. This is by far the most
important tip to growing long, strong, beautiful
locks. Because African hair is so curly, oil from
your roots takes a much longer time travelling to
the ends of your hair. This means you need to
spend every time managing the most damaged
and dry part of your hair - the ends.
Always use conditioner every time you shower.
Look for conditioners which advertize dry,
damaged, or brittle hair management. Apply
this mainly to the tips of hair, and leave in for
2-3 minutes before rinsing out.
Use a deep-conditioner every 2-3 weeks.
Apply this to your hair following package
directions, and rinse out after the allotted time
to keep strands soft.
Make your own deep-conditioner at home.
Although it may sound strange, mayonnaise is
a wonderful deep-conditioner. Rub it into your
locks and leave in for 15 minutes. Rinse with
your regular shampoo and conditioner. Repeat
this every 2-3 weeks for ultra-soft curls.
Try a leave-in conditioner. This is a special
kind of conditioner that can be rubbed into the
ends of your hair after showering while it is
still damp. It does not need to be rinsed out,
but will also keep your hair from getting
greasy-looking or piece-y. This can be done
after every shower or between washes, as you
like.
Use oil in your hair. Because it does take such a
long time for your hairs’ natural oils to travel to
the ends of strands, infuse your hair with oils to
supplement those your scalp already creates.
Try using castor oil. This has been used for
hundreds of years to increase the softness of
your hair and aid in faster growth. Rub some
oil between the palms of your hands, and run
them through your hair to incorporate it to as
much of your hair as you are able. [1]
Lavender oil is not only made from a popular
flower, but has shown to improve hair growth
up to 44% when rubbed into your locks. Use
the oil on wet or dry hair in addition to other
natural oils to help expedite your hairs’ growth
process.[2]
Moroccan oil is a new type of oil becoming
very popular for its intense moisturization and
de-tangling abilities. Although it can be pricy
($30 for a single bottle), reviews make it seem
worth the cost. If you aren’t willing to pay that
price, look for imitation versions for similar
results at your local drugstore or beauty
supply store. [3]
Trim your hair often . Although your goal is to
grow your hair, fried hair ends can slow your
natural hair growth process.Trim your hair every
3-4 months to keep it it tip-top condition.
Take vitamins that boost hair growth . There are
many supplements and vitamins available for oral
consumption which help your hair to grow speedy-
fast.
Biotin is considered the best vitamin to take to
boost hair growth. It is available in capsule
form at many health food stores, or for
purchase online. It helps to renew the cells in
your hair, allowing them to grow longer, faster.
Vitamin B6 is a great supplement to take to
aid in hair growth, as it blocks the testosterone
receptors at your hairs’ roots. Too much
testosterone released into your follicles makes
hair become thin and slows growth. B6 blocks
some of this testosterone, to help your hair
grow faster. [4]
Protect the ends of your hair. The tips of your
strands are the most brittle and damaged (as they
receive the least amount of natural oils), and are
the most prone to breakage. Leaving hair down
constantly increases the likelihood of breakage, so
put your hair up to help prevent this.
Keep your hair in a bun using bobby pins to
help keep your hair in place. If possible, don’t
use a ponytail or rubber band, as these can
break your hair when you remove them.
Braid your hair. This helps keep the ends of
your hair from being exposed and damaged
further. you can choose to do dozens of small
braids or a few large ones, but make sure you
leave the ends ponytail-less so that they don’t
rip out strands when you remove them.
Wrap your hair whenever possible . To help your
hair soak in the oil and nutrients you have been
supplying it with, wrap it in a headscarf. Although
you can’t do this all the time, wear one during the
day to prevent damage from the elements. Try
sleeping nightly with your hair wrapped gently in a
scarf.
Use a satin scarf, as this material does not
absorb oil like cotton and other synthetic
fabrics do.
Sleep on a satin pillowcase so that the oil from
your hair doesn’t get sucked out while you
sleep. [5]
Try using a protein treatment. These are products
that add protein to your hair to fill in the parts of
your strands that are broken or damage. Although
they benefit hair only temporarily, they can help
your hair to grow long over time. Ask about it in
your favorite salon or look for one in a beauty
supply store.
Protein treatment has the biggest positive
effect in relaxed or treated hair, but can be
used on natural hair as well.
When you are looking for a protein treatment,
read the bottle. If a type of protein (animal or
plant based) is not listed in the first five
ingredients, it probably won’t do much to help
your hair.
There is no difference between animal or plant
based protein hair treatments.[6]
Eat healthy foods . Certain foods have proven to
increase hair growth, and are great for nourishing
your scalp and strands. Try to eat more of these
foods to get your hair growing strong and long!
Salmon, avocados, and pumpkin seeds are full
of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which help
you hair follicles to stay healthy.
Spinach, eggs, greek yogurt, and lentils are all
great sources of protein which enrich your
strands of hair.
Blueberries are a source of vitamin C which is
important for for strong hair. Too little vitamin
C leads to hair breakage. [7]
Avoid Damage
Avoid using heat on your hair. High temperatures
make your hair dry and brittle, increasing the
chances of breakage. If you must use heat on
your hair, try to limit it to once a week at most.
Allow hair to air dry whenever possible. The
heat from blow dryers can be especially
damaging, as it is combined with a strong
blast of air - another culprit for hair damage.
Keep use of flat irons and curling irons to a
minimum. Because these can heat upwards of
400 degrees Fahrenheit, you are literally
cooking your hair.
Steer clear of hair color. The chemicals in hair dye
are a major cause of hair damage. Using dyes
often can prevent hair growth from damage to the
entire strand of hair. If possible, don’t dye your
hair at all. If you must, spend at least three
months between hair dye sessions.
Spread out time between hair relaxing sessions . If
you get your hair relaxed, you know how
damaging it can be to your hair. Although getting
your hair relaxed frequently may be tempting in
order to maintain straight locks, try to wait as
long as you can between sessions.
Spending at least three months between hair
relaxing treatments can help aid in hair
growth.
If you are able and willing, try foregoing
relaxing your hair for a natural look instead.
This will not only mix up your hairstyle, but
increase your hair’s ability to grow faster.
Avoid real-life stressors. Stress has shown to
have an effect on hair growth and overall
thickness, so do things to make your life as
anxiety-free as possible. Stay away from things
that stress you out, and incorporate more things
into your life that put you at peace.
Be gentle to your hair. Although sleeping and daily
activity can make your hair difficult to manage,
don’t try to control it through power-brushing and
a strong hand. Instead, be soft to your hair to ease
out tangles and knots.
Brush your hair slowly. This will help to reduce
the amount of breakage your strands
experience. Always begin brushing from the
top, and work your way down.
Use a comb or boar-bristle brush to brush
your hair. Avoid using a brush that has knobs
on the ends of bristles, as these can get
caught in your hair and cause more damage.
Avoid using extensions and tight braids . These
place stress on the roots of your hair, making
them more likely to break from the root.
Using weaves and fusion extensions can
damage hair roots, so try not to use these if
you want to grow your hair long.
Braiding your hair loosely can help protect
brittle ends, but exceedingly tight braids or
cornrows can break off your hair near the
follicles. Use loos braids to help keep your hair protected
N
Tips
Drinking lots of water can help your hair to grow fasterr
No comments:
Post a Comment