What determines the final length of your hair?

I had an argument w/ a co-worker who says that hair growth is only based on genetics and when u get older it doesn't grow as much. I didn't really believe her but she was so adament about it. I thought that genetics was a factor in how long your hair can get but it was also equally about how u care for ur hair. She said that even though I had long hair b4 It would never get back to my waist bc i am getting older (im only 21) and it stops growing after a certain point. Is this true? I don't believe it because i have seen ppl here who never had hair past their shoulders and now have mid-back hair. What do you think?

MissFallon said:

I had an argument w/ a co-worker who says that hair growth is only based on genetics and when u get older it doesn't grow as much. I didn't really believe her but she was so adament about it. I thought that genetics was a factor in how long your hair can get but it was also equally about how u care for ur hair. She said that even though I had long hair b4 It would never get back to my waist bc i am getting older (im only 21) and it stops growing after a certain point. Is this true? I don't believe it because i have seen ppl here who never had hair past their shoulders and now have mid-back hair. What do you think?

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You both are correct. You can grow to waistlength (you are still very young) and protein synthisis does decrease with age esp in women after menopause (probably 60 and beyond). Stop worrying and grow baby grow1

MissFallon said:

I had an argument w/ a co-worker who says that hair growth is only based on genetics and when u get older it doesn't grow as much. I didn't really believe her but she was so adament about it. I thought that genetics was a factor in how long your hair can get but it was also equally about how u care for ur hair. She said that even though I had long hair b4 It would never get back to my waist bc i am getting older (im only 21) and it stops growing after a certain point. Is this true? I don't believe it because i have seen ppl here who never had hair past their shoulders and now have mid-back hair. What do you think?

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I agree with Foxy, you are both right.
Genetic make up plays a major role in determining the hair's terminal length. Personal hair care plays a role in realizing the terminal length genetics has predetermined.

Terminal length is the longest length your hair will grow in its growth phase. But, terminal length is more of a time measure, than an actual length measure. Growth phases last years, and hair will grow until it hits that time point--- not necessarily a certain length point or marker. Hairs grow independently of the ones around them so when one reaches terminal length, another may just be a year or two in. If your growth phase is genetically engineered for 4 years whether you've gotten to waist length or been stuck at shoulderlength in those 4 years your hair will shed at that 4 year mark. Even if you shave your head from waistlength to bald at 3 years and 364 days in, at that 4 year point it will shed- regardless of finishing length. Your job is to simply bank as much growth and retain as much length as you can before the clock runs out for each hair. I don't believe you can truly know your terminal length until you've been growing your hair for several years on an impeccable healthy hair regimen.

Genetic make up also plays a role in how we age--- whether we'll start to thin out an an early age, experience a texture change, etc. As we age the hair's growth rate does tend to decrease. Hair grows the fastest in childhood, so maybe that is what she meant by you being 21 hitting your old age. As long as you are alive though, your hair/nails will continue to grow no matter how old you are. Now how much of it you have left thickness wise is up for discussion.

Sistaslick said:

I agree with Foxy, you are both right.
Genetic make up plays a major role in determining the hair's terminal length. Personal hair care plays a role in realizing the terminal length genetics has predetermined.

Terminal length is the longest length your hair will grow in its growth phase. But, terminal length is more of a time measure, than an actual length measure. Growth phases last years, and hair will grow until it hits that time point--- not necessarily a certain length point or marker. Hairs grow independently of the ones around them so when one reaches terminal length, another may just be a year or two in. If your growth phase is genetically engineered for 4 years whether you've gotten to waist length or been stuck at shoulderlength in those 4 years your hair will shed at that 4 year mark. Even if you shave your head from waistlength to bald at 3 years and 364 days in, at that 4 year point it will shed- regardless of finishing length. Your job is to simply bank as much growth and retain as much length as you can before the clock runs out for each hair. I don't believe you can truly know your terminal length until you've been growing your hair for several years on an impeccable healthy hair regimen.

Genetic make up also plays a role in how we age--- whether we'll start to thin out an an early age, experience a texture change, etc. As we age the hair's growth rate does tend to decrease. Hair grows the fastest in childhood, so maybe that is what she meant by you being 21 hitting your old age. As long as you are alive though, your hair/nails will continue to grow no matter how old you are. Now how much of it you have left thickness wise is up for discussion.

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Girl you know your stuff. You and Foxy hit it on nail. Both are important. I was expecting to open this thread to read someone says genetics has NOTHING to do with how long your hair will grow .

i think genetics can determine your terminal length but i think it's common sense to say that your terminal length could be waist length but if your doing things to cause your hair to break off like constant heat, frequent relaxers/color, no moisture, bad diet. you aren't gonna see the length. i don't think any of us really know how long our hair can grow unless we try.

I agreed that genetics played a role but the way she said it was like it would never grow back to where it was. When she was saying old she was talking like 25+. She was telling me that a friend of hers had waist length hair until two yrs ago when she cut it and then after she cut it to APL her hair wouldn't go past BSL. I said it was probably because she wasn't taking care of it and she said it was because of her genetics and cuz she was getting old (the girl is only 23). She was like if u cut your hair to shoulder length it wont grow past apl.

Well, we know thats not entirely true girl! There are plenty of women here who are well over the age of 25 reaching APL, BSL, and even waistlength for the first time, or second time in their lives since childhood. So, don't sell yourself short.

These ladies here are right on point. If you want more information and the science behind it, here is a great presentation on hair.

http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_21.htm

it's one of my favorite sites. So much information.

That is a crock of mess. I know plenty of women who's hair continued to grow past BSL and they are over the hill (by your friend's definition of old). Although hair growth may slow as you age, at 21, you have yet to hit your stride! Personally, I had super short hair for years. I decided to let it grow out and my hair reached midback. I decided to let my relaxer grow out and I am still midback because of trimming the relaxed ends off gradually.

Remember, to reach your genetic potential, you must take care of your hair. Additionally, you must pay attention to proper nutrition and excercise. I believe genetics play a role but it seems that people give up too easily and never reach their growth potential. I refuse to believe those with tightly coiled hair are all doomed to neck length (stretched, relaxed).

Their may be individuals that can abuse their hair, not eat properly and still have long hair. However, just because one's requires extra TLC does not mean one is not capable of acheiving length. For example, some individuals may have a genetic predisposition for cellulite (no matter what their size). It does not mean they are stuck with it, they just have to do things differently.

I would like to direct you to the Long Hair Community. There are women there in their 50's, 60's, and 70's with long hair. And a number of them didn't start their journey until after age 30

You are very young hair wise. Good maintenance will get you to where you want to be

A lot of people tend to cut and keep their hair short as they get older because short hair makes them look cuter and younger. These days, things are slightly changing and women are exercising more, keeping up with their vitamins and growing and keeping long hair.

I am not sure if it is the weather that contributed to this but this was my experience.....,

Last year my mom was with me (she is 65 years old). She had natural hair all her life but she recently texlaxed due to traveling commitments overseas and seeking ease of styling. Her hair was slightly longer than mine when she went back home to the sunny caribbean. She came back recently after 8 months in JA, and I was floored to see that her hair doubled in length and mine seem to have grown about .5" longer. Yeah, I had 2 tiny trims but still - so did she!! and she went from shoulder length to APL in no time. I was proud that her hair has florished so beautifully and has so much body but I was a bit angry and frustrated with my hair that with all the vitamins and protective styling my hair growth was just creeping SLOWLY along. I was like, how is it possible that this old lady (I love her to death!!) can produce SO much growth and mine is just STRUGGLING along!! This clearly proves to me that getting older does not mean that hair will not continue to grow longer and longer.

tenderheaded said:

I would like to direct you to the Long Hair Community. There are women there in their 50's, 60's, and 70's with long hair. And a number of them didn't start their journey until after age 30

You are very young hair wise. Good maintenance will get you to where you want to be

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That's true. And their long hair is pretty, thick and healthy too. Some of the 60 and 70-year-old manes look a lot better than some of the younger ones.

I believe part of growing our hair long and healthy is with a good diet, exercise and hair regimen that works for us and the other part is in our minds - our expectations, beliefs about hair, how we feel about ourselves, etc.