Why your hair isn’t growing as fast as you want — and what you can actually do about it.

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Let’s talk about something almost all of us have obsessed over at least once: our hair. More specifically, why it seems to grow at the speed of a slow-loading website from 2003.

You know that feeling when you’re convinced your hair grew half an inch, only to look in the mirror and think… “Huh. That looks exactly the same”?

Yeah. Been there.

For most of my life, I assumed slow hair growth meant my hair was just being dramatic or uncooperative. But the more I learned, the more I realized that there’s usually one very common reason behind slow hair growth — and most people have no idea they’re doing it.

And once you understand it, everything makes so much more sense.

Let’s break it down together, friend-to-friend.

🧠 The Most Common Reason Your Hair Isn’t Growing: Breakage, Not Growth

Here’s the truth no one really talks about:

Your hair is growing.

It’s just breaking off at the same rate.

So it looks like it’s stuck… even though your follicles are working just fine.

Your hair grows from the root — but the length you see depends on the strength of your ends. If your ends snap, split, fray, or get dry enough to crumble when you breathe near them, you’ll never see the growth you’re actually achieving.

It’s not that your hair isn’t growing.

It’s that it’s not staying.

Once I understood that, everything changed — and for the first time, my hair actually showed progress instead of playing tricks on me.

🔍 Why Breakage Happens (And Why It’s So Sneaky)

Breakage is one of those things you don’t notice until it’s already a problem.

It starts with tiny things:

• Using heat a little too often

• Sleeping on cotton pillowcases

• Forgetting to moisturize your ends

• Brushing too aggressively

• Tight hairstyles (yes, the slick bun is beautiful, but at what cost?)

• Not getting trims because “I’m growing it out”

One small habit becomes another small habit… and suddenly your bathroom floor has more hair than your actual head.

And here’s the most relatable part:

Most of us don’t even realize we’re causing damage until we’re deep in the “why won’t my hair grow?” crisis.

💡 How Much Hair Should You Be Growing Anyway?

On average, hair grows half an inch per month — that’s about 6 inches a year.

If you’re not seeing that length, breakage is almost always the culprit.

And the good news?

You can absolutely fix it.

🌱 Here Are the Things That Actually Help (And the Order to Do Them)

Let’s skip the internet myths, the DIY potions, and the 17-step routines.

Here’s what genuinely works — and is rooted in both research and real-life experience.

1️⃣ Start with Your Scalp (Healthy Roots = Healthy Growth)

Think of your scalp like soil.

You can’t grow long, strong hair if the soil is dry, irritated, or clogged.

A clean, nourished scalp increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and literally frees your follicles to do their job.

Because when your scalp is stressed, your hair is stressed.

👉 Amazon helper:

Scalp Massager Brush — perfect for shampooing or dry use, boosts circulation, and feels weirdly therapeutic.

I often use one in the shower and instantly feel like I’m doing something productive for my future hair length.

2️⃣ Then Protect Your Ends (This Is Where the Magic Happens)

Remember:

Your ends are the oldest and weakest part of your hair.

They’ve survived straighteners, ponytails, winter weather, summer heat, and whatever that one questionable haircut decision was. They need reinforcement.

A few simple habits go a long way:

• Add oil or cream to your ends after washing

• Avoid rough towel drying; pat don’t scrub

• Limit heat styling

• Sleep with your hair protected

If you don’t protect your ends, your growth will always seem “stuck” because the hair is breaking right off the bottom.

3️⃣ Switch to a Satin Pillowcase (Seriously, This Helps So Much)

Cotton grabs and tugs on your hair all night long without you realizing it.

Satin lets your strands glide instead of snag.

It reduces:

• breakage

• split ends

• frizz

• dryness

• the morning “how did my hair get here?” chaos

👉 Amazon helper:

Bedsure Satin Pillowcase — simple, soft, affordable, and comes in cute colors.

One small change… big hair payoff.

4️⃣ Moisture + Protein Balance (The Secret Combo)

If your hair is breaking easily, it’s usually missing one of two things:

Moisture

Makes hair flexible and less brittle.

Protein

Makes hair stronger and more resistant.

You need both — but not too much of either. It’s like balancing a relationship: if one side is doing too much, everything feels off.

A good strategy is:

• Moisturizing conditioner regularly

• Occasional protein treatment

• Leave-in conditioner to soften ends

Once your hair gets what it needs, breakage drops dramatically.

5️⃣ Trim Strategically (Not Constantly, But Consistently)

Contrary to the urban legend, trimming doesn’t make your hair grow faster — it just keeps breakage from creeping upward.

Think of it like pruning a plant. You’re protecting the healthy parts by removing the damaged parts.

A trim every 8–12 weeks keeps your ends strong enough to retain the growth you’re already producing.

6️⃣ Nutrition Matters More Than Most People Realize

Hair is made of protein.

So if you’re not eating enough of it… your hair literally doesn’t have the building blocks to grow.

Also important:

• iron

• zinc

• vitamin D

• omega-3s

• B vitamins

A balanced diet supports the follicle level — where all the real action happens.

And yes, hydration matters too. Dry body = dry hair.

👉 Optional Amazon helper:

Sports Research Omega-3 Fish Oil — supports hair, skin, and overall health.

(Not medicine, just a gentle nutritional support.)

✉️ Want More Simple, Real-Life Wellness Tips?

If you liked this breakdown — or if it made something finally click about your hair — you’ll love my weekly newsletter.

It’s where I share simple science-backed tips, relatable stories, and everyday tools you can actually use (including plenty of beauty + wellness topics just like this).

It’s not spammy or salesy — it feels like chatting with a friend who gets it.

👉 Join the newsletter here — I’d love to grow, learn, and laugh with you each week.

💬 Final Thought

Your hair isn’t “not growing.”

It’s growing right this minute.

You just need to help it stay so you can finally see the length you’ve been working for.

Small changes make a huge difference:

• care for your scalp

• protect your ends

• sleep on satin

• nourish your body

And slowly — almost sneakily — your hair starts showing progress you can actually see.

Now I’m curious, because everyone has a hair hack they swear by:

What’s one thing that’s helped your hair grow (or at least break less)? Tell me — I love hearing other people’s routines.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, but this does not affect my recommendations.I only suggest products I’ve personally vetted.

2 responses to “Rapunzel? Never Heard of Her.”

  1. Does this work for beards? Mine always broke off.

    Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com

    Liked by 1 person

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