Length checks provide a baseline for your little one's hair journey. Regular length checks (typically once a month) allow parents to track hair growth over time. Similar to how doctors measure baby's head circumference, and shoe and clothes sizes help gauge how little bodies grow, length checks serve to document changes in hair. This can be helpful in identifying growth spurts, observing patterns such as one area growing faster than another, or just fun details on how your little one's curls are developing.
There are two main types of length checks. The first method uses a soft and flexible measuring tape. The second measures length against the body. The areas to measure are the widow's peak, nape, crown, and both temples.
Ideally length checks should be done after the hair has been washed or completely soaked and detangled. Water naturally weighs down curls and makes manipulating hair smoother. Detangling releases the curl so that it can be stretched to its max.
How To Do Length Check (with measuring tape)
Choose a section of hair to measure
Gently lengthen curl against tape measure
Document the length of the curl (in centimeters or inches)
How To Do Length Check (against body parts)
Choose a section of hair to measure
Gently lengthen hair against face and neck
Document where curl ends
or
Allow hair to naturally air-dry
Observe how hair naturally lays
Document where hair ends
Some prefer to leave the hair in its naturally curly state (instead of using the pinch-n-pull method). This means the hair is left in its shrunken state and compared against different body parts. For example, if the curls naturally sit around the ears, this would be considered ear length hair.
Please know that length is not the only way to track progress. Photo diaries are a visual way to record hair journeys. You can also use a hair journal. We've created a sample one that captures multiple hair traits over time. You can check it out here.
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