Maintaining afro-textured hair can sometimes feel like a real challenge! Between caring for it, choosing hairstyles, and maintaining a proper diet…
There’s a lot to do to keep your hair healthy. So…
How can you make your afro-textured hair grow ? It needs to be healthy. Healthy hair equals longer hair.
Therefore, you need to replace harmful habits (like using a straightener on your hair every morning) with healthy ones (like keeping your hair hydrated and doing regular treatments).
There are many factors to consider when it comes to hair growth, and applying them will yield results faster than you might think.
The good news is that if you feel like your hair isn’t growing fast enough, whether it’s due to heat, genetics, hormones, or other factors, there are several things you can do to speed up the process.
This way, your hair grows better and stays healthy. You can even be more radical and do a big chop.
Use Vegetable Oils and Essential Oils
Vegetable oils help seal moisture in your hair and some have stimulating properties for your scalp. I recommend doing a vegetable oil treatment once a week (perhaps on Sundays).
Among these oils, castor oil is well-known for promoting hair growth. Note that this oil is quite greasy. You can also try coconut oil, jojoba oil, or even mustard oil (be cautious if you have a sensitive scalp).
You can even mix several oils together. Apply the oil to your entire hair and massage your scalp to stimulate blood circulation.
Essential oils are packed with benefits, some of which include thickening your hair, treating dandruff and dry scalp, providing strength and shine to your hair, or promoting natural hair growth.
Protect Your Hair!
To prevent breakage, it’s important to use protective hairstyles such as African braids or twists.
I strongly advise against using heating tools frequently, as they can damage the hair fiber.
Before going to bed, protect your hair with a satin bonnet to keep it hydrated.
Cotton pillows absorb moisture from your hair, causing dryness and hair loss.
Do Regular Treatments
Again, afro-textured and curly hair is naturally fragile and requires constant hydration.
It’s important to do regular treatments tailored to your hair type.
Maintain a hair care routine to pamper your locks. You can use masks, oil treatments, and hydrating products.
Choose your hair products wisely, avoiding those filled with sulfates, silicones, or petroleum, as these can weigh down your hair instead of moisturizing it.
Handle Your Hair with Care
Rough handling only makes your hair more brittle and prone to breakage.
Opt for air-drying instead of using a hairdryer to avoid subjecting your afro-textured hair to heat.
Limit the use of heating tools like straighteners. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair, starting from the tips and gradually working your way up to the roots.
Start from the roots will only lead to hair breakage; you can also detangle with your fingers.
Always dampen your hair before detangling to avoid making hair loss worse. Avoid hair coloring and chemical relaxers as well.
Sleep on a Satin or Silk Pillowcase
Growing your hair while you sleep is possible! Just change your pillowcase to satin.
Satin helps prevent knots and breakage. Unlike cotton pillowcases, satin allows your hair to glide smoothly, reducing hair breakage.
Maintain a Healthy and Balanced Diet
Eating well provides your body with essential vitamins and nutrients necessary for hair growth.
There are many vitamins, and I’ve written an article on this topic. A deficiency in vitamins, especially iron, is the primary cause of hair loss.
The best foods to promote hair growth include eggs, fruits, nuts, fatty fish, and soy. Consume these without hesitation !
Stay Hydrated
Water is your best friend! It’s important for both your overall health and your hair.
Hydrating yourself from the inside is crucial for your hair’s health. Afro-textured hair is naturally dry due to a lack of sebum spreading evenly across the hair, mainly because of its density.
To remind you, sebum is naturally produced by sebaceous glands located on the scalp.
Sebum’s role is to moisturize the hair fiber. However, with afro-textured and curly hair, sebum struggles to reach the ends, resulting in less hydration, dryness, and brittleness.
You may have noticed that your scalp is oily while the ends remain dry. So, remember to drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day for your overall health.
Use Dietary Supplements
Even if you eat healthily, you can complement your diet with dietary supplements.
They help boost hair growth, increase length, and strengthen the hair fiber, with visible results in the long run.
Scalp Massage
Scalp massage, similar to neck, back, or body massage, can help promote hair growth.
Scalp massages are typically done with a bit more gentleness.
They can be performed with or without oil. Scalp massages are done only with your fingertips.
You can also use a scalp massager device that mimics the pressure applied by fingertips.
Scalp massages help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin, promoting hair growth.
Be Patient
Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no magic potion!
Genetics determine your height, eye color, hair texture, and the predetermined maximum growth rate of your hair.
In general, hair grows at a fairly consistent rate: 0.8 cm per month for afro-textured hair, 1 cm per month for Caucasian hair, and 1.3 cm per month for Asian hair.
Hair tends to grow faster in summer than in winter.
Hair growth rate is also affected by factors such as pregnancy, stress, medications, and exercise. While there’s no miracle treatment, plenty of tips can be implemented to ensure optimal hair growth.
Which Foods Promote Hair Growth?
Food and hair growth go hand in hand! Nutrition is a critical factor to consider. Here are four foods that promote hair growth.
Salmon
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is linked to hair density.
Omega-3 supplements have been shown to reduce hair loss and improve hair density.
Salmon also contains selenium, biotin, vitamin D3, and B vitamins, which all promote hair growth and shine.
Eggs
Hair is primarily made up of a protein called keratin.
A lack of protein in your diet can lead to hair loss. Eggs are rich in protein and biotin.
Biotin in eggs helps break down proteins into amino acids, which are the building blocks of your hair. Eggs also contain essential elements like zinc and vitamin A.
Spinach
Spinach is loaded with vitamins A and C, iron, and folates, making it one of the top foods for promoting hair growth.
Many cases of hair loss are associated with iron deficiency, and consuming spinach and leafy greens helps fulfill protein and iron requirements.
Berries
Berries are rich in vitamins and compounds beneficial for hair growth.
Vitamin C acts as a potent antioxidant, protecting hair follicles from damage and free radicals. It also acts as a protein (collagen) that prevents hair from becoming brittle.
Why Does Afro-Textured Hair Grow Slowly?
It’s a question we all ask ourselves while looking at long Caucasian and Asian hair. Contrary to popular belief, their hair doesn’t grow much faster than afro-textured hair.
The structure of their hair is smooth from root to tip, which is why it seems to grow faster. In contrast, the root of afro-textured hair has more of an “S” shape, resulting in slower growth and the hair curling upon itself.
That’s why it’s hard to notice the added length.
Another reason is that due to its coarser texture, sebum (naturally produced by sebaceous glands on the scalp to moisturize hair) has a harder time spreading evenly on afro-textured hair because of its density.
As a result, afro-textured hair tends to be less hydrated, drier, and more prone to breakage.
You’ve probably noticed that your scalp is oily while the ends of your hair remain dry.
Now you have all the tools you need to promote the growth of your afro-textured and curly hair. It’s up to you to put these tips into action! Don’t forget to join our hundreds of followers who follow our advice on Instagram @kinkycrepus.
