I have a question....

My hairdresser says that hair will grow thicker and longer if all strands are the same length. With this concept in mind, she would often make sure that all of my ends were even...clipping my sporatic growth spurts in their individual sections.
Have any of you heard of this concept? Will hair grow better and quicker if it remains all the same length?

Sounds very strange to me. Never heard anything like that. If thats true, then all should have striaght cuts, no layers, no v-cut or u-cut.
I belive growth occurs from root and has nothing to do with how long each strand is. As long as your roots are nourished, they will grow.
Lets see what other post. But i think it is not true. Fingers crossed!
naj.

I think your hairdresser is "full of soup". :suspect:

I remember someone has a theory about that too , maybe George Michael??
I'm growing anyway and I'll be a long hair forever wheather it grows slowly or fast so I don't care that much...

sounds like George Michael's theory...
here's a link to an interview (http://www.longhairlovers.com/gm_interview.html)

First of all, Dr. Michael explained that the most important step for growing the longest, healthiest hair possible is to have hair that's all one length. That means absolutely no bangs (or "fringe", to our European friends). Dr. Michael told me, "Bangs are like worms!", which I took to mean they're a pretty bad thing. Fortunately, he explained what he meant.

"Hair is not at its strongest with bangs or layers," Dr. Michael said. "Because humans are mammals, nature will try to equalize the hair by excessively shedding in order to even out all the shorter hairs. This creates an abnormal loss of hair which leads to unhealthy, straggly locks."



I dont really believe it, myself...

The young brother of my best friend trained as a hairdresser and for many years cut our hair. he was the only hairdresser who did exactly as we asked but that was more out of fear as a youngster than respect. Unfortunately that passed and he became like all hairdressers and lost his nability to hear.

The point is I had hair to almost waist length and being a bit of a perfectionist I used to have him cut it so it was an all over perfectly even length. In that time I noticed no difference what so ever in the growth, condition, thickness, nothing. So based on first hand experience I would say the advise is a load of TOFFEE!

Not only do I love hairbrains hair, I love her sense of humour:

'When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep --
not screaming, like the passengers in his car. '

Everyone to their own but this is definately my kind of humour, thanks for making me laugh hairbrain.

Space

My odd sense of humour again but the George Michael interview :

I know of just three places in the world where women grow more than half-an-inch per month:Tehuantepec, Mexico; the Piedmont Province of northern Italy, and in parts of Minnesota. Those areas lack iodine in the water, which causes severe thyroid dysfunctions including bulging eyes and horrible weight gain. But, their hair is known to grow up to 6 inches per month."

Thank heaven that they put iodine in the water where I live !

Not only do I love hairbrains hair, I love her sense of humour:

'When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep --
not screaming, like the passengers in his car. '

Everyone to their own but this is definately my kind of humour, thanks for making me laugh hairbrain.

Space
thank you ! :inlove:

I have a question....

My hairdresser says that hair will grow thicker and longer if all strands are the same length. With this concept in mind, she would often make sure that all of my ends were even...clipping my sporatic growth spurts in their individual sections.
Have any of you heard of this concept? Will hair grow better and quicker if it remains all the same length?

Yes, I have heard of this theory. I have likewise heard and personally tested the theory that if one trims, hair grows faster. It does not.

Here's the skinny: hair grows. It grows even in the worst of conditions. One's hair can be pretty crappy, and their scalp skin a mess of a hygiene zone, and it WILL grow. It may not look great or smell great or whatever, but it grows.

Hair about our scalp grows in different densities - -that is hairs per square inch. Typically, about the sides, it grows less dense and less rapidly. Plus if you think about it, when hair is drown to the back, these front side hairs -- in order to be the same length as the center strip down the back spanning about 5 inches wide -- have to actually grow longer than that center strip in order to be the same length because the curve of drawing hair back and over the shoulders must be taken into account.

The interesting thing is that the George Michael system which is already quoted here as the place where this theory is posited advised as the best trim style a gentle u-shape, much like a gentle smile. Reason for this is that hair aligns and swings best in this formation. My added point is that hair grows this way, for most, naturally. The straight across at the bottom for all the length generally means one is cutting off a fair amount on the center strip to get it in line with the sides, since the sides will invariably be shorter.

George Michael system includes a term, weak spots. There's no clear understanding for weak spots. All hair does grow in at different lengths since each hair follicle is on its own prime directive as to life cycle and how many hairs it will grow in your lifetime, and how long a hair will stay in the follicle. It is. People don't believe this, but it is a hair fact. Each hair follicle is encoded with its own lifespan, different from other hair follicles. This is nature's way of preventing natural sheds that result in baldness. Just think of the mensus: how does that egg know to come on down? It knows.

Weak spots are sections of hair where it's significantly shorter than the overall length. Hair is not all one measurement, and never will be. It wouldn't look good if it were mathematically handled.

Hair, alternatively, does have spurts that will show and hang down longer. It can be unattractive to some people's eye; others have dubbed it fairy tale ends. If one looks at CDV (Carte de Vista) of the Victorian era, and seen the hair ends, these women did not trim. There's all kinds of weak spots, jut outs of growth spurts and so on. These women likewise did not have available all the hair science we have; and on many points were misled since that was the best information available at the time. Plus, the hair care products had some interesting ingredients: alcohol, tar...

The GM theory is mostly focused upon bangs. Interesting he uses the Sutherland Sisters to support his contention that dramatically uneven lengths cause hair to grow less long in an effort to balance out the extremes. I am not aware of any scientific studies that bear this out; Mr. George Michael was a doctor and used his medical knowledge to design his hair care system, but his book does not adequately explain the science, in my opinion. This does not mean there is no merit whatsoever. I did a long explanation some time ago on Long Hair Loom and on this site, or was it TLHS? about this theory.

The idea goes something like this: when bangs are cut into the hair, then all the rest of the hair attempts to balance. This is nature's way, contends Mr. GM. He cites that a dog's hair being cut in some spot (a good patch of it) will mean the other hairs about the body will shed more significantly, thus thinning and possibly becoming shorter, but mostly thinning. Now I pondered this idea and looked about in nature for this phenomena, and I could only come up with wind swept trees, bowing in a direction, branches being gone nearly from one side from high winds. The other side, the branches are less voluminous.

All that said, it was hugely popular in the Victorian era, the era of the Sutherland Sisters, to cut in bangs and curl them. From the CDVs this doesn't appear to have meant that volumes of women grew less inches. Most easily made it to waist length and classic length. I think he is possibly speaking, though, about density - hairs per square inch. He cited one of the Sutherland Sisters in his book about how she lost actual inches, and he did a grand total of inches lost on all the sisters from the before bangs cut to after bangs cut.

It's hard to know. There's nowhere that I can find anything supporting all of this. Plenty of people have bangs and still grow. However, if one decides to grow out bangs, hair length in terms of gained inches, can slow down while the bangs does the catching up business. Depending on the length the hair was when the bangs are begun to grow out, can possibly contribute to somewhat less hairs at the end.

Some people don't care about these things, and like their bangs/fringe very much. Most people are not interested in growing lengths such as is discussed here.

I say, do what pleases you and works for your hair, and don't be overly concerned about this shedding business, losing inches and so on. But if you want to read about it, it's in the GM book. I've quoted it before somewhere.

heidi w.

Yeah, I've heard something similar, but just regarding getting regular trims helps(because you hair isn't destroyed by split-ends). It seems that keeping hair the same length wouldn't effect growth one way or the other, but ? :ponder: what do I know?!

I think Heidi W should get a medal not just for the detail of her replies but for the sheer VOLUME! It would take me a week to write such lengthy replies - yes unfortunately I am only a two finger typist.

Well done HW.

I think Heidi W should get a medal not just for the detail of her replies but for the sheer VOLUME! It would take me a week to write such lengthy replies - yes unfortunately I am only a two finger typist.

Well done HW.

I type this stuff in about 5-10 minutes. I type over 100 wpm. I used to win money with this little skill, but alas, they don't hold contests as they used to. LOL.

There are days I work on this input slowly throughout the day so my boss' aren't totally on to me...and then I post it at the end of the day. I try to be courteous about the fact that I'm at work, and am supposed to be working.

Thanks for the Kudos. I always think I write too much. Only a few people have complained, or everybody is just being nice. I try to get the why in there so people can figure out, at home, hopefully, what's going on.

heidi w.

Your hairdresser is a beliver of the Goerge Micheal theory. I am too. I noticed that my relatives who dont have a bang or a short piece in the front have hair that grows amazingly fast; such as my big sister. She'll cut her hair chin lenght and within about 3 months it'll be almost up to her hips. I wish I had that kind of growth, but hopefully when my bang is all grown out it'll grow like that.Also, most men keep their hair the same lenght and they have to cut it so often to maintain the cut....hmmm... there hair seems to grow soo fast. So, I belive there is a lot of truh to his theory.

Your hairdresser is a beliver of the Goerge Micheal theory. I am too. I noticed that my relatives who dont have a bang or a short piece in the front have hair that grows amazingly fast; such as my big sister. She'll cut her hair chin lenght and within about 3 months it'll be almost up to her hips. I wish I had that kind of growth, but hopefully when my bang is all grown out it'll grow like that.Also, most men keep their hair the same lenght and they have to cut it so often to maintain the cut....hmmm... there hair seems to grow soo fast. So, I belive there is a lot of truh to his theory.
When I grew my bangs out they caught up with the rest of my length in an amazing amount of time. I could hardly believe it how quickly they reached the length of the rest of my hair.

Well, maybe, but if it's true, I don't have a prayer for good hair growth. My hair sheds and re-grows constantly. No matter what style I choose, I always have hairs that are 1 inch long or shorter and hairs that are the maximum length and every length in-between. So I might as well give up and go get it cut. Bye.

I type this stuff in about 5-10 minutes. I type over 100 wpm. I used to win money with this little skill, but alas, they don't hold contests as they used to. LOL.


this is heidi typing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/HAIRBRAIN/typing.gif



hehe


we love your posts !:inlove:

Hairbrain I am in love with your humour - sorry that I think it is very funny Heidi W , nothing personal. I used to have days where I felt like that at work, thankfully I didn't have skills, energy, or inclination to follow it through. Once again thanks for making me laugh HB, a welcome breath of fresh air....

Space

So I might as well give up and go get it cut. Bye.

:confused:
are you kidding ?
your hair is wonderful!
never give up
:flowers:

I second the appreciation of a slightly twisted sense of humor! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who thinks like that.

Well, maybe, but if it's true, I don't have a prayer for good hair growth. My hair sheds and re-grows constantly. No matter what style I choose, I always have hairs that are 1 inch long or shorter and hairs that are the maximum length and every length in-between. So I might as well give up and go get it cut. Bye.


Oh, Spidermom, I do hope that you are not serious! The GM theory is just that.
Not fact! While we all have some differences, such as growth rate and so forth, human anatomy is not THAT much different, and I think that GM and others like him need to be taken with a grain of salt.

You should see my halo! With all the broken hairs, and the new ones coming in, when they all catch up, I will have to change my hair classifier to iii. And that is going to take some time.........

I am not giving up, no matter what the "experts" say.
I hope that you won't either. Or cut. :grouphug:

Thank you, Hairbrain and Shermie. I wasn't serious, just a little bit ticked off. It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to have all-one-length hair. I'd love to have nice unbroken flow from scalp to ends, I really would, but it is never going to happen. So pronouncements like those of GM - what are they designed to do other than be discouraging to all but the "chosen few" who have the "right" kind of hair?

Wrong kind of hair or not, I'd still rather have it this long, even if it won't get much longer.

P.S. - My hair is never going to "catch up." Before today's new hairs reach maximum length, a bunch of older hairs will have shed out, and there will be a whole new crop of newbies spoiling the flow, and probably a few broken ones as well.

I too love Hairbrain's Grandfather quote. Definitely funny in my book!!

Leni

this is heidi typing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/HAIRBRAIN/typing.gif



hehe


we love your posts !:inlove:
:rollin: thanks for the laugh. That's great, hope you laughed too heidi.:smile:

That's a little odd...and if it's true, where's the scissors??? :rollin: JK! I will say hair all one length does LOOK thicker. My hair looks a lot thicker after I trim it.

this is heidi typing:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/HAIRBRAIN/typing.gif



hehe


we love your posts !:inlove:

ROFL...bwaahahahahwhHAHAHAAHAHAEEHEAD OOOH EWHOOWOO OO HEHEHEE!

You guys are HILARIOUS. where'd you get that? It's a RIOT. LOL

I've got tears in my eyes....oooh, ahha..

You guys are so COMPLIMENTARY!
:inlove: I luv it!

That's a good one.

heidi w.

oooh still laughing...I like the part where it's the mad grin and the fingers are going going going...

TOO FUNNY you guys!

What a bunch of SICKOs! hahahaaaa:cloud9:

heidi w.

Thanks for the Kudos. I always think I write too much. heidi w.

Your posts are a goldmine of info, Heidi. I remember doing searches for your posts when I first found the board last August. Glad to see you posting again :)

Stating the obvious:

Hair does tend to LOOK thicker if all the ends are relatively the same length. I mean, bangs or layers will thin it out.

My two cents on the trimming issue:

I don't think that trimming increases the speed of hair growth, but since regular trimming eliminates or greatly reduces splits, the hair would appear longer, at a faster pace. Whereas with untrimmed hair, if one has a lot of splits and breakage, the breakage would cancel out any growth and the length will remain the same despite the growth rate. (I hope that made sense to someone other than myself)

I think the S&D missions are a nice compromise for those who don't want to trim; you can still take care of splits and breakage but won't lose overall length.

Edited to add: HAIRBRAIN! That .gif is hysterical!

i have read all the theories here and was already familiar with the gm one. but still i fail to see that manipulating the end of hair will effect the growth.
if i cut my toenails my legs dont get longer.
if you want to test a theory do it but really you should not let them worry you.
every day people defy what is expected. apparently most of the people should never get passed classic and look at all the uber long members here-perhaps we are just special?
:lol:

Just tell your hairdresser that all it takes to grow hair is some miracle grow. What, think I'm cuckoo? Well, so is your hairdresser's advice. :grin:

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to have all-one-length hair. I'd love to have nice unbroken flow from scalp to ends, I really would, but it is never going to happen.
P.S. - My hair is never going to "catch up." Before today's new hairs reach maximum length, a bunch of older hairs will have shed out, and there will be a whole new crop of newbies spoiling the flow, and probably a few broken ones as well.

It is impossible for anyone to have hair that's all the same length. That's not how it works! If all hair had the same length we would get bald when we shed. Hair grows, rests and falls off in different cycles, so we won't go bald every time we shed. Everyone's hair has different lengths naturally, since they grow in different cycles. A hair falls out, the follice rests and then a new hair starts growing. How would it be possible for that hair to be the same length as another hair that has grown for several years already?

Having your hair cut straight or in a slight u-shape makes the ends look thicker than fairy tale ends, that might be why people think that it makes the hair thicker. It depends on what look you're after. I don't know, but maybe a blunt cut somewhat protects the hair too? The ends might not get as damaged since there are so many more hair strands at the ends that can take the damage? I have no idea.

My odd sense of humour again but the George Michael interview :

I know of just three places in the world where women grow more than half-an-inch per month:Tehuantepec, Mexico; the Piedmont Province of northern Italy, and in parts of Minnesota. Those areas lack iodine in the water, which causes severe thyroid dysfunctions including bulging eyes and horrible weight gain. But, their hair is known to grow up to 6 inches per month."

Thank heaven that they put iodine in the water where I live !

Apparently George Michale knows nothing of thyroid disfunctions because you need to have a high level of hormones to get bulging eyes but a low level to gain weight, and you can't have both at the same time. No mather which you have your hair stops growing and you start to shed a LOT!

If he's wrong about that I put my money on that he is wrong about the growing theory as well. Didn't he say that longer hair shed less too? Someting about that if you have hair to you feet you only lose about 2 hairs a day, but if you only have to your shoulders you lose a lot more?

I am growing out my bangs so I will measure them and my length to see if one grows faster than the other. My bangs are 11 inches long.

I would have just thought that hair grows, regardless of what length it is :-/

I too believe hair grows but to different extents ( cms/month).
But it showing also depends on how strong the hair is to maintain the length .. some hairs break easily etc ...

IF IT didnt grow no one would have white hair and would be forced to dye it!

where'd you get that? It's a RIOT. LOL

I've got tears in my eyes....oooh, ahha..

I stole that from Snowy- she recently won and award for typing ! (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=33799)
She posted that and I fell off my chair laughing :spitting:

I could never understand the science behind the theory of hair striving to be the same length. As a literalist, to me this means each hair wants to be exactly the same length as every other hair, which means that I'd have some pretty decent layering on the ends. A 24" long hair on the top of my head will not make an even hemline with a 24" hair from the nape of my neck; I'd have a good 6" difference in the layers. If every hair wanted to be the same length, then I would think I need to have layers on the end 6" or so. In order to make the theory work, I think it is more correct to say that as one moves up from the nape to the crown, the longer the hair strives to be. Still doesn't make sense to me ;)

I do hope that the theory about bangs (or as we call it, a fringe) isn't true.

I really need a fringe to break up my high forehead - the swept back look just doesn't suit me and really accentuates my "permanently miserable" look (I am one of those people to whom random strange men, tend to say "Cheer up love, it may never happen", earning a glare from me :twisted:).

My hair is plenty thick enough that a little fringe doesn't significantly affect the volume and it makes a world of difference to my "look"