On BHI our mission to to teach women of color to grow long hair but ‘long’ means different things to different people. When we first begin our hair journeys, we have hopes and dreams of hair swinging in the wind lapping at our waists but is this even possible for all black women?
Before we get started, this graphic below shows different hair length terms.
Hair grows at a genetically pre-determined rate, the rate that you will often hear quoted is an average of 6 inches per year but in truth, the rate is 4-6 inches per year. It tends to be faster in Caucasians and Asians and slower in people of African descent, mine is only 4 inches per year.
A strand of hair can only grow for so long and this period (anagen phase) ranges depending on who you ask from 2 to 6 years with men having shorter anagen phases than women. Even though different strands may be at different stages in their cycle, about 85% of your hair will be in anagen phase at any one time. The anagen phase is clearly a big player when it comes to determining the length of hair.
So what is terminal length? Terminal length is the maximum length that a strand of hair can grow, if it never broke and was never cut, from when it sprouts out of your scalp until it eventually sheds. It’s a simple formula really, Terminal Length = Growth Rate x Length of Anagen Period.
There’s no denying that an individual’s growth rate and the length of anagen period is genetically predetermined and as such, so is the terminal length. That being said, its clear that majority of black women have never reached their terminal length. Even if you didn’t cut your hair, a certain amount of breakage is inevitable which makes true terminal length an elusive prospect for most of us.
So the question is, will you ever have long hair? Let’s do the math. Let’s put you right in the middle of the figures I have already quoted with a growth rate of 5 inches per year and an anagen period of 3 years. This would give you 15 inches of hair as your terminal length. With an average height woman in the USA being 5′ 4.6″ that would be close to waist length hair. Long? I think so!
If you prefer to be a bit more pessimistic, let’s assume that you get only 4 inches of hair per year with an anagen phase of just 3 years, that would be 12 inches of hair as your terminal length which would fall to bra strap length for an average height woman. I don’t know about you but BSL is ‘long’ hair by anyone’s standards!
From my very unscientific observations, many white women tend to keep their hair between arm pit length and mid back length so BSL is nothing to sniff at. These figures will vary of course from person to person depending on their anagen phase, growth rate and height.
A quick word on dreadlocks. They appear to grow longer than hair worn loose simply because shed hairs are usually incorporated into the dreadlock and do not fall out as they would in loose hair. Don’t assume that a person who has grown dreadlocks down to their knees can also grow their loose hair to this length, even without breakage!
Figuring out your own terminal length is difficult at best. We should be concentrating less on the genetic side of things and more on maximizing the retention of the length that we do get, hence coming as close to terminal length as possible.
Without doubt, the best way of retaining length without interruption is with protective styling combined with a good hair regimen. As long as you are not trimming your hair during the ‘grow out phase’, your protective style will prevent any breakage that will interfere with you getting as close to your terminal length as you can.
When you first begin your hair journey, give yourself at least 3 years or so of dedicated protective styling. At the end of this period assess your length. You may then decide to go for an extra year of protective styling. If you see little to no difference then you know that you have reached your terminal length.
Protective styling doesn’t have to feature much in your regimen once you are at your terminal length, a good regimen will be able to keep you within an inch or so of this length with the growth your achieve offsetting your breakage. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again, it’s helluva lot easier to maintain length than it is to achieve it in the first place! Happy growing ladies!
MimieJessie Tembo Mimie says
ampit length
Shai Pruitt says
I`m going for tail bone length….
Floflo Siana says
mid-back lengh
Aaliyah Stawberrykiss Jones says
Shoulder length
Rae Florexil says
Hip length is my goal
Sandy D'embalmama Jay says
Bra strap length to start off with
Jaycelyn Tipps Ketchum says
I’m good with armpit length, anything more I can’t handle.
Musheerah Lewis says
Im mid back bit hoping for waist or tail bone. Have to keep it healthy!!!!
Basheera Hassanali says
Me too!
Basheera Hassanali says
I just noticed your name rhymes with mine.
LaMia Bentley says
I hope you reach your goal 🙂
Aisha Johnson says
Mine doesn’t past my collar bone…All it does is break of after that..
Adelice Nicole says
I’m perfectly satisfied with whatever length it gets to its maximum healthy length..♡
Tara Chase Stephens says
Im abt 2 inches past arm pit length..
Margret NotMargaret Onyeaghor says
My natural hair is currently armpit length, but I’d like it to be mid back length when wet. (That is how I tell my approximate straightened length.)
Candace S says
I just wish all my hair was even the same LENGTH! No matter what I do, it doesn’t seem to want to grow out. The top half grows, but the bottom doesn’t. My sides continue to break off and not grow. I’m staying to think I should just shave my head! 🙁
Carmella McCoy says
I ain’t nowhere near 5ft4 so 15in of hair would never be waist length on me.
Seccface Griffin says
I’m armpit length
Miriam Correa says
I’m already waist length, hopefully I’ll be tailbone later on this year, early next year.
Debra Benny says
My goal right now, armpit length. I’m at shoulder length now. One goal length at a time. Lol
Ahmalyah Maynard says
Tail Bone Length right now it is Bra Strap Length
Zennedy Bibbs says
Trying to get tail bone length but I’m almost at the shoulder! Lol
Shannon Reed says
This obsession with long hair is ridiculous. Who cares, healthy hair should be the goal.
Basheera Hassanali says
Shannon Reed Long hair is Beautiful, if it weren’t then there wouldn’t be so many buying long wigs and weaves. A woman’s Hair is her GLORY.
Shawntel Chinn says
So true.
Antwanette Wiley says
soooo if your hair is short its UGLY????? no, SOCITY has shaped people to think long hair is beautiful, the new it…..all Shannon is saying is strive for healthy hair and the rest will come
Nicole Caldwell says
I’m at shoulder length
Nicole Caldwell says
It’s nothing wrong with wanting to have long hair.
Stacy-Ann Shreeves says
My goal is armpit lenght.. If I can achieve bra strap lenght then that’s great.. But my main goal is being healthy overall and with that mindset, I know I will achieve my goal! 🙂
Yaasmiyn Ahshaki says
Smh how about who cares!!! what length you have. Ain’t gonna make our race any more accepted then we are now! Put more energy into our childs education n moving our community farther!
Kimberly Dixon says
I understand what you’re saying but this is a hair page. So they’re going to talking about hair topics such as hair lengths.
Taneesha Renee says
Shai Pruitt I’m a gone head and try for that ankle length lol
Kimberly Dixon says
I’m at bra strap length but I don’t have a length goal. It’s just growing on it’s own and I only trim my ends.
Asia Battle says
Certain styles require certain lengths, so I see why people have length goals. When I first started, I wanted to be able to wear a side ponytail that would lay on my shoulder and not be stiff stick straight up in the air! But I also agree that healthy hair should be the main focus…
Nadou B. Pierre says
Im a little past shoulder length in a straightened state I want to be shoulder length in my natural state .
Ilsis E. Pozo says
My goal is HEALTH
Jessica Flanigan says
I’m currently at neck when straightened. I want armpit length to be where I stop. Anything below that is too long for me,
Lisa Fields McDonald says
I have bra length and my 4 year old has tail bone
Karen Nkwe-ini says
My goal is to get from neck to armit hair length! I can’t stand short hair!!!!!
Dey Dey Faulkner says
Im shoulder length but my goal is to be bra strap length
Josie Nelson says
Mine is neck line now, I want shoulder length!!!
Terry Norman says
Neck length right now. Ready for shoulder
Jasmine Kearns says
I used to care about length but all I’m wanting is healthy hair. If it grows long cool. If it doesn’t oh well. I’ll still love it anyway!
Sabine Fontilus says
How about toe length. Lol
Llorata Aaliyahandlloydstt Handia says
I have been at arm pit length. I am seriously aiming for bra strap.
Ash Doll says
My goal is waist length 🙂 Im Chin length noww
Kimberly Limas says
I’m 2 inches passed tail bone length =)
Ama Barton says
My goal is waist length
Alexis Craig says
U forgot ear length…lol
Naomi Daniella says
Schoulder
Leandra Adalia Charles says
waist but i cut it all off :'( and im missing it
Camilla Sparrow says
I’m currently working towards armpit length, I have the shoulders covered 🙂
Terry Lynch-Purce says
Mid Back length!!!
Eve Cornell says
Man I hope it can help me
Deanna Merritt Ross says
Not interested in length. My hair is the healthiest it has ever been.
Tonita Lawson says
Women love long hair. We buy long weave hair by the Billions of dollars.
Chelsea Crouch says
all the ppl saying “who cares!?” prob cant grow their hair long. theres nothing wrong with wanting long hair
Deansha Edwards says
SHOULDER LENGHT :* 😉 :p
Fruit Punch Formerlyknownas LemonAde says
I just want to get to chin length
Vanessa Lee says
Got between shoulder & arm pit and BREAKAGE:(. Now I’m between chin & neck:(
Shannon Reed says
@basheera I’m not saying long hair isn’t beautiful. I just think black woman are obsessed with long hair. Women from other ethnicities aren’t constantly measuring their hair and comparing lengths.
Endenezjia Graham says
Healthy hair is my goal 🙂
Serresa Rider says
Mine is neck length I wish I could get it to bra strap length it always comes out when it reaches shoulder length doesn’t understand why
Essence Jackson says
Mines is armpit length
Essence Jackson says
U forgot eye length lol
Apryl Byrd says
Some black women are obsessed with length because black men are always obsessing about long hair on their women….i’m with just having healthy hair.
Leah says
I agree with you. My guy friend who I have a crush on said he wants me to continuing growing my hair and NEVER cut it again and we don’t date either. He is black. He has dated bald and short haired black girls but for some reason he wants me to grow my hair . Although I am growing my hair out because I want too not because of him .
AnnaLisa Lovelace says
Hello all.
1. I think it is safe to say that everyone on here wants healthy hair. I wish I knew what is wrong with wanting long AND healthy hair. I believe the 2 can coexist with no obsession. In happiness, while we raise our kids and go to work and help our communities. We can do it all. Yep, I think so…
2. Those who have shoulder length hair and are at a “stand still”, PLEASE STRONGLY consider updos and protective styling. Your hair ends are constantly rubbing against your clothing causing it to break off. Wearing it “up” for a period will get it past the point of shoulder length. If you just don’t like updos at all, please remember to seal seal seal your ends with a thick cream and an oil or butter…often. I hope this helps. 🙂
Notgonechange Myways says
Shoulder
Latisha Cuban Pete Heiwajima says
Ain’t nobody got time for all that math and calculation lol
& Shannon that’s because our hair doesn’t grow as fast as other ethnicities. Not every black woman is exactly okay with having to perm, flat iron and cope with short ass hair all the time.
It’s annoying.
Danette Rivera says
Mines was at tail bone length but I cut it to waist length i do this every October
Asma Jouini Oum Atika says
now its shoulder length ffffffff
Camille Gerrald says
Bra strap then I cut it to the shoulder more manageable.
Penny McPherson says
If this POST was about COLOR and coloring hair wasn’t your THING, or if it was about Mohawks and that wasn’t your thing – it’s fine – move on. Why spew negativity on something you don’t care about? If people want to post a picture about lenghts so be it. Start your own page about a topic and join it. Don’t stress it’s not that serious. lol
Kristýna Antošová says
my nature dreads is Mid back lenght and my 2,5 year daughter Bra strap lenght soo much work whith it
Luna Loveless says
My goal is waist length but tail bone would be even greater XD
Lauren Imsweetaspie Lucas says
My hair is a lil past my shoulder
Lauren Imsweetaspie Lucas says
My hair was to my elbows I’m trying to get back to that
Elder Adrienne Dawson says
I want my to get to middle back length. It is shoulder length now. I love Big hair and I also want it to stay healthy in the process, with little to no breakage.
Aliyah Morrison says
I’m 5 ft 3 the back of my hair grows like 7 inches well this year when stretched 5 inches in its natural state with shrinkage ..I’m only a year natural the sides of my hair are longer . So I would say 15 inches in another two years with shrinkage and about 18 to 21 inches when stretched .
Krystine Monique Anderson-Gee says
Armpit length
Stacy Dumas says
bra strap length
Phoenix McGee says
I’ve already went passed my “limit” because I completely changed my hair regimen.
Alisa Young says
Was at bra strap length but I’m trimming this color out now.
Elise Cromwell says
Don’t know, I change my hair sooo often and when I was growing my hair out I had setbacks with color and stress. I just recently shaved most of my hair off, one of the best decisions of the year. I’m over length
Roslyn M. Robertson says
I will take healthy hair first. Then will worry about length
Adrianne N Shawntego McCreary says
I’m at shoulder length but I used to be waist length now my goal is tailbone length!
Jamila Kelly says
lol when an article about length turns into a competition amongst commenters XD
Timo Deutsch says
I am between mid-back and waist length. Waist length that is 100% thick to the ends is my goal.
Aliyah says
Well I’m at shoulder length and my goal is armpit but if I got to bra strap or mid back length I would be beyond happy . I have been protective styling for months and I’m a over a year natural . I decided to protective style untill I reach my third year then I’ll check my results . I protective style with my own hair in cornrows. It’s the best simple style and I’m in college so I can’t afford to get twist extensions plus I like cornrows better anyway . So far I grew around 7 to 8 inches in a little over a year the last time I measured my hair .
Aliyah says
I’m also only 5ft 3 lol so 15 inches on me would be close to waist length like past mid back . I don’t want waist length too much hair lol .
Aliyah Morrison says
I’m at shoulder length and I’m going for armpit length almost there . Bra strap length is fine too but no longer than that . Although I’m happy with armpit length hair .
Leah says
I’m already have healthy hair and I’m at armpit length now . My goal is bra strap length.