Whether the result of dry, brittle hair or being a slave to extensions, black women have individual hair problems that can sometimes result in hair loss or thinning. While typical African-American hair texture is coarse and dry, you can still keep your hair nourished so that it's healthy and strong and less susceptible to breakage. Your daily care tactics and even your daily menu can have a bearing on your hair's strength and growth patterns.
Step 1
Moisturize your hair on a daily basis. While typical black hair is so dry that it doesn't need daily shampooing, it still needs daily moisturizing. Massage coconut oil or shea butter into the roots on a daily basis to keep hair healthy, shiny and strong, and less susceptible to breakage that disrupts the hair's growth cycle. The massaging offers the added benefit of increased blood flow to the scalp for better hair growth.
Step 2
Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce the friction that your hair suffers against a cotton pillowcase. When you toss and turn throughout the night, your hair cuticles become rough and broken as they snag on your pillow case. By investing in a silk pillowcase or a silk scarf to wrap your hair in, you allow your hair to glide across the pillow, which reduces friction and damage to your growing hair cuticles.
Step 3
Remove hair extensions and allow your hair time to rest between braiding in new extensions. Having too many extensions, braiding your hair too tightly or adding extensions too often can result in traction alopecia, a condition where balding is evident along the front of the hair line. This is due to the frequent tugging and pulling on the hair, notes the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Opt for wigs or bonded extensions so your scalp isn't tugged too often and hair can grow.
Step 4
Eat a diet that is nutritionally balanced, suggests MayoClinic.com. When you're malnourished, one of the first areas of the body to suffer is the hair. When you're low on protein, iron, biotin and vitamin E, you may find that your hair is dry and broken, and less likely to exhibit a healthy growth pattern. Make sure that you eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean meats for the healthiest hair growth.
Step 5
Apply a topical minoxidil treatment to areas that seem to be thinning. In some cases, minoxidil can slow baldness and even help to regrow hair in places where hair has thinned. If over-the-counter treatments don't seem to work, schedule an appointment with your doctor to talk about prescription options to help you grow healthier, stronger hair.
Things You'll Need
- Coconut oil
- Shea butter
- Silk pillowcase
- Minoxidil treatment
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