Why Is My Daughter's Natural Hair Not Growing? How Can I Make It Grow Faster?

Firstly don't worry if your daughter hasn't reached the age of two yet; baby hair can be very fragile and all the tossing and turning that babies do can have an impact on the growth and thickness of your baby's hair.

If the child is older than two and you think the hair isn't growing well, then the issue could be one of the below:

1. Genetics

If you or your husband's family have slow hair growth then your child may have inherited the trait. Some people's hair grows faster than others.

2. Split ends

There is no scientific proof that removing splitting ends "makes" hair grow faster but there is a lot of empirical evidence to suggest this is true. If the ends are looking rough, uneven or messy cut them off!

3. Not getting relevant nutrients

A lot of protein, iron and zinc is needed for healthy hair grow. Ensure your child is getting plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains and some meat. Obviously, if you're vegetarian there will be no meat in your diet so a lot of protein will come from beans and other grains. Here are specific foods you should be looking to give your children more of for good hair growth:

• Eggs (a good source of iron)
  
• Peas, beans, lentils
• Asparagus, spinach and other leafy greens
• Peanuts
• Corn
• Broccoli
• Yoghurt
• Oranges, strawberries and other citrus fruits
• Water! You child's hydration should come mostly from water not juices.

4. Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland in the neck controls many of the body's metabolic function by realeasing the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. You have an underactive thyroid (or Hypothyroidism) if you produce too little of this hormone. One of the symptoms is poor hair growth, hair loss and/or thinning.

5. A fungal infection

A fungal infection such as ringworm (not caused by a worm despite the name) can cause hair loss or lack of hair growth. If you see a doctor they can have the child tested for this condition and prescribe an appropriate antifungal cream. The doctor can also diagnose other scalp conditions such as scalp psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.

6. Styling and regimen

Excessive brushing, combing and styling could lead to breakage. Try styling the hair in such a way that it doesn't need to be changed every day; wash and condition every 7 to 10 days. 

When you style the hair massage the scalp for a few minutes to stimulate the roots and go for a style that doesn't cause stress around the edges.

You might also like: Tips on Caring for your Kids' Natural Hair

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References:
What Causes Hair Not To Grow In a Toddler?
How To Make Your Child’s Hair Grow Faster
Hypothyroidism and Hair

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