Natural hair growth – Natural Hair Growth Tips for Length

This article delves into the exciting world of natural hair growth!

We explore ten common roadblocks that hinder one’s hair growth and also provide valuable tips to guarrantee healthy, long natural hair. 

Interested? Let’s dive in. 

We discuss:-

1. Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is a common, yet often overlooked, issue among naturals.

Symptoms can range from general fatigue and weakness to more specific signs like pale skin, cold extremities, brittle nails and hair, and unusual cravings like ice or dirt.

Anaemia and Hair Growth

Beyond its impact on overall health, iron deficiency anemia can significantly hinder one’s natural hair journey (NHJ).

When iron levels are low, the body prioritizes essential functions over hair growth. This can lead to dry, brittle, and breakage-prone hair, despite following the best natural hair care practices.

Are you suffering from thinning hair?

If you suspect low iron levels or have a history of anemia, and notice hair thinning or brittleness, consult a healthcare professional for a check-up.

Changes in Iron Levels 

It’s important to remember that iron levels don’t change overnight, unless Iron infusion is administered intravenously. While dietary and lifestyle changes are crucial, it takes time for your body to replenish iron stores.

Therefore, if you’re a natural with anemia and are on a natural hair journey, please be patient. Significant changes may not be immediate. Allow your body time to recover before expecting noticeable results.

Self-Prescribing Iron Supplements for Hair Growth

Some naturals self-prescribe iron supplements.

However for optimal results, dosage with Iron supplements must be strictly done under professional supervision.

2. Poor Hair Regime

A poor hair regime could be why your hair is suffering setbacks.

If you are not consistent with applying moisture or sealing this moisture in – then your hair will suffer.

Also, if you fail to clean /clarify your scalp to deal with build-up or skip protein treatments (causing your hair to weaken further), you will likely not see much progress in your hair journey.

A well Rounded Hair Routine

The health of your natural hair is a great indicator of your habits. If your hair regime is working for you, your hair WILL let you know, but if your regime is not effective, then your hair will also be sure to let you know

It is advisable to have a well-rounded routine. Too much moisture and your hair will break. Too much protein and strands will snap, and too much manipulation and your hair growth will be slower / minimised.

If you fail to retain length, have an honest heart-to-heart with yourself and see if you can benefit from being more consistent with your hair regime. You may need to tweak certain practices in your weekly /monthly routine.

Do you have low-porosity hair?

Make time to review and revise your routine accordingly.

3. Moisture Deficiency

Moisture deficiency is one of the major reasons for hair loss/damage.

Moisture deficiency occurs when not enough moisture is introduced into your natural hair strands, causing it to become dry and making it prone to snapping and breakage.

Plus dry hair makes your strands more prone to split ends. And if left unattended, split ends can travel up the shaft giving hair an unhealthy uneven thin.

Thus, as a rule of thumb, hair needs to be moisturised regularly, and by moisture, this means introducing water or using a product containing water as its first ingredient onto the hair shaft.

Moisture can be introduced into your hair shafts routinely and sealed using the LCO or LOC method to ensure no evaporation. 

4. Using Wrong Products/Product Junkie

Using the wrong products or buying every new product on the market (being a product junkie) contributes to major setbacks in one’s natural hair journey. Newbies particularly face this setback during their NHJ.

Reasons Why Natural Hair Products may not be “working for you”  

Firstly, if you continuously introduce new products into your hair regime, you do not get to STUDY how your hair responds to that particular product.

Not all natural hair is the same, and what may work for one person may not work for you and vice versa. The only way you can know for sure is to use a product for a reasonably long period to ascertain if it is a good fit for your hair.

Secondly, if you use the wrong products, your hair will break, become dry and, in some cases, lose volume / change natural texture.

Again, it is important to take stock of what you are introducing into your hair and ensure that whatever it is, your hair agrees with it.

You’ve heard about high-porosity hair – but what is it actually? 

5. Not Eating (and Drinking) Right

Hair health is an Internal issue as much as an external one.

You may follow all the right NHJ techniques, such as PS, ACV rinse, L.O.C / L.C.O method, bagging and the like, however, if what you put into your body is deficient of necessary nutrients, then your hair will suffer.

Check out our comprehensive natural hair buzz words to know when on a hair journey.

Drink Water and Watch your Hair Grow

Hair likes to be hydrated from within, and drinking lots of water helps with hair growth.

To see great results, aim to consistently drink at least X 1,5l of water  for three months and track your before and after progress.  You will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

What you Eat Affects your Natural Hair Growth 

Your hair is what you eat!

Consuming iron, omega-rich foods and other foods for hair growth and thickness has been proven to have positive results for natural hair. 

Naturals who consistently add these nutrient-rich foods into their diet are likely to see positive hair growth.

6. Heat

No heat/minimal heat = healthy, happy natural hair.

Naturals who use minimal to no heat are known to retain most of their growth because too much heat damages hair, especially 4c hair.

Protect Your Strands

There is no set number of times that a natural can use heat a year, as hair can be damaged with only ONE heat treatment session. Thus, the key here is always to protect your strands.

When you use heat, consider using the lower heat settings and be sure to elicit the help of a natural hair proffesional skilled in achieving the straightened look without frying your locks. It is also advisable to minimise the use of heat, and when you do utilise heat, use a heat protectant to protect your hair strands from damage.

If you struggle with hair retention, consider switching your heat habits to minimise heat damage and see some real gains in your natural hair journey.

7. Too much Manipulation

Yes!

There is such a thing as too much manipulation during your NHJ.

Too much manipulation happens when a natural has hand-in hair syndrome and is constantly styling and manipulating her hair strands.

As length is from roots to end, the secret to keeping or retaining growth is keeping ends tucked away for certain periods and not constantly exposing them to manipulation.

Believe it or not, this impacts on length retention.

Natural hair, especially 4C hair, thrives on little to no manipulation during protective styling. When natural hair is constantly manipulated, the ends usually break off.

Catch up on everything 3C Hair. 

8. Protective Styling Gone Wrong

While protective styling is one of the major practices to realise hair length, some naturals go to the extreme and leave protective styling for too long. Hair that has been in protective styling for too long is more prone to breakage.

This is because whatever length realised during the protective period is usually lost during the style takedown or when detangling the hair.

It is therefore prudent to keep your hair in protective styling for a reasonable amount of time to minimise the matting and detangling that causes hair breakage/shrinkage.

9. An Unhealthy Scalp is an Unhealthy Afro

An unhealthy scalp = unhealthy afro.

 One of the reasons for an unhealthy scalp is product build-up due to putting a lot of products on your scalp but not properly cleansing your scalp.

This results in irritations, flare-ups and dandruff, leading to unhealthy hair. In order to avoid this, it is advised to clarify your scalp with any good clarifying shampoo..

You can also do an ACV rinse to clarify your scalp.  Simply spritz your scalp with a mix of apple cider vinegar and water and then massage it into your scalp before rinsing it off.

Have you assessed your natural hair journey yet? 

Acidic PH of ACV Water and the effect on your Natural Hair

The slightly acidic PH of ACV water plays a part in helping to cleanse your scalp and is a great remedy for itchy scalp.

10. Salon Visits

Last but not least, one of the reasons why your natural hair may not be growing is salon visits!

Yes, you read right, salon visits!

When the Stylist says, “…it’s too thick!…” 

Unfortunately, many naturals have shared stories of walking into salons only to be met with frowns and suggestions to “texturize” their beautiful, thick TWA or FRO.

It is ironic that some of the most uninformed individuals about natural hair are those who claim to specialize in afro-textured hair care.

Take Responsibility for your Own Hair 

One of the best ways to get the most out of your hair is to take responsibility for their hair.

Learn to do it yourself or exclusively visit hair salons that specialise in natural hair. Doing this will allow you to enjoy your journey, as well as realise loads of hair growth!

The last word

Armed with these ten gems, your natural hair will definitely flourish and go from length to length. 

We would love to hear your comments below…

Until the next time, beautiful ladies, happy naturaling!