This is one of the most common misconceptions believed by individuals within the curly hair community. The truth is, our hair shafts are dead once they leave the scalp. Therefore, growing a long, healthy mane starts with a healthy scalp. Still, trimming your hair once every 3-6 months is recommended in order to ensure maximum length retention and prevent further damage to the hair, especially if you have split ends. Your hair will still grow with split ends, however, neglecting them for too long will hinder the presence of any length gained resulting in dry, brittle ends that can make detangling and styling much more challenging and eventually lead to hair loss.
Ever wonder why you just cannot seem to get rid of dandruff/dryness no matter how much pomade you apply to your scalp? That’s because it truly isn’t meant for your scalp or hair. There are many pomade types of hair products aka “hair grease” that claim to stimulate hair growth when applied to the scalp. The only “hair grease” that should be applied to the scalp directly are pure essential oils that are free of any mineral oils, linoleum, or parabens. Applying products containing these ingredients actually suffocate the pores by forcing water away from the scalp which causes dryness and limits hair growth. It is recommended to avoid these ingredients in your hair care routine, overall, in order to ensure that your hair and scalp stay moisturized.
Hair shrinkage is a real thing! The more textured hair you have the more shrinkage (if it's healthy)! Never underestimate a shoulder length, 4b textured mane in its natural state. There are curly manes that appear to never grow past your neck but in reality, are waist length when straightened. One simple trick you can do to see your actual hair length is to gently pull/stretch a curl (closest to the back of your neck or wherever its longest) as far as it can go with your fingers. That is your actual length!
It is certainly true that our hair takes more time to style and care for versus straight hair but it is always manageable. Although we categorize different curly textures, every curly mane is unique and requires a different regimen which requires a time of trial and error. Once you find what works for your personal hair needs, you will see just how far a little extra TLC will take your hair from seemingly unmanageable to healthy, manageable hair that can be styled in a variety of ways!
While curly hair doesn’t necessarily need to be washed every day, it still needs moisture! In fact, because of its protein structure, curly hair is much more vulnerable to dryness and damage overall which requires that it be moisturized constantly and not just with essential oils. Product build-up is the main reason for inhibited hair growth and damage. Therefore, washing your hair at least once a weak with your preferred shampoo and conditioner is highly recommended. For dry, damaged hair, it is also recommended that you co-wash (conditioner-based, non-lathering “shampoo”) at least two times a week before wash day.
There are many protective styles that do not do such a great job of preventing hair from damage. Braided hair is a perfect example, especially when used in combination with extension/fake hair. If you do decide to get a style such as box braids, individuals, or twists, it is recommended that you remove them after a short period of time to prevent further /damage to exposed ends. Any excessive tugging on the hair from the roots is likely to do damage (even more so to edges) so buying lightweight hair or only braiding your natural hair is highly recommended.
No matter what the label says, you cannot reverse split ends or hair damage. As a consumer, you should understand that the product can only smooth out any damaged ends you might have and reduce their appearance. If you notice enough damage to your hair you find yourself considering products that claim to reverse any damage, you should definitely consider getting a trim as soon as possible.
We always hear that applying too much heat or not letting your hair fully dry before pulling it back is bad for your hair. In addition, it is also a good idea to refrain from air drying your hair every time you wash it like this too can do damage to the protein structure of our hair. If your hair takes longer than an hour to dry, try allowing it to air dry 70% of the way, at most and use a low heat setting on your blow dryer to dry the remaining moisture.
Protective styles only protect your ends. Hair growth is initiated at the scalp.
As stated earlier, every texture is unique and therefore requires a different regimen to address our personal hair needs. Although your texture might fit within a category of commonly recognized hair textures, it is just a reference for comparison of hair type. While two different people might share the same category of hair texture, their individual textures and makeup are still different, taking into consideration porosity level, for example, which would require a customized hair care routine.
....hope you enjoyed these tips of the day and be sure to visit our online store at www.amtuhairtools.com
If you'd like to know more about our fabulous muse Meranda and her hair care routine or you want to know more about her follow her through her social media @makeitcount_b
