In July 2021, I relaxed my natural hair. Because of the workload I had to face at school, I felt there was just no time to deal with my troublesome hair.
The regret was almost immediate because of several reasons. I know lots of people have relaxed hair and are super comfortable with it but it took me a relaxing disaster to realize it was not for me.
So, the major reason for the said disaster was that my roots didn't relax properly and then my scalp got burnt (how can both even happen at the same time?). So I said to myself, "what to do now?", " let me just leave my hair to turn natural on its own, that shouldn't take time" or so I thought.
1 year later, with still no natural hair, I got the big chop. Then I pored over the internet looking for every information about hair growth I could lay my hands on.
It paid off big time and I have taken it upon myself to spread the gospel of rapid hair growth. I'm going to cut through the bullshit and tell you exactly what you need to do to get the length you've always wanted. And guess what? You don't need to break the bank plus you can grow your hair even with a busy schedule. Exciting right?
Protective hairstyles
It looks like it is going to rain but you need to get somewhere urgently. "I'll be quick", you tell yourself and dash out without an umbrella.
To your misfortune, a heavy downpour begins. Stranded, you can't go home and you can't get to where you want to go. All this could have been avoided by simply carrying an umbrella.
This scenario is alike to what happens without protective styles. Natural 4c hair is delicate, and fragile and needs an umbrella for protection from the rain of breakage. When growing out your hair, retention is very important. You need to retain the hair you already have. Breakage must be ruthlessly avoided so you should never leave your hair unmade for more than a week.
Protective styles come in different forms.
Braids, corn rows, and faux locs are common examples. The best part is using hair extensions is not a necessity. You can braid your hair as it is or even lock it. Did you know that locs(also known as dreadlocks) are an ancient technique used to grow hair? Find out more about how you can grow your hair longer with locs here(https://zubairislamee.wixsite.com/explorewithisla/post/the-ultimate-guide-to-growing-long-healthy-dr)
By putting your hair in protective styles you cut down 90% of breakage-associated problems.
Avoid over manipulation
Manipulation is the enemy of hair growth. It sounds simple, but this is a hair growth mistake way too many women make. Do you want to see growth? "LEAVE YOUR HAIR ALONE". That is just it.
Just like a plant is cultivated and left alone for nature to grow, leave your hair alone to grow and thrive without interference. Imagine constantly going to mess with the plant and turning up the soil. Will the plant grow properly? Exactly!
So, put your hair in a protective style and leave it in for at least a month before loosening. Do you know that clump of extra hair that is present at the root of braids that have been worn for a long time? That's growth right there.
It is important to know that there is no such thing as hair that does not grow. Get rid of that myth. The rate at which it grows might differ from woman to woman. But be certain that anyone's hair can grow to any length be it a shoulder, midback, waist, bum lengths, or even longer.
Hair and nails are dead cells made from a substance known as keratin. As sure as your nails grow and you even cut them off when they are too long, your hair also grows. If only you would leave it alone to do so.
Here is a study showing the impact of constant braiding and combing on the integrity of natural African hair (shlink.me/PaGEK)
Avoid Too tight styles
As much as protective styling is a holy grail of hair growth, it has to be done properly.
Ever made hair and it is so tight that you get a headache afterward? The pain is sometimes so bad that you can't sleep without taking some pain meds.
That is your body's warning signal to you sis, don't ignore it. Loosen that hair asap. I know it looks really neat and cute but it will harm your hair growth journey in the long run.
Tight hairstyles damage your hair and scalp. They can cause your hair to rip out of your scalp! Hair loss caused by this is called traction alopecia. It could even lead to permanent hair loss because blood is not able to flow properly to hair follicles.
Making protective styles too tight is equal to going one foot forward and three feet back.
Moisturize frequently
Moisture is another holy grail that is super important for hair growth. It once again all boils down to breakage.
The weather influences the amount of moisture in your hair. Summer nourishes your hair because the air is humid and hot.
Winter, on the other hand, is dry and cold. This also reflects in the hair.
The way sweat evaporates from your skin when it's cold leaving you shivering is the way moisture escapes the hair leaving it dry, frizzy, and prone to breakage.
Because of that, how frequently you moisturize your hair is according to the weather. Excess moisture in the summer causes an excess build-up of hair products in the hair. That is bad for your hair health.
In essence, moisturize less in summer and more in winter.
Learn more about different ways to moisturize hair here (https://zubairislamee.wixsite.com/explorewithisla/post/how-to-moisturize-your-hair-like-a-pro-the-be)
Wash your scalp
Yet another myth surrounding hair growth in the afro community is "Dirt helps hair to grow so washing hair regularly is a no-no.
Before I explain why this couldn't be further from the truth the reason for this is to avoid over-manipulation. It is thought that washing hair less frequently is an extra mile to prevent it.
But, what is not put into consideration is that dirt clogs hair follicles. How will your hair grow if your hair follicles are clogged?
As with other things concerning hair growth, moderation is the path to take. Wash your hair when you notice dirt. It can even be washed when protective styles are still in.
But how will your hair itself get clean? Well, shampoo is for the scalp and conditioner is for the hair. After washing the scalp, the hair gets cleansed when rinsing off. The shampoo is too concentrated to be applied directly to the hair.
Shampoo for the scalp, conditioner for hair. Remember this always. Also, make sure to use lukewarm water. It helps to activate the shampoo and gently open hair cuticles.
For a detailed step-by-step breakdown of the best hair wash practices for hair growth check this out (https://zubairislamee.wixsite.com/explorewithisla/post/how-to-wash-4c-hair-without-shrinkage-the-ultimate-guide)
Minimal heat
Excessive heat destroys the hair. Hair strands exposed to too much heat become lifeless and limp. They break off easily.
Straightening hair with a stretcher or a hot comb helps tame those puffy curls and just looks so cute. But, it should be done with the utmost care and not so often.
An important precaution is to avoid the root of your hair when applying heat.
Healthy diet
What you eat reflects in your hair. There is no specific food that is attached to hair growth. However, foods containing minerals and vitamins like Protein, Iron, Zinc, and vitamins C and E are what to look out for.
Eggs, oats, Flaxseed, and milk are excellent for hair growth. Eggs contain Protein that strengthens the hair. Oats contain a lot of minerals that maintain your hair color preventing it from looking full.
Flaxseed has several benefits. It contains vitamin E preventing damage to the scalp and hair.
Dried fruits also contain vitamin E. They help keep hair follicles healthy. The health of hair follicles determines growth rate.
Milk contains protein that strengthens hair roots and gives volume and nourishing shine to the hair itself.
Stress, pregnancy, or certain medications can cause hair thinning. Eating well helps bring back hair volume.
Cut split ends
Split ends develop when the Protective layer around the hair shaft is damaged. The hair becomes brittle and prone to damage.
The damage travels up slowly to other parts of the hair strand and leads to the total breaking off of that hair strand.
If left untamed, you can guess what would happen. This is why it is necessary to cut them off from time to time. It is easy to spot. Hold the end of a portion of hair between your index and middle fingers. Look closely for tamed or damaged-looking hair.
Split ends develop when your hair is always dry. So frequent moisturizing helps reduce it. Also, heat makes the hair dry and should be kept to a minimum. Conditioning treatments are also great for reducing split ends.
Conclusion
Stopping breakage as much as possible should be the main focus of any moisturizing routine.
This you can easily achieve through:
• Protective hairstyles
• Avoiding too-tight styles
• Avoiding manipulation
• Frequent moisturizing
• Washing the scalp properly
• Using minimal heat on hair
• A healthy diet, and
• Cutting off split ends
Comments