how to GROW and look after AFRO HAIR?

Question

I used to have fairly long hair and it just keeps getting shorter, how do i stop the breakage? please help thanks

thanks to the people who have answered another thing i would like you to comment on is the lognest time you can leave your hair for without washing it

6 weeks ? is tha too much

thanks tee..and everyone else it also brignsm e to another questionlol that i will roabl post again but is it good to where your hair out in afro

Answer 1

Forget store products! The best products to care for natural afro hair can be found in your kitchen. Seriously. Many times hair product companies put products that build up in the hair (like silicones and petroleum based products). This only makes you have to use their shampoos more (to get rid of build-up), then condition it ( since the shampoos strip and dry out the hair). Don't do it. The cycle is created so the industry makes money. I digress... your natural hair needs water. If you live in a colder/drier climate you must spray hair with chemical-free water. Never style the hair dry. ALWAYS wet first then comb, this will allow for easier styling as well. Wash when you think your hair needs it. If there are birds building nests in there you know you've gone too long. Every few weeks is fine. If you sweat a lot try rinsing hair in the shower after exersizing or excessive sweating. Sweat contains salts which can dry hair out. Clean hair with apple cider vinegar. Wet hair, pour a few tablespoons on hair and massage, then rinse out. Repeat if needed. Get a spray bottle and fill with spring or filtered water ( tap water tends to have chlorine which is a salt. It will dry out your hair). You can use this to spray daily. Experiment by adding scented oils you like to the water. If hair is particularly dirty or your mind needs soap suds to feel like you're cleaning your hair use a pure vegetable glycerine soap with no perfumes nor dyes. Glycerine is a sugar and won't dry your hair out ( your hair will break only if its dry) although will gently remove oils since it is a surfectant. To deep condition hair beat an egg and mix with sunflower or olive oil ( like a mayonnaise). People from the old country will tell you that that's what their grandmothers used. Add a heat cap or hot towel for 20 min then rinse well with cool water. Deep condition when your hair feels like it could use it. (If your hair is really damaged dissolve a bit if gelatin in water and add it to the egg mix before heating. The proteins in gelatin are similar to those in your hair and MAY fill in broken bonds when the heating element is added.) Cool water will help hair follicle close. Heat opens follicles. Open follicles allow moisture to get out. Never blow dry. Period. Your hair will not need it. To dry hair faster you can part it and twist. When dry it will have wonderful patterns. Afro hair is unique and the most beautiful type of hair if you work with it not against it. No one can tell you how much to wash and condition becaouse your hair and lifestyle is different from the rest of us. Let your hair tell you what it needs, when. Africans are not from cold regions so the cold air drys out hair and skin easier. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Mist your hair with water everyday, drink lots of water and eat well. Your hair will grow like weeds. Another tip: boil some beer or ale for a few minutes (until alcohol burns off - alcohol will dry hair out as well). Add some of this to your water spray. It helps keep hair hydrated and gives more of a shine. One thing you cannot do with hair is add nutrients to it. When it comes out of your head that's it. At this point the only thing you can do is protect the strands such that they won't break so your overall look is healthy. Every strand on your head will fall out at some point. That's the way it goes, just treat them well in the mean time. I went natural 5 years ago but commited the mistake of relaxing it 3 years later. It looked beautiful for as long as I went to the hair dresser then it started falling out in clumps. I researched and learned about the science of hair. It is rater simple. I cut all my hair to an inch long and 2 years later all of the straightened hair is gone and my natural hair is about 6 in long. I love it. And the best is you can travel anywhere in the world without having to find a hair products store. Free at last! Good luck.

Answer 2

How To Grow Afro Hair

Answer 3

I have this problem, except mine's not getting any shorter, it just won't grow as long as I'd like. I think the main thing is to avoid putting tension on the hair and your scalp. Alternate your hairstyles regularly so that tension isn't always on the same spot. Never use elastic bands unless they're covered in fabric. If you can, sleep on a silk or satin pillow case, that should help with the moisture loss that you get with cotton and polyester pillow cases. Alternatively, you could just cover your hair with a silk or satin do-rag or scarf.

Get trims regularly, ideally every 6 weeks. Afro hair often breaks because its not getting enough moisture. You gotta remember that every twist and turn of the Afro hair strand makes it harder for the natural oils in your scalp to reach the ends so moisure is the key. I have dedicated myself to giving my hair a proper treatment every fortnight (when it's not weaved), which includes washing my hair, conditioning with either a hot oil treatment or hair mayonnaise plus a moisturising conditioner. I then go under the hood dryer for 30 mins. You can buy inflatable ones for about £25.

As for the amount of time you can go without washing your hair, that varies. It depends on your hair type and your lifestyle. Someone that is very active, swims or goes to the gym should wash their hair more often that someone who does very little (like me!) I think that the coarsest, kinkiest Afro hair can go about 3-4 weeks before it needs washing but someone with hair that has a looser curl pattern and finer hair may need to wash their hair every 2 weeks. I try not to go longer than 4 weeks max and that's only when I'm being lazy. I'm determined to commit to doing my hair properly once a fortnight.

Answer 4

I'd suggest having treatments in you're hair dresser. Get you're hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks at least. Things like over styling can cause breakage so if you use electrical appliances try to limit your use and definately use a heat spray.

In terms of hair products I find keracare (widely avaliable) work well as do Paul mitchell and Phillph Kingsley (more likely to find in hairdresser I know toni & guy sell them). Phillp Kinglsley does a product called 'elasticizer' which is £2.95 for 20ml. Its a really good conditioning treatment. All are sutible for all types of hair. My mother and I use them - she is black, im mixed race. In terms of washing I'd suggest wash ever 1-2 weeks but don't do too many washes & make sure all the product is washed out.

Other good tips are when you're hair is wet don't brush it or use a fine comb, opt for a detangling comb and make sure your hair is completely dry before straightening it - if you hair a sizzling sound then u need to dry it some more. Hope this helped. If you relax your hair try not to do it too often. =)

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Answer 5

Hi, If you were to put a relaxer on it, you hair would never go back to it's origional state. Just bear in mind that once you start relaxing you get newgrowth that will need to be touched up.I agree with getting some braids or even a weave, this will give your hair a rest and my hair seems to grow faster when in a weave. hope this helps

Answer 6

Hair loss affects both men and women. Here are some natural remedies that can help boost hair growth: https://bitly.im/aLW9p While genetics plays a role, there are other factors, including: hormonal imbalances, an underactive thyroid gland, nutrient deficiencies and insufficient scalp circulation.

Answer 7

check out

www.curls.biz

they have great products and i do mean great!!! and also loads of information about how to look after curly/afro hair. my daughter is Australian/Black American/Native American with super tight afro curls and i have been using the products on her hair for a little over a year now. her hair is getting so long and thick that i dont know what to do with it somedays (cornrows always help!!!) but its healthy and im constantly getting comments on how beautiful it looks.

check out the site and if you decide to order anything please put me down as the reference... [e-mail]

Answer 8

Comb and comb out your hair with a wide tooth comb. Do not need to brush your hair, this causes the hair to stretch and snap. Apply a hair dressing to hair and scalp and message it in with the balls of your fingers. Stay away from products that contains petroleum jelly, alcohol, perfume, beeswax all of those ingredients causes the hair to either dry out or too thick will holds dirt. Wash your hair every 12-14 days. Washing your hair to often causes you to lose the natural oils, which causes your hair to dry out , and break off. Limit your use of heated hair appliances, they causes the hair to become dry, brittle, and break off.

Answer 9

You must be gentle when combing our hair. It is quite fragile, and when wet a good conditioner will allow for easier detangling. Depending upon the products that you use and how you handle your hair, it should grow out nice.

Answer 10

omg i hav this problem, i used to hav loadsa hair, it was reli think and full of tight curls, but it has decided to shrink lol its very annoying!!! my mum thinks its cos i straightened it too much. but i hav solved tht problem and my hair is looking better so quickly by getting it trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks and i bought a brilliant product in London, they are called DOOGRO and they r fantastic, my hair looked better after the first couple days of using it!! *there is a website 4 these products jus search doo gro xx