There is so much bad information circulating about black hair growth. I want to start by addressing the myth that black hair doesn’t grow.
First of all, if that was the case people wouldn’t need relaxers every two months. So yes, our hair does grow, and it can even grow long.
The problem is many people have trouble retaining length (breakage) — which is a big difference from not growing.
I’ll talk about length retention later, but let’s go back to growing black hair.
Genetics Play a Huge Role
Everyone is always searching for that miracle product that will give them the long tresses they’ve always desired. But the truth is hair growth is largely determined by genetics.
Look at the women in your family and see if you notice any kind of length pattern.
Some people simply have genes that help their hair grow faster and longer than others. That’s definitely the case in my family.
Many women on both my mom and dad’s side have longer hair, and my hair has always grown at a pretty good rate.
Now, don’t get discouraged. Genetics aren’t the end all be all. It’s just something to keep in mind when you’re comparing your hair to someone else’s.
Hair Growth Products
Most products have very little impact on hair growth. Now unless you’re talking about a prescription product like Rogaine (for thinning and balding), most products do very little. A lot of what you see is just marketing.
Now, of course everyone has an optimal growth rate, which can be inhibited by things like diet, stress, etc. and promoted by vitamins, exercise, and eating healthy. I discuss all that here.
However, there are very few products that will make your hair grow faster than your optimal rate — which varies from person to person.
If you’re looking for a natural remedy for thinning hair, try rubbing a small amount of castor oil into your scalp every night before bed. Castor oil is known to have a positive effect on thinning hair and is also used to thicken eyebrows.
Keep in mind, though that if your hair is thinning from over-processing with a relaxer or traction alopecia (wearing braids too tight), rubbing castor oil is not going to help unless you stop what’s causing the problem.
Here are more remedies for thinning hair.
Hair Texture & Pattern *Does* Matter
If your hair is super kinky (meaning your strands have a lot of bends/turns, draws up and tangles easily), then it can be more difficult to grow your hair longer.
This DOES NOT mean long hair is unattainable. It just means that it may require more attention than someone with a looser pattern.
Why?
Because when your hair is very kinky, oils from your scalp do not travel down the strands as easily. As a result, your hair may be dry, more brittle and prone to breakage.
Don’t get discouraged. At least you now understand why you have trouble retaining length.
So the key is taking extra time to ensure your hair is properly moisturized and wearing a lot more protective or low-manipulation styles (rod sets, straw sets, etc).
I don’t want to create unnecessary division by mentioning hair texture because I know this is often a touchy subject in our community.
However, I felt it necessary to bring up here because like it or hate it, your hair’s texture and curl pattern definitely play a role in length retention because it affects your hair’s natural moisture level.
Hair that retains moisture, has more elasticity, breaks less and retains more length. Dry hair is more brittle, breaks off easily and prevents you from retaining length.
There’s a myth that kinky hair is stronger because it’s more course, but it’s actually the exact opposite. Kinky hair is more fragile than naturally straight or curly hair because of the moisture issues mentioned above.
So it’s not about trying to alter your texture or feeling discouraged because you don’t have a certain hair type. It’s about understanding your hair, embracing it and giving it what it needs so you can have the length you desire.
Food & Vitamins Also Strengthen Hair
What you eat can help your hair grow at its optimal rate, also make your hair stronger and prevent breakage so you maintain and gain length.
I was experiencing some brittleness and couldn’t figure out what was going on. In fact, I had to cut a few inches because the breakage was starting to become noticeable.
So I purchased a NutriBullet and began packing my body with vitamins and nutrients by drinking a “Nutriblast” (a smoothie made with fruits and veggies) 2-3 times a day.
I also stopped eating so poorly, and after a few days I immediately noticed a difference in the strength of my hair when combing it. The brittleness stopped immediately.
Don’t forget how food affects your hair strength and optimal growth rate.
Protective Styles
Protective styling does not help your hair grow any faster, but it helps you retain more length because you are not constantly manipulating your hair.
The ends of your hair are the most fragile because they are the oldest part. So after all the combing, detangling, blow drying, and flat ironing, it’s very easy for your ends to become damaged.
And if you don’t get your ends trimmed regularly, they will break off. So in order to keep your ends healthy, you have to continue to trim.
Check out my favorite shampoo and nighttime routine for healthy ends.
The average person’s hair grows 1/2 inch per month, so if you are losing that amount or more due to breakage then it will appear as if your hair is not growing.
Protective styles like braids, twists, up dos or any style that tucks away your ends and doesn’t require manipulation can help you retain more length.
Also, natural hair is prone to snagging on clothing (especially wool) which can cause breakage and split ends, so keep that in mind during those cold months.
Here is an example of a protective style I wore while I transitioned to natural hair.
Also remember that just because your hair is in a protective style (yes, extensions count too), don’t neglect to moisturize it. Because when you take it down, you will have a lot more breakage due to the fact your hair has dried out.
Scalp Massages
Massaging your scalp for 20-30 minutes per day is a great habit to get into. It increases blood flow to the scalp area and can stimulate growth.
This may be especially helpful if you have thinning edges from relaxers or weaves. If your hair is not permanently damaged, this could help your hair grow back.
If you cannot sit and do the scalp massage all at once, do it several times per day in smaller intervals.
Natural Hair vs. Relaxed Hair Growth
I’ve also heard a lot of women claim natural hair grows faster than relaxed hair. This is not really true.
Unless you have some kind of chemical damage from relaxers, your hair will grow at the same rate no matter if it’s relaxed or natural. The reason why natural hair seems to grow longer is that a lot of naturals retain more length.
Below is a picture of my hair 27 months after I started my natural hair journey. This is the longest my hair has ever been.
And the length is not just about being natural (of course that helps ’cause my hair is stronger), but not using heat and wearing a lot of low-manipulation styles play a huge role in my length retention.
You can also see how much natural hair shrinks up. My hair is about 50% longer than it appears. That’s just something you have to deal with when you are natural.
Got Thinning Edges?
Here are some tips to help your edges grow back.
What About The Length Plateau?
Almost every natural experiences a time when it seems the hair stops growing.
The reason this happens is your ends get older as your hair grows, and they break more easily. As a result, you never seem to get past that length plateau.
Find out what the source of my plateau was. You may have the same issue.
In Summary
So I hope this article dispelled a few myths and shed some light on black hair growth. While protective styles, diet and exercise can definitely play a role in your individual optimal hair growth rate, don’t underestimate the genetic factor.
This is not to say you cannot have long hair if you don’t have “the genes”, but it may require more patience and discipline (minimizing heat, eating healthy, constant moisture etc.) to achieve the length you desire.
More Tips for Black Hair Growth
If you need more direct assistance with growing your hair longer and healthier, you might want to check out the book Grow it Long.
It’s a 96-page book (downloadable, PDF format) with tips on how to grow longer, healthier hair by using a more effective hair care routine.
I already knew a lot of the information in the book, but my favorite part was the homemade recipes for scalp cleansing and conditioning.
I love making my own products and will definitely be trying the brown sugar scrub soon!
The author, Donna Hanover, also does a great job of explaining the different kinds of conditioners available on the market and when to use them.
If you’ve struggled with growing hair all your life, this is definitely going to be the book for you. This is the kind of information our community needs and I was happy to support Donna. You can get Grow it Long here and download it today.
Hi Lisa,
I love your website…. Keep doing what you’re doing! Well, I DID do a big chop so I am starting from the drawing board with maybe an inch of hair. I honestly know nothing about natural hair, but just got tired of all the damaging chemicals and perms i was using. Right now I really only spray water in my hair in the mornings, and use Cantu Shea Butter Curling Cream because my hair is a curly texture. However, i am experiencing a LOT of dryness. Could you please let me know some products to use on my hair to better moisturize so that i may keep my hair healthy and prevent damage? I also have dry, flaky, and itchy scalp leading me to wash my hair every Saturday. I only wear my hair in a curly afro, because it is not yet long enough to do anything else with. Please give me your input….. Thank you
Hi Kisha, have you tried the Shea Moisture line (the yellow label)? They are really good for moisturizing and it seems the more you use them throughout the week, the better the hair feels. For dryness, I massage a drop of tea trea oil and jojoba oil into my scalp prior to shampooing. Leave in for an hour and rinse when I shampoo.
Also try the baggy method at night. Spritz your hair (VERY lightly) with water and apply a light conditioner. Cover your hair with a plastic cap. In the morning your hair should be curly and moisturized — especially since you already have curly hair.
Hi just reading your posts its wonderful. I have a perm and after reading I am going to go natural I have several friends who have gone natural. I noticed my hair was little past my shoulders last year,now its shorter not sure why,but I am going to start my transition. Thank you
Hi Piper
Relaxed hair may not retain as much length as it gets longer because the ends get old and brittle. I’ve been able to retain much more length as a natural because I hardly manipulate my hair and use no heat. You’re going to luv it!
Hi Lisa, i really like your website it has helped me with a lot of my general questions, but i still have some specific questions about my own hair and i hope you can help me out!
My hair can’t take relaxers very well lately and i don’t know why, when i was younger i used to use child relaxers without any problems but now after applying “normal” relaxers my head hurts immediately and after washing i have small wounds on my head . I have used for example olive oil relaxer .
I also have lost a lot of front hear in 5 years which i am very embarresed of and i really want to get it back as soon as possible, but i don’t know which products i could use.I have recently started massaging my front hair (well…what’s left) with Hot six oil from African Royal because i heard that that could stimulate growth. My last question is that i want to go natural because that’s much healthier for my hair but i don’t know where to start with it, i hope you could give me something like a plan.
Have you ever heard of Jamaican Black Castor Oil? It’s supposed to be really good for your scalp and I know castor oil can help with re-growing hair. I would definitely stop relaxing as soon as you can try rubbing it into your “bad areas” daily to see if that helps.
Hello natural divas….ive been doing the curly girl methhod for about 3 weeks. Is conditioning my hair everyday gonna mess my hair up in any way? If so how often should i cowash?
Hi, Im 15 years old and have been transitioning from relaxed to natural hair since some time in June. I just recently took out braids I had done in June-October, However, I had touch ups done. After taking my hair out I washed in and etc, and decided to put rollers in my hair while it was wet. Upon wearing it out today i’ve realized that my ends are really hard and my hair feels and looks dry. While my hair is wet should I have put some kind of oil or moisturizer in it and then put in the rollers or etc. What do you think is causing this problem?
I think you should have deep conditioned it and put some type of moisturizer or oil on your hair. I’m a couple of years younger than you but I have been transitioning since september of 2011 and I usually wear braids. Usually when I take down my braid I get a deep conditioner ……..just something to deeply condition your hair after being in braids so long
Hi Ella
When you rodded your hair up, what products did you use? What you do to your hair right before you rod it up makes a difference. I also add a moisturizer like Jane Carter Nourish and Shine after I remove the rods.
Hi Lisa,
I recently big chopped after transitioning for about 16 months. However, when I attempted to do and a wash and go, the hair on the back of my head didn’t seem to curl up like the crown and the front of my head. There were a few strands that curled up but some of them mostly turned puffy an frizzy. I took a look at my roots and they appeared to look straight. Why is it like this? Is it possibly that my texture is still forming? What do you think is causing this problem?
Yes, your texture is still coming into its own. I had those straight ends at the top but they are curly now. Keep taking care of your hair and deep conditioning. It will likely change BUT it is also not uncommon to have multiple textures. So only time will tell. 🙂
Hi. I starters gong natural June 2012… So Im in this transitioning phase & I have some concerns. I have never had a problem with hair growth or length , however now it seems like my hair is shedding a little. How can I attempt to fix that? I like to use hair mayonnaise as my deep conditioner every 2 weeks is that too often? Also this confused hair in between the relaxed and natural hair is making it hard to find a style for my hair. I’m a college student do I can’t afford to keep going to the salon. Is there something I can do myself, I don’t really know how to roll hair sooooooo….. Haha? I recently went bought that Carole’s daughter kit it’s $40 at sephora… I thought of it as an investment.
Hi Jasmine
Is it shedding or breaking because that’s a big difference? The kit will hopefully help with some breakage, if that’s the case. Have you tried a rod set yet? I know you said you don’t know how to roll your hair, but I didn’t either. I just kept experimenting and definitely used YouTube as a source of inspiration for learning.
You say to moisturize your hair but i’m not sure wat exactly u mean. without telling me wat product to use, can u tell me if u mean to use hair lotion? leave in conditioner? like im lost wen it comes to moisturising…
Shea Moisture makes good moisturizing products. Anything where the first of 2nd ingredient is water is a good moisturizer.
Ive delt with perms for over 26 yrs. Started transitioning in july of 2012 but without the big chop. Then decided to do thhe big chop sep 16th. My hair has grown already! My hair isnt long enough to do much of anything. So what can i do to protect my hair from breakage?
Deep condition weekly and keep your hair moisturized. Mist it with water in the morning and apply a leave in or moisturizer. Then seal with a natural oil. Enjoy!
Hi Lisa, I’m in the process of transitioning from relaxed to natural as well, to get to know my natural hair. Its definately difficult to maintain, and my sides look like a Afro. Can you help me with my transition. Also, I use wave coconut shampoo, egg and mayo treatment and olive role for moisture. Please help me please. No disrespect on perms, but I don’t want them back. I love how my curly healthy roots feel. I want to start retaining length and hardly had any breakage since I stop using perms I’m may. Also, how do I find out my natural hair type and what products supports my hair. I have thick coarse hair to the tenth power. Plz respond. Your hair is beautiful and soft. Thank you for this site and your inspiration.
I am about 6 months into my transition and the hairstyles suggested at the top are great, but the problem I’m having is not being able to maintain the hairstyles after a workout. I sweat so much in my head and by the end of the workout it’s as if someone dumped a bucket of water all over me. What are some hairstyles (other than braids) that you feel would work in my favor? Thanks in advance.
Hi Shavonn
Always a hard question because I don’t sweat a lot when I work out so I didn’t have much of an issue other than the roots and I would just add a headband or a scarf. You could try twisting your hair up while you work out, rinse it after working out, (add rods to the ends) let it dry in the twists and do a twist out.
So I’m coming up on the one year mark of my transition next month and in my opinion, my hair is doing horribly. The ends of the hair in the front aren’t that bad, but my ends in the back are terrible. The hair in the back looks so bad to me and it’s short and its broken off so much that I basically look like I have incredibly uneven layers. I don’t know what else to do to it to help it because i’m away at an academy and cant get my hair done by a professional like I used to at home. This whole process has been very stressful for me and I even considered getting a relaxer again because at least my hair looked good when I had a relaxer. I flat iron my hair, but I don’t blow dry. Any hair style ideas that are very quick, easy and low maintenance that you would suggest trying? I’ve tried braid outs and other things of the like, but since my hair is so uneven everywhere, it’s very hard to do. Help me please 🙁
Hey Alexis! It’s a little hard to say since I don’t know the lengths of your hair or your routine, but are you washing, conditioning, and moisturizing your hair on a regular basis? What products are you using? Do you use a heat protectant when flat ironing? It sounds as if you could use a little trimming of your ends as well. There are a few videos on YT that shows how to trim your own hair; my favorite is to simply take a section of hair, twist it, and snip off just a quarter of an inch or so. You’ll be able to tell how much because the ends will look a bit “scraggly”, for lack of a better word. Make sure you use professional shears; you can get them from Sally’s or Walgreens for about $10 bucks.
We have to pay attention to everything while transitioning our hair! Be patient and gentle with your strands, give them lots of love and care, and soon you’ll be on the right track! Best of luck to you!
I wash about once a week because my hair has a tendency to get oily very quickly. I currently use Mizani renew strength fortifying shampoo and mizani moisturfusion conditioner. When I flat iron, I use pantene relaxed & natural moisturizer as a protectant. Thank you for the help. I think I’m going to get it cut closer to Thanksgiving maybe.
Hi Alexis, Is there any place in town that can trim your hair evenly? A good trim can work wonders then you can try a rod set since your hair will be evened up. Even if they don’t do ethnic hair, they usually can trim it for you. I know people who have gone to non ethnic salons all the time for trims.
Until you even your hair out, it’s just going to be an uphill battle, so I would suggest taking care of that first and that will alleviate some of the frustration. When your hair is already damaged, you want to repair it as soon as you can rather than trying to style hair that is already not at its best. Hang in there!
Lisa….What is the real process for cutting/trimming maintenance for natural hair? I sported a naturally short do for seven years and I noticed that it grew faster because of the frequency of hair cuts. Now that I’ve let it grow out, I now have eight and a half inches of hair. I usually cut my own ends every 6wks when I twist my hair. I allowed a stylist to cut and style my hair, but noticed that she cut a inch and a half off after she flat ironed my hair. Is it harmful for the hair to be flat ironed and cut every two months?
It’s not harmful, but your hair won’t appear to grow at that rate. Hair grows 1/2 inch per month so that means after two months, you’ve gained 1 inch. So if your stylist is cutting 1 1/2 inches every two month, you will technically be losing length. Also, the reason your hair seemed to grow faster when it was shorter is because when your hair is short, it’s less likely to get worn and brittle. So less trimming is needed. As your hair gets longer, it’s more weathered through wind, sun, combing and styling. The ends get worn and often need more trims.
Hi Lisa! I came across your site…very helpful. I did the bc in March of this year…just tired of my hair not lasting after i would get it done. Ppl would say Oh its cause you got good hair or white ppl hair…I was like NO! I had a wavy pattern with the relaxers but now its real tight curls… It has grown about 4inches since march..making september 6 months…I just wet it apply a leave in conditioner and its just curls up…I would like another style but unsure which way to go…
Hi Lisa,
I must say of all the websites that I’ve visited yours was the most basic straight-to-the-point, in other words simply put. I noticed you did not speak of cutting and trimming the hair, if I am unaware or skipped over something I did not see, please accept my apologies. I recently got my hair cut and I was a little hurt because she cut a inch and a half off. I got a wash and deep conditioning treatment with hot oil. My hair did feel really good. She blow dried my hair and then flat irored it, gave me a really good feather cut. I take pride in taking care of my natural hair and I’m not scared to spend a few more dollars on products, but my feelings was hurt due to the fact that I do everything to keep up the maintenance on my hair. I’ve been trimming my hair since I went natural myself but only while its twisted and it grew. I decided to let a natural stylist cut it, but felt that she cut too much off. Whats the real procedure, is she suppose to do this. She did cut it to its strength, I have no split ends or breakage. I have been told to stay away from flat irons as they tend to dry out the hair more.
Hi April, so I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you wondering if she cut too much?
Hi Lisa,
I don’t know what to do. I have been natural for about 3 years. The first time I went natural my hair grew so fast. After awhile I went back to the relaxer. The 2nd time around it grew pretty well again, but then I started losing my hair in the back. The front of my hair was growing thicker and longer, but there was no more growth in the back. I went and got my hair cut back down to about 1/2 inch all over trying to basically start fresh. It didn’t help. My hair in the back still hasn’t grown since i got it cut almost a year ago! So i have all this growth at the top/front and basically nothing at the back. What is causing this? What can I do?
Hi Christina
I’m no expert so it’s hard to really know. Also is your hair breaking in the back or not growing? Because almost everyone’s hair grows but if you aren’t retaining length it’s probably breaking off. How are you wearing your hair?
Hey, thanks for your response. I just were it mostly in a small fro. The back is not long enough for me to twist, so I don’t have a ton of options. I’m thinking of shaving it off again because I don’t know what else to do. There are worse things than having hair growth problems obviously, but this is really starting to frustrate me!! 🙂
I would consult with a salon that specializes in natural hair care. They may be able to help or tell you why your hair is breaking.
Hi! I have had relaxed hair since I was I guess 2-3 years old. I am thinking about going natural. If I take good care of my hair (conditioning, etc.), can I grow my natural hair as long as my relaxed hair? My relaxed hair currently goes about halfway down my back. How long on average do you think it will take?
If I were to straighten my hair it would be halfway down my back and my last relaxer was 3 years ago. Now it may differ depending on growth rate, how well you take care of it, diet, etc. but it takes at least 3-4 years assuming your hair is healthy and not breaking.
Also remember natural hair shrinks so even though my hair is down my back, it stops above my shoulders in its natural state.
i cut my hair off may 19th and at first it Was easy to manage but now that its growing it gets harder.. im a hair person but i didnt know going natural would be so difficult.. i dont wear weaves anymore so i now always have my hair Out .. my hair now gets dry alot and i just recently found out that hair oils should be used after a moisturizer to keep it moist for a while.. i co-wash my hair every day and im wondering if i can just put the hair oil on my hair after its been co washed when its air dryed .. or should i put the moisturizer on first n Then the oil..?
i kinda feel like it’ll be too much oil if i put both up there because the moisturizer has a lot of oils in it already… ( i used african pride olive miracle & it dont really do anything for my hair but make it smell good lol, i used pink moisturizer – – i hate it because it makes my hair tooo moist as in its way to thick , my main one i use is olive oil girls hair lotion) because it kept my hair moist throughout the day unlike the other two .. and i only had to moist it twice a day but i ran out so im stuck with the african pride n pink moisturizer unil i get some more.. i would have some But the moisturizer is not in any of my locl stores its another store on the other side of town that i dont even go in , so i have to get it whenever i pass by it i guess..
But Anywho i seen these hair oils in the beauty supply store and im definitly getting them, back in 2011 i did use the olive oil one as a hot oil treatment , i Had No idea it was a hair oil until today when i actually read that it was a hair oil .. i dont really read things that i buy carefully , i should really start to though.
so my question is , would these hair oils help my hair out from being dry , and also my hair type is 3c/4a . i usully have to moisturize my hair day and night , twice a day so it stays moist ..
http://tinypic.com/r/1zv64ow/6
what i did today was co washed , let it air dry put “Pure soybeen oil & extra virgin olivie oil in my hair and then i put some moisterizer on it to cover the smell of yhe olive oil .. and it seems to keep my hair moist , should i keep this up???
I’m wearing my hair out in a puff and my hair is sooooo soft after using Shea Moisture (the picture of the product is on this page https://napturallycurly.com/2012/08/wash-and-go-natural-hair/) and sealing it in with jojoba oil. My hair is incredibly soft using this combo. I also lightly mist my hair with water before applying.
You also may want to try the baggy method and mist/moisturize your hair at night and sleep with a plastic shower cap.
Hey ny hair has always been in the middle if thick and think.recently i got a rinse and now my hair got on the thin side what can i do to thicken my hair back up.ive been tranditioning for 3months now my only problem is its thinner pleasee helpp!!!
Im trying the natural look and i have just started well probably about a year ago and i jus wore braid and weaves to get to the natural and cut off the relaxer, well anyway now it seems as if my hair isnt growing. like i recently took out a sow in and it seems damaged im having trouble finding the right products for my hair because it is sensitive and i was wondering if you new anything that could help me get it together and healther? plus i am recently pregnant and i jus wanna make sure it stays healthy during the pregnancy.
Hi and congrats on your up and coming bundle of joy! It’s really hard to suggest products because everyone’s hair responds differently. Just keep trying different moisturizing products from Oyin Handmade, Wen and some of the other natural hair care lines. That’s really the only way to know what your hair will like. I know it’s frustrating but I had to go thru that period too and I found what someone else used may not have worked for me.
I am sooooo happy i found your site! I had my last relaxer in Dec 2011. I have REALLY thick hair. Even with my relaxers people thought I had peices added for fullness. So far I have been using the flat iron to straighten but after 10 mins outside my scalp sweats and the natural hair waves. A always look like i have a wig on!!!! When I go to the dominicans for a blowout the straight style lasts longer but its costly. I have tried braid out which is nice but it takes too much time to do it over every night. I have used satin pillow rollers and they give a nice curl but i never seem to style it right. it just looks like a BAD curly wig on my head lol! right now my hair is shoulder length. I recently trimmed about 2 inches off. i have about 3 inches or growth. i am afraid to big chop bc my face is so round lol just wont fit for me. what other styles do you reccommend. or style products that can keep my hair straight? im so tempted to relax but all this hard work i put it keeps me going! also i have other family members who are going natural bc of me so i dont want to give up!
thanks for this blog it is awesome. your journey inspires me! 🙂
Hi Fay
Have you tried rod sets or have someone flat twist your hair? I found that rod sets were best at camouflaging my roots — especially small rods and they lasted longer. Be careful of those blowouts because they will alter your curly pattern and you could loose your coils/curls. I would try more twists (rod the ends), bantu knot outs and rod sets. Don’t give up! 🙂
Thanks ……I will ask my mom about that lol I don’t thank she would do it she always says she doesn’t have time to do my hair every week but I’ll ask her Thank You
Well I’m not sure if you are still responding but, I’m 13 and have been transitioning for 10 almost 11 months now. My mom she is in the army so she desided to transition 4 months after I did but because of her job she just puts braids in her hair and doesn’t really care and she just slaps braids in my hair too but im tired of always wearing my hair the same way and with going to school everyones like when are you going to take your braids out do you know any protective styles
My hair is shoulder length and 4 inches of natural hair . Help please also any tips 🙂
Hi Korsha
Do you know how or know someone who can flat twist? At your age, a flat twist style on your sides (going back where the new growth is) with curls (rods) on the part that’s still relaxed would be so cute!
I just wanted to say thank you. I got my last perm October 2011 and I probably would have caved in and got a perm again had it not been for your blog. I’m currently in college and I wasn’t sure I’d have the time to show my hair the love it needs. But you gave me so many cool ideas and styles that it’s not hard at all. I mostly left my hair in corn rows but now I’m beginning to try flat twist styles (much to my mother’s disdain). Thank you for your inspiration.
My foster daughter is 3 got a perm when I got her her hair was natural from start ,the perm n jam or so called gel broke off front and sides n back so I decided to it her keep hair coming out on sides or cut off to new growth I did that today no oe likes it I believe was for her best and she 4 tomorrow .did I do right thing to watch keep breaking or cut to new growth and hav it twisted any suggestions on anything to mk curly .
Hi Lisa. Its me again. I have a question for u. When i do rod sets, sometimes i pick it or pull it to make it more fuller. When i do w the comb sometimes i get hair on the comb from doing so. Is that breakage from my ends? Is that something i probably should stop doing? Thanks again for this wonderful website. You are helping so many of us!!!
Hmmmm…. That shouldn’t cause breakage unless your ends are already worn/dry or you’re being rough. I always use my fingers to pick the curls apart.
Hi Lisa, so i had bad hair issues and just decided to cut it all off and start from the scratch…its been about 3 months now but it doesnt look like it has grown more than 3 inches…i would really like your advice on what to do as it’s a little to small to weave or twist at the moment. I use Vo5 shampoo and soya oil by organics. What is your take please
Hi atoyla. After 3 months your hair should have only grown 1 1/2 inches (average) so if you are seeing 3 inches you must be doing something right. Maybe I should be asking you for tips!! Lol. The average hair grows 1/2 inch per month
*different styles; **wash and goes lol sorry 😉
Well right now I’ve been using design products. I hear they dry your hair though. But i’m guessing that it’s breaking off since I’m not getting results. But I wear many if fervent styles like twists, flat twists, braids, wah goes, wigs, and weaves.
Lisa! You are a Goddess <3 Like the majority of the women who visit your site…I am frustrated with my hair. Since I was 10 years old I have done everything from, braids, relaxers, weaves, wigs, coloring, flat ironing and praying LOL! and I am never quite happy with my hair. After one too many relaxers and a case of stress induced alopecia, I've been left with very short hair that is thinning like a 80 year old man on the the crown and sides 🙁 I have not relaxed my hair in 3 months and I already see a healthy dose of re-growth. I need to get the big chop (love that) but am still clinging to about 2 inches of badly damaged split ends for length! I also force a very hot flat iron through my hair one a week trying to straighten it. It looks good for about 6 hours until I breathe or sweat!!! These beautiful tips, hairstyles, videos, and suggestions have made my night. Thank you….I had no idea you were out there. We all just want to feel beautiful and I really needed some inspiration. I was about to hit the flat iron tonight for a party I'm going to tomorrow. Now I have some great ideas on what I can do to for a cute hair style. I've got to stop fighting my hair!!! This rocks =)
Hey Mandy,
That is so great to hear! Glad I saved you from a big dose of heat! Hope you enjoyed the party. 🙂
No I only do it once a month and lately its been less then that
Hi ms. Lisa;) I’ve been natural for more than 3 years now and my hair won’t seem to grow. I’ve done protective stylngs and natural oils for a little while and all of my family has healthy hair. What am I doing wrong ??
I know they feeling Jasmine have u tried kertain hair growth products. Have u trimmed it for it to grow ? Are u drinking enough water ?
Hi Jasmin,
Wow, 3 years? How are you wearing your hair mostly? Your hair has to be growing, so it must be breaking off right?
Hi Lisa maybe you can help me. Okay i have been natural since march of 09 however my hair is still two different textures. My right side is really curly (3c) and my left is just really wavy however i did not do a big chop either. but i have cut 2 inches off myself. what do i do?
Hi Andrea
Not sure what to tell you about the textures. I also have different textures but nothing that drastic. Do you press your hair a lot?
is it true that after you go natural for about a year and then perm it , it burns your hair i have heard that alot anjd great website and insight
Hi ky
Not sure about this one.
Hi lisa i’d like to say that your page is inspiring i’m 5months post tetxurizer not relaxer made a mistake in the last commentbut that was 5 months ago and i’m still going strong!!
Keep it up, lady! I wish you all the best.
I’ve heard about “protein,” but I’m not sure how or where to start as far as whether or not my hair really needs it, how often, what to look for in products by name, meaning what “ingredient” on the label is synonymous of “protein.” Would you happen to have any idea where to start on adding protein to my daily/weekly/monthly regime?
Hey Deidra,
The only thing I do for protein is a natural treatment with egg, honey, mayonnaise and olive oil. So I don’t know anything about decoding labels for protein! LOL I use it about once a month before I shampoo my hair. I just apply with an applicator bottle and let it sit on my hair for about an hour. Most people only need protein every 6 weeks or so, but if your hair is sensitive to protein then you may not even need it that much. It’s one of those things you just have to experiment with because everyone’s hair responds to protein differently.
Wonderful! Thanks so much, Ms. Lisa.
My eleven year old daughter and I are transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair. I am so thankful your website is out here because I have no clue of what I am doing. I am scared because all the people I see on the websites their hair is not short,thick, and coarse like mine. We have not had a perm since April, 2012 and we both understand that this is a process. Just saying thank you and wish us luck.
Good luck, Ingrid!
Hi, I have been co-washing my hair and wearing it protectively for quite a while now. I am seeing great length retention as well. However, I often get discouraged and have wondered am I going overboard with the protective styling. I see many girls on youtube and in person as well who have naturally curly hair, co-wash multiple times a week like I do, and wear their hair down all the time. My question is, is co-washed hair with conditioner, evoo, and other non drying styling products safe to wear down without causing breakage?
Hi Lisa, I’ve been transitioning for about 3-4 months now and i have been wearing protective styles since my decision to go matural (sew in) bsinus trying new styles ( braid outs twist outs Bantu knots) and I’ve noticed that I have had some breakage and split ends since ive stoped wearing my sew ins do you have any advice to stop my relaxed hair from breaking off?
You may need to get a good trim. Also don’t forget to keep your hair moisturized from root to tip. Transitioning hair is going to break so there’s no way to stop it completely, but you can minimize it with moisturizing and deep conditioning regularly. You may also want to try a protein treatment to strengthen your hair. I use Aphogee. Just be careful. Hair doesn’t need a lot of protein and some may be protein sensitive. I wouldn’t do it any more than every six weeks.
Hi i have been natruale for 8months and i really have found any hair products that really keep my hair moisturized Do you have any suggestions
I found that Oyin’s Hair Dew (online) works well and always seal in your moisturizer with natural oils like jojoba, olive and castor oil. I wear my hair in twists a lot so just re applying a natural oil every few days helps keep my hair moisturized enough.
Hi Lisa I recently decided to transition . I’m one month post-relaxer , love the page, wish me luck.By the way i’m 14 so it’s not to late. NO BIG CHOP!
Hi,
I transitioned for a year and finally did my bc October 9th of 2011, just three days before my 22 birthday. I drink lots of water, (I’m working on eating healthier lol) not necessarily because I eat unhealthy, I just need to eat more vegetables. Anyway, my hair has grown way past 3 or 4 inches (by God’s grace of course). I guess I’m saying this to say that, the myth that black women hair can’t grow, or that our hair is destined to be short is simply that, a myth. My hair is already past my shoulders, I truly believe that my hair can grow down to the middle of my back, Lord willing. So while growing your hair out, have hope, have faith, and have patience!! lol =0) **And remember, whatever you put into your body and (whatever you do with your body (exercise)) will show in your hair, nails and skin. P.S. Even if your hair is not long its still beautiful!! =0)
hi my names tay im 15 years old and ive been transitioning for 5 months i had transitioned prior for about 5 months but relaxed again right before school started the problem im having is using less heat and fiding styles that use less heat. i wear clip in extentions but now that my hair is more curly they wont blend as well so ive been wearing them up, what else could i do? also if you could recomend some products for me that would be great so far ive been using coconut oil which used to work for my hair the first 3 months but now doesent work so much. i think ill transition for another 5 months then when school ends bc!! 🙂
Hi Tay
Have you tried a rod set and put your hair back into a cute puff? Scarves and headbands can really jazz them up. Do you know how to flat twist? You can also flat twist the sides to give a hipper/younger look. I know a lot of people think rod sets look too old and since you’re younger, you can try some of these things to make it look more youthful. I wore rod sets and flat twist for most of my transition from 6 months to the end.
Castor oil is my go-to oil. I also like Jane Carter’s Nourish and Shine.
Me again….LOL! You mentioned that you would regularly trim (or “dust”) your ends. What type of scissors did you use, how often, and how did you actually trim it? I may try that myself instead of paying someone else to do it. Thanks!
Like the new website! 😉
Hi Denise, I don’t actually remember how often. I didn’t have a set rhythm — just whenever my ends started to look a bit raggedy. lol Sometimes that was twice a month, other times it was once a month. I bought some hair cutting scissors from Sally’s. The best way to trim is to twist your hair up. That way you can trim the same amount from every twist.
Hi,
I noticed you have a picture showing 12weeks after a texturizer. why did you get a texturizer if you were going natural? I have heard that relaxed and texturizer dont mix, so did it cause breakage or aid with the transition.
When I was texturizing, I wasn’t going natural. I was trying to find a less harmful way to style my hair. Then I decided that I wanted to go natural after 7 months of texturizing.
Anyway, if we want to talk myths, here’s the one I’d like to see go away. All of those women (particularly celebrities like Tyra, Jada, and others) out there claiming that their shoulder length and longer uber-expensive remi/human hair extensions is their “real” hair that grew naturally from their heads. What an insult to someone’s intelligence if they honestly think anyone seriously believes that. Trying to pretend it’s “real” does us women who have very short hair a disservice, makes us feel like somehow we aren’t “normal.” The undisputed fact is that A REAL black woman generally have very short hair, and most of it doesn’t grow beyond 3 to 4 inches in length.
This is definitly not true. Real black women have always had shoulder length hair or longer. This was always the case before the inset of relaxers and other chemicals used to change the natural curl pattern of afro textured hair. If you don’t believe me look at the hair of black women in pictures and movies before the 1960’s. The hair was full, healtjy, and long. Lookk at our little girls.Their hair grows longer than 3-4 inches and healthy until we decide to give into societal pressures and “relax” the natural curl pattern that will ultimately dryout, damage, and cause breakage. So, sisters please leave our little sisters hair alone. Teach them to embrace their natural hair. Teach them to care for their natural hair. Yes, it is difficult at first to find a regime that will make your natural locks goreous but it is worth it. Longer, healtheir, shiny hair, and a greater sense of self worth.
Ummm… 1st of all Tyra Banks admitted to wearing wigs and weaves and when she removed her fake hair on her show she had shoulder length hair. Jada Pinkett Smith is my cousin and she always had long hair, but chose to try different short styles as well. Before I started playing around with short cuts I had hair well past my shoulders and down my back and my grandmother has a full head of long full salt and pepper hair. In the article it says genetics is a factor in hair growth so maybe it’s just women in your family who have naturally short hair. So don’t pull a “Lil Kim” and say these women make you feel inferior with their naturally long or extended hair.
Great advice!
I really hate that society misunderstands black hair, even to the point of black women misunderstanding black hair.
Black hair grows the at the same rate as other hair; the only difference is black hair is often abused by chemical relaxers and mishandling, not to mention black women often forget black hair “shrinks.” Personally, I only straighten on special occasions and people are always amused at how long my hair truly is.
I personally notice my hair retains much more length when I am chemical free. Even just looking at it, it seems to grow out a tad bit quicker and stronger. But that’s just ME.
Hi Lisa, after watching your vids I realized I am in a similar predicament as you were when transitioning. I had a weave in for about a year, but only on the back (around 70%) of my hair, and I had the rest (front and sides) out and continued relaxing those parts. Last Sept, I took the weave out and once I saw so much beautiful natural hair on the back, I conciously decided to transition. Now the problem is I have about 6 inches of new growth on 70% of my hair (the hair growing undisturbed for a year under my weave), and only about 2 inches on the front and sides.
I am itching to cut off the relaxed end on the back, I been doing mini chops and only have about 1 inch left. But I have so much relaxed hair on the front, that I would not be able to cut off for a while, unless I was willing to sacrifice alot of natural hair length in the back, or walk around a seriously uneven haircut. lol.
My dilema is, should I wait until the front of my hair catches up to the back? Or cut the back (including natural hair) to match the length growth on the front? I’ve heard our hair grows in layers? Would I be making a mistake by cutting perfectly healthy natural hair at this point?
Thanks for this wonderful website. You are an inspiration.
Mine is still very layered and it looks fine because it just gradually gets longer in the back. I was not willing to chop off my longer hair in the back so I just left it in layers and as you can tell in this video, it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp19SN4Pu-8
Hi…I’m in my second month of transitioning…I have always had a problem with my hair being extra dry…but now that I’m transitioning It has become extra extra dry. I co wash my hair every monday and shampoo and deep condition every thursday, but my hair is still dry…do you recommend any products or should I change my hair regimen. Also I’m trying to end using heat on my hair but my hair soesn’t do very well air drying…it’s hard and dry after I air dry…what do u recommend for this issue?
Hi Saleeta,
Have you tried just washing once per week instead of washing twice? I never co-washed much so I don’t have much experience with that, but I just wonder if the washing is stripping your hair too much.
When you let your hair air dry are you adding any products to it? When I would set my hair while wet, I’d use Aloe vera gel and Bronner Brothers setting lotion. Then when I’d remove the rods I’d add Jane Carter’s nourish and shine or castor oil to seal in the moisture.
Hey Ive seen you youtube channel. but im 14 and i decided to go natural because my hair has pretty much been the same length ever since i started my hair journey so i thought id try something new. i was tired of the burns and my hair continually falling off so i decided to be natural so i can inspire other people
i have trouble with my transitioning hair and i just wanna big chop already! im already 7months in and my mom keeps trying to convince me to get my hair -fixed- ahh, what do i do
Hi Nylla
You won’t notice much growth when transitioning because your hair is growing out and not down like it does when relaxed. So I bet it’s growing more than you think. Have you tried rod sets?
i have been transitioning for 9months. my hair is doing really good in the back. howewver in the front there is now new growth. my hair is still pretty much straight. any suggestions
This is very typical. One thing I noticed when I started transitioning that I never noticed much when relaxed is that my back grows way faster than the front. I have about 4 more inches of natural hair in the back than I do on the top and sides. Your hair generally grows in layers so this is quite common. The top front of my hair grows the slowest.