If you are going to get braids make sure the braids aren’t super tight or super skinny. Not only is it time consuming to get out, but braids that are too tight will pull on the hair and cause lots of shedding and breakage. The braids will also cause more severe breakage around the edges of your head which doesn’t look good at all.

I have a friend that just like the singer Brandy wore braids since I known her and when she took them out her hair was very very thin. Her edges were even thinner. She would put the braids in right after she took them back out because the braids thinned her hair out so much that she had to wear braids to look like she actually had hair. She’s now wearing a wig until her hair begins to thicken again and her hair is also not long at all.

Braids don’t make your hair grow and if they are braided too tight and too small they don’t allow your hair to rest either.

If you’re trying to grow your hair out please don’t put micro braids in your hair. You need to be able to condition weekly and moisturize daily and micro braids won’t allow you to do this.

If you do get braids condition your hair with the Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatment to help strengthen and repair your hair. Then moisturize you hair at least 2-3 times a day with a  good moisturizer..

Share/Save

As I was getting my hair braided I remember one of the stylist telling her client to not wash her hair at all. How disgusting! Imagine not washing your hair for 8-12 weeks. That’s completely absurd! Black hair is dry and it needs all the moisture it can get, even when braided so I’ve come up with my own hair care regimen for braids.

1. Step One: Moisturize braids daily with a good braid sheen containing water, a humercant, and an oil. If you can’t find a sheen spray that contains oil, then use a light oil spray daily as well.
2. Step Two: Wash the hair weekly. Braid the braids into 6-8 sections and rinse the hair gently allowing the water to run on the scalp. Shampoo the hair gently using the finger tips to help lift and remove the dirt from the scalp. Rinse hair thoroughly and pat the hair dry. Spray on a leave in braid conditioner with little or no oil. Apply a small amount of moose and sit under a warm dryer until your braids are dry. Next you may spray the braids with a light (mineral/petroleum free) oil sheen or braid sheen again for extra shine.
3. Step Three: Wear a satin scarf or bonnet at night to keep braids tight and to prevent moisture lost.
4. Spray the hair with braid sheen daily. Do not spray the scalp directly to prevent buildup.

Don’t keep your braids in no longer than 2 months. Some people keep the braids in longer, but I think it’s best to remove them after 2 months to prevent the hair from matting and tangling with the braiding hair.

Share/Save

Nothing grows your hair, but TIME.

Meaning the following list of things will not grow your hair faster, longer, or thicker:

• Pills
• Grease
• Braids
• Shampoo
• Hair Lotions
• Conditioners

The reason I have stated this is because I’ve had comments from my readers saying that braids can grow your hair, or shampoos, or even pills for that matter! It just isn’t true.

Considering braids, these will not grow your hair and if put in your hair too small and too tight(micro braids) will actually thin and break it. Braids will give your hair time to rest if put in and cared for properly. Your hair growth will be more noticeable because you aren’t pulling and tugging at your hair daily. Braids are a form of a protective style. It acts to protect the hair from daily styling that causes breakage and allows the hair to grow. Again, they won’t grow your hair, but the braids will allow your hair to grow without breakage.

You should all know that grease won’t grow your hair because grease is nothing more than a jar of Vasaline no matter what brand you purchase. Black women do not need to grease their scalps when it “looks” or “feels” dry or itchy. A dry and itchy scalp is an indication that your hair and scalp needs to be cleansed,  followed by a conditioning treatment and  finally a moisturizer.

Of course we’ve all heard of hair vitamins. These will not grow your hair either no matter how often you take them. Vitamins can be beneficial to the body for supplementing a well balanced diet, but their no substitute and they certainly won’t grow your hair faster or longer. I have heard of the supplement MSM also known as sulfur being a good source to grow hair, but from my research you’d have to take a high dosage and it has it’s side effects: Acne breakouts and upset stomach. Even with my research their’s no scientific proof that it actually works. Some women swear by it and some say it did nothing for them.

I’ve also seen so-called “hair growing” shampoos and conditioners being marketed online. These products will not grow your hair. How can a product that is being placed on your hair and then rinsed off make it grow faster? Hair growth occurs within the scalp inside our body, not outside in our hair. Just another way to scam people into purchasing a normal shampoo and conditioner with the promise of thicker longer hair.

All in all, nothing can make your hair grow accept time. Our hair grows an average of 1/2 inch a month and with the proper care and right products you can achieve long, thick, healthy hair with time, dedication, and patience.

Share/Save

The following styles are considered protective styles:

• cornrows
• Two-strand twists
• single braids
• bun

Cornrows are a beautiful alternative to other styles that can help both natural and relaxed hair grow by reducing the amount of breakage. If you decide to use this style to aid in growing your hair, be sure that your hair isn’t braid extremly tight because cornrows can cause breakage around the edges. Proper care is also important when wearing cornrows. Hair should be moisturized daily with a moisturizing lotion or spray. The hair should also be taken down weekly for a weekly shampoo and conditioning treatment. You may keep the braids in if you like and shampoo and condition them, but to prevent fuzziness I recommend taking the hair down weekly.

Two-strand twists are also a great alternative. They can be woen in both natural and relaxed hair, but work best in natural hair because they hold better. Twists will not cause breakage of any time and they can be styled in a mulitude of ways. Be sure to moisturize them daily and cleanse and condition weekly.

Single braids (not to be confused with microbraids), are also a great alternative. These braids are a little bigger than microbraids, which ease in the removal of the braids as well as preventing the hair from breaking off unlike microbraids. When you go to your hair braider let them know what size you will like your braids to be and advise them not to braid the braids “scalp bleeding” tight to your head to prevent the unnecessary pulling that causes breakage and thinning around the edges. Be sure to cleanse and condition the hair weekly and mositurize daily following the braid care regimen.

Bun’s can also be a protective style, but should be used with care. Just like ponytails, they can cause damage if you constantly pull your hair back daily into a tight ponytail and tie it up into a bun. This style should be used as a last minute protective style, but it shouldn’t be used as something that you make a habit of wearing daily.

Share/Save

Each year during November-April, readers of Grow Black Hair Online will be encouraged to wear their hair in protective styles during these cold months. Your hair will love you for it and you will enter the spring with approximately 3 inches of healthy hair! Now doesn’t that sound great?

So what are protective styles? For those of you that don’t know, protective styles are styles such as single(medium sized) braids, kinky twists, cornrows, 2-strand twists, bantu knots, and buns. These styles hold moisture in the hair, prevents knots and tangles, and preserves the length because the hair isn’t being manipulated often. You don’t have to wear just one style all winter. You can alternate between styles. One week you can wear bantu knots, then get kinky twists for 2 months, and then wear a bun the week after. It’s all up to you!

A few more tips for the fall and winter months:

• Do not go outside with wet hair – it will literally freeze your hair and cause damage
• Always protect your hair from the winter and fall air with a hat
• Wear a satin lined hat or put a satin scarf or bonnet on before wearing the hat
• Invest in an humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home

To enter the 2009-2010 Protective Styles Challenge click here!

Share/Save