The highly textured hair that many African-Americans have can be prone to breakage and damage. The coiled or curled hair strands can also make it difficult to maintain an adequate level of moisturization, which is vital for hair growth. There are no magic solutions for making black hair grow faster, but there are things you can do to ensure that your hair grows to its fullest potential.
Moisturization
Black hair needs regular hydration to reach its maximum growth rate. Higher levels of moisture in the hair strands will also help to retain more length over time. You should apply a light conditioner after any shampoo or clarifying treatment. Black hair should also be deep conditioned once or twice per week with a thick and creamy deep conditioning treatment for additional moisturization.
Scalp Massage
According to the web site Daily Glow, scalp massages help stimulate circulation in the scalp. The increased blood flow to the scalp helps to provide nourishment to the hair follicles and promotes growth in black hair. To massage your scalp, begin at your temples and move your fingers in small, circular patterns over your scalp. Avoid using your fingernails, and be mindful of how much pressure you're using to prevent scalp irritation or hair breakage.
Keep Your Hair Healthy
Maintaining healthy ends will aid in faster visible length gains. Always handle black hair with care in an effort to retain length. Trim the ends of your hair and remove all damage before actively growing it longer. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, trimming the ends of your hair in the beginning will mean you'll need to trim them less as your hair grows longer.
Hair-Healthy Nutrition
Although terminal hair length and the rate of hair growth are dependent on genetic factors, black hair still needs optimal nutrition to be its healthiest. Adequate protein intake is vital for all hair types, but it's especially important for black hair because it tends to be more fragile. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that the average healthy adult consume about 46 to 56 grams of protein daily for overall well-being and hair growth.
Considerations
Heated styling appliances can wreak havoc on black hair because they leech moisture from it. Chemical hair treatments can also derail black hair growth by damaging the scalp or hair ends. Author Cathy Howse of Ultra Black Hair recommends that you use a protein treatment prior to applying chemical hair straighteners to help to prevent damage and splits. Products that contain a lot of petroleum may also clog your scalp pores, which may impair optimal hair growth levels.
Member Comments