Natural hair length retention tips
Many of us with natural hair experience times when we feel like our hair is not growing as quickly as it should/could be. For most of us, it has nothing to do with our hair not growing, but rather because as our hair grows at the roots, it breaks off on the ends. This is the problem commonly faced by some women who relax their hair. Because relaxers make our hair weaker, breakage occurs more frequently; so the hair remains about the same length for long periods.
For women with natural hair, breakage occurs because a lot of us are not used to caring for our hair and are not sure what exactly to do. Breakage usually happens because of dryness, excessive manipulation or too much protein.
Moisture- to prevent dry, dull hair and make hair less brittle (and prone to breakage). To make your hair less dehydrated shampoo less often, with a moisturising shampoo. Deep condition with a moisturising deep conditioner after shampooing; do this at least once a week. use a leave in conditioner afterwards to help keep your hair moisturised and prepare it for styling. Oils/butters that lock in moisture include: avocado oil, shea butter, castor oil, olive oil.
it’s a good idea to know the porosity of your hair (how open your cuticles are) because this affects your hair’s ability to absorb/retain moisture.
In between washes use a moisturiser that is water based
Protein treatments - Hair is primarily made of a protein known as keratin. Using protein treatments helps to strengthen the keratin and make hair (especially old hair) stronger. Protein treatments should be done once or twice a month; too much protein can make hair stiff and more prone to break.
Look after the ends of your hair - A lot of people worry more about trying to force their hair to grow than trying to keep the hair they already have (which is probably more important). To reduce friction at night which can make hair dry , a satin scarf, cap or pillowcase should be used. Every couple of months, hair should be trimmed (only the very ends). This will help make your hair appear fuller and reduce split ends.
Heat and chemicals should be avoided. if heat must be used occasionally, use a good heat protectant to prevent serious damage. Eating foods high in protein (legumes, meat, fish) and drinking lots of water will help your hair to grow quicker and healthier.
Protective styles- keeping your hair in styles that stop you from manipulating it as often will help to retain length because there are fewer opportunities for your hair to break. Common protective styles: cornrows, braids, flat twists,buns (with ends tucked away), etc.
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