12 reasons why your hair is no longer growing

Who doesn’t want long, healthy, shiny and damage-free curls? The bad news, however, is that many people’s hair stops growing and becomes thinner at a certain point. In addition to the common causes such as unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits, poor environmental conditions and inadequate hair care, various other factors can cause hair growth to stop. In this article, we discuss the reasons why hair stops growing.

How much hair grows in a year?

Every person’s hair is genetically programmed to stop growing after reaching a certain length. Then it goes through the phases catagen, telogen and exogenous before it grows again.

The hair of an average person grows at a rate of 15 cm per year and the anagen phase (growth phase) usually lasts between 2 and 6 years. However, different people have different hair growth cycles that are affected by many factors that we will discuss next.

Why doesn’t my hair grow?

Your hair follicles go through a growth cycle with four phases: 1. anagen phase (growth phase). catagen phase (transition phase). telogen phase (rest phase) and 4. exogenous phase (hair loss phase).

Each hair follicle goes through this cycle, which determines the length and volume of a person’s curls. If this cycle is interrupted due to a factor, normal hair growth is impaired. The following are the most common reasons why your hair stops growing:

1. Genetics:

Did you know that the length, color, volume and strength of your locks depend on your genes? Yes, genes play an important role in influencing your hair growth cycle.

If you have long, healthy, shiny, and thick hair even though you don’t care much about it, thank your genes. Otherwise, you will need to make extra efforts to prevent your hair from thinning and promote its growth.

2. Stress Level:

It has been medically proven that any type of physical or psychological stress affects hair growth. Stress triggers a condition called telogen effluvium, in which your hair enters the telogen phase (resting phase) prematurely and thus completely limits 30% of its growth. Although this condition doesn’t require medical attention and doesn’t last longer than six months, it affects your hair growth cycle and causes hair loss.

3. Age:

Aging not only causes your hair to turn gray, but also affects its growth, as it is known that the anagen phase gets shorter with age. In addition, your physical health and eating habits – aside from the lifespan of attempts to style, process, dye, bleach, and treat your hair – affect your hair growth cycle.

4. Hair Breakage:

Usually the hair of an average person grows at a rate of about 20 cm a year. If you find that your hair is the same length after a certain amount of time, it can actually break.

Broken hair can be caused by both inadequate and excessive care. Excessive processing and overheating of your hair can result in loss of moisture and elasticity, making it dry, brittle and breaking.

5. Split Ends:

People with dry hair usually get split ends. If your hair doesn’t get enough nutrients to balance its moisture balance, its ends will begin to split, causing breakage. You can’t undo split ends, and the only way to prevent further hair breaks is to cut them off. You need to take good care of your hair to avoid split ends and breakage.

6. Hairstyles And Styling Products:

The chemical treatments, products, and processes you use to style your hair have a huge impact on its health and growth. The accumulation of oils and products on your scalp can block the follicles and inhibit hair growth.

Complicated hairstyles that involve a lot of combing, pulling hair tight, and using serums can also damage your hair. Excessive styling and the use of chemical products not only inhibit hair growth, but also cause scalp diseases that can lead to permanent hair loss.

7. Alopecia Areata:

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system damages the cells in your hair follicles and causes your hair to stain.

Scientists believe this disease may be genetically inherited, and people who have been diagnosed with hay fever, vitiligo, Down syndrome, pernicious anemia, asthma, and thyroid problems are at higher risk of developing it. This condition can be treated with suitable medication and phototherapy.

8. Lack Of Exercise And Healthy Diet:

We are certain that you have heard of the sentence: “You are what you eat.” A healthy diet and physical activity are very important for hair growth. Like your body, your hair needs enough vitamins, minerals and nutrients to grow.

In fact, doctors suggest that people take certain multivitamins in addition to a healthy diet to boost hair growth. A lack of iron, protein, zinc, vitamin A or biotin can weaken your hair and expose it to damage and loss.

However, if you consume enough vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to nourish your hair follicles and strengthen your curls, you can prevent hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. Even if you keep your mind as healthy as your body, it has a positive effect on your hair.

9. Dry Hair And Scalp:

Dry scalp and brittle curls are signs of unhealthy hair. Lack of moisture or imbalance in the moisture content of your scalp will dry your hair, causing breakage and restricting its growth.

Prolonged dryness of your scalp also leads to the development of infections that cause spotty hair loss. Therefore, you need to moisturize your hair with natural products and methods to promote healthy hair growth.

10. Thyroid Problems:

Irregularities in the production of hormones by the thyroid can also have a negative impact on your hair. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect hair growth by affecting your body’s functionality and metabolism, leading to hair loss and hair loss.

11. Childbirth And Breastfeeding:

Hormonal imbalances after birth often lead to so-called postpartum hair loss. A healthy diet, regular exercise and taking additional nutritional supplements are necessary to minimize postpartum hair loss.

12. Poor Hair Care Regimen:

Improper hair care can significantly affect hair growth. Excessive styling, inadequate washing and conditioning, the use of chemical products, inefficient hair products and hair-damaging accessories indicate an inferior hair care routine that needs to be changed as soon as possible if you want thick, long and healthy hair.