03/22/2026
Why Your Hair Might Not Be Growing
Many people feel like their hair just stops growing at a certain point. But in many cases, the problem isn't growth at all.
Hi friend,
If you've ever felt this same sentiment, you're not alone. More than 50% of women have reported that they feel their hair cannot grow past a certain length, or that hair growth seems to have stopped altogether.
But, the truth about the perception of stunted hair growth actually has more to do with hair health, scalp health, and stress.
Let's talk a bit about hair and scalp health first.
Hair grows from follicles at the scalp, where cells divide, harden with keratin and are pushed upward, forming a hair shaft.
This growth occurs in 3 main phases:
-Active Growth (anagen phase)
-Transition (catagen phase)
-Resting/Shedding (telogen/exogen phase)
A hair follicle can grow new hair for several years before resting, with growth rates averaging about 1 cm per month. When your hair and scalp health are good, this same growth rate should be seen not just at the scalp, but in your overall hair.
Now that we understand the basics of how our hair is formed and grows, let's take a closer look at how hair and scalp health can affect the length we see at the ends.
If hair health is bad you will notice:
-excessive breakage
-extreme dryness
-dullness
-chronic tangling
-high porosity
-loss of elasticity
-split ends
These are all indicators of poor hair health which causes the growth that happens at the scalp to be taken away, however, it can be addressed through external means; like products specifically formulated to address dryness, dullness, breakage, etc. or by changes to how the hair is treated like heat styling, repeated tension when styling, sleeping with wet hair, etc. Often times, the scalp may be healthy and producing healthy hair shaft, but the treatment of the hair is damaging and "stunting" any growth you may have.
If scalp health is bad you will notice:
-persistent itching
-flaking skin
-excessive oiliness or extreme dryness
-red or inflamed patches
-tenderness
-noticeable hair thinning
-hair loss
These are indicators of poor scalp health, but these can be addressed through internal means; such as vitamins and supplements, a balanced and nutrient-rich diet, increased water intake, and when necessary, antibiotics to address infection or inflammation. When we see poor scalp health, it's normally evident in not only how the scalp feels, but how the hair that is growing feels, too. Hair that is growing from a sick scalp won't be as strong, shiny, or full as hair that is growing from a healthy scalp, so it's crucial to address scalp concerns first as this is the foundation for your overall hair health.
What about stress?
Oh goodness, the stress factor... I could talk about the ways stress impacts our health and well-being for days. But, to keep myself from going on too big of a rant, let's just focus on hair growth and how stress might be the culprit that's stealing your Rapunzel length.
If your stress levels are causing your hair to halt, here's why:
-Stress disrupts that hair growth cycle we discussed earlier by pushing follicles into a premature resting phase, which is why we often see increased shedding during high stress seasons in life.
-Chronic stress can cause your immune system to attack your hair follicles, which leads to alopecia areata, or bald spots.
-Stress also affects our hormones by increasing cortisol levels which prevents hair follicle stem cells from activating and therefore delays hair growth.
-Stress can lead to scalp inflammation and poor nutrition, causing hair to become thin, dry, and brittle.
While there is no quick fix to stress, there are ways to help manage stress, nurture our hair and scalp and therefore increase our overall healthy hair growth. Since our scalp is the foundation, that's the best place to start. A good indicator of a healthy scalp is a movable one. If you are able to grab sections of your hair close to your head, lift, and move your scalp around-- you have a healthy scalp! If that's you, focus more of your attention on external treatments and self-care for support. If you are not able to move your scalp around or can only move it slightly, this is called "scalp tension". This means that the skin has lost its normal, loose, and pliable nature which can lead to reduced blood flow, discomfort, and hair issues.
So, here's what I recommend:
If your hair growth issues are external only...
Consider if you are setting too high of expectations for your hair growth. If you're seeing new growth at the scalp, make a note of the length difference periodically, 1-3 months of growth should be noticeable at the ends of healthy hair. If you aren't seeing it reflected overall, check for split ends. If you've got those white little v's at the end of your hair, schedule a haircut. They won't just go away on their own, I promise. Take a look at the products you're using, if they're more than 2 years old (and I'm being generous, most have a 12-18 month shelf life), it's time to let them go. Unfortunately, not all products are effective forever. Everyone should have a quality shampoo and conditioner, some sort of leave-in conditioner or nourishing oil, and heat protectant if you blow dry or heat style your hair. These types of hair products are the basics. Lastly, the tools you use and how you use them are important. As a general rule, combs are for wet hair, brushes are for dry hair. WetBrush is the exception because it is specifically designed to move through wet hair without causing damage. Combs can be used on dry hair when working in small sections during styling, but should never be brought through large sections of hair at once. Having clean brushes and combs are also important, otherwise you will continually move old skin cells, oil, debris, and bacteria through your hair and on your scalp. Soaking them in an antibacterial soap bath and rinsing clean with hot water is recommended. If you don't want to mess with cleaning your tools, buy new ones, no judgement here.
If your hair growth issues are internal...
Start with identifying what issues you are dealing with. If your scalp is inflamed or you are worried that you might have an infection, talk with your doctor first. If you are combating something medical, anything you do prior to treatment will be ineffective. If your scalp is tight from stress, the best thing you can do is relax the muscles and stimulate blood flow through massage. Mint or mentholated products are an added benefit for scalp stimulation. Whenever you shampoo or condition your hair, make it a habit to spend an extra 5-10 minutes working to loosen your scalp. Stay hydrated and eat nutrient-rich foods, this matters so much to every facet of your health. You need adequate protein, healthy fats (like Omega-3's), and foods rich in iron, zinc, and biotin. Key foods include, fatty fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, spinach, and sweet potatoes. Key vitamins include, D, C, A, and E. Vitamins and supplements are a great option when you cannot meet your intake through food alone, but should not be a complete replacement for these essential nutrients.
If all of this information feels foreign to you, that's okay. I offer a Signature Scalp Detox at Found Wellness & Beauty that includes an in-depth microscopic scalp analysis and a reset treatment. If you'd like to sit down and talk more about your personal hair and scalp health and develop a personalized care plan, you can schedule online by clicking the button below.
Additionally, I have created an Affiliate Links section on our website where you can find product recommendations to help support your wellness & beauty, just click the 'Shop Now' button below.
If this information has been helpful to you, please feel free to share it with others!
Next week, we will be discussing: 5 Things Secretly Damaging Your Hair
One of them might surprise you.
Warmly,
Samantha
Found Wellness & Beauty
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