When I first went natural back in 2006 my friends thought that I was insane. My hair was shoulder length at the time. I did not transition long, opting to first cut my relaxed hair into a short style one month before my Big Chop (cutting off relaxed ends).
So the change was very abrupt and drastic. What’s the first thing you think when a woman cuts her hair? That she is going through something. Right? Well I wasn’t going through anything per se. I just wanted to get to know my hair in its natural state so that I could learn how to take care of my only daughter’s natural tresses.
I actually big chopped a second time in 2009, this time to cut off my colored ends (don’t ask). Little did I know that through a few years of research and trial and error that I would eventually be able to grow my hair longer than its ever been!
Of course shrinkage (when the hair shrinks as it absorbs water) is always a factor when it comes to natural hair.
When I do let my hair down it reaches my shoulders. However, on a recent trip to a blow dry salon it was very clear that my hair now reaches down to my mid back. My hair is long, strong and very healthy now that I am in my 40’s and in all my years on earth it has never been this long.
I get asked all the time what are my methods and what exactly am I doing to get my hair to grow. Am I taking pills? Am I using a specific product? Am I using a certain technique?
Here are 4 of the things that I do for both mine and my daughter’s natural hair to maximize growth and retain length.
We are not taking any pills that promote accelerated hair growth. I can’t say whether those pills actually work or not because I have never used them.
No Parabens, No Mineral Oil, No Petrolatums, No Sulfates
I figured out early on that my natural hair prefers products that are mostly organic or with very minimal harsh chemicals. I try to stay away from products that contain parabens, mineral oils, petrolatum, or sulfates. I know that all of those ingredients actually prevent my hair from retaining moisture and moisture is key to growth. Our hair loves products with aqua (water), Shea butter and aloe vera juice in them.
Maintenance Routine
Its a really simple one. I rarely wash with shampoo but instead prefer to co wash (using conditioner in place of shampoo). I use a sulfate free shampoo once a month but I co wash every week. To seal moisture into my hair I use jojoba oil and I use Sistah Buttah on my scalp when necessary. I consistently condition my hair each and every time I get it wet. We wear scarves and caps to bed at night to prevent dryness and breakage.
Low Manipulation
Unless I am out and about I keep my hair neatly plaited (large braided or twisted sections) and tucked away under a scarf. Protective styling is crucial for me but I am not into wigs or weaves, so plaits it is. This means that I am not constantly touching, styling or manipulating my hair.
I do not use a comb on my hair but instead use my fingers for detangling. This has been really helpful in holding on to those strands because with finger detangling shedding is very minimal. A lot of times when we think that our hair is shedding we are actually ripping it out with comb usage.
I am not an expert and all of the experiences that I mentioned are specific to me and my daughter’s hair. I believe that all of these things together can help to encourage growth and also help to retain length. Of course its always best to do your own research, try new things and seek professional advice. I am just here to tell you that yes we can grow our hair long and there are no chemicals necessary to do so.
Are you using any tried and true methods to grow your hair? If so please share them below.
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