By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom
2012 is nearly over and today it is time to reflect for the black girls who want long hair. The big question is………have you met your hair goals? Is your hair longer than it was in January? If your hair is not gaining length or if you have had less than stellar results this year, this article is for you. These are 5 simple steps to reverse stagnant hair into long thriving hair
1. Accept that what you are doing does not work
You are doing it all, protective styling, moisturising and deep conditioning but still you have not managed to move your hair an inch. It is time to face the facts – your current routine despite having all the good stuff really does not work.
It is time for a critical assessment. Do you keep a protective style long enough to ensure that you gain benefit from it? Do you moisturise at the critical points when moisture is needed (when taking down a style and when handling free hair) and do you avoid handling your hair at its weakest state (soaking wet)? Could you be doing too much to your hair therefore causing it to wear away and compromise length?
If you do not see results within 2-3 months, you need to make this critical assessment again. Do not wait for 1 year to go by. You should be able to see small increments in your hair length every 2-3 months.
2. Know when your hair breaks
The reason for hair staying at a stagnant length is because it is breaking just as fast as it is growing. It is really important to know when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage and this varies from person to person depending on your individual strand thickness and choice of styling. The most common breakage points are:
-during takedown of a protective style (especially at the ends)
-during detangling (both conditioner combing and dry detangling)
- while wearing hair free (due to tangling, shrinkage, knots and regular handling)
Once you identify why and when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage, you will be able to know exactly when you must protect your hair from damage.
3. Try something new
Having accepted that what you are doing does not work, it is time to try to do something new. If you have been conditioner combing, try dry or damp detangling for a little while and see how it works for you. Compare your results after 2-3 months and decide which one really works best for you. If you have never deep conditioned your hair, try doing it for 2-3 months and see if your hair improves or not. If you only use heavy oils or butters on your hair, try light oils and see if your hair would equally be happy with those. Do not write things off before you actually try them.
4. Know when to stop
I am really all for trying something new but equally you should know when to stop. If a technique causes immediate breakage, stop using it. Do not think perhaps your hair is shedding more than usual, assume that the technique is not working for your hair and must be adjusted to suit your curls and kinks or not used at all. If you are deep conditioning 2-3 times a week and your hair is not moisturised, stop and reassess how you are conditioning (is your conditioner working, do you need to warm it up first, could you do with some protein, do you use a leave in/moisturiser/oil after washing).
5. Have realistic expectations
Finally hair takes a long time to grow. Many naturals cannot retain 100% of their growth. If your hair is susceptible to split ends then cutting them off will impact retention but provided at the end of the year you have kept some length, do not be disheartened. There are a small proportion of women who can keep all their growth but I feel that it is more reasonable to expect between 3-5 inches per year with a regular trimming or dusting routine.
Ladies, what are your hair goals for 2013? Will you be trying to grow your hair out?
I went to a Dominican hair salon in Sept and the hair dresser burnt my hair..now my hair is horrible. No longer do I have my coily curl pattern(really upset).I have been natural for at least 5 yrs, I have straightened my hair in the past there before and never a problem. I also colored my hair for the first time and have also experienced breakage despite keeping my hair moisturized and conditionded daily. Is there any thing that I can do to help with the heat damage the beakage and the problem spot. Currently I am going to braid my hair in the next 2 weeks. I also have a very weak spot at the nape of my neck, could be alopecia not sure, however that’s the only problem. Any help that any one could give me would be highly appreciated…. thanks in advance
try and do routine protein treatments if your not protein sensitive.Between the hair color and the heat damage your going to have to be gentle with your hair. protein treatment and hot oil treatments weekly is what i would recommend
Next time you decide to color your hair you should really check out Henna, you get the color you want and it’s also great for protein, just make sure you condition a lot because like any other protein it makes your hair dry for a few weeks but check it out.
I would highly recommend that you use the Locsuria Natural Haircare System @ http://www.locsuria.com. These products were formulated to hydrate your hair so that it can Florish. No deception.
only suggestions I have is to try the Jamaican black castor oil and I condition my hair before I wash it then condition it again that’s my routine just trying to help hope it works did u rinse your scalp with ACV and your clothes might be pulling your hair out and not realize it , this winter my coat was taking my hair out in the back so when my scalp is wet I use extra dark castor oil
In addition to the good hair-care tips provided by the author, eat well-balanced meals, reduce stress, and exercise daily.
Also, try a daily multivitamin/mineral along with a good B-complex formula, and extra Biotin.
The B vitamins especially Biotin are the primary vitamins for the hair.
For best results, please take the multivitamin/mineral formula along with the extra B-complex vitamin with extra Biotin daily.
You should see some positive results within three to six months.
Side Note:
Walmart has a good daily multivitamin/mineral for under $10.00 and a wide assortment of “cheap” but effective natural vitamins/minerals from A-Z.
WOW. tHIS BLOG CAME RIGHT ON TIME. I JUST reformed my regime. Realized hat the products that i was using were SOOOOOO heavy and oily and that I had too many steps. My issue was moisture retention and the result was dry hair on my scalp and all over my house. So now, i have 4 easy steps on wash day and I use light, oil free products.I did a small strand test and not only do I think i will be able to beat the moisture ISSUE, i will also save money!
What can you do to better protect your hair during a conditioned detangle? Any suggestions?
Do you mean protecting hair while detangling with conditioner?
Yes
I made the big chop this past April after being in a car accident and dealing with a lot of stress and negativity. My hair is growing back slow and steadily, but after spending some time on this website, I have to say I am excited and motivated to accelerate the process.
I will keep you updated. Cheers!
My goals are to get into a consistent routine, stop saying I’m going to drink more water and eat more veggies (smoothies) but actually start doing it and stop giving those things that I know don’t work ‘one last try’.
I haven’t used proper shampoo for 2 years, but I decided to check if maybe I *can* use shampoo and don’t need to be so picky with products. My hair was sooo not having it! Lost inches of matted hair in random places! *kmt!* That shampoo can wash my brushes and combs. *kmt again!*
Sometimes people just don’t try things long enough. My aunt will use something for like a week and a half and if her hair isn’t down her back by then, she’s on to the next. lol!
My goal tor this year is healthy soft hair I just did a big chop trying out some kinky curly and researching a new product if this one is not for me. Can anyone tell me how to find my curl pattern?
My hair goals in 2013 begin with the biggest decision:
Big Chop or Transition
I’ve weighed the options out of both… but I know this pressing comb has to GO! I’ve given myself 4 years to attain WSL. I’d like to wear my hair to my son’s graduation from high school. I chopped 4 inches from my hair in Aug & 3 have returned already. I’m going to cut all ends, protective style for the 1st half of the year and see what happens. Weekly washing,lavender& coconut oil, yogurt & honey have been keeping me this far. Welcome 2013 & the induction of a hair journal..
Someone PLEASE HELP ME. I’m destroying my daughter’s hair by not KNOWING how to care for it. Friends offer advice, but I get overwhelmed & don’t know which one to stick with. As a young girl I wasn’t too into doing the dolls hair, but wanted to play court & secretary (yes I wanted to be a lawyer) with them instead. By the age of 12 I was getting my hair professionally done. So I don’t know how to do anything with hair. When I did were relaxers I couldn’t even do that. My daughter is 6 y.o. & had a nice length of thick semi wavey hair & I’ve destroyed it. It’s dry, brittle, & her ponytails don’t even reach her shoulders anymore. :( One of my NY 2013 life changes is to learn how to properly take care of her hair so she can have some…HEELLLPPP
co wash co wash co wash weekly with a mild conditioner like suave humectant its in a grey bottle. after you wash do like we did back in the the day. oil it and braid it up to strech it with several big plaits.once they dry take each one out and moisturize with something like ORS olive oil conditioner.no heat at all or blow drying.try this for a month.i tried this with my daughter and it worked. also after i stretch her hair after washing i sometimes twist it with castor oil.it protect her hair and gives it shine.let us know how it goes
Thank you so much. i am going to try this for the whole month. A big part of it is our schedule. but i have made a committment to her hair just like everything else. I live in Dallas where there are a lot of Ethiopians & they tell me all the time to just platt it up. They said shes beautiful & doesnt need all the hard ware (per another post on this forum. lol). So although the barrettes & ponytails are cute im just going to stick to platts, twist, or braids (rarely for braids due to her sensitive edges). thanks again.
thats what worked for me when i was little. i had midback length hair by the age of 12 because, like the ethiopians said, my parents always kept my hair in cornrows and plaits that were only redone about once every 3-5 week, depending on how fuzzy they got. very low manipulation, and it’s ideal for kids because they run and play so much.
There are many youtube videos that help with kids hair. With my daughter I used a small spray bottle with very warm water to open the hair shaft and allow product to be better accepted by the hair. Then a conditioner like VO5 or Tressemme, something inexpensive, but works. Then olive oil and castor oil mixture seal the hair. Olive oil can be purchased from the grocery aisle. Any brand will do. Castor oil from any store that sells laxative Kroger, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS. Also a product that worked like magic is Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1. Make sure to do her hair consistently before it gets dry and keep it wrapped up at night.
My 2013 Goals for my hair have been to eliminate all chemicals from my hair. I have been using organics Castile soap and olive oil to moisturize and it has been working beautifully no breakage and I have seen growth, but I want to try something new. My scalp still feel pretty dry at times. I am not sure which oil is best for keeping it truly moisturized longer. I was thinking of avocado oil, but I hear cocoanut oil is good too. Any thought?
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TMK (to my knees) would be great! For now, BSL and just hair that isn’t breaking and either to my nose or chin soon.
i recommend hf37 to anyone trying to make their hair longer, fuller , and healthier. White, Puerto Rican, Asians, even Black. I am black and it works on my hair. Foreall it’s expensive but truley worth it . i promise.
Good morning, I am a natural chic as well. What is hf37?
I am going to start getting my hair cut every 3 months so it can grow healthy! I want longer hair but it always seems to grow out and not down! I have 3C curly hair, I think and it frizzes so easily! Frustrated but I’m gonna keep trying!! :)
I got into an accident last year that cause me to have to cut my hair off. It was cut down to about about an inch long in November now its about 6 to 7 inches longs but it has has shrinkage so it really doesnt look like it at time. I admit I have been a little lazy lately when it comes to my hair but I have been in and out the hospital but after reading this it makes e really want to do what it takes to get my hair growing again. I dont deep condition like Im suppose to but I will start tomorrow. I want to document my progress so that I can see the improvement in my hair.
Another thing to do is look at your diet. I noticed my hair grows faster when I’m eating more salmon and chicken… even spinach. Biotin also helps to keep my hair strong. And of course water…