It’s a universally accepted fact Afro American hair grows very slowly when compared to their Caucasian and Asian counterparts. While it’s true that Afro Americans have a naturally curly hair that appears short; it’s also true that a large part of the blame goes to the incorrect practices that we’ve learned from our mothers and grandmothers. We use relaxers to soften the curls or use braids and other things that directly harm the hair. Too much of styling products that use mineral oil, alcohol and petroleum based products can also wreck havoc on your hair. The hair has natural oils that manage to moisturize the hair. Another thing to avid is the use of bills that claim to stimulate growth. These pills might use a lot of chemicals that eventually cause harm.
Simple techniques like washing the hair every week, conditioning it under a hooded dryer, limiting blow dry’s to just once in a month, limiting flat ironing to just once in twice a month, limiting hair trimming to just once a year (or as sparsely as you possibly can), moisturizing the hair at least twice a day, taking vitamin supplements especially ethnic hair vitamins, drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet, and of course avoiding the use of things that might cause the hair to break.
A balanced diet of protein and fibre also helps to aid hair growth. Hence make sure you eat plenty of whole grain food, fruits, vegetables, chicken, nuts and cereals. Massaging the scalp also helps as it stimulates and creates blood flow and circulation to the scalp thus activating dead follicles.
There’s a lot of myth when it comes to Afro American hair. The most popular among these is the practice of trimming the hair regularly believing that trimming makes it grow faster. Cutting the hair only makes it look healthy as you’ve got rid of the damaged ends and hence cutting the hair does not in any sense make it grow faster. Another common myth associated with Afro American hair is that if they are relaxed they grow faster. When you relax your hair, you actually stretch it, much like a rubber band. Just like the rubber band, the hair looses it elasticity and may break easily. Another common myth associated with this hair type is that they grow very slowly Irrespective of your race; hair grows at an average rate of ½ inch per month. As earlier explained the hair may seem to grow slowly because of the natural curls. Coupled with relaxants that damage the hair, you might have problems in maintaining a decent hair growth.
Simple techniques like washing the hair every week, conditioning it under a hooded dryer, limiting blow dry’s to just once in a month, limiting flat ironing to just once in twice a month, limiting hair trimming to just once a year (or as sparsely as you possibly can), moisturizing the hair at least twice a day, taking vitamin supplements especially ethnic hair vitamins, drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet, and of course avoiding the use of things that might cause the hair to break.
A balanced diet of protein and fibre also helps to aid hair growth. Hence make sure you eat plenty of whole grain food, fruits, vegetables, chicken, nuts and cereals. Massaging the scalp also helps as it stimulates and creates blood flow and circulation to the scalp thus activating dead follicles.
There’s a lot of myth when it comes to Afro American hair. The most popular among these is the practice of trimming the hair regularly believing that trimming makes it grow faster. Cutting the hair only makes it look healthy as you’ve got rid of the damaged ends and hence cutting the hair does not in any sense make it grow faster. Another common myth associated with Afro American hair is that if they are relaxed they grow faster. When you relax your hair, you actually stretch it, much like a rubber band. Just like the rubber band, the hair looses it elasticity and may break easily. Another common myth associated with this hair type is that they grow very slowly Irrespective of your race; hair grows at an average rate of ½ inch per month. As earlier explained the hair may seem to grow slowly because of the natural curls. Coupled with relaxants that damage the hair, you might have problems in maintaining a decent hair growth.
