If you ask any natural what one of their hair goals are, you’ll more than likely hear them say “grow healthy natural hair.” I mean, who doesn’t want hair down their back these days? Unfortunately, some people tend to look for shortcuts or believe there are miracle products that will grow natural hair faster.
However, to grow healthy natural hair, it’s all about incorporating healthy hair practices into your regimen. Although there will be a lot of trial and error involved, using these tips will help you reach your goal of long, healthy hair!
How to Grow Healthy Natural Hair
Keep your scalp healthy
Have you ever heard the saying “dirty hair grows faster?” Well if you believed that, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not true! If you want to grow healthy natural hair, remember that growth starts at the root. You have to maintain a healthy scalp!
Making sure your hair + scalp is cleansed regularly will get rid of product build-up that could interfere with growth. You can also incorporate regular scalp massages.
How often you wash your hair is up to you. Some people can go for two weeks while others, like myself, wash once a week. Whenever your scalp feels irritated, then it’s best to wash your hair.
Keep your hair moisturized
Moisture is important when it comes to taking care of your natural hair. Water is essential for your hair to flourish! If you deal with excessive dryness, this can lead to more breakage and shedding. This is why you want to properly moisturize your natural hair when it’s needed!
Moisturized curls are the perfect foundation to boost growth. Some ways you can moisturize your hair are:
- Deep condition regularly
- Use a hair steamer
- Follow the LOC/LCO method
- Remove product build-up
- Use good-quality products
Deep condition weekly
When I was relaxed, I never deep conditioned my hair. I didn’t know it was necessary in order to maintain the health of it. All of that changed once I started my transitioning journey and began researching how to take care of natural hair.
Deep conditioning should be a priority in everyone’s regimen. When you deep condition regularly, it provides your hair with nourishing ingredients that help to replenish moisture and add strength.
Deep conditioning improves the overall health of your hair and can promote healthy natural hair growth as well. You also want to ensure you’re keeping a good moisture-protein balance by alternating your deep conditioning treatments.
For example, I use moisturizing deep conditioners 3 weeks out of each month and then I switch and use a protein. You’ll know when it’s time for a protein treatment by paying attention to your hair.
Avoid Damaging Habits
There are some habits we can practice in our regimen that could lead to more breakage. Some of those include the following:
- Rushing while detangling
- Excessive use of heat
- Using chemicals
- Inconsistent regimen
- Not moisturizing your hair
- Improper use of hair tools
Avoiding these habits will help promote healthy hair growth. Be gentle while detangling – make sure you start at the ends and work your way up. As far as heat, it’s okay to use it in moderation. Excessive heat styling can cause dryness, breakage, and damage to your texture. When you decide to use heat, apply a protectant, and use the lowest setting on your hair.
Use Natural Ingredients
There are a number of harmful ingredients we should avoid using on our natural hair such as:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Mineral Oil
- Silicones
- Isopropyl Alcohol
Before purchasing products, check the label and make sure the ingredients are all-natural. You can also check for ingredients that stimulate hair growth such as Biotin, Ayurvedic Herbs, Peppermint Oil, and other natural extracts! I enjoy using products with herbs and it has been a game-changer in my regimen.
There’s a website you can check out to see if a product you’re interested in is all-natural. Although I don’t follow all of the rules included in the curly girl method, it’s still a helpful resource if you aren’t sure about a few ingredients listed in products. You can copy + paste the ingredient list in the box and it’ll tell you the purpose of each one and whether or not it’s harmful.
Scalp Massages
Scalp massages are beneficial for healthy natural hair growth. Not only does it increase the health of your hair and scalp, but it can also strengthen your roots. You can do scalp massages as many times per week as you want, I usually do mine 2-3 times. It doesn’t have to take long, a few minutes is good enough!
When you do your scalp massages, it’s great to use a nourishing oil that stimulates hair growth while providing conditioning effects. Some good ones to use are Tea Tree, Rosemary, Peppermint, Jamaican Black Castor, Avocado, and Almond Oil. There are also a variety of Ayurvedic oils that can promote healthy hair growth. Before using essential oils on your scalp, make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil to decrease the chance of irritation.
I enjoy using a handheld massager to do my scalp massages. You can find the one I recommend on Amazon above! It reaches my scalp easily and doesn’t cause tangles or frizz. I’ve been using this for a while and it leaves my scalp feeling refreshed.
Final Word.
Following these tips will increase length + moisture retention and stimulate healthy natural hair growth. Although growth is an amazing goal to have in mind, the health of your hair is the most important. When your curls AND scalp are healthy, then the growth will eventually follow! Be patient on your journey and stay consistent.