The Long Hair Community - How long have you been growing hair? Have you reached terminal length?

lyrl · November 5th, 2005, 08:27 AM

I've seen on some of the websites linked to from here that most people reach terminal length in 4-6 years, or even 2-6 years.

But *many* of the hair lengths by site members seem unacheivable with only six years of growth. I know personally, I didn't cut (not even trims) between the ages of 7 and 14. It took me that long to go from pixie to tailbone, and my hair wasn't showing any signs of being near terminal after those seven years. I'm questioning the accuracy of those claims. How long have you been growing your hair, and are you at terminal length?

If you've grown for a longer period of time in the past, answer for your longest time spent growing.

I know trims and cuts will confound things; please estimate as best you can how much growing time you've had without any trims or cuts.

myglory · November 5th, 2005, 08:36 AM

I didn't cut my hair for 4 years once. It was tailbone and still growing!

zule · November 5th, 2005, 08:54 AM

I know that one of my grandmothers hadn't had a haircut since she was born, and her hair stopped growing at floor length. The other hadn't cut it in at least 20 years, except for light trims, and it extended beyond her ankles and onto the floor, and as I said, she still had to trim. Personally, I grew my hair for three years from a chin-length cut and it reached to between BSL and waist--closer to waist. But that was with some trims.

So while I have no idea what my own terminal length would be, nor how long it would take to get there, I suspect I could grow it pretty long, due to genetics.

I'm not going to trim it for about a year, even with fairy tale ends (it's blunt cut now). I want to see what my natural shape is, to begin with. Also--how long will it grow in a year?

nicolezoie · November 5th, 2005, 11:15 AM

I've been growing my hair from a pixie, collectively, for 19 years. But, there were many stops and long periods of maintenance along the way. Even with trims, my hair continues to grow at 1/2" - 3/4" monthly, and my hair is just past my knees. I seem to have a very long growth cycle. I guess that, without any trims since I started growing again about 4 years ago at hip length, my hair would probably be to the floor by now, if I wanted it that long. But the ends would not be in a condition I'd be comfortable with.

But, it keeps on growing, and has no signs of slowing either.

Alva · November 5th, 2005, 11:43 AM

I've been growing out for about 4 years after a perm. Had quite some trims too in the last years, except for this last year since I visit the haircare boards. For now it is still growing strong and there are no signs of terminal just yet. Guess I have to wait and see what happens.

songofsunlight · November 5th, 2005, 02:01 PM

I don't believe it either, lyrl. I wonder if the source was referring to the people of a particular country or the whole world? Or referring to both sexes or women alone? Their idea of 'terminal length' may include those whose hair would grow longer if they had better nutrition and/or care for their hair.

It will be interesting to note the results of this poll. Of course, any such poll in this community is not a fair sampling of folk in general. But this does seem too short of time in which most people would reach terminal length, I agree.

Celuriel

curls2grow · November 5th, 2005, 04:27 PM

I've been growing mine for about 2 years. I know I have not reached terminal length

, but I doubt I will go longer than BSL, if even that length.

Carolyn · November 5th, 2005, 05:31 PM

I've been growing for 6 years. I started with shoulder length layers. It's still growing a good half inch a month. I haven't seen any signs of it slowing down. The longest I've gone without a trim is maybe 5 or 6 months.

Adrienne · November 5th, 2005, 05:53 PM

I have been atempting to grow my hair since i was 10, im 21 now so yeah its been awhile, granted during that time i was not giveing my hair proper care, relaxing it, alot even when I did not want to I let others pressure me, probably not washing it enough,and I did not keep my dry 3c curls moistureized so that is what was hindering my growth im sure, now i am an adult and i am dertermind to do this right for myself so i can have the long hair i have always dreamed of!!

Rydain · November 5th, 2005, 05:58 PM

I've been growing mine for thirteen years, but it has not been a consistent process. I didn't know what I was doing, so I would have to get monster trims every now and then and lose lots of growth. At least it did eventually make its way from a few inches below shoulder length to just above my navel. Now that I do know what I'm doing and only plan to trim very small amounts whenever I want to even the hemline, I've been consistently adding 1/2" per month, which seems to be the average growth rate. Based on what hemlines typically look like at terminal length, I don't think I'm anywhere close. My hair is blunt cut straight across. A terminal length hemline tends to be a point. The sides of my hair haven't stopped growing, so I expect the entire hemline to advance downward pretty consistently for a while.

futurestylist · November 7th, 2005, 04:09 PM

I personally believe that "terminal length" occurs due to multiple factors, one is genetics and as Nicolezoie has stated, also depends on a long growth cycle. Of course, I think the right vitamins make a big difference in reducing hair loss, which also helps retain length and therefore allows the hair to reach longer lengths. I believe everyone has a resting period for hair and that it starts back up in growth after a certain period. I know a couple of pentecostal women who have never had their hair cut or trimmed since birth. The first woman is in her 60s and her hair is about thigh length, but very nice. The other, is really a girl, who I believe is around 17 or 18 and has over seven feet of hair. Her family all has awesome hair I guess.

Scott

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyrl

I've seen on some of the websites linked to from here that most people reach terminal length in 4-6 years, or even 2-6 years.

But *many* of the hair lengths by site members seem unacheivable with only six years of growth. I know personally, I didn't cut (not even trims) between the ages of 7 and 14. It took me that long to go from pixie to tailbone, and my hair wasn't showing any signs of being near terminal after those seven years. I'm questioning the accuracy of those claims. How long have you been growing your hair, and are you at terminal length?

If you've grown for a longer period of time in the past, answer for your longest time spent growing.

I know trims and cuts will confound things; please estimate as best you can how much growing time you've had without any trims or cuts.

Ali · November 7th, 2005, 05:23 PM

I've often wondered myself about the accuracy of the "terminal length" figures that are touted around. But I would imagine it's a difficult thing to research - you would need a large group of people who are both willing to grow their hair to terminal, and willing to participate in such a study. And even if you could find those people, there doesn't seem to be any money in long hair research, so I doubt the study would be done. I guess LHC needs a rich benefactor!

Myself, I've been growing for 5 years, and I'm almost at BSL, with no signs of terminal yet (as far as I know!) There's been a lot of trims along the way, but most of the problem is my slow growth rate. I keep reminding myself of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare!

snowbear · November 7th, 2005, 05:50 PM

Growing with a purpose since joining LHC. God, I hope I haven't reached terminal!
Must. Have. Long. Hair.

Solitude · November 7th, 2005, 08:05 PM

"I've seen on some of the websites linked to from here that most people reach terminal length in 4-6 years, or even 2-6 years."

What?!?

Hmm, I had a loose strand. I guess I cannot floss with just one

Can't even double up and do it. It's sooo brittle

It used to be soooo strong (well whatever that meant as a perm pretest).

I can't recall when I last cut my hair, sorry. Maybe I have hit terminal length? It doesn't seem to be getting any longer.

baiken · November 8th, 2005, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali

I've often wondered myself about the accuracy of the "terminal length" figures that are touted around. But I would imagine it's a difficult thing to research - you would need a large group of people who are both willing to grow their hair to terminal, and willing to participate in such a study. And even if you could find those people, there doesn't seem to be any money in long hair research, so I doubt the study would be done. I guess LHC needs a rich benefactor!

Myself, I've been growing for 5 years, and I'm almost at BSL, with no signs of terminal yet (as far as I know!) There's been a lot of trims along the way, but most of the problem is my slow growth rate. I keep reminding myself of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare!

Great point Ali! I believe it is very much like that, terminal length is close to impossible to make a study on, refering to the fact you provided.
- And as for slow growth rate.. uhh, I experience the same thing too.. I shall think about the Tortoise & the Hare to keep me motivated!

As for myself, I have with purpose grown my hair for 1½ years. The hair I had already grown before I started, would be about 1-2 years. So all together my hair at the ends is about 3-4 years old. (very roughly counted.)
I have not seen any indications yet that it is reaching its terminal length. The ends are thin, but that is because of the way I used to treat that hair. I have only just recently started to baby my hair and care for it the 'LHC'-way..