Does anyone use anything inparticular to help their hair grow??? Certain herbs, shampoos etc.? My hair seems to stay at the same length no matter how often I get it trimmed, etc. Can anyone help?? All ideas are appreciated..Thanks in advance.

-- Stacey Hahn (alexis2169luv@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Your haircuts won't help, hair grows from the roots, not the ends. How about vitamins?

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), May 07, 2002.

Massaging the scalp can help too--for example, divide the hair into small sections and tug each section a bit to help stimulate the scalp. I have read that that was also a reason to do cornrow braiding--it did the same thing.

Diet/heredity is a factor as well.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 07, 2002.

I agree with Julie and GT, don't get a hair cut. Try letting it grow instead and take vitamins. When you get it the length you want, then you can trim off the split ends if you have any. Best wishes!

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Ever wonder why there are shot-haired and long-haired breeds of cats, dogs, sheep and other animals? It isn't because they see their barbers regularly - it's in the genes. People are no different.. Your hair has a genetically determined length. You can always cut it shorter, but you can't make it longer than nature intended. (Rate of growth is something else -MAYBE vitamins or diet WOULD help there.)

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Got to www.longhairlovers.com. They have useful information.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Cutting your hair will not help it grow the reason people say it will is simple. If you don't trim you will get split ends and if they are not taken care of they will continure to split up towards the root and they will begin to break off. But it will not help it grow justs keeps it healthy.

-- Jennifer (jfisher4midsouth@rr.com), May 07, 2002.

MSM found at places that sell vitamins is supposed to grow hair and stronger fingernails if you take several grams a day. It supplies the body with sulphur that's one of the components of keratin that makes up hair and nails.

Be forewarned the stuff tastes nasty.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), May 07, 2002.

FYI: braiding/corn rowing your hair does not make it grow faster. all it does it keep it from breaking off (which still happens if the braids are too tight)...also, when you havent seen your hair down for 6 weeks and take your braids out...suddenly it looks longer, simply cuz u havent seen it in a while...lol

look at dietary issues if your hair isn't growing. but unless you are malnurished it probably won't help lots. most folks have their own "cycles" and your hair may just be slow growing.

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Najia, I was talking about the cornrowing (not so tight it falls out) in the sense of helping to stimulate the scalp which helps hair growth.

Another thing is that it can simply be age--I know lots of women who used to have long hair, but don't now because it doesn't grow as long as it used to.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 07, 2002.

Some of my male friends are growing their hair for "Locks of Love". It has to be at least ten inches long before a donation can be made. I suggested that they use prenatal vitamins....seemed to help and with Summer on it's way, they are really wanting to get to the ten inch stage ASAP. I always wore my hair VERY short, clear through High School. Now it is real long and I love it!

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

I agree with the pre-natal vitamins. Everyone that I know that has taken them says it makes their hair and nails grow faster and thicker. Good luck.

-- cindy palmer (jancpalmer@sierratel.com), May 07, 2002.

Hello!

Just eating gelatin on a regular basis will keep your hair and nails growing well and looking good. You know, Jell-O!

Bye, Nita

-- Nita Holstine (nita@phancypages.com), May 07, 2002.

GT, sorry...I wrote the entry in a hurry. I didnt mean to come off snotty. :)

thumbs up on the pre-nats.

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Stacey, I have to move my hair to sit down. The one thing that I have found to help mine grow is to go natural. I don't perm or color my hair. I always air dry it. Also, if it is long enough to put up in a bun, that is the best way to wear it. Hair grows from the roots. It won't get longer if the ends continually break off. Be gentle with the hair. Never brush wet hair, always comb until it is dry. Herbs -- most herbs are for specific hair types. Eating right is essential. The unflavored geletan in a glass of orange juice works pretty good, but if the rest of the diet isn't there it will not help much. Also, never use a plain rubber band or anything else that will cut or break the hair. Keep it clean, be natural, eat right, and let it grow.

-- Robin Downing (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

My wife was kinda sickly for a few years and her hair was quite thin and wouldn't grow. She started to take kombucha and before long her hair was growing back thicker than it ever had been before. She's 55 this year and hardly a grey hair and still very thick.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), May 07, 2002.

Deborah is absolutely right. I've been a hairdresser since 1976. It's in the genes. I have 2 daughters. One has hair like mine and can grow it to the floor if she wants. The other got her dad's hair, it just doesn't want to grow very long. You can keep it healthy by not abusing it with chemicals and blow drying, but it will only do what nature intended.

-- Cindy in IL (Ilovecajun@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

Najia, no offense taken at all *grin*. In other words, you weren't, lol.

I know that some books recommend things like ground up hot peppers be rubbed into the scalp, but that would be a little too much stimulation, I think!

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 07, 2002.

I think it must be genetic, too. I must be a domestic longhaired breed, myself! I cut off 12" last fall to donate (took about 2 1/2 years to get waist length, and it's past my shoulders already now). It's growing like a weed again. There's nothing I can do about it.

Hope your hair grows just as fast as you would like it to. I wish mine would slow down a bit! I guess it would be nice if we could all have the hair that we want.

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Stacey if you go to health food store pick up a bottle of horse tail herbs this makes your hair grow and ,I put olive oil on mine and wrap it in a very warm and wet towel.I have long hair now at one time it grew on sides but not back, but things sure change,with the oil and horse tail

-- Pastor Hughes in Sparks,Ok. (hbchurch@brightok.net), May 07, 2002.

I used to wear my hair loose & it never grew beyond a certain point. When I started wearing it up it grew a good 5 inches, but won't grow past that. I figured that wearing it up kept it from breaking off.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), May 08, 2002.

Doesn't it give you gals a headache to have it so long? I was suffering from headaches on almost a daily basis, got a (moderate) haircut and the headaches went away! What a relief! I love long hair, but not the headaches...

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), May 08, 2002.

Rebekah, yup! That's another reason I cut it off.

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@Hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

Yes! you never realize how HEAVY all of that hair is until you cut it off. your head feels like its anti-gravity after you wack it off....lol

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

I am a hairdresser and the best thing to make your hair grow is scalp stimulation(massage) and pre-natal vitiams. You can get the cheap ones at Wal-Mart or where ever and they will help your hair and nails. Good luck

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), May 08, 2002.

My mom (50+ years old) recently started taking Magnesium supplements. Since then, she says not only has her hair been growing really fast, but it is extremely manageable and has stopped falling out in large amounts. I just started trying this, because I shed more than our cat! :0)

-- Laura (lucky1s@mcmsys.com), May 10, 2002.