Growing Afro Hair II - (Curly Girl Method)
Before we move forward, I should clarify that by Afro hair I am referring to the hair types mostly found in people of African descent: Type 3 – Type 4 hair (though type 2 hair is also common).
Retaining moisture.
A lack of moisture is one of the key reasons Afro hair breaks/doesn’t grow. Though everyone’s scalp produces a natural oil called sebum, the shape of the hair strands of curly and coily hair doesn’t allow sebum to travel all the way towards the ends, which is where most breakage occurs. Constant and effective moisturizing with the L.O.C method prevents breakage while promoting healthy hair growth.
Swap Cotton for Satin.
Towels and cotton pillowcases act like a sponge when it comes to natural hair, draining out the moisture from your hair. Dry your hair with a cotton t-shirt instead to avoid excessive frizz.As for pillowcases,we've all gotten our hair done,gone to sleep and woken up with a nest for hair,to avoid this, either sleep with a satin bonnet or change to satin pillowcases all together.
Avoid heat.
I was shocked to discover how severely heat can damage natural hair, so much so that experts recommend using heat (flat iron) a maximum of once every 6 months (basically once a year) , Excessive and high heat use (temps around 240◦c ) melts the keratin in your hair, damaging the structure and strength of your strands. This is why heat damaged hair doesn’t curl or coil up like it used to, even when wet.Severe heat damage shows up as straight ends on curly hair. Unfortunately, heat damage is permanent and the hair can only be “fixed” by either cutting it off or growing it out. (I opted for cutting before switching my hair care regimen; I previously made the mistake of flat ironing my hair twice a month, yikes!)Instead opt for heat less hairstyles
Use products suitable for afro hair.
Though the chemical makeup of human hair is the same, the structure of afro hair is very different from other hair types (see slide show above), therefore our hair requires different products. Ingredients such as Sulfates, Petroleum and Parabens should be avoided in hair care products for afro hair. Organic hair products or those with as few additives as possible are great, a complete switch to natural oils such as coconut and olive oil for oiling hair also improves the health, strength of afro hair as well as giving it an enviable sheen.
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Xo - Alex
