Black Hair Does Grow. Let's Prove It!

I've noticed on the fashion board that there has been an on-going debate about wigs, weaves and perms. My personal opinion is that all these are a matter of choice. I personally have tried everything---wigs, weaves and perms(even curly perms). In the process I have neglected my own hair. I cared more about my weave than I did about the tresses growing out of my own head. I had thinning edged, uneven dry hair and mad split ends.

I have recently decided against any form of extensions because I looked back over the past one year and calculated how much I spent on weave. Lord have mercy! It was a lot of money. I then evaluated my reasons for extensions. They were:
1) They offer versatility
2) I thought they protected my natural hair because it wasn't exposed
3) I thought they just looked really cute.

Two out of three of my reasons were dead wrong. The extensions were'nt versatile and they didn't protect my hair. Rather they did the opposite.

Oh yeah I always wanted to over look my main reason for extensions: I thought that black hair was so difficult to manage and that it would never grow past shoulder length.

After doing some research I decided to go on a hair growth and health experiment because black hair can and does grow! In fact it grows at the same rate as white and asian hair (1/2 inch every month!!!). The reason why we tend not to see the growth is because WE DON"T TAKE PROPER CARE OF OUR HAIR!!!!

Reasons why black hair seems not to grow:
1) Lack of moisture BIGGEST CULPRIT
2) We are afraid to trim our dead/unhealthy hair. (why have length that isn't healthy?)
3) We don't wash enough
4) We add to much heat through flat iron, curlers etc.
5) Over processing relaxer (and relaxing ends that are already straight) SECOND BIGGEST CULPRIT

Eventaully all this causes breakage and short damaged hair.

So now my healthy hair diet consists of:
1) Daily moisturizing
2) Shampooing and DEEP conditioning  1-2 a week
3) Co-Washing once a week
4)Trimming every 6-8 weeks
5) Hot oil treament once a month
6) Relaxing every 12-16 weeks (sounds impossible I know)

Since I have started this I have seen major changes in my hair. From thickening to growth. Right now I haven't had a relaxer since August and I couldn't be more pleased. This doesn't mean I'm going natural and I don't think it's a bad thing, it is merely my choice to have relaxed hair. I also cut my hair a few days ago to get rid of my dry hair and split ends. Now my hair is at the nape of my neck, but it's getting healthy!

Anyway the point ot my rant is that black hair types are capable of length and health just like all other races. This is not meant as a put down for people who wear weaves because I might still do it if I please lol. I just think it's a better option to care for your hair. It's your crown and glory.

Here are some sites that give tips for healthy black hair and beauty. There are pics of hair growth journeys and videos with tips and other important info. I will post pics of my hair growth journey from time to time.

www.hairlista.com

http://healthyhairjourney.com/

This is really interesting info. What products do you guys recommend? What do you mean by hot oil treatment?

this is why i cant go natural. . . too much work

i'll much rather braid my hair one in six weeks, removal coincides with relaxing. . . washing occurs once in 3 weeks

Have always had natural hair, guaranteed its a lot of work, but your hair looks more healthy and more beautiful, when i find it too hard to comb i simply use Hair Straightener or hot combs.
shampoo, conditioner, straightener/hotcomb and then i oil, it doesn't break easily.
Try tiny folds on your natural hair, it looks good i can go months with that, as long as i wash and oil it regularly. Indian hemp _{the hair food oh} and Indian herbal oil works well for oiling natural hair


I tried perming my hair once , when i had just finished high school, i got bored after a week, my hair break a lot and  when i did braids it came out in chunks, so i had to cut  again.

how can u wash your hair with only conditioner, it'd feel greasy. . . ewww yuk




frying is d right term girl!

nope just try it. it does make the hair more manageable

why do not you try it and see?

For hot oil treatments just mix extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and perhaps if you like a little conola oil, peppermint or rosemary oil. Heat it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Apply with a brush. and massage into your hair.

For deep conditioning take a thick conditioner not the runny kind. I like Pantene Pro V Perfect Curls Oil Replacement Complete Therapy. It's great. I'm doing a deep condition tomorrow. I'll do a pre-poo with EVOO and wear a shower cap on it for an hour before washing. Then I put in the conditioner with a shower cap for 30 min-1 hour and then rinse, air dry or blow dry on cool heat settings. Then I'll moisturize with a lotion and seal it with a light amount of EVOO.

On Tuesday or Wednesday when I wash and do regular conditioning I will do an APPLE CIDER VINEGAR RINSE (ACV). This I hear is amazing. I'll try it and let you all know how it goes. An ACV rinse is when you take like 1/4 cup of Apple Cider vinegar and 2 cups of water and use it to rinse your hair after shampoo and conditioning. Of course rinse off the vinegar with waer if you do not want to stink all day lol. It helps stimulate hair follicles, promotes healthy scalp and allows the hair to retain moisture better. Can't wait to see how it works.