2018 has been phenomenal in every area of my life and my hair growth is no exception! In January, I decided to embark on a protective style challenge. I noticed that my hair growth had become stagnant and I had to do something about it. Keeping a simple routine (for me) has been the key to growing longer, healthier hair! What exactly did that entail?
1) I wore my hair in braids and crochet styles consecutively. Bruh.. for someone who changes their hairstyles every 3/4 weeks, this was the toughest part. 2) I increased my water intake and cared more for my insides hoping for that to be reflected on the outside. 3) I made it a point to use oils notoriously known to stimulate hair growth such as castor oil.
Switch Up Ya Style!
Crochet braids and Traditional Braided styles were my go to! It was super easy to maintain while managing a busy lifestyle. I LOVED being able to wake up and go. I simply slept with a satin scarf and ensured that my edges were tucked within the scarf. I install my own crochet which allows me to switch it up often! This year, I went on a limb and tried something different. Popularly known as "Lemonade Braids" , these braids were everything!!!! I literally got stopped by every black woman I know as I went about my day lol. (If you're in the metro-Atlanta area, let me know and I can refer you to some awesome braiders!)
Summertime Fine
Guess who got a gym membership? *raises hands* My membership with Snap Fitness 24/7 was one of the best decisions I've made! I have not only become more conscious about my fitness but also been mindful of the things that I put in my body. Good (insert any word) with the body is greatly impacted by what we feed ourselves. Hair is not an exception. Drink water. Most of us don't even come close to drinking the recommended amount of 8 glasses of water a day. Take your vitamin gummies. Run. Stretch. Treat your body like you treat your hair.
Water & Oil
Quite often, people get protective styles such as braids and forget that hair growing from their scalp exists underneath. One of the cardinal rules of natural hair care is to care for your hair "in and out" of season. This means ensuring that your hair stays moisturized and oiled! With all of my styles, I applied a leave-in conditioner and Wild Growth and Castor oil at least twice a week to avoid dry hair. Dry hair = Brittle Hair = Breaking Hair = No Length Retention. Different oils work for different coils. I would suggest looking into castor, wild growth, jojoba, and argan oils.
The Proof is in the Pudding
The photo on the left is from February 19th and the right is from May 9th. Now, y'all gotta forgive me! My length check shirt didn't come in on time so I wasn't able to get a shot of where I started at. I noticed I no longer had to break my arms to grip the ends of my hair lol. *It's also important to note that low manipulation even after you take out your protective style is key. Go easy on the heat, combing, and switching of hairstyles. Pick a style and stick to it for a few weeks.
I want to bring more natural hair content directly TO YOU! Let me know your thoughts, questions, and frustrations about your hair! Have you tried any growth challenges? How did they work for you? Feel free to comment below, like, share and subscribe!