Hair Stopped Growing

Woman with a hair growth problem
Photo: Zhur Sa/Shutterstock
Q: Hi, I am a 42-year-old woman and the hair above my ears on both sides of my head has just stopped growing. It is about 3 inches long and just doesn't grow any more, and it hasn't for about 3 years. I have to cover it with the long hair above to hide it. Please help.
 
A: The first question I have to ask is if there is any sign of breakage in these areas of the hair above your ears? I don't expect that there is, or you would likely have mentioned it.
 
And if the lack of apparent growth was due to damage caused by styling, you would surely have made some connection to something causing the issue in a three-year period. Is it possible that these hairs have always grown only to this length? Have they been longer in the past?
 
My best recommendation is for you to visit a dermatologist and ask his/her advice on the issue. Once you get into the area of hair growth and hair loss, you are beyond the scope of what a cosmetologist is licensed to offer advice on. At the very least, he/she can tell you whether or not the issue is medical or genetic.
 
I know personally that I have certain small areas of hair on my head that only grow to a certain length, but they have always been this way. It could be the same for you, but without knowing whether this is a relatively recent development, there's no way to be sure. I think it is better to err on the side of caution.
 
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See also:
 
Hair problems
 
Hair diseases
 
Damaged hair
 
How can I recognize hair breakage?