A lot of times people ask me what I am using to grow my hair. Indeed, what I am using may work for you too, most times it does. However, it may not work at all and, what I am using is not all that is aiding my hair to retain length. It’s how I use the products, my general health and what else I do to my hair. I tell people I wash my hair 2 to 3 times a week when I am not in braids and, I’m met with astonished eyes. Well, that’s what I do and you may not need to do that at all.
So, if you were expecting me to tell you the one size fits all formula to grow your hair, I am so sorry. That does not exist. While others can get tailbone hair from using rice water, others taking Biotin supplements and some using grease or any other commercial hair product, it’s not a one word or product answer at all.
Growing hair very long first of all depends on your genes which play a big part in determining your hair growth cycle. If your hair is in growth phase only for 2 years and then it rests before shedding, with the average growth rate of hair, half an inch or 12.7 mm a month you may realise about 30 cm of growth that’s if you will retain all the length.
I don’t mean to bust your bubble here. But, let’s be realistic. The good thing is, most people have a 4 to 6 years growth phase. Which means after 4 years, you should have about 60 cm and that’s 24 inches of length if you retained all your length and you did not trim in the 4 years.
But that’s not the case with a lot of people. No, it’s not. Even I don’t get much length retention. Oh I wish. That’s where good hair practices, how you take care of your hair, the products you use and your general health comes into play.
Mind you, if these things are on the positive, even if the genes are not on your side, you will have the best hair that you can ever have. It will be healthier, shinier and your own beautiful hair.
Here are a few things that you can do to get your best hair. Well, just 20 of them. It may seem like too much but, implementing one at a time really changes the game for your hair. In no time, you will be doing this stuff without even thinking about it.
- Wash or cleanse your hair often. A clean scalp grows healthier hair.
- If your hair is too dry, wash your hair with a moisturising conditioner every week and only use a shampoo once a month.
- Deep condition regularly, or every time you wash your hair. Helps for stronger hair that is not prone to breakage.
- A protein treatment once a month is essential. It builds strength into your strands
- Detangle your hair using your fingers first before brushing or combing it. That way, you can feel the tangles and untangle them instead of ripping through your hair with a comb or brush.
- Always add conditioner to your hair before detangling. Detangling dry hair always leads to unnecessary breakage.
- Use a wide toothed comb or a detangling brush. Fine combs always lead to breakage that could have been avoided.
- Trim when there is need to trim. Trimming too often will rob you of any length you could have retained. Not trimming when you need to will result in hair splitting even more.
- Massage your scalp, either when you apply product or as a pre shampoo treatment. It encourages blood circulation and nutrients will get to your hair follicles.
- Base your scalp with oil, Shea butter or grease. Yes, you read that right. Grease works as well. Just make sure you don’t apply too much because it may block your pores. Otherwise, some of the flakes are just as a result of dry scalp. So, just as you apply cream to your skin after bathing, your scalp also needs something to retain moisture.
- When you can, keep your hair stretched as much as possible. Shrunken hair tends to form single strand knots. These may lead to breakage.
- Avoid tight hairstyles. Besides causing a headache and robbing you of a good night’s sleep, they cause hair loss as well.
- Use quality products that agree with your hair. Don’t get onto every craze just because it’s working for other people. Prove them of course, by all means. But if it does not work for you, no need to force things. And when you find a product that your hair likes, stick to it.
- Have a routine that you can stick to as well. That blends well with your hair needs and your lifestyle.
- Lock in moisture in your hair to prevent dryness. I normally use a leave in conditioner and then an oil or butter to seal moisture.
- Style your hair in a protective style most times. It can be a long term protective style braids or twists with extensions or a shorter term protective style, for example, flat twists or chunky twists or braids.
- Exercise regularly. It increases blood circulation to all parts of your body, including your hair.
- Get adequate sleep. It affects a lot of things including our hormones which tend to affect hair growth as well as general health.
- Eat well, drink enough water.
- Find ways to manage your stress. Stress also leads to hair loss.
There we go, as much as you may not have tailbone long hair in 4 years, doing the above will surely give you the best hair that you can possibly have. Your hair will in no doubt benefit even if you just include some of these into your hair care routine.
Here is to healthier hair. Will be posting on best protective styles for this lock down winter soon. So keep checking in here for more.
Here is some hairstyle inspiration. I did this hairstyle some time back. Check it out for some inspiration. To think I cut my hair June 2018 and how I’m retaining length. All these things I have mentioned above, I also practice. Beautiful hair does not happen by chance. Just like a well toned body does not happen by chance. There is work put into it.
Until then, God bless you.