Why Brains Of Obese People Are Different From Those With…
Meet The Clutch's Less Expensive Cousin
Actress Elise Neal pulls off a shoulder-length blunt cut with ease but what if you want longer tresses? If your hair doesn't grow past your shoulders you might have yourself to blame. Granted heat, harsh winter temperatures and over-processing are likely factors.
However, the culprit could be hiding in your closet.
Back in 2004, I had relaxed, colored hair which I wore to my shoulders. There was some breakage but I ignored it in exchange for some length (not like this, though). Like some of you, I was proud of the hair that barely graced my shoulders and enjoyed wearing it down for all to see and for me to swing. As much as I enjoyed the bit of length I had I couldn't help but question why my hair always stopped at my shoulders.
I would look around and see a lot of Black women with tresses barely touching their shoulders and ignorantly 
assumed that this was as long as our hair could grow.
I was wrong!
I came across an online community of women who suggested that the friction from shirts and sweaters could be the last straw for ends, already dry or brittle. This friction over time could cause our ends to break over time, therefore making me a lifetime member of the Shoulder-Length Hair club. It made perfect sense to me. As someone who lives on the east coast, my hair was always fighting for its life every fall and winter. Add a sweater to the mix and my hair was a goner.
I hesitantly clipped an inch of my broken hair and pulled it into a lose bun (too tight and I'd have a crown worse than Brandy). I spent the next several months looking like Olive Oyl, only in the evening taking my hair out before wrapping it at night. Each day I would apply Elasta QP mango butter to my ends, bun, then go. I couldn't help but notice the difference. My once choppy ends were finally ready to be exposed and after four months I was confident showing my hair off.
Now, not everything I write about will work for you, but I'm hoping that through this blog you can take some of the stories, practices and products and tweak them to work for you.
So tell me, are you a member of the Shoulder-Length Hair Club?
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Comments: (62)
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By: Monyka on 8/20/2007 3:28PM
I believe there is some truth to this. No matter what I do to my hair, no matter the conditioner used on it - I was born with dry skin and dry hair. My hair would grow to certain length and I would have to cut it. But last summer, I committed to wearing a curly roller set to keep it off of my neck and my hair grew like crazy! So giving your hair a nice break from the hot curlers and Chi irons; wearing it up in either a bun, ponytail, or roller set; AND wrapping your hair at night in a satin cap should give you the results you'd like to see.
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By: Jeanette Brown on 8/21/2007 2:12PM
I colored my hair blonde, following the "new trend" for the summer which resulted in major damage and strand fallout, my hair was also very brittle and dry. Luckily, my hair was long enough for my hairdresser to cut the damaged strands. I began using "Carols Daughter" products, which worked very well for me and may work for you also.
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By: Tasha on 8/21/2007 3:07PM
I think one big problem with black women's hair not growing is because they don't take the time to take care of it. We assume that if our hair appears to stop at our shoulders than it must not be growing anymore. Ask yourself this...are you still getting touch ups, if the answer is yes, than it is still growing. It may be growing slowly, but it is growing. My hair is very long and healthy because I take care of it, now, after my hairdresser schooled me on what I was doing wrong.
I stopped putting heat in my hair (roller sets), I get my ends trimmed every time I get a touch up and I do not, I repeat do not do my own touch ups or let one of my friends do it in their kitchen. I go to a professional who knows what she is doing. I only see the hairdresser when it is time to get a touch up and I roller set it myself the rest of the time.
Ladies please do not be afraid to get your ends trimmed on a regular basis. This will help a lot. I know it feels like you are cutting the length, but it pays off, take my word for it.
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By: Buerkie on 8/21/2007 8:04PM
i just wanted to say that ive recently begun to accept that im a member of the shoulder-length hair club! now, i've been trying to grow my hair out for a long time. but ladies, recently, my hair is NOT growing. it was growing magnificently all summer until i decided to dye it. now, everything was fine with the dye but now my hair is growing really brittle and even after a relaxer...im not completely satisfied. nothing that i do is bringing any shine to it anymore. i need some advice before i go and get it relaxed again. it's just been a mess for me, ladies. ne assistance?
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By: Vicki on 8/22/2007 9:00AM
My hair will grow past my shoulders that is not my problem.My problem is I lost all my hair around my hairline.Has anyone else encountered this problem?Does anyone have a solution to this problem?Your help would be greatly appreciated.
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By: J on 8/22/2007 9:13AM
I don't have any problems growing my hair past my shoulders, but your suggestion makes perfectly good sense!! I have decided to wear my hair up during the sweater months and see if I how much additonal growth I can schieve. Thanks for the ideas!!!
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By: anthony on 8/27/2007 5:43PM
i love long hair , it makes a lady more attractive and more feminine to me , but that's only 1 opinion.Shoulder length hair looks very very nice to me. i am not into extentions ,but some guys do.......
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By: Tyre on 8/22/2007 11:06AM
Your comments: This is in response to Vick's comment about hair lost at the hairline.
I also have no problem growing my hair pass my shoulders-in fact right now my hair might just be the longest it has ever been -reaching way down my back. However my edges were always thin and I just always thought it was the due to the great myth of me sleeping on my sides.
I mentioned my thin edges to my hair dresser at the time and she recommend that I use a Nixon Hair Booster which you apply directly to your edges at night. In fact Nixon has a complete hair line for thinning hair. At one time I was using the complete system and I definately saw a difference in my hair. While I have not used the
complete system in awhile because I seem to be stuck on the Nexxus products- I still use the booster faithfully and it works. In fact I have recommended it to my sisters and they swear by it also. Many you can look into it for yourself-good luck and more hair, lol.
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By: Tyre on 8/22/2007 11:09AM
oops....Sorry Vicki....Maybe you can look into it for yourself-good luck and more hair, lol.
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By: Mrs. Merricks on 8/22/2007 12:13PM
Hi ladies I have been growing my hair back for two years now and it is a little it past my shoulders, but my hair always grows like it has been layered. My sides are shorter than the back of my hair. One side also grows longer than the other.I recently put color back in my hair also. when I comb through my hair it sheds. some people say that it is normal, buut I do not think it is. These last couple of years that I started to let my hair grow back we moved to another state and I cannot find a Good beautician. So I was wondering if there is anything that I can do myself to keep my hair healthy until I find a good one. Please Help Me! The lady that I go to some times always ask me do I want my ends clip or do I need my ends clip and I do not like that, so I stop going because I feel like I should not have to tell you that I need my ends clipped, you are the beautician.
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