Because of its strong curl and tendency towards dryness, afro hair can seem to be very difficult to grow to great lengths. However all it takes is a few adjustments to your haircare and styling routines and you’ll see a difference in growth and texture. My hair hasn’t quite been the same since having Cassius, but I’ve embarked on a rigid routine to restore it back to its former glory.
AVOID USING HEAT ON YOUR HAIR
High temperatures make your hair dry and brittle, increasing the chances of breakage. If you must use heat on your hair, try to limit it to once a week at most. I don’t blow dry my hair often, but I struggle get to grips with air drying my hair. I just find the convenience of blow drying it after a wash and prior to putting it back in braids, easier. I no longer use flat irons or straighteners on my hair though as I was aware I was literally cooking hair each time I used them, regardless of using a heat protectant spray.
KEEP YOUR HAIR MOISTURISED
Because it does take such a long time for your hairs’ natural oils to travel to the ends of strands, infuse your hair with oils to supplement those your scalp already creates. AVOID petroleum and mineral oils. I’m currently using black castor oil on my hair and scalp and alternating it with jojoba oil. Other popular oils for use on afro hair include coconut, olive and shea butter. Use a water-based moisturiser before adding oils to your hair, which will not only revitalise your hair with that softness and shine, but will also put the lost nutrients back into your strands. I currently use Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturiser and seal with an oil afterwards.
Feed your hair well!
EAT HEALTHILY
Certain foods have proven to increase hair growth, and are great for nourishing your scalp and strands. Try to eat more of these foods to get your hair growing strong and long!
- Salmon, avocados, and pumpkin seeds are full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which help you hair follicles to stay healthy.
- Spinach, eggs, greek yogurt, and lentils are all great sources of protein which enrich your strands of hair.
- Blueberries are a source of vitamin C which is important for for strong hair. Too little vitamin C leads to hair breakage
Feed your hair well and it’ll reward you with luscious tresses.
DRINK WATER
Hydration starts from the inside out! I hear it all the time, but never do it consistently. Drinking plenty of water is key to encouraging longer, stronger and healthier hair growth. Hair is pretty much the lowest thing on the totem pole when it comes to nutrition. By this, I mean, hair is not necessary for one to live. Therefore, it gets the nutrients from the things we consume last. So if you’re not drinking enough water, that little bit of water you do drink is only gonna go to the crucial parts of your body i.e. your organs, your skin. By the time this measly amount of water has been shared around the vital body parts, there isn’t much left over to benefit your hair! Aim for 2-3 litres a day, start slow and build your intake up. Given how hot it is here in the UK at the moment, guzzling water shouldn’t be a problem!
WEAR A PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLE
Protective hairstyles aim to limit the stress of environmental factors on natural hair. Some protective hairstyles like box braids and jumbo cornrows can pull on edges or weigh your strands down, which is the exact opposite of what you want. In order to combat this, you can opt for weaves instead which also act as a great protective style. Switch your look up with this curly weave, which is fun, looks cute and is versatile in its styling.
TRIM YOU HAIR WHEN NEEDED
You should trim your ends at least every six months to a year, but you can do it as often as needed. However, if you trim your hair very frequently, you will have a difficult time to seeing growth. I just had a trim done 2 weeks ago and my hair feels better for it. The purpose of a trim is to rid yourself of split ends, which can put a strain on the health and growth of your hair. Cutting off the problematic areas will allow your hair to grow without any interruptions. Keeping the split ends, as some people do because they are afraid of cutting their hair, will only lead to breakage. When you have a split end, it will eventually snap off, taking a few strands along the way.
TAKE YOUR VITAMINS
I’ve been taking a range of daily vitamins for a few weeks now, which include iron, vitamin D and C. I’ll also be purchasing Biotin again I’ve used that in the past for a prolonged period and seen great results with it. Three months of consistent use and you’ll start to see results – stick at it!
