10 Reasons why your hair is not growing

We all want long, healthy, lustrous and damage-free hair, and we realize how irritating it may be when they don't appear to be achievable. Hair growth is one of the most difficult hair problems to address with. You have the impression that your hair growth has stalled, and that no matter what you try, your hair will never grow beyond its current length. After a point, many people will notice that their hair stops growing. It may appear to be thinning in one place, or it may refuse to grow past a particular length. It can be figured out, just like anything else. 

Each hair strand on your head has its own hair follicle. A three-phase cycle governs hair growth. All the strands are not in the same phase at the same time. 

Anagen phase: This is the period of growth, which can span anywhere between 2 to 7 years. The strands grow roughly half an inch per month during this phase. This phase is where the majority of your hair is at. 

Catagen phase: After the growth phase, the transitional phase lasts roughly 2 to 3 weeks. The blood supply to the end of the hair in the follicle is cut off at this phase. 

Telogen phase: At any given time, around 15% of your hair follicles are dormant or testing. It lasts roughly three months while the follicles prepare to restart the cycle. The actual shedding of hair is sometimes referred to as the exogen phase. 

Hair refuses to grow over a specific length for a variety of causes other than the hair growth cycle. Hair growth can be hampered by a variety of factors, including your nutrition, chemical imbalances, and the products you use. 

Here is a list of 10 reasons why your natural hair is not growing;

1) Genetics

Hair loss affects both men and women due to genetics and family history. It's possible that slow hair growth or thinning of hair runs in your family. The hair growth cycle varies from individual to individual because of hereditary. Before it's time to shed the hair, one person's hair growth cycle can have a three-year growth phase while another person's hair growth cycle can have a five-year growth phase. So your growth stage may be shorter than others, giving the impression that your hair isn't growing at all. 

2) Age 

Just like genetics, age can also play a major role in why your hair isn't growing. Hair growth is affected by age since your hair's growth cycle shortens as you become older. As a result of altering hormone levels, women in post-menopause will experience hair loss. Hair thinning affects most men as they become older. By the age of 50, 85% of men will undergo thinning of hair. 

Hair growth decreases as people become older, and some follicles stop generating hair entirely. Hair might get thinner and weaker as you age.

3) Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalances can affect both men and women, causing hair to thin or fall out. Treating the imbalance can often help you regenerate your hair. Although most people associate hormone imbalances with estrogen or testosterone, issues with your thyroid can also cause hair loss. Hair loss is common among postmenopausal women due to hormonal variations. It is the same reason why pregnant women's hair grows thicker and longer but subsequently slows down after delivery. 

4) Underactive thyroid

Hair loss can be caused by severe and long-term hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone production is disrupted when the thyroid's normal functioning is compromised. This may result in hair loss. The loss is widespread, affecting the entire scalp rather than small patches. The hair appears thin all over the head. With appropriate thyroid treatment, regrowth is possible. 

5) Nutrient deficiency

To get strong and healthy hair, your body requires a variety of vitamins and minerals. Iron, biotin, protein and vitamins A, C, and E are essential for hair growth. Hair loss, sluggish hair development, and fragile, easily broken hair can all result from a deficiency in one or more of these nutrients. It's also important to remember that an excess of certain nutrients can impact hair development. Vitamin A is a good example of this. It often helps to reduce hair loss, but too much of it might cause hair loss to accelerate. 

6) Stress 

Stress can cause hair follicles to go into a resting phase and stop producing new hair strands. Hair can come out more easily over time, even if you only wash, comb or touch it.   Chronic or long term stress can severely cause hair loss. Telogen effluvium is a condition in which a significant number of follicles spend a lengthy period in the telogen phase of their growth cycle. 

7) Poor hair care routine

Maintaining a proper hair care routine is critical to your hair's health and growth. Using too much or too little amount of hair care products, towel drying your hair excessively or washing your hair with extremely hot water can stifle hair growth by causing breakage. Understanding your hair type and creating a routine around it with products made for your hair type and concern is critical. 

8) Not drinking enough water 

It's very crucial to drink enough water and keep yourself hydrated from the inside out to heal the damaged hair. Dehydration can cause dry, brittle and split ends which end in hair breakage. Drinking enough water and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables helps nourish your follicles, promoting growth and reducing breakage for strong, healthy hair. 

9) Hairstyling and treatments 

Natural hair can be damaged by hair colors, heat styling, relaxers, and other chemical treatments. They can potentially be the source of your hair loss. Make an effort to utilize natural hair care products as much as possible, and avoid harmful ingredients and products that have been proven to harm hair. 

10) Lack of sleep 

Insufficient sleep has been proven to have substantial detrimental effects on the body, which can contribute to hair loss and thinning of hair. Lack of sleep can lead to increased stress levels, which have been linked to hair loss.