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Whether you’re trying to grow out a not-quite-right haircut or noticing your hair won’t budge past a certain length, you may be wondering, why is my hair not growing? Does your hair stop growing at a certain length?
Not everyone has the genes required to grow Rapunzel hair, but hair shouldn’t just stop growing for no reason. Here, we’ll talk about factors that influence hair growth, including the hair growth cycle, certain risk factors and conditions for stunted hair growth, and what you can do about it.
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Before we talk about specific reasons your hair stopped going, we need to talk about the hair growth cycle, which largely influences when and for how long hair grows. Here’s an overview of the hair growth cycle.
Anagen (Growth) Phase:
During this phase, hair is actively growing. The growth phase lasts between two to six years, and at any given time, 85 and 90 percent of your hair follicles are in this phase.
Some people may have longer anagen phases than others.
Catagen (Transition) Phase:
This short transition phase lasts about one to two weeks. During this time, hair stops growing as the follicle shrinks, and the hair separates from its blood supply so it can no longer grow.
Telogen (Resting) Phase:
The telogen phase lasts around three months. Hair is no longer connected to the follicle but remains on the scalp. During this phase, hair is not growing. At any point, about 10 to 15 percent of your hair is in this resting phase before eventually shedding.
Exogen (Shedding) Phase:
This is the final phase of the cycle, and it’s sometimes considered the final part of the telogen phase. In the exogen phase, hair actively sheds. You’ll shed 50 to 100 hairs per day during this part of the cycle which typically lasts between two and five months (but remember it’s only a small portion of your total hair in this phase of the cycle).
Hair grows an average of a half inch per month, or six inches a year. However, there are several factors that can slow hair growth, or cause hair loss.
One of the most common reasons for hair to stop growing is male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Male pattern baldness affects as many as 50 percent of men by age 50.
It’s caused by a sensitivity to a male hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a byproduct of testosterone. When DHT binds to receptors in hair follicles, it can cause hair follicle miniaturization (which is just a fancy way of saying that the follicle shrinks) and this causes hair to grow more slowly and ultimately fall out.
Male pattern baldness also shortens the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.
Genetics play a major role in whether you develop male pattern baldness as its a hereditary condition. Basically, if anyone in your family has male pattern baldness, you’re more likely to as well (and it turns out it’s a myth that baldness only passes through the maternal side of the family). Some older research suggests that genes also influence the length of the hair growth cycle.
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that’s caused by a “shock to the system,” including illness, injury, or a stressful life event. Typically, you’ll notice hair loss a few months after the inciting event, which could include things like drastic weight loss, an illness with a high fever, childbirth, surgery, thyroid disorders, or emotional stress.
Even if your hair loss is not as severe as telogen effluvium (wherein as much as 70 percent of hair sheds at once), cortisol, which is often referred to as the stress hormone, also disrupts the hair growth cycle (which is just another reason to download that meditation app finally).
Research shows that aged hair follicles have an abbreviated growth cycle. All that means is that hair growth tends to slow down with age. Male pattern baldness also gets more and more common as you get older.
It could be that your hair actually is growing from the root but breaking at the ends, so you’re not gaining length. Things that can lead to split ends and hair breakage are chemical processing (things like bleaching, perms, and relaxers), regular heat styling, brushing too much or too hard, elastic hair ties, or very dry hair.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that disrupts the hair growth cycle. It causes patchy hair loss, and in some cases, the hair is lost permanently. Cicatricial alopecia (also called scarring alopecia) is another autoimmune condition that can slow hair growth and cause permanent hair loss.
If your diet lacks vital nutrients, you may notice your hair is more brittle or growing more slowly. Be sure to eat a diet rich in iron, protein (keratin is the building block of hair and is comprised of protein), zinc, biotin, and vitamin D. You can learn more in our guide to vitamin deficiencies that cause hair loss.
A healthy scalp is the foundation of hair growth. Things like hair product build-up and sweat can clog the hair follicle, potentially affecting the speed at which hair grows. Certain scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and tinea capitis can also cause scalp inflammation, potentially slowing growth.
If you’re unsure of the root cause of your stunted hair growth, check in with a dermatologist who can help you figure out why you’re seeing hair loss or your hair has stopped growing.
Wondering how to fix stunted hair growth? The good news is that there are a few easy ways to speed up hair growth or slow hair loss. We’ll go into more detail below.
Minoxidil, the active component in Rogaine®, is a popular topical treatment for hair loss that’s approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration specifically for treating pattern baldness. We offer minoxidil foam or minoxidil solution.
Minoxidil is applied twice a day to areas where there’s thinning or balding. As a vasodilator, minoxidil works by widening blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure. This also increases the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the scalp. Additionally, it extends the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle.
Although oral minoxidil is approved by the FDA for high blood pressure, it is sometimes prescribed off-label by healthcare professionals to help manage androgenetic alopecia (AGA).
Finasteride is another FDA-approved medication taken once daily. It’s in a class of drugs known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and it works by reducing levels of DHT, a hormone that can shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss.
Topical finasteride is also an option, though it does not currently have FDA approval.
Minoxidil and finasteride can also be taken together which research shows is more effective than either alone).(like in our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray).
If you’re curious to learn more about the (rare) side effects of hair loss medications, check out our guides to topical finasteride side effects and minoxidil side effects.
If you suspect nutritional deficiency is behind your stunted hair growth, it’s always a good idea to consult with a doctor who can perform a blood test to confirm. Our biotin gummies contain other ingredients that help support hair health, like vitamins B12, B6, D, and folic acid. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can also help.
If you’re not interested in going the medical route, you can try things at home that may help speed up hair growth or slow hair loss. Something as simple as using a heat protectant spray before styling your hair with hot tools or drying your hair with a microfiber towel to reduce friction can make a big difference.
There are also botanical ingredients don’t have the same science behind them as hair loss medications, but they can definitely be worth a shot. Below, you’ll find plant-based ingredients that may benefit hair health.
Saw palmetto
Pumpkin seed oil
Rosemary oil
Onion water
Lavender oil
Peppermint oil
Aloe vera
Consider this the cliff-notes, but you can learn more in our guides to the best oils for hair growth, saw palmetto for hair loss, and onion juice for hair growth.
Not only is scalp massage relaxing, but one (very) small study on nine who performed scalp massage daily found an increase in hair count at 24 weeks.
Microneedling is a procedure you can do at home using a dermaroller tool. It creates micro-injuries on the scalp (you shouldn’t even be able to see them) which causes blood and oxygen rush to the scalp which could theoretically stimulate hair follicles to produce new hair.
Most of the research on microneedling for hair loss is on microneedling when the tool is paired with a topical hair loss treatment, like minoxidil. In one study, people who used a dermaroller weekly and minoxidil twice a day saw thicker hair — which lasted as long as eight months after the study (when the researchers checked back in).
Wondering why it seems like your hair stopped growing? We got you covered.
The rate at which your hair grows is set by the hair growth cycle, but factors such as genetics, stress, age, and medical conditions like male pattern baldness can alter the cycle and slow or stop growth.
Breakage, nutritional deficiencies, and poor scalp health can give the appearance of stunted hair growth, even if your hair is growing at the root.
Effective treatments for promoting growth include FDA-approved options like minoxidil and finasteride, as well as home remedies like biotin supplements, scalp massage, microneedling, natural oils, and gentle hair care routines.
For more tips, check out our guide to how to make hair grow faster. And if any of the hair loss medications caught your eye, connect with a licensed healthcare provider online through our platform to learn more about the right treatments to set you on your path to healthy hair.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
Dr. Knox Beasley is a board certified dermatologist specializing in hair loss. He completed his undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and subsequently attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Beasley first began doing telemedicine during his dermatology residency in 2013 with the military, helping to diagnose dermatologic conditions in soldiers all over the world.
Dr. Beasley is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Dr. Beasley currently lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time outdoors (with sunscreen of course) with his wife and two children in his spare time.
Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences. United States Military Academy.
Doctor of Medicine. Tulane University School of Medicine
Dermatology Residency. San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium
Board Certified. American Board of Dermatology
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