Many women say “My hair won’t grow”. I hate is when I hear some one say this, because it is completely false! Hair is growing all the time, it is just a matter of retaining length. For example, compare you hair to your nails for a moment…your nails grow, but will break off unless you take good care of them; however they can and will grow back. The same concept applies to your hair. Your hair will grow, but you can only retain length if you take great care of your hair!
Hair needs moisture to survive!
- A lot of black women feel that water makes their hair dry, however this is false! Water=moisture, simple right? Washing your hair at least once a week will greatly help in keeping your hair moisturized. I personally recommend 2-3 times a week, depending on your hair. Use sulfate-free shampoos (look at the ingredients, more on this coming soon!) and always follow up with conditioner.
- Keep you hair moisturized between washes. It is important to keep your hair moisturized between washes. This prevents breakage and helps you to retain length. Use a quality leave in conditioner and remember to check out those ingredients. Stay away from anything that contains mineral oil, petroluimm and other cheap ingredients as they clog pores and inhibit growth.
- Do this by applying a thin layer of oil after moisturizing. This helps to keep the moisture from evaporating off of the strand, which will keep your hair moist longer! There are a lot of great oils you can use to do this (ex: olive oil, coconut oil). There are also a lot of great oil mixes of oils you can find at any beauty supply store. Again, try to stay away from cheap ingredients like mineral oils and petrolium. Moisturize and “seal” daily between washes.
- In order to retain length and grow your hair long, you need to protect your ends from splitting. Split ends either break off or need to be trimmed away. Coat the ends of your hair (the last few inches) with an extra layer of oil to protect them. Wear your hair in “protective styles” such as ponytails, buns, etc. to prevent your ends from rubbing up against clothing (this can cause split ends!). Hide your ends as much as possible! Too much heat can also cause split ends and breakage. Avoid using direct heat as much as possible. When you do use heat, remember to coat the hair with some type of heat protectant to minimize damage.
- Most women avoid trimming their ends because they believe it takes away from their length. However, trimming is necessary to maintain the health of your ends. Some split ends come naturally and the only way to get rid of them is to trim, no more than 1/2 inch. The hair only grows about 1/2 inch each month, so do not trim too much. I recommend 1/4 of an inch as needed.
- therefore you must create your own personal hair regimen. This means finding products that work for your hair, and letting go of those that don’t. Decide which products you will use and how often. How often will you wash your hair? What conditioner will you use? How often will you deep condition? Will you cut back on heat styling? If so, how much? All of these are questions to ask yourself when creating a hair routine. Keeping a hair journal (yes, a hair journal) can be of great help when creating your hair routine and beginning your healthy hair care journey.
*Eating a healthy, balanced diet or taking vitamins. (Click here for information on vitamins)
*Deep condition regularly.
*Protein treatments; keeping a healthy balance between moisture and protein is an important key to healthy, long hair.
*If you relax, make sure you (or your hair care professional) are doing it correctly. See Relaxing 101.
*Visiting a hair care professional/ stylist regularly.
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