The short answer
A fringe that won’t grow is usually breaking, not failing to grow. The hair at the front gets the most heat, brushing and handling, so it snaps at the same length and seems stuck. Front hairs also have a shorter growing phase than the rest of your head. If the front is thinning or shedding as well, there may be another cause, such as low iron or tight hairstyles.
Why won’t the front of my hair grow?
Hair grows about a centimetre a month all over your head. When one area seems stuck, it’s usually because hair is being lost at the ends as fast as it grows at the roots, or because the hairs there are naturally finer and shorter-lived.
| If you notice… | It’s most likely |
|---|---|
| Short, uneven, frizzy hairs at the front that snap easily | Hair breakage from heat, straighteners, brushing or clips |
| Fine, soft front hairs that never get as long as the rest | A naturally shorter growing phase at the hairline |
| More hair falling out all over, a few months after illness, stress or a diet | Telogen effluvium |
| Tiredness, heavy periods or a restricted diet as well | Low iron or another deficiency |
| Thinning at the hairline or temples after years of tight ponytails or buns | Traction alopecia |
| A hairline moving back, often with thinning eyebrows, after the menopause | Frontal fibrosing alopecia |
| A habit of twisting or pulling the front hair | Trichotillomania |
Is it breakage or hair loss?
Look at a few of the hairs that come out. Broken hairs are short pieces with no bulb at either end. Hairs that fall out from the root are full length with a tiny white bulb. Breakage points to how your hair is handled; shedding from the root points to something going on inside.
When should I get it checked?
If your fringe has stopped growing and the front is getting thinner, your hairline is moving back, you’re shedding more than usual, or you feel unwell or very tired, it’s worth finding out why. A blood test through your GP can rule out iron and thyroid problems. Blood tests for hair loss.
If something isn’t right with your hair or scalp, I’ll take your history, examine your hair and scalp closely and give you a written plan. What happens at a consultation.
Questions
Does the hair at the front grow slower?
Not usually slower, but it often has a shorter growing phase, so the hairs don’t get as long before they’re replaced. They’re also finer, so they break more easily.
Why is my hair growing everywhere except the front?
Usually because the front is breaking from heat and handling, or the hairs there are naturally shorter-lived. Thinning at the front can also be traction or shedding.
How long does a fringe take to grow out?
Hair grows about a centimetre a month, so growing a fringe from eyebrow to chin length usually takes six months to a year.
Can stress stop my fringe growing?
Stress can trigger shedding all over the head two to three months later, which you may notice most at the front. It usually settles once the stress passes.