Growing out your hair

Hair Myths

To begin with I would like to start by dispelling a few hair myths.

1. Your hair doesn’t grow – Of course it does. Everyone’s hair grows, it’s as simple as that! If you hair appears the same length year after year it is simply that it is breaking at the same rate as it’s growing so you are not retaining any significant length.

2. Long hair is genetic – While there is a genetic component that determines how fast your hair grows (between 4-6 inches a year), only your hair habits will determine how long it will remain. You could have the fastest growing hair but if your hair is breaking at the same rate that it grows, it remains the same length. My own hair grew to waist length even though I only get 4 inches a year!

3. You have to have be natural to grow your hair long – Nope, you certainly don’t have to be natural to grow your hair long! Relaxed hair can grow to be every bit as long, thick and luxurious with proper care. I generally recommend that you seriously consider going natural because it is much easier to achieve your length goals. Not to mention that natural hair rocks!

Wash your hair at least once a week: Black hair is the most fragile of hair types because it is dry and porous. Soon after a wash, your hair will have a good moisture level and once you get attuned to your routine you will notice that towards the end of the week, the moisture content of your hair will drop right down. When your hair is dry it is more likely to break so deep conditioning weekly will restore the hair’s moisture balance keeping excessive breakage at bay.

Moisturize and seal daily: Time to de-bunk a hair myth here; oil is not a moisturizer! An effective hair moisturizer should either be plain water or it should at least have water as the first ingredient. Oil is still important in black hair care however. It is a great for ‘sealing’ moisture into your hair when applied straight after the moisturizer or water and it is great as prepoo  (pre-shampoo) to prevent excessive dryness from shampooing.

Get protein treatments every 6 – 8 weeks: In addition to the weekly alternating of moisturizing and protein conditioners, it is also vital that you include ‘hard’ protein treatments into the mix. Protein is the main component in hair and some of it is lost daily during most styling processses including heat styling, combing and just general manipulation. Protein treatments help fill in the cracks in your hair strands hence restoring the hair’s elasticity and strength.

Step 5

Use appropriate hair care products & tools: This step will involve a learning curve as we all have different body chemistries that produce uniquely original hair strands and the hair care products that you eventually choose will reflect this.

Black hair care products are numerous and diverse and it can become a bit confusing trying to decide what products to buy. In truth, this is a trial and error phase. You may find a product that everyone else is raving about doesn’t do much for your hair and absolutely adore a product that everyone else has dismissed. Once you learn which ingredients to avoid,