No, hair does not technically stop growing if not cut, but it can appear to stop growing.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
While hair itself continuously grows from the follicle, it's the appearance of stopped growth that people often experience. This is due to several factors:
- Hair Breakage: As hair grows longer, it becomes more susceptible to damage and breakage, especially at the ends. This breakage can counteract the new growth at the roots, giving the illusion that the hair isn't getting any longer. According to experts, frequently trimming your hair helps prevent breakage by removing dead, fragile ends. Therefore, while the hair hasn't stopped growing from the root, the length isn't increasing due to loss at the ends.
- Split Ends: Uncut hair is more prone to split ends. These splits can travel up the hair shaft, causing further breakage and weakening the hair.
- Growth Cycle: Each hair follicle has its own growth cycle, consisting of a growth phase (anagen), a transitional phase (catagen), and a resting phase (telogen). The duration of the anagen phase varies from person to person and determines how long the hair can grow. Once a hair completes its cycle, it falls out, and a new hair begins to grow. The length of the growth phase influences the maximum length a hair strand can achieve.
- Damage: Environmental factors, heat styling, and chemical treatments can all damage the hair shaft, leading to breakage and hindering length retention.
In summary: Hair continues to grow from the follicle, but the appearance of stagnant growth is usually due to breakage and damage at the ends outweighing the new growth at the roots. Regular trims can help to remove damaged ends, minimizing breakage and giving the appearance of faster, healthier growth.
