Your Hair Won’t Grow Past Your Shoulders? You're probably doing THIS wrong.

Being stuck at shoulder-length hair can suck, especially if that wasn’t the goal. Here’s how I finally grew my hair past my shoulders.

For atleast 4 years, my hair was stuck at shoulder-length. No matter how much I moisturized or how many products I bought, my hair just wouldn’t seem to grow past a certain point. Eventually, I realized the issue wasn’t my hair’s growth—it was the breakage. Once I figured out how to stop the damage, I finally saw real progress.

If your hair won’t grow past your shoulders, you might be making the same mistakes I did. Here’s what I learned, what I changed, and how you can finally see the length you’ve been working toward.

1. I Was Overdoing Blowouts

Who doesn’t love the sleek, fluffy look of a blowout? For eight months straight, I was doing blowouts every two weeks. I wanted to show off my length, and it felt like blowouts were the only way to do that at the time. But every time I combed my hair, little broken pieces of my strands would rain down on my shirt. My ends were snapping off faster than my hair could grow, leaving me stuck at the same length.

Over time, I realized the heat was weakening my strands and making them more prone to breakage. Its not just a flat iron that can cause damage ; even the tension from blow-drying was taking its toll. The more I used heat, the more brittle my hair became.

If you’re serious about growing your hair, you have to sacrifice heat for a while. That means saying goodbye to frequent blowouts and hello to styles that actually work with your texture and length. Focus on repairing your hair by adding moisture back into it with weekly deep conditioning treatments and incorporate protein treatments every 4-6 weeks to strengthen your strands.

Instead of heat styling, experiment with heat-free methods like flexi rods, twist-outs, or braid-outs. You can still look good while protecting your hair—it just takes a bit of creativity and patience.

2. I Wasn’t Wearing Protective Styles

I used to love wearing my hair out. Whether it was a wash-and-go or a twist-out, I enjoyed seeing my hair free. What I didn’t realize was how much damage I was doing to my ends. Every time my hair brushed against my shoulders or clothes, it created friction, which caused my ends to break off. It sounds dumb, but yes something as insignificant as your hair brushing on your shoulders can cause breakage. So in turn, my hair stayed the same length for years.

Protective styles were a game-changer for me. Once I started keeping my ends tucked away, I saw noticeable growth in just a few months. It’s not that my hair wasn’t growing before—it was breaking faster than it could grow.

Protective styles like buns, twists, or braids can help keep your ends safe from friction and the elements. But don’t stop there. While your hair is in a protective style, make sure to care for it by moisturizing your ends 2-3 times a week with a leave-in conditioner or light oil.

Rotate your styles regularly to avoid tension or breakage at the roots. For example, switch between low buns, two-strand twists, and box braids to give your scalp a break. And remember, protective styles aren’t a magic fix—washing and maintaining your hair while it’s styled is just as important. Stick to this routine, and you’ll finally start seeing length retention.

3. I Wasn’t Consistent with My Routine

Consistency is the one thing no product can replace. For a long time, I would try something new every few weeks—new products, new techniques, new routines. I was constantly switching it up because I wasn’t seeing immediate results. What I didn’t realize was that hair care takes time. Growth isn’t instant, and my lack of consistency was holding me back.

I’d deep condition one week and skip the next. I’d moisturize one day, then forget for a week. These gaps in my routine made it impossible for my hair to thrive. It wasn’t until I committed to a consistent regimen that I started to see real progress.

To see results, you need to stick to a routine that works for your hair. Here’s what mine looked like:

• Wash Day: Every 1-2 weeks with a shampoo compatible with my needs to cleanse my scalp.

• Deep Conditioning: Weekly with a moisturizing mask, focusing on my ends.

• Moisturizing Routine: Using the LCO (liquid, cream, oil) method 2-3 times a week.

• Protective Styling: Keeping my ends tucked away 80% of the time.

It’s not about doing everything perfectly—it’s about showing up for your hair consistently. Over time, your efforts will pay off, and you’ll start to see the progress you’ve been waiting for.

If your hair feels stuck at shoulder length, it’s likely not a growth issue—it’s a breakage issue. Take a close look at your habits and routines. Are you overusing heat? Are your ends protected? Are you consistent with your hair care?

By cutting back on heat, embracing protective styles, and committing to a routine, you can finally reverse the breakage and grow your hair past your shoulders. Hair growth takes patience, but trust me, it’s worth it. Stick with it, and your future self will thank you.

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