You’re staring in the mirror, pulling at those ends, wondering if they’ve moved even a millimeter since last month. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it's exhausting. You spend a fortune on "miracle" rosemary oils and TikTok-famous masks, yet the length stays exactly where it was in your summer photos. You start asking yourself: Why isn't my hair growing? The truth is, your hair is growing. Unless you have a specific, rare medical condition, those follicles are pumping out new cells at a rate of about half an inch per month. The real problem usually isn't production; it's retention. You're losing the length at the bottom as fast as it grows from the top. It’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom. No matter how much water you pour in, the level never rises.
Let's get into the weeds of why this happens.
The mechanical sabotage: Why isn't my hair growing past my shoulders?
Have you noticed your hair seems to "stop" at a certain length? For many, it’s the shoulder or bra-strap line. This isn't a coincidence. When your hair reaches your shoulders, it constantly rubs against your clothes. Cotton, wool, even synthetic blends create friction. This friction chips away at the cuticle—the protective outer layer of the hair shaft. Once that cuticle is gone, the inner core (the cortex) is exposed. It splits. It snaps.
Basically, your hair is fraying like the hem of an old pair of jeans.
Then there's the "invisible" damage from things we think are helpful. Tight ponytails? They cause traction. That cute messy bun you wear to sleep? It's literally snapping strands at the crown while you toss and turn. If you’re seeing short, fuzzy hairs around your hairline or the nape of your neck, that’s not new growth. That’s breakage. If the breakage matches the rate of your natural growth cycle, you’ll be stuck at the same length for years.
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It’s often what’s happening inside your body
If your hair truly has slowed down its growth rate from the scalp, your body is sending you a memo. Hair is "non-essential" tissue. When you’re stressed, sick, or nutritionally depleted, your body diverts resources away from your vanity projects—like long hair and strong nails—to keep your heart and lungs happy.
The Ferritin Factor
One of the most common medical reasons people ask why isn't my hair growing is low ferritin. Ferritin is the stored version of iron. Even if your "iron" levels look "normal" on a standard blood test, your ferritin might be low. Trichologists (hair and scalp specialists) generally like to see ferritin levels above 70 ng/mL for optimal growth. If you're at 20 or 30, your body might decide that growing hair is a luxury it can't afford right now.
Hormonal shifts and Telogen Effluvium
Hormones are the master conductors of the hair growth cycle. Your hair goes through three phases: Anagen (growth), Catagen (transition), and Telogen (resting/shedding). Usually, about 85-90% of your hair is in the Anagen phase.
However, major life stressors—a high fever, a surgery, extreme psychological stress, or giving birth—can shock your system. This pushes a huge percentage of hair into the Telogen phase all at once. This is called Telogen Effluvium. You won't notice it immediately. It usually happens three to four months after the trigger event. You'll see clumps in the drain and wonder what's wrong. While it's scary, it’s usually temporary, but it definitely makes it feel like your hair has stopped growing entirely.
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The chemical and heat tax
Let’s be real. Most of us aren't rocking our "virgin" hair. We bleach. We highlight. We use flat irons that reach 450 degrees.
When you use high heat, you’re performing a controlled burn on your hair. It evaporates the internal moisture. Eventually, the proteins (keratin) that hold the strand together denature. Bleach is even more aggressive. It has to open the cuticle and break down the melanin. In the process, it weakens the disulfide bonds. If you have "chemical a-line"—where the front pieces of your hair are shorter than the back because you style them more often—you've found your answer.
Your hair is growing. You’re just burning it off.
The scalp is the soil
Imagine trying to grow a prize-winning rose bush in dry, packed, dusty dirt. It won't work. Your scalp is the soil. If it’s clogged with dry shampoo, silicones, and excess sebum, the follicle can become "stifled." Seborrheic dermatitis or even simple dandruff can cause inflammation around the follicle. Inflammation is the enemy of growth.
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If you’re someone who relies on dry shampoo for four days straight, you might be doing more harm than good. A clean scalp is a productive scalp. Using a clarifying shampoo once every week or two can help clear the "debris" and let your follicles breathe.
Why your "growth" products might be failing
The market is flooded with gummies and serums. Most of them are useless if you don't have a deficiency. If you already have enough Biotin in your system, taking extra Biotin won't make your hair grow faster. It’ll just give you expensive urine.
Real growth comes from a consistent environment. Consistency is boring, which is why it doesn't sell as well as a pink gummy bear.
Actionable steps to see real length
To stop asking why isn't my hair growing, you have to change your strategy from "how do I make it grow" to "how do I make it stay."
- Get a blood panel. Specifically, ask for Ferritin, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Thyroid (TSH). If these are off, no amount of coconut oil will help.
- The Silk Rule. Switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. It sounds high-maintenance, but it reduces the friction that snaps your hair while you sleep.
- Protective styling. If your hair breaks at the shoulders, keep it up and off your shoulders using a claw clip (not a tight elastic) when you're at home or working.
- The "Search and Destroy" method. Instead of a massive trim that takes off all your progress, every few weeks, sit in bright light and snip off individual split ends with sharp hair scissors. This prevents the split from traveling up the hair shaft.
- Bond builders. Use products containing bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (like Olaplex) or similar bond-repairing tech if you chemically treat your hair. This actually helps keep the "bucket" from leaking.
- Scalp massage. It’s free. Four minutes a day. Studies have shown that mechanical stimulation of the scalp can increase hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles.
Focus on the health of the ends. Treat your hair like an old, fragile lace fabric. Stop the breakage, fix the internal deficiencies, and suddenly, you'll realize your hair was capable of growing all along.