Uneven Hair

[blaketob]

Hey guys. So happy to finally be able to be back on LHC!!! :)
Anyway... last Saturday I decided to get a hair cut and the hairdresser told me that my hair grew so unevenly that I had to cut an inch off to make it even, and I know my hair does not have much damage to need that much off besides the unevenness. When I asked her why does my hair always grow uneven, she said that its probably because I sleep on this side of my hair throughout the night causing it to break and grow slower. As of right now I sleep with my hair down. Do you think if I started to sleep with my hair up it would help with the unevenness. I would sleep in a braid but I don't know how to braid hair and I don't know any other protective styles to wear. What should I do? Any other advice how to help the unevenness?

[Kelikea]

Whenever my mom used to cut my hair at home, we would always notice that one side was longer, every time. One side of my hair would always grow faster. Then that side would just get trimmed a bit more than the other.

If you don't notice any thinness or breakage on the shorter side, I wouldn't just assume that's what causing it. It could very well just grow faster or slower on one side. Kinda like one foot or boob might be bigger than the other? IDK :)

[Rufflebutt]

Wearing it up might help. It might also be genetics. Not all of your hair grows exactly at the same length. But the extremity of this varies with each person.

[biogirl87]

It's more likely that it's genetics. I know that with my body, my shoe sizes differ between my right and left foot (my right foot being almost an inch bigger when it comes to certain shoes).

[CurlyCap]

Yep. My hair grows longer on the left. Always has. I don't fight to keep my hair perfectly even all the time. It ends up being about 2 inches difference over time, so when I progress 5-6", I even it up. I have curly hair though, so maybe that's why I can just shrug it off. It's easy to hide.

Maybe more updos, not to protect, but to distract from the fact that's it not perfectly even? And then cut back maybe once a year to even up?

[melusine963]

Maybe more updos, not to protect, but to distract from the fact that's it not perfectly even? And then cut back maybe once a year to even up?

I second this. My mum used to trim my hair for years, and it didn't matter that it was never perfectly even because I never wore it loose.

[jasper]

I think it is possible to cause more mechanical breakage on one side than the other, but it doesn't seem like sleeping would be the main source. I think it would be because of things that cause serious abrasion, like seatbelts, car doors, chairs, purse or bag straps.

I started braiding my hair for sleeping. I do the simplest thing possible, bringing all my hair forward over one shoulder and making a lose English braid, that I don't even secure at the end. I think you could easily master that if you wanted to. It doesn't have to look neat as you'll be asleep, so I don't even detangle before doing this braid, just separate three sections and braid.

I don't know if it helps against damage, but once I got in the habit, i found it a lot more comfortable to sleep with my hair contained.

On the other hand, uneven growth patterns are pretty typical. Protective styles for day wear or sleeping won't make a difference with that.

[Madora]

Hair grows according to a certain cycle. Some hairs fall out sooner than others..so hair might tend to be longer on one side than the other. Perfectly normal.

If you want to have an even hemline, then cutting will keep it even.

Wearing it up is a good idea..but be sure you do not braid it too tightly. And stay away from ponytails!

[blaketob]

thanks for the advice guys! I'm discouraged that its normal and genetics lol I just wish I didn't have to "even out my hair" every time I get it trimmed which is every 10-12 weeks. I know I could just get a trim without evening my hair but then it will eventually be noticable and I'll have to cut even more off all at once which I sure don't want so I guess I just have to suck it up

[jacqueline101]

I'd second the trimming to even it and keep it there. If there is no damage maybe its just normal.

[Vrindi]

I noticed more breakage - actual breakage on one side of my hair, not just that it wasn't growing fast. I figured out it was from my hair getting caught under my purse strap or backpack. Now I'm aware of it and don't let it get caught, there's no problem. If you wear your hair down a lot like me, think about little things like that. I'll pull mine over my shoulder when I sit in a chair with a back, or whenever it could get stuck behind me.

[QMacrocarpa]

Many years ago, my hair grew longer on one side than the other-- obviously enough that my elderly grandfather teased me about it! I don't know for sure, but I think it was related to my mindlessly brushing more on one side than the other, probably whichever side was easier to reach with my dominant hand, and causing mechanical damage that led to breakage. I quit using that type of brush, which seemed to be too hard on my hair, and now I try not to comb or tangle-teez too much. Keeping my hair contained in buns and sleep-braids greatly reduces the need for lengthy detangling sessions with my floaty, grabby, split-prone hair.