If you are frustrated that your mane isn’t growing at a rate that you want, keep on reading. Below you will come across some of the things that can be blamed for such. Knowing some of the reasons why your hair seems to be taking a long, long time to grow to the length that you are dreaming about can save you from committing mistakes, in particular the kinds that entail expensive treatments and products that will only flush your money down the drain.

Don’t forget to share this article on your various social media sites afterwards so that your family and friends, most especially those that consider their hair as one of their best physical features, may also know why their tresses are taking some time to grow.

Genes

There are so many different things that you can inherit from your parents, and one of those is the rate of your hair growth. According to experts, some people simply have a very long anagen phase — the part of the hair growth cycle wherein the hair is actively growing. The anagen phase typically lasts for 2 to 6 years. If you’re one of those people who are not blessed with an anagen phase with the staying power of an endurance athlete, then having patience is a must.

Diet

If you want longer hair in no time, then you should carefully monitor everything that you put in your mouth — or what you don’t put in it. Certainly, a diet that’s high in fatty, sugary and processed food products can wreak havoc to your hormones as well as blood circulation, thus keeping your hair follicles from working optimally. Since your hair is made up of protein mostly, see to it that you include lots of protein-rich foods in your everyday diet. The good news is you can obtain high quality protein from both animal and plant food sources.

Stress

Are you living a really stressful everyday life? Then don’t be surprised if it seems like your hair is no longer growing as fast as it used to. In fact, being stressed can also cause you to have thin hair — seeing a lot of hair strands on your pillow or in the shower drain is a testament to that. Needless to say, it’s definitely a good idea for you to reduce your stressors and also engage in various stress-relieving activities if you want longer and more voluminous hair.

Dehydration

Each day, health authorities recommend everyone to glug down about 2 liters of water as your cells cannot function without water, including the cells that make up your hair follicles. Besides, hair experts say that as much as a quarter of your hair is water, and that is why being dehydrated can cause a lot of hair-related nightmares. No matter where you go, carry a water bottle so that there’s no reason for you to not hydrate your body properly.

Medications

It’s no secret that medications are known to cause a bunch of side effects — some are negligible while others can be adverse. Are you aware that certain medications can actually have an impact on your hair growth? Some of those that are notorious for slowing down hair growth and even cause your tresses to fall off include medications for acne and infections. Some birth control pills can also cause such. If you feel that the medication you are taking is messing up with your mane, ask your doctor if adjusting the dosage or taking a different medication is an option.

Poor Health

In some instances, it is a medical condition that can be the reason why your hair is taking a long, long time to grow. Some of those that are known to cause such include infections, hypothyroidism and various autoimmune disorders. It’s important for the underlying medical condition to be identified and treated accordingly.