Is a hair disorder a vicious cycle of hair growth and hair breakage due to some form of disruption in several areas of the hair strand? The hair breakage or loss of hair is the target symptom and the end result of a group of symptoms that collectively characterize this hair disorder. Other related symptoms that will appear within the hair strands are poor elasticity, chronic split ends, a change in the texture, tears in hair strands , and sometimes a slight change in hair color.

Although some symptoms of SHS may require microscopic hair analysis to detect, some can be discovered by personal observation. Click here for help.

Can you inherit Short Hair Syndrome?

Short Hair Syndrome, the disorder itself, cannot be inherited, but there are those who are predisposed to this hair disorder because of inherited similarities in hair texture and type. Also, there are hair care habits that are passed on from one family member to another that will cause this hair disorder to develop.

Who is most likely to develop short hair syndrome?

Anyone can develop this hair disorder, but short hair syndrome usually develops among black women and children, with a combination of fine textured, extreme kinky hair type, and white women with fine texture hair type. This cycle usually starts at a very young age and continues on as an adult. Black children that have SHS are sadly labeled as having "bad hair". In many cases, as they become adults the hair is usually kept in a short tapered style or some form of added hair, such as, a wig, braids or even weave, is applied. Most individuals are not aware of what is causing their hair break . These individuals are convinced that their hair "just won’t grow", or they feel that their hair will only grow to a certain length and stop. Although the hair texture and types I’ve mentioned are the most likely to develop SHS, anyone can develop this hair disorder.

Below are questions that are answered in Chapter 8 of Mrs. Akbari's book.

• How do you know that you have developed Short Hair Syndrome?
• Can this be corrected?
• Will better nutrition prevent the development of Short Hair Syndrome?
• Isn’t Short Hair Syndrome just another form of damage that is easily corrected with good conditioners? Yes and No
• How can I break away from this hair disorder?
• Couldn’t we solve this problem if we stop wearing chemicals in our hair?