Hey. Does your hair seem stagnant and is the same length it was last year and the year last although you think you are doing the best you can possibly do to retain more length? You know what? I think your hair regimen is sabotaging your hard work. I know, I have been there before and it was not fun at all. I used to put effort in the wrong direction and as a result, my hair did not show any improvement for years until I started researching on how to grow my hair the right and healthy way. Below are twenty tips that I found out and most of which I use regularly in my hair growth journey.
- Wash your hair at least once a week to keep your hair and scalp clean and your hair well hydrated.
- Try co-washing your hair instead of shampooing since shampoo has sulfates in it which will strip your strands of moisture and may result in more breakage.
- Deep condition for 30 minutes or overnight at least every week for more moisture
- Do hot oil treatments at least once a month or every week as a pre-poo treatment
- Do protein treatments at least once a month for stronger and healthier hair
- Avoid over manipulating your hair. “Hands off.” Do not comb or brush or handle your hair unnecessarily because it will only strain your strands.
- Wear protective styles most of the time to protect your ends from weather elements and rubbing on your blouse/top to reduce the chances of your hair splitting.
- Keep your ends well moisturized and hidden away if possible. Remember water is the only moisturiser but you need to also seal in the moisture by adding oil to your ends.
- Avoid tight braids, pony tails or just pulling your hair too tight if you do not want to deal with a receding hair line “traction alopecia.”
- Avoid plaiting your hair with wool because it is too drying for our hair. It will suck the little moisture that our hair has. Rather, try twisting, braiding your hair on its own.
- If you can, avoid heat styling altogether as this usually leads to breakage. If you cannot avoid it however, please use a heat protecting spray or serum before applying the heat and try not to use heat too regularly.
- Massage your scalp for about ten minutes daily to increase the blood flow to your scalp there by stimulating hair growth. It will also help you to relax.
- Use a satin scarf or a satin pillow case to protect your hair when you go to bed. Cotton will cause abrasion and will suck moisture from your hair.
- Wear a hat to protect your hair from too much heat from the sun when necessary
- Use less styling products at a time. Products like gels and petroleum based hair foods will tend to dry out your hair or weigh it down which may lead to breakage so use sparingly.
- Avoid using color. Hair color and dyes have strong chemicals that damage the hair follicles so using color is very damaging to our hair. Avoid it at all costs.
- Relaxers are also damaging to our hair because they break the protein bonds which hold the hair shaft together giving it the coily structure, making the hair weak and prone to splitting and chronic breakage. If you can, try going natural and if not, then, stretch your touch ups as much as possible and avoid having your already chemically altered hair from being relaxed again because this will lead it to become even weaker and it will break off. Relax only the new growth.
- Choose your hair accessories wisely. Clutches do look cute but are actually quite damaging to our hair because they tend to snug or pull the hair. I am not very good at staying away from clutches but apparently, pony holders or bobby pins are better alternatives to use when styling our hair.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Drink enough water, eat healthy, exercise, reduce your stress levels, relax and watch your hair grow. Kikiki
- Be patient. Your hair will only grow on average of 12mm a month some people more and others less depending on genes. If you have short hair and you do everything right such that you retain most of your gained length, it will take you well over a year to get that big afro you always wanted. But hang in there. Have patience.
I know some may be overwhelmed by all this but I encourage you to try applying these tips to your hair care regimen and you will surely see the results. These tips apply whether you are relaxed or have natural hair so go on and try them. Come back though and tell us your experiences and your results. We would love to hear/read it all. Feed back is very important and encouraging to others who may want to try but lack motivation. So get those comments rolling.
Till then.
50 comments
I have started doing most of the listed items except for one or two (like the 10 min massage and going natural) but I find I always get stuck after washing my hair. I have tried wrap setting it when it is still wet but that only works the first 2 weeks after relaxer. After it’s not bone straight because of the regular washing, my comb just wont go through my hair to the required level for wrap setting without breaking it when it’s wet. I have tried roller setting it then air drying but I can never achieve the sleek and straight saloon look. The set always has a lot more volume and never lasts past 24 hours . I have tried air drying without rollers. In this case its very manageable and does not break when it is about 90% dry. I have tried moisturizing and sealing at this point but the result is still the same even when I moisturise and seal when it is still wet. When it completely dries it becomes somewhat coarse and breaks when I comb.Have stopped using greases and use 100% coconut oil, olive oil and castor oil. I just don’t get what I’m getting wrong! Help
Hi Nya. I understand your frustration. I used to experience it as well and still do even now when I am natural. There are some days when my hair will just not listen to me. I had go to styles though when this happened. I used to wear it in a pony most of the times. Using a wide toothed comb usually helps when your hair feels course and tangled and combing from the tips to the root. You can also try texturising your hair instead of relaxing it to reduce the processing that your hair goes through. I have heard this is better than relaxing and the hair will not break as much. Another thing that you can try is trying to understand your hair and knowing what it wants at particular times. If it is craving for an oil treatment, give it one. You should also not expect too much of your hair. Salon looks cannot be achieved everyday and still have a healthy head of hair. To get salon looks, you are either going to have your hair flat ironed everyday or wear a wig/weave which will damage your hair. Embracing your hair character is fundamental to making peace with its mood swings and being ready to handle them the most diplomatic way possible. Kikikiki
Hi Nya. I understand your frustration. I used to experience it as well and still do even now when I am natural. There are some days when my hair will just not listen to me. I had go to styles though when this happened. I used to wear it in a pony most of the times. Using a wide toothed comb usually helps when your hair feels course and tangled and combing from the tips to the root. You can also try texturising your hair instead of relaxing it to reduce the processing that your hair goes through. I have heard this is better than relaxing and the hair will not break as much. Another thing that you can try is trying to understand your hair and knowing what it wants at particular times. If it is craving for an oil treatment, give it one. You should also not expect too much of your hair. Salon looks cannot be achieved everyday and still have a healthy head of hair. To get salon looks, you are either going to have your hair flat ironed everyday or wear a wig/weave which may end up damaging your hair. Embracing your hair’s character is fundamental to making peace with its mood swings and being ready to handle them the most diplomatic way possible. Kikikiki
My hair has been stagnant for the past two year and it is natural..i have tried lots of natural remedies i see online, stayed away from heat and all sorts of things but it has not showed any sign of growing longer
please help me get out of this hair trauma
Hi Leah. It is difficult to help you without seeing the condition of your hair right now. The best is to write me an email so I can see if I can help you.
Hi I’m excited but uncertain about what’s going on with my hair I try and wash it every weak and apply a black chic hair food sometimes on my afro but its not reacting but it has gone soft. Because I wash my afro with a relaxer and than after applying the hair food I plait my hair into four sections
Did you apply a relaxer or just washed it with a relaxer? How does that work?
Yeah I wash my hair with a relaxer because I have lost all patience its been years but my her is still the same short length oh and my hair is somewhere around type 2a ,b or c so I truly need help I have been searching the internet for so long but nothings helping
Wow. okay. How often do you wash your hair with relaxer and how long does the relaxer stay on your hair? Do you have a healthy scalp in general? Is your hair breaking off?
See my type of hair is the type with knots on my hair tips so since I have washed my hair twice with the relaxer it has no more knots and its soft oh and when I wash my hair with the relaxer I don’t wait for it to sink in I wash straight away but I no longer wash it with the relaxer I only wash it with a sunlight bar and than I apply the black chick hair food and than plait my hair and nope my hair used to break off and it is always itching but since I have waremed some olive oil in a pan this month enough to wet my hair and raped my hair with a hot towl and wore a platic bag on my head in place of a steamer my to regain my hair protein my hair is stronger but my head is still itching I’m not sure if I do have a healthy sculp but I wash my hair once a week and how do you take care of your hair?
Wow. This is a first to hear of someone who uses a relaxer to wash their hair. If it’s working for you, well, why not. Since you asked, well, I normally wash with black soap or a dandruff shampoo like Heads & Shoulders or Niz shampoo then deep condition. Detangle when rinsing out conditioner and then apply a leave-in and style.
hi there Ruth! My name is Sane and I am also in awe of your beautiful hair!
I am Zulu and I currently have thin relaxed hair. How can I transform my hair to becoming like yours?
Thank You in advance,
Sane
Hi Sane. Thank you for the compliment. And to return to natural hair, you need to stop relaxing and let it grow out. Check out my post on transitioning to natural hair for tips on how to transition. Although I can’t promise your hair will become like mine, because we are all different, you will get healthiest your hair can be.
Please what do you mean by co-washing or cows with apple cider vinegar. I am also into the journey of growing my natural hair a year now, but I realise breakage and damaging.
Lots of knots and tangles when ever I wash my hair.
Please I need your help on how to go about. I have been following your tips and styles I lv them.
Co-washing is using conditioner to wash the hair instead of shampoo. Shampooing, if done too often can be drying to the hair. So, by using conditioner, the hair is not too dry and actually water moisturises the hair very well and the conditioner still cleanses the hair a bit. I will post on a more simplified regimen soon.
Hi guys I have a problem with my hair evey time I was my hair it falls out what can I use plz help me thanks
Hi Loretta. How much of it is falling out? Do you have any medical condition you may be dealing with now? You may write me an email for further assistance.
Hi
I recently cut my because I wanted it to grows again but in a natural way, so now as my hair is short, I want to grow it faster but I want to use ‘BIOTIN’ tablets… Don’t y’all guys sell products for people who have short hair?
We have an online shop at http://www.natmoisture.co.za and we sell products for natural hair. And for Biotin, you can get it at Dischem or Clicks.
Hi Eve
I recently transitioned to natural hair, I am having a difficult time with using oils on my hair. Coconut oil leaves my scalp extremely dry, and unbearable. I would like to know what moisturizer do you use and how does one seal moisture in their hair?
Coconut oil is not my favorite as well. In fact, I rarely put anything on my scalp as it irritates my scalp but when I do, I use regular castor oil. As for sealing moisture, in these cold months, castor oil is my go to oil as well. I start with a water spritz, a leave in conditioner and then castor oil. Applied in a downward motion to encourage my cuticles to lay down. Every 2 to 3 days and after washing my hair.
Honestly I could use someone to massage my scalp 🙂
You can say that again. Well, now you can book your appointment with NMHair Studio and get the much needed massage.
Since I was born I always had short hair now I am 15 years old I want to grow it. I always go to YouTube and watch tips how to grow my hair I hate oils and i am to poor to buy hair products
Plz, how do I grow my natural hair without plaiting it at all?
You do not have to plait your hair for it to grow. Low manipulation may also mean just leaving it alone and not handling it all the time. So, washing it and making sure it is moisturised, strong and the scalp is healthy. There are a lot of people who have grown their hair without plaiting it. Come up with a routine that works for you.
Hi, i have hairline problems, for the past 2 years my hairline has been receding, iv tried oils like black jamaican castor oil, coconut oil, bah rum and just about anything at my disposal available for hair growth. Im starting to think itl never grow back
hey. I am sorry to hear that. You can email me, ruth@natmoisture.co.za and let’s talk about your hair. If I can’t help you, I will direct you where I think you may be able to get help.
Hey Eve
Hope you good.hum I have relaxed hair and for the past 6-7 month’s my hair has been falling and becoming thinner wich product can I use to help me and when can I expect the result oh and it has a lot of dandruff
Hey Neo. I’m sorry to hear that your hair is falling. I hope it was not over processed because that is the main reason for thinning and excessive breakage of the hair. Please wash hair with conditioner only at least 3 times a week with one of them being a protein treatment. Allow the conditioner to stay on your hair at least 10 minutes every time you wash your hair and then rinse out. Apply a moisturising leave-in conditioner every time you wash your hair and every day to keep moisture up on your hair. Do this for a month and see if you get any improvement. Have you ever thought of going natural? Hair is at its strongest when natural.
Hey Eve
Sorry for the late reply yes I have thought of going natural but I don’t think I will be able to turn it into natural useless you inform me on how to turn it into natural
Thank you for the advice
You can just stop relaxing it. Your new growth will be natural. You will then need to trim the relaxed ends bit by bit until you’re all natural. It takes time but it is well worth it.
Your Comment
hey Ruth. I hate and love plaiting my hair cos it atlst grows but again my hairline suffers.and whenever I stop
braiding my hair shrinks. I tried braiding and twisting it every night but again when I do it for more than a week my hair shortens for some reason. so I’m stuck between cutting my hair or plaiting it .
Do you maybe make the plaits too tight? Otherwise, accepting your hair slightly stretched from nightly twists and just know that at least your hair and hairline is happy.
Hi Ruth,
Can you recommend a moisturising deep conditioner for my relaxed hair?
You can use any moisturisng conditioner that you have, add a tea spoon of castor oil or olive oil and then leave it on your hair for 30 minutes or more and then rinse out. I find it to be the best moisturing deep conditioner ever.
Hi Ruth, I need your help. I have had natural hair for over a year now. But at some point I lost a lot at the back of my head and my hair, and it is not growing much. What can I do?
It’s best to first investigate what caused the hair loss and address that.
[…] Braid your Afro hair often. This reduces the exposure of hair hence less damage is done to your hair. Make sure the braids are not to heavy for your hair because can cause further breakage. When adding artificial hair to your braids. They key to healthy braiding is to add more of the artificial hair. This was the weight of the the artificial hair will not pull out natural hair. […]
Hi I need my daughters hair to grow for the matric ball in November,her hair is badly damage and need to get it healthy and grow fast and quick,what products can I use,she relax the hair but it doesn’t grow,use the prosana products but no results,please help
The best you can do is to come to our Studio for assessment and advice on what to do. If you are not close enough to come, you can send me an email with pictures and description of the problem and I will try my best to help your daughter.
Shampooing hair is essential to remove all the dirt, grime, and excessive oil. But if you are using strong shampoos with high levels of chemicals and cleaning agents, then they wash away hair protective moisturizers along with them.
A too strong shampoo can even affect the hair growth level as they damage the internal cortex. So, make sure you use a mild shampoo and don’t overdo it.
does Ganja help your hair to grow
Some say it does but I don’t know of any scientific study done to prove that it does. Hemp seed oil on the other hand is said to help with blood circulation and keeping the scalp healthy for healthier hair. So since Ganja is hemp, then the effects could be the same. I am not sure. You can do some more research as well and find out how to use it for hair growth.
I usually sleep with my Back on a cotton pillow and my hair shrinks. And how do I grow my hair line back please help
You need to get yourself a satin pillowcase so that your hair is protected while you are sleeping. Growing your hairline depends on how far gone it is and also if you have stopped doing what caused it to recede.
I have short hair, I’m interested in growing may natural hair. Hoe do I go about doing that my sister.
I need your help.
Try the tips on this post and you should be able to get healthy hair and when your hair is healthier, it retains more length because there is less breakage.
Hi I am Nomsa, thank you for the tips I will try following the instructions / suggestions as our hair are not the same. I really love my naturanium hair. My other way of growing it, is to plate it every evening and I use caster oil and coconut oil as my hair food. So far it is working for me but I don’t know if this is right.
Plaiting it every evening may cause stress on the hair and the hairline. Try to leave it alone sometimes. Low manipulation of the hair is one of the things that one can do to grow long healthy hair.
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