Not only is my hair really thin and baby fine, but its short, damaged and in poor condition. I'm working really hard on getting it in better shape, then I want to focus on growing it out.  

I'll be 20 on Tuesday and I've never had really long hair. (longest its been is an inch at the most past my shoulders) How do you know what your terminal length is?  I've never met anyone that's never had long hair at least once.
Maybe my hair isnt capable of growin long? :(

Hi Jess!   :)  Well, there's really only one way to know what is your terminal length, and that's to simply be patient and let it grow.  The best advice I can give you is to start with a healthy head of hair.  I believe I read where your hair is damaged?  Cut it off to where only healthy ends remain.  Even if that means you're left with short, short hair, do it.  Once damage has occured it cannot be repaired (despite what the shampoo industry would have us believe).  *hugs*  My best wishes to you.  

Thanks for the support Trisha!  :) I went last week and got it cut... I told her to cut off all the dead ends.   I was left with hair a few inches above the shoulder.   I'm trying really hard to keep it in good condition. Do you know anything about hot oil treatments? I did one this morning. How often should I do them? My hair is really dry. I used VO5 moisturizing hot oil treatment... I'm not sure if this is a good brand

Good call getting the damage cut off.

As for hot oil treatments, I would say do them once a week or whenever you feel your hair needs it. Personally, I'm not a fan of heat or oil anywhere near my hair, so I'm hardly the expert. Just guessing. I have used Suave's hot oil treatments in the past and found that they absorbed completely into my hair after an hour, so there really wasn't much to rinse out (Suave hot oil treatments don't contain any actual oil). Not sure if V05 would work similarly?  :-?  But yeah, I'd say if it's working for you, then do it whenever you have time.

Terminal length is just one of many things in life that when you reach it, you'll just know. Most people never find out because they prefer to keep their hair shorter. But like Trisha said, the only way to know for sure is to just keep growing your hair out until it won't grow anymore. I'm pretty sure that yours isn't shoulder length, so don't worry.  ;)

Thanks Angel Spun!

That's reassuring to know!  I really hope its not shoulder length! haha

Hey, look on the bright side, even if your hair is completely average, which would mean it has a 6 year growth cycle, and grows 1/2 inch a month, your terminal length will be at least 36 inches!

I agree with K.  Be HAPPY!!

JD

wow. I never thought of it that way.   I guess I will have to be patient for at least 6 years lol! and be super gentle with my hair so it will grow. But seriously, I'd like to see some progress within the next 6 months at least.

It would be amazing if I could have long hair. I'd be so happy. ;D

I'm sure you can do it, Jess. Proper care is the key. Not just of your hair, but of youself in general.

Like you, I have very fine, thin hair. Like spiderwebs. And my hair used to be just about waist length. So it is possible for our hair type, but we have to be extra careful with it because fine hair is most susceptible to damage.

Jess--I am a big fan of hot oil treatments.  I started with the kinds that you buy in the store such as VO5 and suave, but have since moved to olive, jojoba, and almond oils.   I believe that the oil treatments is what kept my hair in good enough condition to make it past BSL finally.  

Since your hair is shorter and fine a light amount of jojoba oil would probably be more than enough.  Many people find that olive oil is too heavy and hard to rinse out.  

Terminal length is determined by many factors - general health, average hair growth, and care of the hair.  Patience is the only way you will ever find what your terminal length really is.

As for oil treatments -Warm oil will penetrate the hair shaft, giving it moisture which allows the hair to remain flexible and less prone to breakage and splitting.  I do weekly oil treatments during the dry winter months.  During the summer, I forgo the warm oil treatments and just do my nightly oiling of the ends with jojoba oil.  

Hi Jess,
Have courage and faith; I do believe your hair will grow long.  My hair was at nape length in 2004 and now it is 27"-almost to my waist.  I am encouraged by the post above that stated average growing time is six years so that gives me two more years to hopefully grow some more.  My hair, like yours, is very fine and not real thick and it tangles easily.  I have to be very patient with it.  Also, like you, I am beginning to wonder if I am at my terminal length.  It seems to have stopped growing this last few months, since about December 2007.  I am hoping it is just a slow growing period.  I like to use jojoba oil on the ends of my hair, just a drop applied on dry or damp hair.  I don't usually use heat, my ends are dry enough to soak it up without it.  I also sometimes use sweet almond oil; it is very light weight and nice for fine hair.  Best of luck to you and happy growing.  You'll be getting long hair before you know it!

strawberryfine

I always thought I had a not so long terminal length. I think I am just not too careful with my hair. I'm also going to start with the approach that diet also has something to do with hair health since you are what you eat. Since hair is based on proteins (amino acids), I'm also going to eat a combination of complex grains, meats, dairy and eggs (vitamins...vegetables too and all that wonderful stuff). I have extra fine hair and breakage is a huge problem. Also, I will only wash my hair three times a week and use leave in conditioner (and once a week a hair mask for deeper conditioning treatment). Also plan to use a boar bristle brush to distribute the sebum (don't forget to be extra gentle and use a wide toothed comb only when hair is wet and be careful about towel drying). Good luck and best wishes to you!!!