Growing out natural Hair has become a new trend in people expressing their heritage. Its not always easy growing African Hair because it can be hard to maintain.
Here are some tips to help you grow your hair long and fast.
Braid your Afro hair often:
This reduces the exposure of hair, hence less damage is done to your hair. There are different styles of braids to go for such as Marley braids or box braids. Whatever style you choose, make sure the braids are not too heavy on your natural hair which can cause further breakage. When adding artificial hair to your braids, the key to healthy braiding is to add more of your natural hair into one braid and less of the artificial hair. This way the weight of the artificial hair will not pull out your natural hair.
Trim your hair when needed:
It’s no secret that damaged hair tends to slow down the natural growth process of your hair. The ends of the hair are usually damaged, dry and consist of split ends. These unfavourable qualities could work themselves down to the shaft. When you start noticing that your natural hair is getting constantly dry, it may be time for a serious trim to get rid of damaged ends. Be sure to trim your hair once a month or whenever sees fit, which is an effective way to keep split ends at bay. You can also get your hair trimmed by a professional stylist as they tend to use better scissors (or you can just buy the scissor yourself ;-)) This may appear counterproductive to your growth plan, but turns out beneficial in the long run since it prevents further damage.
Wrap your hair with a satin bonnet at night:
To avoid constant dryness of hair caused by over exposure to harsh environmental factors, make sure you wrap your natural hair. This aids with moisture retention and since you cannot do this all the time during the day, you can always wear a scarf during the night. A satin or silk scarf is recommended as they do not absorb oil like other fabrics.
Sleep with a satin pillowcase:
To avoid oil getting sucked out of your hair while you sleep, use a silky pillowcase.
Avoid frequent use of rubber bands:
Tying black African hair back with rubber bands often cause breakage of hair. Opt for a softer hairband made from satin or silky fabrics. This way you ensure your hair is healthy and can prevent breakage.
Have Regular Deep Conditioner Protein Treatments:
Black African hair is very much susceptible to breakage, so keep your Type 4 hair well moisturized. Add to your hair growth regime a weekly homemade protein treatment for natural hair growth.
A great composition of the hair is a protein known as keratin. When chemical processing of hair is done, the protein bonds are broken down. This weakens the hair and if this protein is not replaced the hair will break. Deep conditioning protein treatments help to fill in the strands of your hair where damage has occurred. This will help prevent black African hair from breaking. You can make your own homemade protein treatment using egg whites and mayonnaise.
