2inches a year for African American women ??

[harigeek]

Ladies I was doing some research on porosity control (if you noticed i'm also babybemine who posted questions about this yesterday) and came across this article. I was really feeling down yesterday because I measured my hair and the length is exactly where it was last year!!

Then I came across this article and here's an excerpt:

"Race can also play a role in how quickly hair grows. For instance, the typical African American woman’s hair will grow a mere 2 inches a year. That’s a long wait when you’re looking to fix a lifetime of growth. It is also very important to understand because the actual architecture of African American hair makes it quite fragile. Styling techniques and frequent chemical treatments also can complicate the problem for these patients. "

Here's the entire article http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter159.asp?AID=6


I know this isn't true cos so many ladies here get more than that a year but I swear this may be me and if I am getting 2 inches a year I am not able to retain it.

Oh well, it's just hair, right ??
Hari

 

[so1913]

"the typical AA woman..."
hmmm, I think if there is any truth in this statement, it's been exaggerated...

 

[Netta1]

2inches a year PLEASE!!!!

Our hair grows like everybody elses.


I do agree that certain styles and chemicals can hinder your progress, but that goes for all ethnic backgrounds.

 

[candibaby]

i dont think that's true.. the average person's hair grows .5" a month.. maybe some AA women only retain 2" or less.. they definetly exaggerated that section.

 

[lovelymissyoli]

That's a lie! We would all look like chicken heads if our hair grew 2 inches a year.

Now on to your problem, what is your regimen?

 

[SexyC]

I agree. Just measure your new growth before a touch-up for a few months (maybe 4 to 6) and that should be you 2 inches right there. With AA's I think it's all about retaining.

 

[Valerie]

African American hair can grow 2 inches a year, if the hair is constantly breaking, hence it is difficult to retain length. Many of us are much more enlighted about our hair, yes we realise it is fragile, hence we realise that our hair needs moisture. Since being on this hair board, this board contains only success stories. Many people who have never had long hair in their earlier and teenage years, (myself included) have grown their hair long, many have pasted shoulder length, then majority are brastrap length and longer, many are at waist length and beyond. Although the article was very informative, the 2 inches a year is not true.

 

[Dare~to~Dream]

I think I get only 3 inches a year and NO my hair isn't constantly breaking because I have set healthy hair routine that I've been following for a year almost. My hair grows slower than average like 1/4 inch or less so 2-3 inches a year is about right for me.

 

[GoingBack]

I think I get only 3 inches a year and NO my hair isn't constantly breaking because I have set healthy hair routine that I've been following for a year almost. My hair grows slower than average like 1/4 inch or less so 2-3 inches a year is about right for me.

The same goes for me. I don't know exactly how many inches I get in a year, but it definitely isn't the average 6 inches. I know this because my grows less than the expected 1/4 inch per month. Sometimes (very rarely), I will experience an increase in growth, but usually I usually get slightly less than 1/4 of an inch every month and that is why I am constantly trying to find new ways to speed up my growth.

 

[SandySea]

That's a lie! We would all look like chicken heads if our hair grew 2 inches a year.

I agree. We'd all be in some serious trouble if our hair grew at that rate. With all the times that my hair has broken off, if it only grew 2 inches a year I'd never recover from set backs. Don't be discouraged by that untruth!

 

[AudraChanell]

That's crap. Almost every AA woman I know gets double that. Don't pay attention to things like that It'll just get u all hot and bothered for nothing!

 

[MizAvalon]

That is ridiculous. Human hair grows half an inch a month. Obviously there are exceptions, but for *most* people this is the norm.

 

[MissM]

I'm one of the slow growers too, my hair has been brastrap for about two years now. I trim 2x a year and I only use heat 1x a week. This year I'm going to try going to that Doobie salon that is about to open here in Detroit and see if I get any additional growth doing that. My hair needs to get re-trained for roller setting.

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

Ladies I was doing some research on porosity control (if you noticed i'm also babybemine who posted questions about this yesterday) and came across this article. I was really feeling down yesterday because I measured my hair and the length is exactly where it was last year!!

Then I came across this article and here's an excerpt:

"Race can also play a role in how quickly hair grows. For instance, the typical African American woman’s hair will grow a mere 2 inches a year. That’s a long wait when you’re looking to fix a lifetime of growth. It is also very important to understand because the actual architecture of African American hair makes it quite fragile. Styling techniques and frequent chemical treatments also can complicate the problem for these patients. "

Here's the entire article http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter159.asp?AID=6


I know this isn't true cos so many ladies here get more than that a year but I swear this may be me and if I am getting 2 inches a year I am not able to retain it.

Oh well, it's just hair, right ??
Hari

Well this doesn't apply to me at all. I'm of African descent and my hair grows more than two inches a year. I don't know where this woman gets her sources at this point I think her knowledge on the skin and hair should be called into question.

 

[PretteePlease]

i would say typical is more like 5-6in a year why else would so many black women who perm need retouches??????????
to me typical is a synonym for average and no way 2in is the average

 

[confused_one]

hi everyone, i've been reading your post since December but this is my first time posting. About the hair only growing 2 inches a year i don't totally agree with that, since May 2004 to now my hair has grown 4 inches, i chopped 2 inches off yesterday cause im trying to get rid of my permed ends, so my hair pretty much stays at sholder lenght, so its not because its not growing its because i keep cutting it (still confused if i want to go natural or not).

 

[harigeek]

Ladies - Thanks for the encouraging words.

Lovelymissyoli - I'm natural and I deep condition once a week (UBH) and moisturise (UBH) almost everyday. That's pretty much it. I only did an Aphogee treatment once this whole year. I take my multi-vitamin daily (I'm anemic). I also started taking 10mg of Biotin a day in December. Before that I was doing about 5mg of Biotin a day since June. I don't think its doing anything for me either, but I will keep chugging along.

Kitty18 & Lanelle - I totally understand. I go through years and years without noticing any growth with my hair, and it's not like I'm abusing it. It's wrapped up most of the time in its natural state. No pressing, no coloring, no curling iron, no flat ironing. I don't even know what my growth rate is.

I'm still going to keep working on it, and maybe one day I will be able to figure it out, God willing. I know that my hair is fuller than it used to be cos the bottom is filling up and I don't have the tiny baby hairs I used to see whenever I did a part. I could never see my parts before but now I can!

I gave myself a haircut yesterday so now my hair is nothing but the fuller bottom part. Hopefully I will be able to make some progress this year. Wish me luck!!

Thanks Ladies!
Hari

 

[moneychaser]

Maybe the author meant the typical AA female only RETAINS 2 inches per year,due to nonhealthy hair practices. If so I definately agree with that, I have a couple of friends whose hair have remained the same length for over 4 years due to infrequent washing, and curling iron abuse

 

[SexyC]

Or maybe there just tring to feed AA's that aren't educated about hair growth false info so they can sell some hair products.
Thats just my opinion.

 

[sugarsweet]

Girl don't always believe what you read . I don't care what type of specialist you are if your not AA then I would take the advice with a grain of salt. As AA we have so many hair textures that you can't group us all into one stereo type. Just keep on doing what you know best and I am sure you will reach your hair goal and the best thing to have is healthy hair because it beats long unhealthy hair out hands down every time lol.

 

[cutebajangirl]

That is a bunch of crap, she is a prime example of why there is a need for more dermatologists of color, it seems like regardless of training and seminars people still allow their own views to blind them to the actual scientific proof. I feel sorry for her AA patients that go to her for hair help.

 

[shoelover1972]

i would say typical is more like 5-6in a year why else would so many black women who perm need retouches??????????
to me typical is a synonym for average and no way 2in is the average

ITA
All of us who relax would only re-touch once a year!!!
There are white women I know whos hair grows slower than mine. Can this 'expert' answer that???

 

[star]

Some peolple's bodies do take la onger time to rebuild; slow hair growth in the beginning of our journeys could be from what we have done to bodies before we started a regimen. The body is very forgiven and once we change things it responds. The key is to be consitent even when we do not see results things are still happening on the inside of our bodies. Make sure you have all the information you need in terms of products and vitamins and stick with it. It may take your body a little longer to rebuild something that you are not aware. The hair, skin and nails are the last place where the body feeds the nutrients to. But, as you continue with a healthy regime I KNOW your hair will start to soar or take off. The artilcles out there do not take in account people life styles, medicine they may be taken or have taken and stress levels. Getting our bodies to respond to us is an journey but it so well worth it. Your hair will take off and then you are going to need to cut it because you will have so much to spare.

Ladies I was doing some research on porosity control (if you noticed i'm also babybemine who posted questions about this yesterday) and came across this article. I was really feeling down yesterday because I measured my hair and the length is exactly where it was last year!!

Then I came across this article and here's an excerpt:

"Race can also play a role in how quickly hair grows. For instance, the typical African American woman’s hair will grow a mere 2 inches a year. That’s a long wait when you’re looking to fix a lifetime of growth. It is also very important to understand because the actual architecture of African American hair makes it quite fragile. Styling techniques and frequent chemical treatments also can complicate the problem for these patients. "

Here's the entire article http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter159.asp?AID=6


I know this isn't true cos so many ladies here get more than that a year but I swear this may be me and if I am getting 2 inches a year I am not able to retain it.

Oh well, it's just hair, right ??
Hari

 

[Poohbear]

Our hair grows no matter what, but the length may stay the same or may be 2 inches longer than it was a year ago. It's all about how we take care of our hair. Harigeek, your hair may be the same length due to trims, breakage, or something... not because it's not growing. I think the person who said African American hair grows 2 inches a year is ignorant.

 

[dreemssold]

This site pissed me off, so I sent them the following email

Dear Sir or Madam:

I was perusing your website this evening and was shocked to read the following:

"Race can also play a role in how quickly hair grows. For instance, the typical African American woman’s hair will grow a mere 2 inches a year. That’s a long wait when you’re looking to fix a lifetime of growth. It is also very important to understand because the actual architecture of African American hair makes it quite fragile. Styling techniques and frequent chemical treatments also can complicate the problem for these patients."


Unfortunately, this information is false. Black (because I assume that when referring to African-American women, Dr. Kunin is actually referencing race, rather than culture, i.e., does a Black Jamaican woman's hair grow faster than an African-American woman's hair?) womens' hair grows at the same rate as any other human's hair. Where the doctor obtained this information is beyond me, but it is false. Part of the reason why it may appear that Black women have a slower rate of growth might be because our hair breaks more easily because of its' inherent dryness, and because, as was noted, many of us use chemical processes, which might further inhibit the ability to retain growth. Retention of the hair is the issue...not growth. I urge you to research this matter further and update your website accordingly, lest Black women read the part I've cited above and be discouraged. The key to retaining length for Black women is moisture, nothing more, nothing less. Since realizing this, many other Black women and I have been able to grow (but more importantly, to retain) 4-6" annually. For more information, you may look online at any one of several websites geared toward helping women of color learn how to retain length. Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and good day.

This email sums up my feelings on the matter.

 

[Solti]

Excellent Dreemssold!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BLESSED1]

Tell 'em dreems

 

[CatSuga]

Oh please! This is complete BS. I had a ceasar cut in oct and grew 1.75 inches by jan, so this is false.

 

[Ayeshia]

yeah that claim is ridiculous...if thats the case half of these women (including myself) would not have big chopped if we knew that was all of the growth we were going to get. i would only have about 2.5 inches of hair at this point

 

[shoelover1972]

Dreemsgold I could not have put it better myself