I have a problem with my hair. I have kept it short for most of my life (much to my chagrin), but last year, when I decided to make the transition, I started growing it out. It has been about 11 months since I go a haircut, but my hair is still only about 2 inches long, at the longest. On the sides, it grows much shorter, and is only about half an inch to an inch, at the shortest. This is the major issue impeding my transition, as my transition cannot go any further until my hair gets longer, to a feminine length. I can't dress or anything, and therefore cannot  transition my image and perception as a female. I refuse to ever wear a wig, as I don't feel comfortable wearing them. I do not find short hair to be an attractive look for a girl (this short, at least), so that is not an option. My only option is to get to the bottom of why my hair isn't growing. I would very much like for my transition to move forward. Has anyone else ever had this problem? How did you handle it? Does anyone know of what could be causing this?

Riversong, I'm going to face this problem, because my hair is really thin on the top due to pattern baldness, so my hair is not going to pass.

I plan on studying up on the latest hat fashions.

Hair normally grows at a rate of about 1/2 inch per month and mine does that. The rate can vary a bit, but your experience is very unusual. I would discuss it with a doctor. There may be a medical issue that could be dealt. It might even be a nutrition thing.

I think everyone is a bit apprehensive about wigs at first, but you might give them a second consideration, if you can't work out something with your hair. A good quality wig that's well styled and well cared for can look fine on most people.

~ Lyric ~

I agree with Lyric. With nearly a year without a hair cut, your hair should be at least six inches long. Is your hair curly/wavy. Perhaps some of the length is disguised in the curl. If you do have curly hair take a section and pull it straight to measure it.

But yeah, this is a question that you should ask a doctor. I would agree that it is pry a nutritional issue. Perhaps look into B vitamins.
Also, how is the thickness of your hair? Is it pretty thick? Or are you thinning?

Quote from: riversong on October 12, 2012, 08:21:18 AM
This is the major issue impeding my transition, as my transition cannot go any further until my hair gets longer, to a feminine length. I can't dress or anything, and therefore cannot  transition my image and perception as a female.

If you don't mind me asking, Why?

Quote from: Hippolover25 on October 12, 2012, 10:05:54 AM
... Is your hair curly/wavy. Perhaps some of the length is disguised in the curl. If you do have curly hair take a section and pull it straight to measure it.

... Perhaps look into B vitamins.
Also, how is the thickness of your hair? Is it pretty thick? Or are you thinning?

I am not thinning. If by thickness, you mean the density at which my hair grows, it is pretty thick. In terms of the thickness of each individual hair, it is very thin and somewhat curly. It is also very dry and weak. The measurements I gave are with it pulled straight. I have taken vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin B intermittently, but not long enough to notice a difference.

Quote from: spacial on October 12, 2012, 10:43:24 AM
If you don't mind me asking, Why?

Hair this short would be very unattractive for a girl. Dressing as a girl with hair this short would look very unattractive and odd.

Quote from: riversong on October 12, 2012, 12:06:20 PM

Hair this short would be very unattractive for a girl. Dressing as a girl with hair this short would look very unattractive and odd.

I'm sorry, but I've seen many very attractive and extremely sexy women with short, even very short hair.

Do you possibly have other reasons for your lack of confidence?

This may not help a lot, but have you tried changing your shampoo and conditioner? There are certain ones that are made to help stimulate hair growth. Ingredients like teatree oil, and peppermint are supposed to help. If you have the funds, go for sulfate free.

I do agree with the others that there might be an underlying medical problem. If it were me, I would ask my doctor.

Quote from: spacial on October 12, 2012, 12:16:01 PM
I'm sorry, but I've seen many very attractive and extremely sexy women with short, even very short hair.

Agreed. In fact, I saw a picture of one of the women on this site yesterday, she had very short hair and looked quite good (granted she claimed she was in boy mode but I could not see any "maleness" about her).

Quote from: spacial on October 12, 2012, 12:16:01 PM
I'm sorry, but I've seen many very attractive and extremely sexy women with short, even very short hair.

Do you possibly have other reasons for your lack of confidence?

I wish, but no, it's just the attractiveness thing. I've never seen a girl with short hair who I've found attractive. I guess it's a subjective "to each their own" thing...

Quote from: Brooke777 on October 12, 2012, 12:17:28 PM
This may not help a lot, but have you tried changing your shampoo and conditioner? There are certain ones that are made to help stimulate hair growth. Ingredients like teatree oil, and peppermint are supposed to help. If you have the funds, go for sulfate free.

I use fructis fall fight shampoo and conditioner. Before it reached this "terminal length" (but God I hope it's not my terminal length), it actually seemed to grow at the 1/2 per month rate, maybe a little faster even. That's why I went with fall fight. It's only been about a month since I've used it, I notice a slight difference, as it has grown since I started using it.

Quote from: Brooke777 on October 12, 2012, 12:19:21 PM
Agreed. In fact, I saw a picture of one of the women on this site yesterday, she had very short hair and looked quite good (granted she claimed she was in boy mode but I could not see any "maleness" about her).

Do you have a link?

My hair is also very slow growing. 2 haircuts a year in male mode and that's barely an inch longer each time. Been that way pretty much all my life. I come from a long line of baldies. The solution is simple. It's called a wig. There May be some pretty bald women out there. I aint ever going to come close to that.

I dunno if this will help or not, or if im just crazy.   But my hair was barely growing only like 1/4 an inch a month. (I know its diffrent then your problem)  But then I switched to mane and tail  shampoo and conditioner.  And started taking those womens vitacraze gummies. and my hair exploded. proper eating habits along with those changes, my hair has been growing at 1/2 inch to 3/4 an inch a month.  I went from a buzz cut to what you see in my photo and I started growing it out in feburary.