Why Your Hair Won't Grow Past A Certain Length | The ONE MAJOR Mistake | Natural Hair 

One of my theories is that when your hair grows to a certain length, you get so excited about being able to do so many styles that you over manipulate your hair and do less protective styling because you want to wear your hair out more. This makes your hair vulnerable to dryness and breakage.

When I wear a silk scarf at night I wake up in the morning and it's on the other side of the room wtf?! :(

where are my six inches.. I mean my hair grows like 1inch each year

The white background compliments your skin tone. Beautiful!

Yes!! The catch-22 of having long hair. You wanna show it off but the truth is, the people who wear their hair up more always have the longest hair

I tell people this all the time... natural and relaxed!! I learned first hand that once your hair gets shoulder and you start keeping it off your shoulders you can retain more length. All throughout high school I would get to shoulder length, my ends got thin, and then I'd cut it. This was a constant cycle until college when I learned about protective styling. Once I started doing hairstyles that kept my hair off my shoulders, my hair(relaxed) finally grew to APL with full thick ends. I think it's more than just a theory! Lol

I can't seem to keep a scarf bonnet or anything on my head at night! Seriously everytime I wake up its off and my hair is out and the back of my hair is dry and frizzy

Diet is a BIG ONE. You can not be anemic and grow hair, most black women have iron anemia due to external factors.

Lol my hair is thriving. My plants, not so much

wear silk scarves or silk or satin blouses

This is where I am right now. I am at armpit length and my hair feels like it just plateaued. Great advice!

I just got a hair cut and she took the most length (2-3 inches) off the nape area. I was pretty bummed because I loved that length and now I'm set back but I needed it. My ends were so bad and now they're so healthy and juicy and easy to detangle. My hair shrinks so much that it never touches my shoulders even if I blow it out. It still hovers right above them. I thinks that's why my hair has thrived for so long because there's no friction, it just floats freely.

Yes trimming is so important omg I just trimmed & cut/shaped up my hair last night and it looks better than ever 😍😍 my hair wouldn't stay moisturized long, was thin looking, shed soo much & broke off omg thought I was going bald. Ends were feeling so rough too man & looking horrible. A trim/cut fixed all that! 😆 I am so happy yall. My hair feels amazing, looks so full and has bounce/movement. If you knooow your ends need a trim don't constantly postpone it 😩 sooner is better than later. Truust me

I like your gap.

I have the same problem of constantly growing my hair but then having to cut it because my ends are bad. I haven't flat ironed my hair in a long time. I guess it is because I do not clip my ends every so often. I started this thing where I'm keeping my hair in cornrows for the entire year for less manipulation so hopefully that will retain length. The problem with the cornrows though is how to maintain them properly. Thanks for the video!!!!

I have an issue with my middle section breaking. Any suggestion?

So I actually totally agree with this! My hair is at neck length curly and I couldn't figure out why my ends were looking so sad and I wasn't using heat or over manipulating...my wash n goes don't require much to maintain...and I bun with a thick satin ribbon. So to combat this problem, I am styling my hair in braids (flat twists) more often (changing the part placement each time so my middle doesn't thin)...and incorporating more roller sets into my routine so my ends aren't sitting on my neck and so that I can maintain for work easier (pinned up, loose bun, etc). Def wish more people were sharing this bc I def think it's a thing.

I agree with your theory 100% 👏👏👏 I also think that limiting beliefs that Afro hair can't grow play an important part in stopping black people reaching mid back or waist length. 🤔

I agree with the friction explanation. I've noticed that when I wear my hear down, it gets dry faster. I therefore wear it up to go to work.

hi yes you have a great point my hair seemed different in the back middle so i began to think my hair was always touching the head rest in the car what i did was buy a bonnet and i put it on the head rest in my car it fixed the problem

What was the one major mistake?

my hair is at that length where it stops growing, I love these tips thanks so much for sharing!

I love your tips, your make-up is AWESOME! Perfect color, shading everything. How did you determine those colors for your make-up in this video!

I feel like hair gets overwhelmed by trying so hard to grow. This might sound crazy but honestly think about it. We do all these things trying to make it grow but the hair needs to breathe. Also, I think it "rebels" whenever you have a schedule for too long. This happens a lot with some people. Not all, but some.

Do a video on how you trim your hair.

I've heard moderately oiling your ends and keeping them stretched really helps. I usually just flip my hair while it's still in it's morning pineapple and oil it that it works great and my back ends are super strong

Thank you for the advice!! I always had shoulder length hair and I always thought why haven't my hair grown? I always wear it out in a curly fro so I need to do more protective styles. Tysm

Thank You girl for this video. because I do feel like my hair is stuck. So now I'm charging my hair products and taking multi vitamins

Great vid! Everything you said makes so much since

I wear protective styles closure sew ins or wigs with my hair braided underneath and a cap over it then wig sewn down and that really helps my hair grow out tremendously! And another thing i learned was to not put heat on ur hair ! Bc yeah we are quick to get a silk press or something like that right after a sew in and whatnot but really u can achieve a lot more growth if u stay away from the heat in general ! Take those sew ins and wigs down was your hair detangle it add avocado cream or whatever u use and braid it back up and put ur protective styles back on !

What reasons do people have to dislike videos like this!?? Lmao like wtf

Yes! My hair grows okay. But I do notice now that it's a little past my shoulder the friction of jackets and shirts may be stunting the growth! I'm going to try pony tails for a month & see if I can tell a difference!

"Always think of your hair as a plant (02:10)." ~ That's a good analogy! Good info, Ms. Melissa Denise!! Your theory about the 'hair friction' is a good one, too, in my opinion. (02:55) Which is why I wear a silk or satin scarf or bonnet (or try to, anyway!) to bed, so my hair doesn't get caught in cotton fabrics and break off, split, etc. Someone w/hair that drapes could always start wearing a silk/satin scarf around their shoulder, so they hair would cascade onto it and not a cotton or wool or some other hair-angry fabric. My 2 cents. Good info ~ thank you! Beautiful hair!

This!!!!! I wasn't aware of this until the end of my freshman year of highschool & my hair was at my waist and i had to cut it all the way to my shoulders because I experienced a lot of breakage there from always wearing my hair down and heat damage and now i no longer use direct heat and wear protective styles and my hair is as healthy as ever.... its been 2 years btw

Your hair is Gorgeous!!! New Subscriber! Great Tips!!

i have long hair natural and I don't have to do anything to it but look after it but instead of leaving it out I sometimes weave

I’ve been stuck at one inch below my bra strap for about 2 years and I take care of my hair and have a healthy life style. I don’t know what to do.

I dont really use heat on my hair but what causes split ends ? My hair is very tight curls and lots of drawing up so what would be the best way to cut split ends off?

That's me 3-4 yrs I felt like that but everything is changing and I'm going to be positive and not even worry about growth, I'm worried about healthy hair fr

Hi Melissa Denny I have been trying to grow my hair waist length ever since I can remember.I do hot hair treatments and everything.My hair is stuck at bra strap length.The back is longer than the front.Combing it backwards it looks like a egg shape.What can you advise me to do?Thank you.Am willing to accept any tips

Your hair is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

Yeah i wear a headscarf so no matter what length my hair is it's in contact with fabric and my hair has never gotten to shoulder length. I guess that's my problem 😢

I know what you mean about retaining length my hair was 18 inches when I was eleven its growing back out...and has had setbacks and flourishes since then. my setback was always heat. overtime my hair bounced back but hair vitamins are the golden miracle along with moisture...I think it grows thick but I want it longer I was THERE three years ago like my hair was at shoulder length I need to let it get past that length again.

I'm thinking a soft toothbrush is a good alternative to the scrub brush. They didn't have the scrub brushes. back in the day yet people had long hair.

Try the Aussie moised 3 minute miracle. It really is a good moisturizing deep conditioner and you can do it right in the shower after you shampoo. It's not curly girl friendly (it has silicones) but any sudsy sulfate free shampoo will remove that the next wash day. I rlly recommend in the summer when you're more likely to be out and have less hair time

So true about the hair getting shoulder length and the dangers of it. Mines always gets caught in my bag straps or my zipper. I'm looking for ways to pull my hair up caz there's a slight danger in that to with scrunges and what not. Then there's the fact I can't be hair in a ponytail to much caz that gives me headaches.

I do a wash & go on my hair every morning. Could that be a bad thing?

Amazing tips and video! I just wanted to know does having a healthy diet actually contribute to healthy hair growth? Thank you!!

This is the Best Advice Beautiful Queen.

I can't get my hair to grow but I'm pretty sure its because of my physical health overall. I'm trying to take of myself better and get in shape but also learn more about my hair. I've been natural for maybe five years and its always dry, short, and itchy so its about time I do something to fix it :)

Wait so is the one major thing friction?

I wear my hair up all the time but it has never grown past the shoulder. I don't know what to do anymore

My left side of my hair is longer than my right side is there a way i can fix that?

FINALLY someone who gets straight into the vid lol ilyy

OK so I don’t have natural hair well I’m white but I’m having the same problem I was wondering what are natural hair care routine work for me

hey!👋 Melissa. i was wounding what kind of healthy foods you eat and how do you keep your scalp nice and clean for a hole week? thank you❤☺

As a man with curly long hair four yearbook length marker , I fount this useful

The struggle is real! 😩 youtube hair looks 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

The middle part of my hair is the longest and driest part of my hair, any tips?

Please help. My hair has always been my pride and joy. I figured since it is pretty damn healthy, it could deal with some bleach damage. And I figured the master stylist who did all the color-corrections would know how much would be too much. I was wrong, and now I want to burst into tears every time I look at my hair or touch it. I just don't know what to do. my hair has also NEVER been shorter than this and it breaks and falls out. What should i do to regrow hair?

My hair has been 8 inches for 3 years and I just got it cut so now it’s 7 above my collarbone

omg your hair is giving me life!! Juicy!!

So I really need some help My hair is about 3b and the hair near my back is wavy with loose and big curls the top is very dry and the sides are balanced My problem is I'm not able to retain length and my hair is always BSL. I cut it every 3 months and start again but after about a week my ends start to know and they're very dry and brittle and they feel like straw. After cutting it'll grow back to the same length and it'll break off again. I deep condition and use oils too but my hair doesn't like heavy oils and it feels really fragile idk how to explain it. I try covering my hair at night but that doesn't really work and It's almost impossible for me too keep my hair braided for a week without my hair going crazy and becoming extremely dry. Idk what I should do but I'd be nice if anyone could help me out💕

I like the way you get to the point of the video!!!

My hair grows-to a certain height and stops when I pick or comb it i loose hair alot it also happens with mi Beard and hair on my foot and hands if i play with my hair sometimes it comes out in my hands i don't know what's wrong because i'm just 18 and I really want it to stops if any experience it or have any idea what's it is please tell me

What are your suggestions for one who has stunt growth due to over active sebaceous glands?

G O R G E O U S ! ! Love Love Love you. Your so right!!!

Great video! 🙋

thanks so much for the advice.

Heyyyy Melissa! Thanks as always! :) Hair looking good though! LOL aim for the bessstttt like me heeheee you perfectionist! I'm down wid dat! HA! x

How and when do I use the scrub brush?

Great tips I started a while ago putting my hair into a loose bun high on my head and made a satin cover for the headrest in my car, so I could stop the friction on my tresses. I have bra strap length hair that appeared to be not growing. It's already made a difference. .

Makes soooo much sense!!

My hair isn't natural but its thick n healthy. How do the back of my hair to grow? I do relax my hair but not often just 2 make my hair manageable.I have never ever dyed it and with a perm I barely heat it. What makes the back of your hair grow?

I feel you!

Excellent advice 🖒

You look like Felicia Rashad from the Cosby Show lol great video btw 💕

Melissa Denise Do you habe Big Chop advice for women with tightly coiled uneven hair? If so please let me know.

I've never trimmed my hair....is that bad ?

Very useful tips

So my hair was really long and i loved but I had to cut it because of heat damage 😭and the stylist that cut my hair cut way to short and all he did was wash and blow dry it but he wasn’t supposed to cut it😒 and after that I went to the next stylist in the salon and she cut my hair without knowing that he cut it that short. I don’t know why I didn’t saw anything🤦🏽‍♀️ but she cut it and when I was done my hair was right on my shoulder. Before my hair was cut I could put it in a huge puff and I loved it but now I can only put in in a small bun. I really miss my hair and I been trying to grow it back out for over a year . What are some products or tips that you think can help me?

Beautiful hair style you look like a pharaonic queen

I’ve had a TWA all my life !! Been natural all my life and I’ve had 6 - 7 inches for the last 3-4 years and I’m TIRED, someone help me plssss. I do everything in the book .

Watching this is soothing 😊

I have been natural for 3 years and a couple of months, my hair is past bra strap length (18 inches for the most part). Funny thing is i don't do anything to my hair, rarely deep condition or pamper my hair but i wear wigs so its always in braids. I have long hair but it is not as moisturized as i would like smh

im 17 and I've been natural since I was 10 years old. my hair has been the same length since my big chop and by this time its supposed to be 42 inches long (3.5 ft). my hair hasn't even passed my shoulders yet. I hope I see a change in the near future

I grew 6 inches a year when i kept a perm but not with natural hair

This is good do u believe Cantu products is good for transitioning 😊

I feel like I'm that girl that Has to trim every 1-2 months....anyway thanks for the advice you're such a beautiful person. God bless you to know him in Yashua's name.

the sound is little off but I really love your videos and your hair is beautiful

Notification gang ! 💓

Diet was something i need to change!

these tips are great

There was something weird that used to happen before I started taking good care of my hair. I'd often have it in a ponytail, which would pull on my scalp a bit, and I would basically have the ponytail 24/7, even at night. Then after literally a few days, the hair at the very centre of the ponytail (which is the part that isn't pulled on by the ponytail) would get noticeably longer than the rest of my hair and I would have to cut it off to stop it from looking ridiculous. I'm not sure why lol.

Ok so I constantly have split ends..I trim them all the time but that's not helping..anyone knows the problem?

You are stunning!

My hair won’t grow past 18 inches. It’s annoying... I put in all the work, I stay away from heat as much as possible.. not even once a month.. I do my trims every couple months... the only thing I can think of is eliminating all silicone products and go silicone free with Shea Moisture sulfate free shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave in conditioner, and As I am Buttercream... and seal it with oil (coconut oil, jojoba oil, chi silk infusion, Argan oil). I’ve done the black Jamaican castor oil pre-poo, Same with the Apple cider vinegar rinse... I clarify once a month, I do the aPHogee 2 step protein treatment once every 8 weeks... eggs, mayo and olive oil masque once every six months, I wanna try the rice water thing, I just got a silicone massaging scrub brush.... I NEED sulfates every once in a blue otherwise my hair feels greasy and I have mild scalp psoriasis that I didn’t have before I started going to salons and let them bleach my hair and it thinned out, for the mild psoriasis I’m getting the laser treatment to get it removed, so without the psoriasis shampoo (T-gel) and an olive oil pre-poo masque, it’ll feel like it has too much build up and residue too fast. I switch up my deep conditioners... from Nexxus, to Shea Moisture, to Mixed Chicks, etc. but I’m gonna start getting rid of silicones and doing more scalp massages with the silicone brush during my heavy pre-poo oilings. (Coconut oil, olive oil, black Jamaican castor oil, peppermint oil, jojoba oil, Argan oil, I fluctuate between oils or mix other oils with the black Jamaican castor oil to make it less thick) yet my hair stays at one length which is 18 inches. I got some clip in extensions that were 18” and my stylist told me my hair was the same length maybe a lil longer than the extensions (had a trim since then), so I got 20 inch Bellami extensions.. when my hair reaches that length then I’ll get 22 inch and once it reaches that length I’ll manage it then go blonde again and pay a top notch Manhattan stylist idc the price as long as they don’t fuck up like those fucking Bedstuy Dominican cunts did. Then had the nerve to laugh at my scalp being bright red from chemical burn from the bleach (they used no Vaseline to protect my hairline) and said “look mami you have highlight!! Hhahahaa”, then when she washed it all out so much of my hair came out and it has NEVER been the same since as far as thickness goes. I went in already blonde, I dyed it myself and it was healthy and thick... all I asked for was a root touch up, baby highlights and lowlights for dimension and they re-bleached my entire head with a higher volume, threw a color on top, then highlighted it. I almost cried thank god I still had hair on my head and it was still long. That’s when I noticed the falling of the scalp and chemical burns. I dyed my hair dark a year later and hated it.. so decided to go blonde again and it turned yellow.. and had to get a light brown dye on top of it to fix it.. and my hair was the shortest it’s ever been and breaking and it didn’t help I was using the flat iron everyday... when I went to black girls to do my hair and they used the flat iron I could hear my hair ripping they didn’t know what they were doing, so I only trust myself with the flat iron... I get it straighter, with less heat, and no ripping or snagging sound. That was all between 2010 thru 2012... I haven’t touched my color since. My hair is now 18 inches long but not as thick as it was before and I rarely use heat on it. I wear it natural. I’ve never had a relaxer in my life, my hair is too soft and doesn’t need it. Not even a keratin treatment... when I get my hair done people already think I have a keratin treatment that’s how silky it is. Even when I wear my hair natural they think I did something to it and I didn’t

there is this bump at the end of my hair strand which i think may be the cause of my hair breakage....my hair keeps tangling im so stress about it

hello to you. I'm new to the natural world but my edges have broken off...fallen out..whatever you want to call it. this natural process is VERY VERY frustrating for me. I'm am concerning going back to a relaxer..do you have any suggestions at all for me to help get me over this hurdle??? #mylasteffort

Can someone please let me know the difference between a conditioner & a deep conditioner? I usually use the Shea moisture black Jamaican conditioner....after I shampoo. Is this a deep conditioner? If so, can someone please let me know of a good conditioner to use prior to a deep conditioner...? Thank you in advance x