HOW LONG CAN YOUR NATURAL HAIR GROW UNTIL IT 'STOPS GROWING'?

By Hadassah Agbaps - July 28, 2020


Waist length type 4b type 4c natural Nigerian hair


I had an interesting conversation with the beautiful @rachelasakome concerning this question.

👉Here's the SHORT ANSWER.
It can grow for as long as your genes decide! 


👉Here's the LONG ANSWER.
The active period your hair grows is called the ANAGEN PHASE.It lasts between 2- 6 yrs and it is regulated by your genes. So, your hair grows for 2-6 yrs, sheds and is replaced by new hair. It's a cycle.🔄🔄🔄
The average GROWTH RATE is 0.5 inches per month or 6 inches every year.

The anagen phase and your growth rate determine the longest your hair can grow before it stops growing and has to shed. This length is called TERMINAL LENGTH. 

If your growth rate is 4 inches every year and your ANAGEN phase lasts 2 years, your terminal length is 4×2= 8 inches.
 Most naturalistas definitely grow more than 8 inches in 2 yrs!💃💃

On average, the ANAGEN phase lasts 4 yrs and most growth rate is 6 inches per year.
6×4 = 24 inches of hair before it sheds. That's long hair abi?

Most people rarely reach their terminal length due to breakage caused by manipulation, poor diet, use of chemicals , hair dyes, combing, heat styling etc.

So before you blame your genes, check your hair care routine!



Personally, I never knew I could grow my hair waist length considering my slow growth rate (4 inches per year) and having fine textured hair. 
My hair only grew shoulder length and then hit a growth plateau due to breakage.

 It was only when I changed my hair care routine that I was able to grow waist length. 
Right now, I want to see if I can reach knee length. I may or may not reach that goal....but we'll see.


I don't know my terminal length yet.
 I would need to pluck (not cut) a section of my hair to monitor the growth for 6 yrs or more to find out.......and I'm not about that struggle!😂

🌈 Do you believe length is determined by genes only?

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