🌿 Why Your Hair Isn’t Growing — And What Actually Works
A grounded guide from Serena of Serene Haircare
If you've ever tried to grow your hair out and felt stuck, you're not alone.
Its actually one of the most asked about topics in my hair studio.
Despite the countless products, supplements, and viral hacks promising longer hair overnight, real, healthy growth often feels out of reach for many of us.
As a colourist and stylist with over 20 years of hands-on experience — including time spent working with L’Oréal — I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what quietly damages hair in the name of growth.
Let’s gently unravel the myths and walk through what actually supports longer, healthier hair — in a calm, consistent, and realistic way.
🚫 Myth 1: “Hair Growth” Products Actually Grow Hair
One of the biggest misconceptions I see in the industry is that a shampoo or oil can stimulate hair growth.
Many brands now use clever language to sidestep regulations. You’ll see phrases like “strengthens hair to support growth” or “HG formula” (which quietly stands for "hair growth"). But legally, they can’t claim to grow hair — because they don’t.
Just like eating fast food doesn’t promote weight loss because chewing burns calories, a shampoo that leaves your hair soft doesn't necessarily grow it longer. It may help with breakage, but that’s not the same as new length.
What to look for instead: products that protect and nourish the hair you already have — especially through the mid-lengths and ends — so it can stay healthy as it grows.
✂️ Myth 2: Frequent Trims Make Your Hair Grow Faster
Here’s where nuance matters.
Hair doesn't grow faster because it's trimmed — growth happens at the scalp. But the condition of your ends absolutely influences how much length you retain.
As someone who’s spent decades behind the chair (and trained through some of the best education in the industry), I recommend micro-trims every 8-10 weeks. Not big chops — just a dusting to remove the very ends that may fray or split. Think of it like preventative maintenance: enough to keep your ends healthy, but not so much that you feel like you’re starting over each time.
Note: choose your hair stylist wisely and alway remind them of your hair growth goal so you both stay in alimnment and dont get side tracked.
🌱 The Real Reason Your Hair “Isn’t Growing”
When clients come to me and say, “My hair hasn’t grown in years,” I gently remind them: if you’re touching up your roots, your hair is growing. The issue is usually breakage at the ends.
Hair grows from the scalp — but what happens to the hair after it leaves your head determines whether you’ll ever see that length.
Let me explain with a visual:
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The roots are fresh and healthy.
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The mid-lengths are okay but beginning to weather.
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The ends have experienced the most heat, colour, sun, and styling — and they’re often dry, brittle, or split.
If your ends are breaking at the same rate your roots are growing, your hair stays the same length — or worse, starts thinning.
💧 Daily Moisture: A Non-Negotiable
The simplest — and most effective — shift you can make?
Start applying a lightweight oil to your ends every single day.
Just a few drops is all it takes to seal in moisture, protect from friction, and stop the gradual fraying that quietly steals your length. I’ve seen clients gain loads of retained growth in a year with this habit alone.
💫 Leave-In Conditioner: Your Secret Weapon
A high-quality leave-in conditioner is your hair’s daily shield. It forms a soft, breathable barrier around the hair to lock in hydration and reduce friction from brushing, sleeping, styling, or even just moving through the day.
Together, leave-in + oil on the ends create a powerful, simple routine to support long, healthy hair.
🔄 Stop the "Short Hair Hamster Wheel"
Here’s what I call the short hair hamster wheel:
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You buy trendy products you’ve seen on Instagram.
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Your ends still split.
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Your stylist trims them.
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You go back to step one.
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Months pass — no real progress.
Sound familiar?
By shifting your routine from reaction to prevention, you start nurturing the length you already have. Your ends stay intact longer, and your mids grow into healthy ends instead of breaking along the way.
♀️ Grounded Habits That Do Help
There are a few habits I recommend to all clients trying to grow their hair:
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✅ Scalp massage (during shampoo) for 3–5 minutes to stimulate blood flow.
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✅ Sleep on silk or satin to reduce overnight friction.
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✅ Avoid over-washing — every 2–4 days is perfect for most.
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✅ Take a quality multivitamin (no need for the overpriced influencer ones).
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✅ Heat style with protection, not fear. You can use heat — just be smart about it.
And remember: avoid heavy oils like coconut or castor oil, which can be too intense and lead to protein overload or dryness over time. I do use these sparingly, but ill educate you on this, espcially if you have coarse or afro texture hair, otherwise its pretty risky if your just guessing.
🌸 Final Thoughts — From Me to You
Growing your hair doesn’t require a 12-step routine, and it doesnt mean giving up heat, highlights, or your personal style.
It just takes intention, the right care, and a little grace.
At Serene Haircare, I created my product philosophy and services around real results, not trends. My goal has always been to cut through the noise — and help women feel confident, calm, and cared for in their hair journey.
If you're not sure what your hair needs, I’d love to help. Whether it's a personalised product recommendation, a fresh colour refresh, or a calm one-on-one hair service, my salon studio is a space where your hair — and your self-care — is honoured.
🕊️ Because beauty, like growth, starts with trust.
💻 Want More?
📌 Book your next appointment at Serena Hair 0405278520 or Hello@serenahair.com.au (txt for speedy response)
📌 Follow @serena_hair on Instagram for tips, behind-the-scenes, and calm hair inspiration
Im thinking about creating an list of my favourite growth-supporting products (with real ingredients, no gimmicks) for you, what do you think?