This is the honest story of my hair growth journey — the methods that helped, the habits that held me back, and the mindset shift that finally changed everything.
For years, my hair refused to grow past shoulder or bra-strap length. No matter what I tried, it stayed stuck. Today, my hair is officially the longest it has ever been — almost butt length. You can’t fully see it when it’s curly, but I added a straightened photo below so you can really see the progress.
What Actually Worked
- Coffee-infused shampoo for scalp stimulation
- Protective styling (usually one braid)
- Stopping over-trimming and dyeing
- Trimming only twice a year
- Weekly deep conditioning and moisture focus
- Keeping my routine simple and consistent
What Held Me Back
- Micro-trimming every few weeks
- Frequent dyeing → constant breakage
- Overthinking products (sulfate-free didn’t matter for my hair)
- Chasing “growth hacks” instead of patience
The Unexpected Haircut That Started Everything
A little over 10 years ago, I went to the salon expecting just a trim. My hairdresser mentioned that shoulder-length might be healthier because of the damage, and my friend agreed it would look cute on me. I hesitated… but eventually said yes.
In one appointment, my long hair became a shoulder-length cut — and without realizing it, that moment started my entire hair growth journey. It pushed me into learning about my hair, experimenting, and taking care of it for the first time.
Back then, I was the classic YouTube DIY girl:
- Homemade kitchen masks
- Rice water
- No-heat challenges
- The inversion method (yes… upside down for a minute a day)
- Every “miracle” growth hack the internet promised
Shockingly, some of it worked — my hair grew all the way to waist length.
The Haircut That Set Me Back Years
Much later, another salon visit changed everything — but not in a good way.
A simple miscommunication with my hairdresser resulted in a much shorter haircut than I expected. Years of progress disappeared in a single appointment, taking me almost back to shoulder length. I was devastated.
But that setback taught me one of the biggest lessons in my hair growth journey:
Growing long hair isn’t the hard part — retaining the length is.
It pushed me to rethink my trims, my routine, and what my hair actually needed to stay healthy.
The Coffee Shampoo Era: My First Real Breakthrough
After the haircut disaster, I experimented more than ever.
While watching brazilian Tiktok one technique stood out: mixing ground coffee into my shampoo.
My “bomba de café” phase genuinely helped:
- More scalp stimulation
- Stronger roots
- Faster growth
- Less shedding
It wasn’t magic, but it was my first consistent growth boost — and it motivated me to keep going.
The Micro-Trimming Trap: How I Accidentally Sabotaged My Growth
For years, I believed micro-trimming was essential. Every couple of weeks, I’d trim “just a little” to keep my ends healthy.
Reality?
I was cutting away my growth faster than my hair could grow.
Combine that with frequent dyeing, and the result was predictable:
- breakage
- weak ends
- lack of retention
- hair stuck at the same length for years
No growth method could save me because I kept removing my progress.
The Turning Point: Letting Go of Rules
Two years ago, everything shifted.
I stopped dyeing my hair.
I stopped trimming constantly.
I stopped obsessing over the Curly Girl Method.
I stopped chasing every new trend.
My routine became beautifully simple:
➤ Protective styling
Usually one braid to reduce friction and breakage.
➤Weekly wash day
Shampoo, conditioner, hair mask.
➤Mid-week refresh
Water + aloe vera gel or leave in.
➤Deep conditioning once a week
Moisture changed everything.
➤ Trims twice a year
Only when needed — not out of fear.
➤ Straightening every few months
Just to check length and trim evenly.
I also realized sulfate-free shampoos made no difference for my hair.
So I stopped stressing and used whatever shampoo I had, as long as I followed it with moisture.
Letting go of the rules helped my hair finally grow.
The Summer Growth Challenge (Fenugreek + MSM)
This summer, I tried a homemade deep conditioner with fenugreek and MSM powder.
And yes — my hair grew faster.
But:
the mixture I used to seal my ends left them dry, so I didn’t continue.
Still, the challenge reminded me:
Consistency grows hair — not miracle products.
What I Learned After 10+ Years of Growing My Hair
After more than a decade of trying everything, here’s what I know for sure:
➤ Hair grows when you stop sabotaging your retention.
➤ Simple routines work better than complicated ones.
➤ Consistency matters more than products.
➤ Patience is the real magic ingredient.
Your hair will grow — but only if you stop over-processing, over-trimming, and constantly switching routines.
Now when I see my hair almost touching my butt, I remember every phase, every mistake, and every lesson that got me here.
My next trim is due in December, so please excuse my ends in the photo above!
How long did it take you to grow out your hair? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!
Products mentioned
Fenugreek Seeds
I couldn’t find fenugreek seeds on Amazon.com, so I linked the fenugreek oil instead.
Pour Amazon.fr, c’est la marque que j’utilise moi-même.
MSM powder
Always perform a patch test before full application. Consult your doctor or a professional trichologist if you have a pre-existing scalp condition or are unsure about ingredients.
💬 Tell Me Your Story
How long did it take you to grow your hair?
Which methods helped you the most — and which ones held you back?
I’d love to hear your journey in the comments.
If you’re also working on length retention, you might like my post – > Best Oils for Curly Hair Growth.
