Simple
tips for healthy hair growth
It has been said many times that black girls’ hair doesn't have the capability to grow long. I just want to say that this is a myth and
in fact can be proven to be completely false. It may be true that some natural
black women hair grow slower than other types of hair but this doesn't mean it’s
incapable of growing just as long as others.
To stimulate healthy growth here are a few steps to follow:
Trim Your Hair
Trimming your split ends isn’t actually a way to grow
hair, but it is a good strategy to stimulate healthy continual hair growth. If
you do not get rid of those split ends they will cause extreme damage. When the
hair is damaged at the ends it usually creates split ends, if they are not
trimmed they will begin to split and travel up along the shaft of the hair. In
an attempt to grow healthy hair this isn’t what you really want at all. It is
then important to ensure that the ends are controlled and treated with care.
Trimming should be done at least every 6-8 weeks and only about ¼ or ½ of an
inch should be removed. You don’t want to cut off new growth you just want to
trim the dead ends of your hair.
It is also best to trim your hair
only with a sharp scissors made for cutting/trimming hair. This is because using
a random all purpose scissors to trim the ends of your hair could actually
cause more damage than good.
Use
of Protective Styling
One of the weaknesses of natural hair is that it dries out too quickly
leaving the hair dull and brittle vulnerable to frequent breakages. The use of protective styling is one of the
simplest method to adopt to combat hair damage while promoting growth and
locking in moisture. It must be mentioned that the hair loves moisture to
thrive. This method also helps protect the oldest part of the hair; the ends,
from rubbing against your clothes, car seat, pillow case and any other item it
may come in contact with. It also applies to night time routine; the simple
adaptation of placing the hair in a loose pineapple and shielding it with the
use of a silk/satin sleeping cap and silk pillow cases will protect it from
getting damaged.
Some simple protective styling includes; twist, Bantu knots, loose
up-dos are just a few.
Water Water
Water
Before I was pregnant it seemed almost impossible for me to
consume 8 glasses of water and it was a task even during my pregnancy. I
literally used to struggle to drink these 8 glasses and sometimes used to cheat
my way through it. I would have taken up to an hour to drink a 6 inches glass
of water. However, as time progressed and I adopted this lifestyle even after
the birth it became easier every single time. Now I can drink this 6” glass
under a minute. This is to say that everything takes time and if you want
healthy hair growth you have to put in the extra effort of adopting something
you are not used to. As mentioned earlier natural hair gets dry really fast,
but it thrives in moisture. What you put in is what you will receive on the
outside. The water also helps in the process of flushing out any toxins in the
body thus benefiting the hair by strengthening it.
Reduce
The Use Of Blow Driers
Blow driers and/or hair dries generate a lot of heat
which is very damaging to the hair when used too often. The less you use the
blow drier, the less hair damage and split ends you will receive and the
healthy your hair will grow. Alternative method = Air Dry!!!!
Deep
Conditioning
This is as important as drinking water and keeping the
hair hydrated. Once it is possible you should deep condition your hair at least
once a week or twice a month. Basically, all you do is apply a generous amount
to the hair ensuring that the hair is well moisturized with the conditioner and
leave it in for at least 10 to 60 minutes. You may choose to steam it under a
hair drier (with a steaming cap) or use a hot towel to wrap the hair up. The steam
allows the conditioner to easily penetrate into the hair ensuring the best
intake of nutrients. This will literally make the hair, silkier, healthier and
stronger over time.
