4 Foolproof Steps to Healthy Hair Growth

Hair growth, or more accurately, the lack thereof, seems to be the top concern of naturals, especially those who are newer to the journey. All over social media, women are inquiring about the regimens and product stashes of those with longer lengths. I’ve learned, however, that the key is not achieving length, but health first.

As our hair grows, we need to make sure we’re doing our part to help our mane reach its fullest potential. Here are four simple and basic steps to healthy hair growth.

Start From Within

What many don’t realize is that healthy hair growth has more to do with what you put in your body than what you put on your hair. The same way skin breakouts are usually a reflection of a poor diet, our hair can and will exhibit what’s happening on the inside. Your follicles are fed from the bloodstream which carries nutrients throughout your body. Therefore, a proper diet consisting of less fats and junk but more fruits, vegetables and lots of water contributes greatly to healthy hair growth.

Pump Up the Moisture 

We know by now that textured hair is more prone to dryness than straight hair. This is because the bends and coils do not allow the natural sebum (oil) from our scalp to travel the length of the strand as easily. For this reason, we need to take care to moisturize our hair regularly. If we slack in this department, our hair may begin to break as fast as it grows, giving the illusion of lack of growth. By staying on top of it, our hair will be less likely to break or split, thereby promoting length retention. Many follow the L.O.C. (Liquid Oil Cream) Method of moisturizing for best results. Others, like me, prefer L.C.O. or just skipping the “C” altogether. Do what you find is best for the makeup of YOUR hair. Oh, and be sure to pay special attention to your ends as they are the oldest, most exposed part of the hair and most susceptible to damage.

Cool it With the Heat

You know how it’s said that too much of a good thing is bad for you? Well, while heat styling may sometimes make life a little easier, doing so too much can dry the hair out, leaving it without much elasticity. This leads to breakage which, again, makes hair growth virtually unnoticeable. If you are going to use heat, take precautionary measures. Use tools that have adjustable settings so you can control the amount of heat applied and use a protectant. Grapeseed and avocado oils are best when blow drying.

Retain Length by Wearing Protective Styles

Keeping your hair in low manipulation styles… or better yet, ones that require NO manipulation, for a time will aid in hair growth in that (1) you retain moisture (2) you protect your hair from potential damage due to overuse of hair tools or your own fingers but most of all you (3) retain length. Many have come to realize that if they leave their hair alone for a while, the growth is crazy! This is simply because as your hair grows while your ends are protected in twists, braids or even a bun, there is less chance for breakage so your strands stay healthy and intact.

In the end, what’s most important is focusing on healthy hair growth. There is no magic serum that will make your hair grow overnight. If length is what you seek, treat your hair right, love it and the growth will follow without you even realizing it!

What have you incorporated in your regimen to promote healthy hair growth?

Photo credits: kfoods.com | amazon.com | google | neffyfrofro.tumblr.com