Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Wash and treat
• Method 2 of 2: Other ways to grow your hair
• Tips
• Warnings

If you are of African origin, your hair may be prone to breakage. This can make it difficult to grow your hair long. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make your hair grow longer and faster.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Wash and treat

1. Determine your hair type. A salon assistant or online advice can help you find your hair type, making it easier for you to choose the right treatments and products. Here's the basic layout:
   • Wavy hair (type 2), generally thin and easy to handle
   • Curly hair (type 3)
   • Pipe shavings (type 4), usually very brittle and difficult to grow
2. Wash your hair only when necessary. Washing hair too often will strip it of natural oils. Try not to wash it more than once a week. Switch to once every two or three weeks if your hair starts to break quickly.
   • Try to find a shampoo that won't leave your hair feeling too dry.
   • To prevent further damage, wash your hair with lukewarm water and rinse with cool water.
3. Let your hair air dry. The heat from a blow dryer can cause damage, causing your hair to break before it reaches the desired length. Instead, braid your hair, wrap it in a silk scarf and let it dry overnight. Alternatively, you can towel dry your hair by wrapping it in a towel and simply rubbing your head.
4. Always use a conditioner when you wash your hair. Shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils. Fix this with a conditioner suitable for African hair. Also use a deep conditioner on your hair every now and then.
   • You can use leave-in conditioner in between washes.
5. Use hair oil daily. Rub the natural oil into the center and ends of your hair to make it soft and smooth. This will prevent it from breaking. Jamaican oil, castor oil, Moroccan oil, or lavender oil are all good options.
   • Covering your hair with a satin scarf can help the hair absorb the oil.
6. Bring in moisture. Water makes dry hair stronger and can stimulate your hair roots. You can add water, moisturizing conditioner, or make a mixture with half olive oil or half coconut oil. For extra moisture, you can add them all in that order. The oil will help hair retain moisture.
   • If you are using gel or mousse for your hairstyle, try pomade instead. This keeps your hair in shape and eventually melts into oils to add shine and moisture.
7. Consider a protein conditioner. This can make some hair types stronger, but it can also damage dry hair. Try brushing your hair: If your hair stretches significantly before it breaks, you may need more protein.
   • Do not leave the protein conditioner on for longer than stated on the package: it can become hard and brittle.
8. Grease your scalp when it is dry. Apply coconut oil to your scalp every other day or whenever your scalp feels dry. Use your index finger and wipe back from the top until all the grease is applied.
   • If you see dandruff, stop. Oil can feed the fungus that causes this.
   • If you have a perm, just grease it once a week or treat your hair with hot oil instead.
9. Remove products with neutralizing shampoo. Use a neutralizing shampoo once a month to remove all products from your hair. If you use a lot of sprays, gels and other styling products, use this every other week.

Method 2 of 2: Other ways to grow your hair

1. Take vitamins. Vitamin supplements can give your hair the nutrients it needs to grow faster and become stronger.
2. Eat enough protein. Eat foods high in protein, such as avocado, pumpkin seeds, or gelatin.
3. Protect your ends. Letting your hair hang down can leave your hair vulnerable to break. Put your hair in a bun, braid it, or try a different style that will hide the ends. Secure your hair with hairpins; elastic can cause your hair to break.
4. Trim damaged hair. Trim the ends every two weeks or when they start to split. If your hair is healthy, you only need to trim an inch every three or four months. It may sound strange to trim your hair to grow it out, but it really helps. Split ends quickly lead to breakage, making it very difficult to grow your hair.
5. Take good care of your hair. Blow drying, straightening irons, braids or waves that are too tight, over-treatment, dyeing and perms will ruin your hair. It can cause damage and breakage, so use these methods as little as possible.

Tips

• Loose braids do less damage than overly tight braids.
• Try box braids. This allows you to grow your hair naturally.
• The heat from straighteners and blow dryers ensures that your hair becomes stiff and dry. Treat your hair with silicone-free heat protectants before using these devices.
• Eat healthy, get enough exercise and drink plenty of water. Only massage your scalp with argan or coconut oil, if necessary. You can also use castor oil.
• Don't wring your hair out.

Warnings

• Even if you use a product for damaged hair, you can still trim your split ends.
• Not all types of black hair are the same and should be treated as such. What your sister or mother does to their hair may not be right for you.