Nothing is more attractive than a crown of healthy natural hair. Reclaim your length with these expert tips!
If you’ve ever experienced a case of split ends, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. Damaged and brittle hair prevents length retention, weakens strands, and limits your styling options.
This is not an ideal situation and doesn’t give a nice appearance. Let me tell you that there’s no method to grow your hair overnight. Sure, you can stock up on DIY hacks and hair vitamins, but it won’t change the fact that hair only grows a half-inch a month—and that’s only if your hair is already in tip-top shape with few split ends.
But there is good news! If your hair isn’t growing as quickly as you’d like, there are a few things you can do to help speed up the process. And I’m not talking about an expensive hair transplant.
First and foremost, it’s critical to figure out what’s causing your hair problems. Hair breakage can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of moisture, chemical overprocessing, heat damage, and improper hair-care practices.
According to Anthony Dickey, a celebrity hairstylist and proprietor of the Hair Rules salon in New York City, textures that are inherently drier (kinky, curly, or coarse straight textures), are more prone to breaking and therefore require more TLC.
If you’re losing hair at an alarming rate, shedding a lot on your clothes, or your scalp is extremely dry, you should rethink your hair-care regime. Hair fall is devastating but you can do something about it according to Folexin reviews.
Damage can also occur from tight hairstyles or a lack of preparation before styling. So, you have to keep in check how often you wear high ponytails. “With natural hair, I frequently see the most breakage when it’s wrapped up in a topknot,” says celebrity hairstylist Vernon François, “This places undue stress on the hairline. It frequently snaps from the crown, as this area is frequently overlooked during the preparatory phase — for example, not properly combing your hair before placing it into your preferred style.”
Whether you’re a star or just an ordinary person, the truth is that maintaining a luxuriant mane is an ongoing, methodical procedure. Townsend and other experts weigh in on 10 techniques to enhance your hair length for dramatic effect, ranging from the appropriate conditioning treatments to a healthy diet.
1. Commit to Regular Micro-Trims
Friends, don’t be hesitant to get haircuts. Tangles, single-strand knots, and split ends are all signs that your hair is in desperate need of a trim. Trimming your kinks and curls every three to four months can keep them popping and looking their finest.
According to Townsend, when you opt for a “dusting” rather than a conventional trim, the hair on the floor is barely visible. Shearing is precisely calibrated to retain length while removing broken ends produced by environmental damage such as physical stress or hot instruments.
2. Do Weekly Conditioning Treatments
Deep conditioners are about to become your new best friend – I’m serious. It’s when you apply a thick restorative formula to your hair by using a form of heat. To apply it properly, use a deep conditioner monthly with a plastic cover in the shower, then apply heat by using a dryer, and then possibly leave it overnight.
Celebrity hairstylist Felicia Leatherwood, who has pampered the locks of Issa Rae and Skai Jackson, recommends steam treatments to let your deep conditioner go the extra mile. If your hair is still as dry as the Sahara, combine your deep conditioner with a hot oil treatment.
Conditioner aids by replacing lipids and proteins within the hair shaft, as well as the sealing of the hair’s outer cuticle. It’s essentially your first line of defense against the harm that threatens your long-haired ambitions.
3. Cleanse Properly and Consciously
Cleaning is the cornerstone of any hair-care routine, and it should begin before you even step into the shower by soaking your strands in a protective pre-washing tonic for 10 minutes. Look for sulfate-free products when picking a shampoo and conditioner because they don’t dry your hair out as much. It also helps when co-washing to keep your hair moisturized.
To be clear, co-washing does not imply that you should avoid shampoo entirely. When shopping for a shampoo, the goal is to avoid ones that lather, as these chemicals can strip hair of its moisture. Use cream shampoos that are sulfate-free and non-sudsy.
4. Recalibrate Eating Habits
What you consume can have a significant impact on your hair’s health. A lack of certain nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein, and vital fatty acids, can cause hair loss and impede hair development. Fortunately, addressing a shortage in any of these nutrients can aid in the treatment of hair loss and encourage hair growth.
Keratin, a type of protein, is used to make the hair shaft. A diet rich in protein and amino acids (protein’s building blocks) will provide your body with the nutrients it requires to generate new keratin. Your hair should grow faster as a result of this!
Stay hydrated while you’re at it. This will assist your hair and scalp to stay moisturized. “The healthiest diet for your hair is the healthiest diet in general—one that is based on real, whole foods and is primarily plant-based,” says Maria Marlowe, a Manhattan-based nutritionist. He also adds that foods high in iron, zinc, vitamin C, B vitamins, and omega-3 are most typically connected to stronger and longer hair.
5. Start Taking Supplements as Directed
According to UCLA dermatologist Harold Lancer, strands can be strengthened by taking an “over-the-counter vitamin every day that contains antioxidant mixes and vitamin B derivatives.” Biotin supplements, which can be obtained at almost any local drugstore, promote healthy hair development. Some hair care professionals advocate using Viviscal to speed up the process.
According to Gilda Ambrosio, a Milan-based designer and stylist, food is very important for maintaining a healthy mane. “Every female knows that the longer you let it grow, the drier it becomes. Fortunately, I’m Italian, and I believe my diet plays a significant role. I eat fish three times a week and eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruit, and I take one or two vitamins every morning when I wake up.”
6. Keep Your Hair Tangle-Free
It’s a big no-no to detangle dry hair. “It’s simpler to detangle your hair in the shower when your hair is full of conditioner and wet,” Leatherwood recommends.
To detangle effectively, split the hair into two halves, then divide that into four. Take your time, be delicate, and work your way up from the bottom to the root.
It’s critical to have proper detangling equipment on hand. Put your hair in double-strand twists after detangling and rinse away the conditioner while the twists are still in place.
7. Get Rid of Your Cotton Towel
A conventional cotton bath towel can strain and stretch the hair, removing moisture and causing damage. An old cotton T-shirt or, better yet, a microfiber towel can be used to gently compress and pat your hair dry. It is substantially more gentle on your hair and significantly reduces breakage.
Sleeping on silk pillowcases is also recommended! “Silk is gentler on hair, preventing knots and breakage,” explains Jesleen Ahluwalia, M.D., of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. The less breakage your hair suffers, the longer it will last.
8. Limit the Use of Heat
Styling your gorgeous hair is tempting but it comes with a huge cost. To avoid damage, use a heat protectant, keep temperatures moderate, and use a blow dryer with a comb attachment if you’re going to use heat. Occasional styling is okay but do not try to use heat on a daily basis.
9. Practice Scalp Care and Massage
When you take care of your scalp, you’re ensuring that blood and nutrients reach the hair follicles easily, which reduces shedding and loss, according to Hill. So, how do you go about taking care of your scalp?
To begin, hair development is aided by massaging the scalp during lathering to enhance blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles. You’ll also want to invest in a scalp oil, mask, or serum. You have to know what type of hair oil suits you and, depending on what type of scalp you have, you’ll have to choose which medium will be best for you. For example, if you have a dry scalp, you can try an oil or cream-based mask.
10. Avoid Chemicals Like Bleach and Hair Dyes
One of the fun things we can do is match our hair with different shades and vibrant colors as we like. It boosts confidence as well. However, if you are determined for long and healthy hair, you need to stay away from those chemicals. Bleaching hair is dangerous, it makes it dry, brittle and susceptible to breakage – the very thing you want to avoid. So, it is ideal to stay away from coloring using chemical hair dyes.
Conclusion
This article has provided you with a comprehensive guide to grow your hair longer and keep it healthy. There are so many factors to consider when looking after our hair, from eating healthily to knowing when and how to detangle knotted hair. I hope you’ve learned that this is an ongoing practice that is more holistic than just using the right shampoo and conditioner.
Follow these 10 tips, grow out your hair, and flaunt your hair like the queen you are.