Photo Credit: Instagram-@naturallyquinn
It seems everyone is on a quest for “long hair don’t care”. You can very well obtain it by avoiding these 10 hair breaking mistakes that are keeping you from growing long natural hair.
See Also: 7 Reasons You Looks Like It Stopped Growing
1. Not Trimming Your Ends
This is an ongoing debate within the natural hair community. Some believe it’s unnecessary. I can tell you from experience this is untrue. But let’s debunk a myth, first. Trimming your hair will not make it grow faster. It’s true that trimming your hair doesn’t increase the rate in which it grows. But it will help it stay healthier.
Read: 4 Signs Its Time For A Trim
See Also: 10 Reasons To Trim Your Ends
2. Not Working In Sections
When it comes to shampooing, detangling, and conditioning in sections, some believe ‘it don’t take all that‘. And for some it may not but if you have thick, very textured hair, this extra step will save you time in the long run. It allows you to adequately cleanse, detangle, condition, and moisturize your hair more effectively. You can also closely examine your hair better while sectioned.
Besides, you can more proficiently experiment with products. See how your hair responses to different products by applying one product to one section and another to another section. This decreases your guess and test time.
3. Not Protective Styling
Sometimes hair breaks at the same rate that it grows. This creates the illusion of no hair growth at all. Protective styling is designed to protect your hair especially the oldest, most fragile part of your hair, the ends from common forms of breakage. The most common forms of breakage are over manipulation and dry, brittle hair. Protective styling minimizes breakages and prevents moisture loss; helping you to retain more length. Your hair will grow longer with minimal breakage. Read more reasons to protective style
See Also: Change Your Mind About Protective Styling
4. Over Doing It With the Protective Styling
Some women protective style for 3 months straight without properly caring for their scalp and hair. This is counterproductive and leads to thinning hair. Protective Styling doesn’t mean you can neglect your hair and scalp. You can and SHOULD still maintain a regular shampoo, conditioning, and moisturizing schedule.
Beware of synthetic hair. Synthetic hair or its manufacturing process can irritate your scalp leaving you with itchy, inflamed skin its best to rinse synthetic or Kanekalon hair with apple cider vinegar before it touches your head. In some cases resulting in little white bumps that may lead to hair loss.
Prolong wearing of synthetic hair can also permanently damage the hair cuticle. The synthetic fibers gradually cut into the hair strand, creating little tears into the its cuticle. This can severely damages the hair over time. Read More of the Do’s and Don’t of Braid Extensions.
5. Moisturizing Inadequately
There’s some confusion between moisturized hair and oily hair. I recently got a message that said “I’m doing the castor oil challenge, but my hair is still dry and breaking”. Many oils like castor oil are great sealant oils. Sealant oils or sealing oils are oils that seal the hair’s cuticle. They lock in moisture and prevent it from escaping. They are perfect for extreme climates. But the con of the pros and cons is that it limits the amount of moisture that can enter the hair during rehydration. If you’re using heavy oils or butters its important to shampoo regularly in order to fully rehydrate hair. It is equally important that the hair is hydrated with water before using these sealant oils or butters by opening the hair cuticle. Shampoo is formulated to do this (open the hair cuticle).
6. Improper Detangling
Improper detangling can be the main culprit of mechanical or self-induced hair damage. Hair is its most fragile when wet. (This is also way the “No Heat Challenge” has its limits. Read more.) You must really take your time in detangling. If your hair knots and tangles easily pre-poo with coconut oil and gently detangling before shampooing will really prevent damage. Read 3 Ways To Decrease Your Detangle Time
7. Infrequent Washing
Shampoo every 7-14 days and cowash in between as needed for two reasons. One, water = moisture. Washing your hair opens up the hair cuticle & follicles to readily receive moisture unlike any other method of moisturizing. Water molecules bind to the internal structure of the hair & enter the hair follicles during the wash process. Effectively cleansing your hair & scalp with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo rids it of bacterial, product buildup, in some cases medications and other micro growth inhibiting factors without stripping its natural oils. A healthy scalp is necessary for growth.
8. Only Finger Detangling
I’m not anti-finger detangling. I just believe there’s a time and place for it. It’s great for quick co-washing sessions in between your next shampoo or styling if you’re a wash and go gal. But tight natural curls tend to hug each other and add shedded hair to the mix can create matting and stubborn tangles. A wide tooth comb removes shedding hair; preventing it from snaking around hair and creating those tangles. If you’re worried about breakage, try a seamless combs or Denman Brush that glide through hair without any snags. (Remember to work in sections and to twist or plait detangled hair to prevent hair from re-tangling as it drys.)
Buy Seamless Combs
9. Skipping The Pre-Poo
Granted, this step is completely optional and not necessary before every shampoo especially if you’re only cowashing, nevertheless it’s extremely helpful in both protecting the hair and increasing moisture retention. If you suffer from extremely dry, damaged hair, you simply can’t afford to skip this step. Read: 5 Ways Pre-Pooing with Coconut Oil Prevents Damage
Read more on How To Pre-Poo Hair
10. Ignoring The Signs
Your hair is a reflection of your overall health. If it’s dry, brittle or if you’re experiencing excess shedding or hair loss, it’s an indication that something is off balance. It could be nutritional or hormonal. For example, iron deficiency or hyperthyroidism can both cause hair loss.
Your body will take needed nutrients from the skin and hair to support your more vital organs. To ensure there’s an abundance of nutrients for strong, healthy hair, focus on feeding your hair from the inside. Drink plenty of water, eat a well-balanced diet, take a multivitamin, and exercise regularly for your healthiest hair.
If you have notice any signs of hair loss or thinning, you may want to read these 5 important action steps.
Hi there ! I am 18 years with 4B/C hair.
I’ve been natural for the past 3 years and have not seen any sort of growth whatsoever. I have a hair routine that I follow religiously every week: I apply hair food to my hairline every single night Every Sunday I apply hair food to the rest of my scalp. I would moisturize my entire scalp more often but I am still a high school student and thus don’t have enough time on my hands for that luxury.
My hair is always wrapped in either a cotton head scarf or silk scarf. Throughout the year my hair is mostly in box braids for at the most 3 months and in Afro form for 1 month. I wash my hair in braid every 2 weeks. My mom says my hair doesn’t grow because my grandmas also doesn’t grow – implying that it’s something I’ve inherited. I’d like to believe that this can’t be true and I hope it doesn’t mean that I should give up on my hair length goals just because it’s something I’ve “inherited”
My hair won’t even touch my shoulders – let alone my neck.
I feel like I’m running out of options and am desperately looking for some help to give me some hope.
Is there something I’m doing wrong ?
Something I’m not doing ??
Is it really just in my genes ???
Please help me 🙁
Hi !! I’m no expert but I learned cotton drys your hair and silk steals moisture as well. Satin seems to be the best material and I recently learned oil products are not so great because they clog the follicles. Try water based products for moisture. I’ve been using Talijah Wajjid (I hope I spelled it right) I’ve been wearing jerri curl caps under my satin scarf to retain moisture and I’ve been doing simple styles it doesn’t matter because my head is always covered… oh and I’ve been dealing my ends and washed my hair with a baking soda solution. My hair is definitely fuller and I think longer although I won’t know for a while longer. I’ll blow my hair out at the 60 day mark to see my progress. I’ve been really building a relationship with my hair and what works for me may not work for you but I hope you can find something useful.
Blessings to you on your hair care journey
Pls I just started keeping my natural hair, it’s still short, front hair is bald, soft hair, not full at all and I think it’s hereditary, what can I do about it