Many of us are guilty of complaining about hair that just doesn’t grow. But think of all the people you’ve seen with long dreadlocks cascading down their back. Their hair maintenance regimen doesn’t include hair-damaging techniques that many of us practice.

Some people believe African hair doesn’t grow like Caucasian hair does, but this is not true. Hair grows at the rate of 1/4 of an inch per month, regardless of race.

Our hair can grow to be long and strong with the proper maintenance and care. If your hair has plateaued, leaving you with the same shoulder-length style for years, the cause is likely your hair care habits.

In this post, we’ll discuss the truth about natural hair growth, and steps you can take to grow and retain your curls. If you want to know how to get longer healthier hair, keep reading.

Ruling Out Medical Conditions

Shutting down the production of hair is one of the first things our bodies does when we undergo deficiencies or illness. Thinning and weak hair should always be examined by a doctor to find out the underlying condition. Here are four examples of conditions that hinder hair growth:

  1. If you tend not to eat meat, you may be deficient in iron or vitamin B12. Lacking either of these can lead to anemia and hair loss. You can find iron in plants sources, but B12 can only be found in meat and fish, so you’ll need a sublingual supplement if you’re vegan or vegetarian. Consult with a doctor before self-supplementing because an iron overdose can be dangerous.
  2. Scalp Bacteria and Fungi. Not cleansing your scalp well enough can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria and fungi. Consider using a scalp massager when you shampoo. Massagers are gentler than your finger nails, and they work well to cleanse the scalp and disperse an equal amount of shampoo.
  3. Age-Related Hair Loss. Alopecia or hair loss can come with age, especially if your mother or father experienced Our ability to produce collagen lessens as we get older, resulting in symptoms like hair loss and aching joints. Look for hair vitamins that contain a marine form of collagen as these are easy for the body to absorb.
  4. Thyroid Disease. Suffering from an overactive or underperforming thyroid can hurt hair growth. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss over long periods of time. Symptoms of a thyroid disorder include a dry, itchy scalp, brittle hair, and a significant change in hair texture. Your doctor can give you a test to determine whether you have a thyroid disorder.

It’s a good idea to contact your doctor if you have trouble growing hair. If you’ve ruled out all medical conditions, then you probably have a breakage issue.

Breakage vs. Hair Growth

Your hair grows from the roots, but you will not notice this growth if your hair maintenance causes damage to your ends and hair shaft. Many people confuse a growth issue with breakage.

Improper detangling, chemical treatments, frequent heat styling, weave installations, damaging styles and harmful products are among the most common causes of hair that breaks, splits, and gives the illusion of “never growing.”

You might be wondering about transitioning hair and breakage. If you want to avoid the big chop while transitioning, your relaxed hair needs just as much care as the new growth. Every centimeter of hair must be given the same tender love and attention to avoid losing length to breakage and trims.

Here are six ways to maintain your hair length as it grows:

  • Use the Right Products. Using the right hair care products are essential to your natural hair care journey. Avoid shampoos with sulfates as they are drying and will strip the hair of moisture and nutrients.

Nutress Stop Break Sulfate-Free Shampoo will work to cleanse the scalp while Nutress Natural Hair Conditioner will protect and repair weak hair from frequent styling. These products can help reverse hair damage.

Frequent shampooing dries the hair and can result in breakage. Use the moisturizing conditioner to co-wash regularly, and the shampoo when you need to do a deeper clean.

  • Master Your Detangle Process. Always use a moisturizing conditioner with good slip. Good slip means that tiny coils will slide apart faster and easier than usual. Using products with good slip will make your hair less tangled and lead to less breakage.

Also, consider using a water-based detangler during the week, like Stop Break Leave-In Conditioner. This product will provide hydration and allow detangling without damage.

Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb, and never detangle dry hair. Divide hair into four sections and comb from the bottom and slowly move up towards the roots.

  • Use Oil to Nourish Hair and Scalp. There is universal agreement that all hair types can benefit from nourishing oils. Use coconut oil as a natural way to help your hair grow longer, thicker, and faster. The vitamins and essential fatty acids naturally found in coconut oil nourish the scalp and help to remove sebum build-up from hair. Our new Pure Organic Coconut Oil is easier to use than solid varieties and absorbs quickly and evenly into the hair shaft and scalp.
  • Minimize Heat Exposure and Tight Protective Styles. Heat exposure and tight protective styles can sabotage your efforts to have healthy, natural hair. Excessive flat ironing and blow drying can damage your tresses. Even frequent low-temperature use can cause dryness, so you’ll want to use heat styling as little as possible.

Protective styles are ideal, but only when they don’t cause damage. Glue-in weaves and individual braids have a bad tendency of causing hair loss. Choose a roll, tuck, pin method, or bantu knots.

  • Wear a Silk or Satin Bonnet at Night. The rubbing of your head on a cotton pillow can cause friction, and snap strands. You may not see the damage immediately, but could see your shower full of tiny ringlets on wash day.

If you find it uncomfortable to sleep in a scarf or bonnet, invest in a silk or satin pillowcase.

 

  • Eat a Diet High in Protein and Iron. Hair is made of protein, so your intake of amino acids plays a vital role in building the structure of the An excellent way to strengthen your hair from the inside out is to eat foods like salmon and spinach that contain essential nutrients.

Try to consume whole foods to get the most nutrients, and then supplement with the vitamins and minerals you are lacking.

  • Eliminate Stress. Stress inhibits the body to perform optimally, and when your immune system suffers, the hair is often the first to go. The body shuts down the production of healthy skin and hair and gives the organs top priority.

Breathing is the first form of detoxification and cleansing. Breathe deep when you’re under tension to heal from the damaging effects of stress.

Hair grows healthier when the head receives blood circulation, so exercise is key to healthy hair. Participating in yoga classes are an easy way to stay active and ease stress.

If you take care of your hair and do a continuous hair regimen, you’ll soon have the long, luscious locks that you can be happy about.

Now it’s your turn to discuss. What has been your experience with trying to grow your natural hair longer?