Everyone wants rich, shiny looking hair. And if it grows to an enviable length down your back, that would be just fantastic. However, it would seem that despite our efforts at wishing our natural hair to grow long and thick, it remains stunted and drab-looking. It is common knowledge that the hair grows at the rate of about half an inch every month, with that, you’d expect that by now your hair would be flailing in the wind. The reason you may not be seeing any significant difference in hair length or growth is because natural hair is breaking at almost the same rate as it is growing. But it is important to know that your natural hair is growing.
One of the keys to growing long, healthy natural hair is to have a healthy hair regimen and follow it consistently. A healthy regimen consists of cleansing with a suitable shampoo, a moisturizing conditioner, a deep conditioner, and a protein treatment if needed. Here are 5 best practices for growing long, healthy hair:Keep the scalp clean and stimulated. Special attention should be paid to scalp health. Dirt, product build-up, scalp tension, and some conditions like dermatitis can cause hair loss. Inflammation on the scalp caused by any of the factors mentioned earlier can limit hair growth. You need to determine how often your hair needs to be washed to get rid of dirt and product build-up. Healthy natural hair growth will be promoted by having a clean scalp that is free of grime, dead skin, and build-up. In addition to having a clean scalp and hair, ensure to gently massage the scalp regularly. This will increase blood flow responsible for helping to deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. When the hair follicles are stimulated and become more active, it encourages hair growth. Scalp massages also help to relieve stress.
Take protective measures against damage. Protecting your current natural hair length and hair generally from damage is a top priority. Keep your natural hair in protective styles that are not tight and do not put any tension or friction on the hair and scalp. Don’t forget to spritz the hair with water often to keep hair moisturized. A perfectly formulated hair spritz such as the African Naturalistas Hair Mist is just what you need. To protect your natural hair from damage, be gentle on it especially when detangling. Finger detangle or use a wide-toothed comb to prevent tearing hair unnecessarily. Hair damage caused by excessive manipulation and lack of moisture can lead to breakage. Hair breakage can make your natural hair length goals impossible to achieve, and over time can lead to baldness.
Keep your natural hair moisturized. As your natural hair grows longer, it gets drier because the oil produced naturally by the scalp is not sufficient to coat the entire length of hair. It is therefore important to keep hair hydrated otherwise it becomes brittle, leading to breakage. To keep hair moisturized, you can do the following:
Deep condition regularly. The African Naturalistas Deep Conditioning Mayonnaise has a perfect combination of moisture and protein treatment to give your natural hair all the goodness it needs.
Use the LCO/LOC method to lock in the moisture gotten from deep conditioning your natural hair.
Use natural hair products that do not contain harsh ingredients as harsh ingredients can strip hair of moisture. The African Naturalistas range contains no harmful ingredients and chemicals and was specially formulated to give your natural hair the TLC it truly deserves.
Use leave-in conditioners especially when doing the LCO/LOC methods.
In addition to these, stay hydrated by drinking enough water daily. Staying hydrated will help your natural hair cells stay healthy.
Eat right and increase your vitamin intake. Don’t skimp on your diet. Eat protein-rich foods because proteins are one of the building blocks of hair. Getting enough protein in your diet will help to ensure that hair is replaced just as fast as it is lost. Omega-3 fatty acids also help to keep your scalp healthy and prevent inflammation of the hair follicles. Inflammation of the hair follicles is one of the factors that can lead to hair loss. In addition, boost intake of vitamins especially vitamin B. A deficiency in vitamin B can also lead to hair loss.
Trim your natural hair regularly. Your natural hair ends are the oldest parts of the hair and most often gets neglected. It is better and more beneficial to trim off split ends as this will ensure that the splits don’t keep spreading up the hair strand’s length leading to frazzled and ragged looking hair. Also, split ends that are not trimmed off will tangle and lead to further hair breakage and loss in hair length. Read more about split ends and how to prevent them here. Always remember to apply your natural hair products to the ends of your hair.
If you’ve been a fan of African Naturalistas long enough, you must have realized that growing healthy, long natural hair is actually possible. If you still have your doubts, try out one of Atilola’s, a trichologist in Nigeria, intensive hair care regimens, and see the amazing positive changes your hair will enjoy.
Don't forget that we are kicking off 2021 with a bang and we are doing it with the 5R Hair Care Masterclass. There you will learn all about hair care in detail and achieve the hair goals of your dreams. Click bit.ly/5RMasterclass to register,
Have you used any of our regimens or products before? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
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