A super long hairstyle is a fashion statement and an accomplishment all in one. Black women in particular may find it more challenging to prevent breakage and achieve length. There are some who would debate that point, but the fact remains that no matter what, proper care and protective measures are vital. Here are some tips on how to get long hair.
You may have hair that falls anywhere on the dry-to-oily spectrum, with varying degrees of strength. Regardless, you will need to understand what products and habits cause breakage and what you can do to prevent it. Styles or products may help your hair look nice for today, but can be contributing to an inability to get the length you desire.
It is important to avoid direct heat in order to allow the hair to maintain it’s strength. Washing with hot water can strip important natural oils, and high settings on a dryer can make strands brittle. A flat iron is perhaps the worst culprit of all. Natural treatment, air drying, and gentle handling when heat is being applied are vital to maintaining strong locks.
The weight of growth may cause your strands to weaken as well. Again, heat will only make things worse. Natural curls, twists, and waves help hair to bear up and redistribute stress along the shaft. When you straighten it, it may not be able to take the added weight. As often as your are able to, avoid products that add weight and styling tools that interfere with natural structure.
Try to master a few styles that gently hold your locks in place. A bun or loose braids, perhaps a simple twist, should go a long way in helping take care of what you have. Styles that cover and shelter the ends of your strands will be protective of the weakest, driest parts, as well as helping create structure to support the weight. Never style wet hair, especially if using elastics or clips, as this will cause noticeable breakage and frizz around your face.
Shampoo is essentially a detergent that can either help or hinder your growth process. Cheap products tend to be harshest, as they have unnatural ingredients and frequently contain alcohol. Conditioner will replace some of the moisture lost, but using salon-quality, natural products is the safest way to go. If you can get by using nothing but baking soda to cleanse and apple cider vinegar to rinse, chances are a natural deep-conditioner once a week will be perfect to keep your scalp and strands strong and healthy.
Men and women with thick, coarse locks must use extra caution when working a comb through tangles. Going too quickly will tug and break off more than a patient and gentle hand will. Divide it into sections and comb from the bottom up to work out tangles one layer at a time. Work try to only comb it dry, as the weight of water tends to weaken strands as well.
If you require a visual reference, look up some tutorial videos for how to get long hair. Not all tips may be directly helpful to you, so look around a bit before deciding on a care regimen for yourself. Remember that natural care, and high-quality products when needed, are the best methods of hair-care.
Alma is a recognized leader in the field of African American hair growth helping numerous women achieve long healthy hair. You can learn more about African American hair care and hair growth in general by reading some of the other articles that she has written.
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