hi. my name is monica and i'm new here.  I cut my hair shoulder length about 5 years agoand it grew just past my shoulders and willnot grow any longer.  So, now I'm getting serious and am trying to grow my hair.  About 6 months ago I stoped dying my hair, I take biotin and pre natal pills everyday, and I use Jason Biotin shampoo and conditioner.  Still my hair hasnt grown a bit.  Whats going on?  My roots were showing so that means my hair does grow but the length has been the same for 5 years.  moving on.... what are the 2 best shampoo and conditioner that you all use?  My hair person said not to use a shampoo with alcohol in it.  Well I went to the store and read all the ingridients in all the shampoos and none of them have alcohol.  I dont get it.  Is there a secret word they use instead?  please help me!

monica!

Hi, and welcome.  Sometimes hair goes through resting phases, I don't know how long they can rest for.  It might be wise to visit a doc and have a health checkup-just to be on the safe side.  Perhaps you're ends are breaking and that's why your roots are showing growth but the length hasn't changed.
Sorry, I can't answer about the alcohol question.  My favorite shampoo & conditioner is Ouidad's Quench line-its for curly hair.

Good Luck!!

Hello!

My current shampoo and conditioner is JASON Henna.  I like this product because it does not leave any product build up on my fine hair.

I'm with Sakina - if you have roots showing, you are experiencing some growth.  If you are not gaining length, it means that the ends are either being trimmed off or they are breaking off.  If you have been coloring your hair, that part of your hair is probably brittle and more prone to breakage.  Keeping the hair moisturized will keep it from getting brittle and breaking off.  Regular conditioning and possibly some oil on the ends will help in this area.

As for the alcohol, in general it is not good for your hair - it dries it out.  But unless the it is listed early in the list, it probably is not in enough quantity to significantly affect your hair.

Good luck with growing your hair.

Monica,

Welcome. Stick with this forum. The information within has helped me turn my hair's health around. Fear not, you will see positive changes.

I have to say you've had better luck seeking alcohol-free shampoos. It seems everything I've looked at has some alcohol in it. Bikerbraid makes a good point about where it appears on the ingredients list, though; I'll look again.

Sakina, where do you buy your Ouidad Quench?

hairapparent

Hi  Monica and Welcome! :) You found a great place for advice!   My current shampoo and condish is JASON Natual Sea Kelp, I like this one as it does not strip my hair, of which is quite dry, and makes it feel and look great.  I take biotin as well and it has helped my growth a bit.  I have been taking it for about two years now and also noticed that my finger nails are harder then ever!  Like the handsome hairapparnet ::) said stick with this forum!

Hello sunsinexo,

The other long-haired ladies & lords have pretty much covered it already. What Bikerbraid said is quite true. If your natural roots are showing and getting longer, then your hair is definitely growing.

Are you getting regular trims? If your stylist is trimming off the same amount of hair that you're growing each time, then your length will remain the same. This is called maintaining a length.
   To gain length, you must trim off less than you're growing. This is assuming that it isn't breaking off due to damage, of course. Most stylists will tell you that shorter hair needs to be trimmed every 6-8 weeks, but this will certainly never work if you're trying to grow it out. Trim the ends only when they are drying out or damaged.

Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the damage to hair once it's done. Just keep taking good care of your hair now...someday those roots that you're seeing will be the ends.  :)

As for the 2 best shampoos & conditioners that I have ever used, well...I am a die-hard Pantene addict. And my favourites are Ice Shine and Restoratives Breakage Defense.

Best of luck & happy growing.

hairapparent wrote on Nov 29^th, 2006 at 10:51am:

Sakina, where do you buy your Ouidad Quench? hairapparent

www.ouidad.com  ;)

I like VO5 Tea Therapy shampoo and conditioner.  It is not expensive at all, in fact rather cheap, but I sure love what it does for my hair.

I am sorry you are struggling with length right now.  I drink fresh just every day, plenty of carrots, and take vitamins that have biotin in them.

Lynn