Terminal length how do I know?

**sayshell** · January 31st, 2011, 08:31 AM

So for the last half year I have been taking really good care of my hair, like 1/20 hairs has a split end, and I basically have no physical contact with it. It hasn't grown at all in 1.5 years though. I am sure its not breakage that is causing it to stop growing. I am really depressed about it, is their anything I can do? I always wanted really long hair but never had the chance to grow it and now it gets stopped before its even long. How do you know if its at termnal length? Most people say mine is too short to be max length, but it never grows no matter what I try.

**Madora** · January 31st, 2011, 08:51 AM

How long you can grow your hair depends on your genes.

Also, how are you caring for your hair? Do you exercise the roots by brushing? Massage?

Some members take supplements to aid in hair growth..but while it may work for some it doesn't do a thing for others...and it takes time to kick in.

Biotin seems to be very popular.

**spidermom** · January 31st, 2011, 09:01 AM

What does "no physical contact with it" mean?
No combing or brushing?
No washing?

**obssesif** · January 31st, 2011, 09:05 AM

Do you oil your ends? that will help in reducing splits.. And I second vitamins

**Alvrodul** · January 31st, 2011, 09:06 AM

Have you also taken a good look at your combs and brush? I used detangling tools that actually caused a lot of damage to my hair - after I bought seamless combs and tossed all my old ones, I have noticed that my hair gets much less damaged!

**Aeltt** · January 31st, 2011, 09:32 AM

Hmm.. How do you wear your hair everyday? Having hair down or wearing the same hairstyle everyday can be damaging (the elastic of the ponytail always rubbing on the same part of the hair for example).. it can create a "false terminal".

For the terminal length, in this thread :

Originally Posted by ladyships

i’m not sure if this is the general consensus, but insofar as i’m aware, your hair is at terminal length when it

* has fairy tale ends {shape of hair…hem? is wispy, thins rapidly, & is v-shaped}
* if you cut or trim it, it grows back to the length it was at before
* your hair just stays at the same length for literally years, in spite of continuing to grow

**sayshell** · January 31st, 2011, 09:35 AM

I comb it, but I don't brush it. I wash it twice a week usually. I do oil the ends. No physical contact means basically I don't crush it in chairs or while I sleep or anything like that.

**sayshell** · January 31st, 2011, 09:36 AM

I wear it just hanging like in the pic

**spidermom** · January 31st, 2011, 09:46 AM

Some people do have a shorter terminal length than others. I had a roommate years ago who didn't cut her hair for 8 years (at least), and her hair got no longer than somewhere between APL and BSL. It didn't look like terminal length - the ends weren't uneven and wispy. She didn't do anything particularly bad to it.

You might try regular small trims (such as 1/4 to 1/2 inch every 3-4 months) to get rid of the split ends. It could be that you're getting more breakage than you know. The simplest things can cause break-down of the ends - like washing in hot water, being in the sunshine, pools, the sea, wind ... the list goes on. We all do what we can to protect hair from damage, like cover it in the sun, wear it up, and so forth.

Do you use conditioner?

**sayshell** · January 31st, 2011, 10:44 AM

Well like I said I do trim the split ends off, like maybe 1/20 have split ends. Its pretty even. I sit in a dark basement all day every day, and I do use conditioner, and leave on conditioner. I have also tried not using conditioner. It basically makes no difference other than how shiny it looks.