10 Steps to Grow Black
Hair Longer
Step 1: Use a gentle shampoo.
Many common shampoos contain harsh sulfates that can strip your hair,
causing it to become dry and eventually leading to breakage. A good
gentle shampoos is Essentious Exonerate. Harsh sulfates include:
-
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
-
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
-
TEA Laureth Sulfate
-
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
-
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
These types of harsh shampoos should
be used for clarifying only. A clarifying shampoo can be used once
monthly, if at all. Clarifying shampoos can be used to remove excess
buildup. The following sulfates are gentle and will not damage your
hair:
Review
this list of hair products for help with finding a new “gentle” shampoo
Step 2: Use protein treatments
to rebuild hair structure and strength. Your hair
is about 88% protein. These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known
as keratin. When hair is chemically straightened, these bonds are
broken, causing the hair to lose strength. If this protein is not
replaced, it will eventually cause the hair to break. Egg treatments
are effective protein treatment for black hair and usually stops breakage
immediately. A protein treatment should be used every other week (for
chemically relaxed or damaged hair). If using an egg treatment, heat
should not be applied. The treatment should be applied to the hair
and covered with a plastic cap for 60 minutes. If using another type
of protein product, it should be applied and covered with a plastic
cap for 10-15 minutes. For healthy hair, a protein treatment should
be used every other week, alternating with a moisture treatment.
Step 3: Use moisture treatments.
Moisture treatments help build hair’s resilience and prevent breakage.
If protein is not balanced with moisture, it can lead to breakage.
A good moisture treatment for black hair is Essentious Rejuvenate.
It can be used after your protein treatment. Or on alternating weeks
(one shampoo do the protein, and then the other shampoo do the moisture.)
This treatment may not leave your hair feeling as "smooth"
as many conditioners that contain silicones. You can use any instant
conditioner that you like after your treatments to get a smoother
feel. Instant conditioners are not necessary and do not need to be
applied with heat. If pre-shampooing is done, the moisture treatment
can be skipped.
Step 4: Use water and oil based
moisturizers correctly. Your hair may be dry even though
you are using a variety of moisture products on it. The reason is
that oils and other moisturizing products that contain petrolatum,
lanolin, and mineral oil do not moisturize your hair effectively.
Instead they seal moisture in or out of your hair. They should only
be used to seal the hair and add shine. Water based moisturizers effectively
penetrate and moisturize the hair. Some examples are: Triple Moisture
Silk Touch Leave-in
Profectiv Anti-Tangle Leave-in
Profectiv Mega Growth
Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong
Elasta QP Mango Butter
Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in
You can also try applying your oil moisturizer after rinsing the moisture
treatment to combat dryness.
Use a light oil moisturizer following the application of these water
based moisturizer to seal moisture in the shaft.
Step 5: Use hair vitamins to
increase your growth rate and lengthen your natural growth phase.
Hair grows at an average rate of about 1/2 inch per month. Your hair
vitamin should contain nutrients such as Biotin and Folic Acid that
make your hair grow faster. Also, they should contain MSM which lengthens
your natural anagen, or growth phase. This allows your hair to grow
much longer. Your anagen phase, or growth phase, is genetically determined
and limits the maximum length that your hair can reach. The hair growth
phase (anagen phase) is one of three phases (growth, resting, and
shedding) your hair goes through during its cycle. For example, a
person with a 2 year anagen may only grow hair to their shoulders
before it enters the resting phase. On the other hand, a person with
a 4 year anagen will grow hair down their back before it enters the
resting phase. Learn
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Step 6: Use a wide tooth comb.
Step 7: Use a satin scarf/ pillowcase
for sleeping. Cotton scarves and pillowcases can absorb much
needed moisture from the hair. Satin does not have this effect. It
allows your hair to retain moisture, while protecting it from friction
and damage.
Step 8: Limit heat styling to
once weekly, and use thermal protectants. Heat styling can
damage your hair, especially if done too often. When you straighten
your hair with heat, you are temporarily altering the protein bonds
in your hair and weakening it. A good thermal protectant that can
be used when flat ironing hair is Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protection
Spray. It is only available at Sally’s Beauty Supply. It should be
sprayed directly on each section of hair just before it is flat ironed.
Step 9: Wear protective styles.
To minimize breakage and retain moisture, try wearing your hair in
a protective style at least 3 days a week. Protective styles are those
which do not expose the ends, such as buns and French twists
Step 10: Properly neutralize
after applying chemical relaxers.- Also, when you relax your
hair, you need to make sure you properly neutralize. You will first
wash all relaxer out with water. Wash with neutralizing shampoo at
least three times. Then apply the neutralizing shampoo once more and
let sit for 10 minutes. Then wash and proceed with conditioners and
styling.

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