I started my natural hair journey in 2009 and the number one question I get from other naturalistas is what did I do to grow my hair so long.  My answer? I simply stopped getting relaxers... there's some genetics going on too, though. It's really about length retention and not growth. I always state that just because you stop relaxing your hair, does not always mean it will grow to waist length. Many women become discouraged and disappointed when they do not reach the length they want quickly. Length retention is possible! I will share with you a few of my tips that helped me retain length over the years.

Protect Your Ends
You have to protect those precious ends! The way that I keep my ends protected is always sealing them with oil. I love coconut oil on my hair but there are others that you can use that you may like better (jojoba, olive, grapeseed etc). I usually wear my hair in twists or a high bun. This also protects them because they are tucked out of the way.

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Wouldn't it be great if all our curly problems could be solved with one pill?

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When you’ve been stuck with the same hair length for a while, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that your hair has stopped growing, but unless you’re suffering from a medical condition, rest assured--your hair is still growing.

The average hair growth rate is about half an inch every month, meaning we get about six inches of new growth every year. The reason your hair may seem like it’s not growing is because curly hair is so fragile that, if not properly taken care of, it may break at almost the same rate that it grows, if not more.

Here are some reasons why your hair growth seems to have stagnated:

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Why does every one's hair seem to grow faster than yours?
Have you tried a myriad of hair growth pills and potions?
Do you wonder if they really work?

Hair growth pills claim to grow your natural hair longer, thicker and healthier.  Is it true, or is it simply a sales gimmick?

Let's first begin with how your hair grows out of your scalp.

Okay, get out your notebook and take this down!

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Diving into the natural hair world can be overwhelming at first. There are various products and tips that everyone claims can grow your hair or defy shrinkage. With all the products and acronyms in the natural hair community, it is easy to become overwhelmed if you are not acclimated to it. People tend to get so caught up in the hype of products or methods to grow their hair that they forget about the small changes that can make a big difference. Do not fret! Below are some small changes that could drastically affect your hair.

You're impatient
In today’s society people are constantly focused on getting results fast, whether it is exercising or achieving some goal. Natural hair is no different. People want their hair to grow to their desired length and they want it immediately. People will quickly purchase a product that claims to grow their hair fast and reduce shrinkage. Growing out your hair is a process that takes patience, learning the needs of your hair, and much trial and error. There will be frustrating days and rewarding days. Finding a regimen that work for you will improve the process of retaining length. It takes time and patience.

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When you have natural hair you will undoubtedly get numerous, repetitive questions about your hair. Upon answering, some seem obvious, others very cliché, but no question is a bad question and even when they seem irrelevant, they will probably help inquiring minds. Here are some of the most common questions people ask me about my hair and my responses.

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Elasticity has been a way in which we gauge healthy hair and is most noted for attributing bounce and movement to the hair. Elasticity is determined by your hair’s ability to stretch and return to its natural state. Everyone’s hair stretches at different rates. Hair Finder says typically hair can stretch up 50% its size when wet and 20% when dry, as wet hair is more malleable compared to dry hair.

Your individual elasticity is based on many factors beginning with the density of each hair strand. If you have thick hair, you can expect a higher level of elasticity compared to fine hair.

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First off, what is fish oil? This is not a silly question! Drugs.com says, “Fish oil capsules contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in oils from certain types of fish, vegetables, and other plant sources. These fatty acids are not made by the body and must be consumed in the diet.” Fish oil comes from the tissues of fatty fish like herring, mackerel, swordfish, salmon, anchovies, and trout.

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People that I come across these days assume that my hair has always been long and that my genetics are responsible. Rather annoyingly, some people have come straight out and said ‘being mixed race must have really helped you grow your hair to that length’. NO, no , no the truth is I have always had these genes but in twenty odd years I was never able to grow my hair past my collar bone. It has been changes to my hair care practices that have allowed me to grow my hair down to my hips.
I wanted to share my tips with the community and say …YES you can grow your hair down to your behind. My trifecta is very simple moisturize, strengthen and protect.  Here it is in a bit more detail.

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It’s no secret that I like long hair. I personally believe that a woman with a head of long hair is a full reflection of God’s crown and glory upon her. Some may disagree because there are obviously women who have short hair that “appears” not to grow or they choose to wear their hair short. Then, there are those who just don’t believe in a God at all. I’ma pray for y’all.

For the ladies who choose short hair, this article is probably not for you. It’s more for the ladies who want to see their hair grow to longer lengths and are willing to do what it takes to retain as much length as possible. And while, the tips I’m about to share can be helpful to any lady seeking long tresses, I’m specifically addressing my fine hair sisters since I am one of them, lol. I can only share what I notice is working for my hair type – fine and moderately dense.

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Have you ever felt like your hair growth has come to complete halt? Many of us have gone through this at one time or another in our natural hair journey. The fact is, your hair is always growing but you may not be retaining what’s grown. In other words, just as fast as it grows, it breaks, creating the illusion of stunted growth.

Here are five things to consider:

Lack of Moisture
Because our strands have twists, bends and curls, it’s much harder for the natural oil, sebum, to travel the entire length of the hair shaft from root to tip than it would for someone with naturally straight hair. So we need some help. On wash day, while my hair is slightly damp, I apply a leave-in then an oil or butter to seal that all in, giving special attention to the ends (since it’s the oldest part of the hair). I repeat every few days as necessary, especially if I’m wearing my hair out. Hair that is properly moisturized will have a nice elasticity to it and will be less likely to break, thereby allowing you to retain what you grow. Those whose hair may have low porosity may need extra help with steam or products that will help open up the cuticle to allow moisture in.

For many naturals long hair is really important. And while the hair grows – yes it does! – the key isn’t necessarily hair growth. It’s about retaining length. Now your hair growth cycle, while partially dependent on a number of factors that are in our control – is mainly GENETICALLY DETERMINED. So there’s not a whole lot you can do to quicken that process. Despite what supplement and product companies say. And yes I’ll dive into this in more detail in future posts. However what you CAN do is control how much hair is broken and cut due to the handling of your hair. Breakage of textured hair happens mostly due to how it’s handled. And if you’re going to see the lengths adding up, minimizing breakage is key. There are a number of strategies that can be implemented and one of them is protective styling.

Are you having a hard time retaining length? We all want healthy hair overall, but there are a few steps that will get us there. If one of your goals is to retain length but don’t know how, then you will benefit from these tips!

The phrase “less is more” strongly applies to hair. Many of us are so focused on our vision of the “perfect hair" and the “perfect product" that we obsess over products and styles while our hair routine becomes convoluted—inhibiting length retention and hair growth.

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Does it seem as if your hair isn't growing? Well, it is. But if your hair breaks off at an equal or higher rate than it grows, you'll never see any length gains. Our hair is always growing, and we grow on average 1/2 inch of hair a month (6 inches a year).  If you find that you are not retaining your length, this means that you have to change how you care for your hair. Here are some reasons why you may not be retaining length-

Your Ends Aren't Sealed

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I have been asked about whether diet, exercise, and/or vitamins help hair grow a few times and have seen it posted in some form or the other a lot lately. So, I figured I’d share my thoughts on the subject. I’m not saying I’m an expert, but these are my observations based on the things I’ve learned about hair through reading lots of hair blogs, watching lots of videos, and/or observing through my own experiences.

A good diet, adequate nutrients, hydration, and exercise are foundations for healthy hair and growth. But, many mistake lack of length retention for lack of growth. Unless there is some underlying condition, hair is always growing. If hair is growing elsewhere on your body, it’s growing. And it’s pretty easy to know your growth rate if you relaxed/relax or color/colored your hair. However much new growth you had 4-8 weeks post relaxer/color will tell you your growth rate. The problem often is that the growth is lost to breakage (i.e. the hair is not retaining length).

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Are you having a hard time retaining length? We all want healthy hair overall, but there are a few steps that will get us there. If one of your goals is to retain length but don’t know how, then you will benefit from these tips!

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“A watched pot never boils.” That is the age-old idiom which means when you wait for something to happen, it will seem take forever. That statement is true when it comes to hair growth for most of us. Then for others, the pot really never does boil — or so we think because length retention is not noticeable. When you are effortfully attempting to grow your hair to longer lengths but seem to be stuck in a rut there are a few areas of your regimen that you may want to evaluate.

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So, I was going through some of my hair pics from 2010 and came across the pics on the left. They are from late December 2010, a few short months before I joined the Curly Nikki/Kim Coles Grow Out Challenge with a goal to grow my hair to waist length. The shots are before and after a self-trim. The picture on the right is from September 2013.

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