight, I was working on twists so I could rock a twist out tomorrow without the band. But, the front of my hair isn't broken off like the back is, so I have no clue what's going on. I co-wash every other day or so, using Redken Extreme and Butter Treat products. I also rotate Oyin and a few other natural products as well.

LOL @ Billy B...I speak only my truthful opinion!!! You'll love them though!!

i was geting breakage from using the bands too and also when I would tie scarfs in the front of my head so i stopped doing the scarfs and I dont do the bands, I use a knee high stocking to do my puffs I like it better, because you can control how tight or loose you want it and i dont get anymore breakage.... you should try the knee hights

ravenmerlita · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Are you sure that it's not the color breaking off your hair? I know color killed my hair like nothing ever did before. I eventually had to cut off all the color parts. In looking at the pictures and where the color line is, it definitely seems like your hair has grown from November to February.

I can especially see the difference in these two pictures:
http://public.fotki.com/Scandalous10010/4a4bnatural!-/feb-2008-may-2008/dscn1325.html

http://public.fotki.com/Scandalous10010/4a4bnatural!-/november-2007-new-y/dscn0828.html

I know the style is different but I think that your hair is growing pretty well, but that you may not be retaining as much length as you want.

glamazon386 · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I felt the same way. My hair is about the same length it was last year. But I have to stay away from the scissors. Could your color have contributed to it? Are you manipulating your hair too much?

hopeful · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Can you achieve the same pulled back style with a scarf instead? I have never gotten any breakage from a silky scarf. Also do you ever just leave your twists in for days at a time, I have found that to be one of the best ways to get a lot of growth, especially if I keep them moisturized.

HighlyFavored1 · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I know I am not natural, but I have a few thoughts...

Sometimes it is really hard to see growth (especially in just 6 months) if you are just pulling a piece of hair and going by your last memory of your hair length. Are you taking length pics with a ruler? That might help you see growth that you did not know was there.

Also, I remember you liking Boundless Tresses-- is there a way that you can re-incorporate it into your regimen to speed up your growth results?

Good luck!

ebzonix · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Girl, I'm at 6 months too and to be honest i havent noticed any growth. But I havent been exercising, or taking my vitamins faithfully. All these things come into play, and it takes time. Just calm down and think about all the different factors it could be.

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 16, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Ravenmerlita,
The first picture is a stretched out, damp twist out. The other is the unstretched fro. I did my twists tonight and they still look consistently the same length.

Highlyfavored1-Nope, I don't use a ruler. I guess I should be that technical, but I want to see my results to believe it. Like, when I look at pictures of my hair a year ago, I don't want my hair to look the same now, Ya know?? I mean, I'm sure the ruler would prove some technical results, but I bet lots of other naturals do what I do every so often and pull their hair to see the length. And I know that the hair that I pulled in the back and sides are still pretty far from my shoulders! lol

Hopeful-Actually, I secretly hate twists. I think they look awful on me. :imo:

Absolutely awful. I'll wear them over night and then unravel them to do a twist out.

Glamazon-It could be the color, but even back when I was colorless, my hair was almost the length that it is now. Check out this picture in July of 2007...almost the same length as it is now!!! This pic REALLY irks me...my hair is unstretched here!!!

I don't know y'all...I'm about to make a YouTube video..just to vent. They will probably chew me up, but that's a rick I must take. I don't know..I'm trying to listen to everyone's input, and I really truly appreciate it..but if my hair was getting any significant growth, I believe I would see it!

ravenmerlita said:
Are you sure that it's not the color breaking off your hair? I know color killed my hair like nothing ever did before. I eventually had to cut off all the color parts. In looking at the pictures and where the color line is, it definitely seems like your hair has grown from November to February.

I can especially see the difference in these two pictures:
http://public.fotki.com/Scandalous10010/4a4bnatural!-/feb-2008-may-2008/dscn1325.html

http://public.fotki.com/Scandalous10010/4a4bnatural!-/november-2007-new-y/dscn0828.html

I know the style is different but I think that your hair is growing pretty well, but that you may not be retaining as much length as you want.

anon123 · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Nonie said:
Aww...there, there! What's your regimen? When I wore my hair out (high school days) I had a TWA about 3-4 inches long that would never grow. The only way I've been able to grow my hair is in braids...or when I had a jheri curl. Seems for me, little manipulation is key to retaining length. I'm sure your hair's growing, but perhaps retention is the problem? Could you rock cornrows or braids comfortably for a spell?

I was going to say something like this, but since I prefer twists myself that's what I was going to suggest.

cutiebe2 · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

try crown and glory for a while. And during that time use BT or something like that daily. It will give you hair a big break

how is your diet??? I have not gotten great growth since I stopped with my vits. I plan to start a very "green diet" and restart my vits. That helps a lot

hopeful · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Well, I had a feeling you hated twists cuz I've never seen you in them but you know they can be an ends to a mean (did I say that right?). Or is it a means to an end :spinning:

. Anywho, if I wear my hair "out" too often, as in not in twists it will not retain length. That is how my hair is. I find this very frustrating because although I do not hate twists I am becoming very tired of them. I think you are going to have to find a protective style you like though in order to retain more length. Good luck.

MonPetite · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I know it is length you want, but I just wanted to say you look very attractive with where it is right now.

I understand wanting progress though. I'm coming up on on my 1-yr anniversary in 3 months and if I don't hit 6 inches I'll be really bummed.

I hope whatever you decide: regimen tweak, relax, texlax, texturize, style change, etc. that you have progress and most importantly enjoy your hair.

I wish you the best...and if you go on the look out for new proucts, you know were to get the 411. :lachen:

I'm sure the lovely ladies here at LHCF will have plenty of good advice (along with the great advice already given). :yep:

Irresistible · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Ive been 14 + years natural and some new naturals passed me up, I thought my hair had stopped years ago, but slowly there has been gradually more progess even over the last few years

Examine your nutrition and regimen and make adjustmens, if need be, I think its too early on and your probably still learning your hair , dont let others progress discourage you,let it motivate you

as a natural it is very possible you will see longer lengths , in just a matter of time

LilChocolateMa said:
I am really, really, really getting pissed off now. I take care of my edges. I don't mess with my hair that often. I wear it up most of the times when i'm out, otherwise my hair stays open and free. I wear a scarf at night. But I have been looking through Fotki's and monitoring other people's progress...and when they do 7, 8, 9 month comparison shots...we see a difference. I checked my fotki (link below) and you will see there is almost NO difference from May of last year until July of this year. I look at my pictures to see how "far" I've come...and I haven't come far at all. I have to say the weirdest outcome that I ever expected....I retained more length as a relaxed girl than natural. And I'm not going to lie...length was my ultimate goal, because I haven't had shoulder length hair or beyond since I was 13.

I don't know what the heck is going on, but as a relaxed girl, with my weekly or bi-weekly rollersets, I could see a difference in length all the time. As a natural girl, I observe my natural hair length with shrinkage, and without. I stretch it to see the length, and there has been almost no change at all in the last 6 months.

WTF is going on here? Please calm me down y'all....

firecracker · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I don't know why it happens like that. I felt the same way for the lil while I was natural. Once it grows to your shoulders you will miss this stage just watch. :grin:

Irresistible · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

firecracker said:
I don't know why it happens like that. I felt the same way for the lil while I was natural. Once it grows to your shoulders you will miss this stage just watch.

I agree with this!

BrownSkin2 · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

I agree with the others on protective styling. As a natural, that's the only way I can retain lenght. Hope that you can tweek your regime for better results.

Nefertiti0906 · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

LilChocolateMa said:
We dyed over top of the light color, and she trimmed my hair just enough to make it even all the way around. My puff is STILL the length as is was in this pic in Nov/Dec!!! That would mean that it did grow a smidge since the trim, but only a tad!

I think it's the color. Even though you dyed over the light color, the damage is still there. My sister had the exact same problem, she used to also dye her hair and it never seemed to grow. Once she grew and trimmed all the color out, her hair started retaining more.

So you might want to trim off the ends that were dyed the lighter color.

ScandalousBeauty · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

Thank you all for your advice!! I am feeling very selfish because I feel that everything points to being relaxed...maybe texlaxed? It's mind over matter, and I am STRUGGLING! I want to wear my sleek styles again without using heat, I want to see my growth, blah blah blah. I feel like I've been patient since my last relaxer the summer of 2006...and since this head doesn't reflect what I believe 2 years worth of natural hair should be, I think it's time to roll out. Who knows, maybe I will be natural again someday. Knowing me, I probably will.

Do you honestly know why I haven't relaxed yet?? I don't want to disappoint people!! And that is DEFINITELY the wrong way to go. I don't have amazing hair or anything like that, but people constantly ask me for advice and things like that. I guess b/c I have put myself out there (blog, youtube, etc), so they have a bond with me and my hair.

...But I don't have the money to get a relaxer at my salon and I am DAMN sure not doing it myself...so no rash decisions anytime soon. My parents are pretty sick of my natural hair (the have never really liked it on me :ohwell:

) and they offered to pay for my relaxer and style for the last two years! I don't want to take their money though, so I passed.

Nefertiti0906 · Jun 17, 2008

Re: Naturals...I'm Pissed!! Why the F is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

LilChocolateMa said:
Thank you all for your advice!! I am feeling very selfish because I feel that everything points to being relaxed...maybe texlaxed? It's mind over matter, and I am STRUGGLING! I want to wear my sleek styles again without using heat, I want to see my growth, blah blah blah. I feel like I've been patient since my last relaxer the summer of 2006...and since this head doesn't reflect what I believe 2 years worth of natural hair should be, I think it's time to roll out. Who knows, maybe I will be natural again someday. Knowing me, I probably will.

Do you honestly know why I haven't relaxed yet?? I don't want to disappoint people!! And that is DEFINITELY the wrong way to go. I don't have amazing hair or anything like that, but people constantly ask me for advice and things like that. I guess b/c I have put myself out there (blog, youtube, etc), so they have a bond with me and my hair.

...But I don't have the money to get a relaxer at my salon and I am DAMN sure not doing it myself...so no rash decisions anytime soon. My parents are pretty sick of my natural hair (the have never really liked it on me ) and they offered to pay for my relaxer and style for the last two years! I don't want to take their money though, so I passed.

I think the natural hair looks good on you! However if you choose to relax, go head and rock that new do

Naturals...Why is My Natural Hair Not Growing???

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