Is it normal to not grow my hair back to it's length?

Your hair needs a vacation basically. So you got to stay natural for a while until your hair grows back to the length you want before playing with it again. I'm not a professional, but I'm in the same situation and my hair is finally growing back.

1. Stay away from popular salon chains. Someone told me this before and I ignored her, because the salon I went to was great at straightening and styling my hair, I thought they would know everything about helping my hair grow back. Wrong. They are only good for styling and getting you out their chair as fast as possible. Growing hair takes time, patience, and loving care that salons won't be bothered with.

2. Find out your porosity level. This will help figure out what products you need to keep your hair moisturized and happy so it can grow. First you need a cup of clean water. Wash your hair with sulfate free shampoo. Before conditioning, take a long strand of clean, product free hair and let it fall into the cup of water and wait 3 minutes. If your hair floats on the surface, your hair is low porosity. If it sinks to the bottom, then you have high porosity hair. Finally, if it just sits in the middle of the water neither sinking too much, nor completely floating, then your hair is normal. Find out your results and research what products you need.

3. Hot oil treatments are great for all types of hair. Not only will it keep your hair moisturized for days or weeks, but it's simple to do at home. Depending on your hair type and porosity level, you may need to use a certain type of oil. For me, I like organic coconut oil. What you do is buy an applicator bottle from just about any department store. Place the oil in the bottle and sit it in boiling water. Let the bottled oil heat to a comfortable temp, it shouldn't be super hot, but warm. You can do this on freshly shampooed hair without conditioner or dirty hair. With freshly washed hair, just distribute the oil evenly through your hair and scalp, then sit for 10 - 20 minuntes with plastic cap on; then rinse with warm water, the oil acts as a conditioner so you don't need to condition. For dirty hair, distribute evenly, sit for 10 - 20 minutes with plastic cap, then rinse with warm water and shampoo as usual.

4. Tie your hair up at night. Braid, twist, or roll your hair up. Or simply put into a ponytail bun. Always wear a satin sleeping cap, it prevents your hair from breaking off while your sleep.

5. Style your hair in protective styles. Braids. Twist. Braid out, twist out, and more. Or simply wear is down and natural. No more perms, relaxers, weave, heavy products like grease and more, or heat of any kind for a while, your hair needs a vacation, so take this time to learn to love and work with what you naturally have.

First of all, don't wear weaves, they are terribly damaging to your scalp. If you want longer hair while it grows, buy a nice lace front - it'll set you back a bit but at least you won't go bald.

Secondly, make sure you treat your natural hair really well. Wash it, and make sure you massage it gently in the shower when washing.

That's all I got. But avoid weaves, my momma had weaves and now she has bald spots everywhere.

Coming from an african american girl..You should stop using perm its very bad for all hair and you shouldnt wear weave it really doesnt hell both of these things takes out your hair and doesnt make it grow anyfaster..you ahould just wash it every month or so intill you see some growth and maybe put some olive oil in your hair that is healthier

Grass is greener. Wish you wouldn't stereotype or either just type "long natural hair" and cure your hatred like I did. Also I like both coconut oil and Argan oil. Coat entire head/hair, cover with shower cap or saran wrap, rinse out in the morning.

It's normal for hair texture to change throughout life. My hair has got curlier as I've got older.

But regardless you're not helping your hair (or your scalp) with the relaxers and weave, stop both if you want thicker, longer hair. Also avoid dyeing it and try not to use heat as much as possible. The best way to grow it is just to leave it the hell alone, maybe throw in some leave-in conditioner and/or oils if it's dry.

Also learn to work with and appreciate your texture for what it is. There's nothing wrong with "nappy" Afro hair. White girls backcomb their hair to shit attempting to achieve more volume, while black girls burn theirs to shit attempting to flatten it. Everyone wants what they don't have.