Was anyone here successful at growing hair long?

[HelpMeGrowMyHairLong]

I wanted long hair for nearly 20 years. When I say long, my goal is elbow length hair that is healthy.

My hair only really grows to bra strap approx and then I need to have a very large trim. Because there is usually inches of thin and see through ends. Then I am kinda nearly back to below shoulders.

I learned about haircare techniques.

My current routine:

• I change shampoo depending on what I feel like I need - nioxin scalp recovery is my number 1 shampoo. Other shampoos are nioxin colour shampoo, L'Oréal detox shampoo, redken all soft shampoo.

• I only use hair masks now. I use leave in conditioners.

• I usually use a hair oil over a leave in conditioner to lock in moisture.

• I use hair turbans and low heat on hairdryer.

• I don't usually use heat tools.

I usually have my hair tied up in a bun most days. I do my best to never get it wet outside of wash days and I wear hats. I knit my own hats using a merino and silk blend yarn. I also wear silk hats or bonnets. Sometimes under hats.

I am taking care of my hair but it's just not growing well.

Does anyone have any tips. Anyone here ever successful at growing hair long?

Mine would only ever grow to below my shoulders.

Mine is just above my bum. The tricks are do are. Never blow dry it. Never straighten it. Rarely wash it, maybe once a week or every other week and cut it once every 1.5-2 years.
Natural oils keep it healthy, no heat treatments also keep it healthy and not cutting it allows it to grow long. My hair is super healthy and I’m in my 40’s so not young

Mine is waist length. I swear by biotin, eating lots of healthy fats (avocado, salmon especially), scalp massages plus drinking a lot of water.

What is your diet like?

Mine is waist length, and has always needed trimming about every 6-8 months to avoid the whole "inches of thin and see through ends" scenario. I grew it from a pixie cut (grade 3 at the back and sides, with about two inches of length on top) over about three years.

Like PP, I never blow dry it or use straighteners. I also haven't dyed it since before I had the pixie cut, so it's in really good condition.

Mine is elbow length. I have only snipped off a few inches once in a blue moon.
I've just dyed it with a semi-permanent kit and the condition is terrible.

I never blow dry or straighten it. I don't brush it but I comb it at least once a day.

My diet isn't great as I probably don't eat enough protein.

Mine just stops growing when it is a couple of inches past shoulder length. Literally just stops! As a child/teen it really upset me as all my friends had luscious long hair.

My hair is down to my waist, it can go to the small of my back. I haven't tried to grow it longer than that ever. I'm 47 and don't do anything special. I wash it 2 or 3 times a week with a sulphate free shampoo because that is a bit less drying. I condition with the garnier coconut hairfood and rub in a bit of argan oil if the ends are dry. Its very thick and wavy. I also cut my own hair whenever want. I usually cut it a bit when it starts to feel too heavy.

I think its just genetics, I am vegetarian and often a bit low in iron.

DD has waist length (she's 17) and her hair has always been super healthy and looks great, there doesn't seem to be much of a secret to it except she just seems to have good hair. I, on the other hand, have never had longer that shoulder length hair no matter how many regular trims, treatments or just letting it grow for ever. It just starts breaking off and looking crap.

You need to have small trims regularly (2cm ish). Don't leave it until the ends are so damaged you need inches off.

No. I tried growing it in my twenties partly to impress a boyfriend (I know, this a terrible reason) and partly to piss off my mum who had always told me it would be terrible (not that much better as a reason).

It got to about shoulder length before I admitted defeat as it looked absolutely dreadful, had no volume at all and was straggly.

It was incredibly painful admitting my mum had been right all along. However I did come to my senses and dump the boyfriend.

I read something online and it was recommended on tiktok too and I don't know how true this is.

Hair is most fragile when it's wet and this is true but it was recommended to blow dry hair because hair dries quicker and it's worse leaving hair to air dry because there's more chances for breakage.

I usually use a selection of hair turbans when I when my hair. I usually use two straight after my hair wash. The I will blow dry on low heat until it's nearly dry. I aim especially towards my scalp. Then I use another hair turban to wrap my hair up again because I don't want to put any hair ties in my hair while it's damp. This is only a routine that a started doing over the past year. I don't know if it's helping.

Maybe genes? I don’t do anything special to mine. I blow dry and use straighteners and it grows and grows. Currently below boob level (in a bra 🙈). I have had it longer during pandemic but otherwise keep it this length.

I've had my hair every length from above my chin to down to my waist. It just grows and grows and grows whatever I do to it, and I hate the hairdressers so it tends to get long. Short hair on me needs monthly cuts to stay roughly short.

I find very long hair quite uncomfortable though, I don't like it much past bra strap level.

I think hair just does what it does, and you have to go with whatever it does naturally. Otherwise it's just a losing battle.

Mine grows and grows. Too much effort to keep it shorter than bra strap, it’s currently to my waist and I’m ready to chop it back off.

Like others I don’t do anything special, don’t blow dry often. Wash once or twice a week.
These days I use a scrunchy most the time instead of hair elastics as they’re less headachy and cause less breakage.

But 20 years ago I straightened all the time as was the fashion, and washed it a lot more frequently as being around smokers made it stink and it still grew and grew.