Hello! Hi!
I hope you’re having a better day than you were yesterday.
I’ve been trying to grow my hair out for years. It was mid-back length when I was a teenager, and one day I decided, “I look cuter with short hair.” And, in fact, I do! Short hair makes me look more mature and, in my opinion, older.
Unfortunately, I decided I wanted back the length I so dismissively cut off.
And I did everything.
I used the oils and serums. I went natural. I avoided heat and chemicals. I moisturized it daily. I washed weekly. But for some reason, nothing worked. Finally, I was able to get some growth and retention using a hair growth supplement, but it made my stomach upset so I had to give that up.
I know all the fundamental reasons my hair wouldn’t be growing: my hair is dry, not enough protective styling, heat or chemical damage or even me unconsciously picking at it.
However, one morning, I was sitting and staring at my reflection and wondering what I could be doing wrong or should be doing more of. My hair used to be super long and healthy, shiny and strong. Here’s a surprising reason that prevented my hair from growing!
Hangnails
Maybe not just hangnails. Even your bonnet or head scarf could be tugging on your hair.
For me, my nails are prone to splitting. I always have a clear coat to keep the edges semi-smooth, but I wash my hands so often that it’s gone within a few days. And I am a bit too lazy to re-do it. However, I noticed that every time I scratched my head, a strand of hair kept coming out with it. Hangnails were ripping my hair out from the root! I thought hangnails were just a sign of me not taking care of my hands as I should be. But it turns out, besides being annoying and ugly, they were hindering my hair goals.
So before you start stressing (which could lead to even more hair fallout), check your nails out to make sure they aren’t the sneaky thing keeping you from your hair goals.
If you have any tips and tricks to increase hair retention, drop a comment and let me know!