If you've been growing your hair for months, or years, and it never seems to get past your shoulders, I want you to know two things. You're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone. I'm Mallory, founder of The Long Hair Lab. I never had long hair before I grew my own out, so I know exactly how frustrating it is to skip haircuts, wait patiently, and still see the same length in the mirror.
Here's what I learned: in most cases, your hair hasn't stopped growing. It's breaking about as fast as it grows. Hair breaks before you see the length. Once you understand why that happens around shoulder length, you can finally do something about it.
Quick side note: I put everything I did to grow my own hair out into a free guide. If you'd like the full routine, you can grab The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long, Healthy Hair here. It's free.
Your Hair Is Probably Still Growing
Good news first: your hair is almost definitely still growing! On average, hair grows about half an inch a month, or roughly six inches a year. That's plenty to get you past your shoulders.
So if your roots keep doing their job, where's all that length going? It's breaking off at the ends. That's why length retention, meaning how much of your growth you actually keep, is the real secret to long hair.
Why Shoulder Length Is Where So Many of Us Get Stuck
A hair growth plateau at shoulder length isn't a coincidence. Several things come together right around that point.
1. Your ends are older than you think
By the time your hair reaches your shoulders, the ends may be two years old or more. They've been through hundreds of washes, brushings, heat styling sessions and days in the sun. Over time, the protective outer layer of each strand, called the cuticle, wears down, leaving your ends dry, fragile and much more likely to snap.
2. Friction on your shoulders
Once your hair hits your shoulders, it rubs against them all day. It also catches on collars, scarves, sweaters, bag straps, seatbelts and the back of your chair. That friction keeps wearing at your oldest, weakest hair, so the ends snap off about as quickly as your roots grow.
3. Split ends travel
When the cuticle wears away at the tip, the strand can split. Split ends can't be permanently repaired. If you leave them, they can keep traveling up the strand, causing more breakage and those thin, see-through ends.
4. Dryness and tangles
Dry ends tangle easily, and forcing a brush through knots, especially when hair is wet, snaps strands. Those short broken pieces are often what we mistake for "my hair just won't grow."
How to Stop Hair Breakage and Retain Length
The goal is simple: keep more of the hair you're already growing. The biggest change for me was treating moisture as the foundation of my routine. That's why our Deep Oil Treatments are at the center of everything we make.
The Deep Oil Treatment Routine (Step by Step)
Our Deep Oil Treatments come in three formulas, and each one fits well into a hair growth routine. They're made for different hair types:
- Balanced Moisture Oil, for medium to dry hair
- Extra Dry Repair Oil, for very dry, thirsty hair
- Buildup Reset Oil, for hair prone to buildup
All three contain rosemary and vitamin E. They work like a deep conditioner, giving your hair extra moisture so it stays soft and flexible instead of brittle. Moisturized hair is much less likely to break off early from dryness, and that's how you keep your length.
Here's how to use it:
- Start with dry hair before wash day. Use your Deep Oil Treatment at least once a week, or before every wash day.
- Massage it into your scalp. Use your fingertips, not your nails, and take your time. This is my favorite part of the week.
- Saturate your ends. Your ends are the oldest, driest part of your hair and need the most help, so don't be shy here.
- Leave it on for 2 hours. Pop your hair into a loose bun or clip while it soaks in.
- Wash it out. Shampoo as usual, follow with conditioner if you like, and style gently.
So... what about rosemary? I'll be honest, I'm a little bit of a rosemary nerd. There are a few promising studies. In a 2015 trial, people with pattern hair loss used either rosemary oil or 2% minoxidil for six months. Both groups saw more hair by the end, with no significant difference between them, and the rosemary group had less scalp itching. A lab study in mice found that rosemary leaf extract helped hair regrow, and an older trial found that a scalp-massage blend of rosemary, thyme, lavender and cedarwood oils helped people with alopecia areata. Exciting stuff! But the research is still early and limited. These were small studies on specific hair loss conditions (and one was in mice), so they're not a guarantee of anything. What I can promise is what all that extra moisture does: it helps your hair hold on to the length it already has. That's the real magic.
Protect your ends every day
Between treatments, a drop or two of the Daily Lightweight Hair Serum for Ends & Frizz Control on your ends helps smooth frizz and keep your ends protected without weighing your hair down.
Reduce friction wherever you can
- Wear your hair up or back with scarves, high collars or backpacks.
- Choose gentle styles like loose braids or a low bun with a soft scrunchie. Skip tight elastics with metal parts.
- Sleep on silk or satin, or wear a loose braid or bonnet at night.
Detangle gently
Work from the ends up in small sections with a wide-tooth comb or a flexible brush. Be extra careful with wet hair, and never force your way through a knot.
Be smart about heat
Air-dry when you can. When you do use heat, turn the temperature down, use a heat protectant, and avoid going over the same section again and again.
Trim with a purpose
Small, regular trims protect your progress by removing split ends before they travel. A light "dusting" every couple of months keeps your ends healthy without costing you inches.
Support your hair from the inside
Protein, iron and overall nutrition all matter for healthy hair. Stress and illness can also increase shedding. If you notice sudden shedding or thinning at the scalp, please check in with your doctor or a dermatologist.
Want a Ready-Made Routine?
If you'd rather not build a routine from scratch, our Growth & Glow Duos pair a Deep Oil Treatment with the Daily Hair Serum: weekly moisture plus daily protection for your ends. Choose the Balanced Moisture–Growth & Glow Duo for medium to dry hair, the Extra Dry Repair–Growth & Glow Duo, or the Buildup Reset–Growth & Glow Duo, depending on your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hair really stop growing at a certain length?
Everyone's hair does have a natural max length, but for most of us it's way past the shoulders. If you're stuck at shoulder length, it's almost always breakage, not your hair hitting its limit.
How fast does hair grow?
About half an inch a month, or roughly six inches a year, on average. It varies with genetics, age and health.
Do hair oils make your hair grow faster?
No oil can promise faster growth, but rosemary is one ingredient researchers are excited about, and the early results look promising. Where oils really make a difference is moisture. Soft, hydrated hair breaks less, so you actually get to keep the length you're growing.
How often should I use a Deep Oil Treatment?
At least once a week, or before every wash day. Massage it into your scalp, saturate your ends, leave it on for 2 hours, then wash it out.
How can I tell breakage from shedding?
A shed hair is full length with a small white bulb at the root end. A broken hair is shorter and has no bulb. Lots of short pieces on your clothes or in your brush points to breakage.
Should I stop getting haircuts?
Not completely. Split ends that are left alone can travel up the strand. Light, regular trims protect your length.
The Bottom Line
If your hair seems stuck at shoulder length, it's most likely growing and breaking at the same time. Keep it moisturized, protect your ends, cut down on friction and be gentle, and you'll start keeping the length you've been growing all along.
I wrote down every habit and routine change that helped me stop breakage and finally grow my hair past its usual length. Sign up to get The Ultimate Guide to Growing Long, Healthy Hair, free, and when you're ready, find your Deep Oil Treatment here.
With love (and lots of patience for your ends),
Mallory
Founder, The Long Hair Lab
Sources
- Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. SKINmed. 2015;13(1):15–21. PubMed
- Murata K, et al. Promotion of hair growth by Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract. Phytotherapy Research. 2013;27(2):212–217. PubMed
- Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy: successful treatment for alopecia areata. Archives of Dermatology. 1998;134(11):1349–1352. JAMA Dermatology