Black hair, particularly type 4 hair, has long been shrouded in myths and misconceptions regarding its growth potential. Many people believe that black hair is tough to manage and infact cannot grow past a certain length.
The truth is that black hair comes with its own challenges. It is tightly coiled, making it very prone to tangles, breakage, and shrinkage, much more than any other hair type. Many ladies with type 4 hair are always asking questions, getting new products, trying out new DIYs, and checking out new salons just to find the best way to handle their hair and make it grow to their desired length.
These challenges are the reasons why most ladies resort to relaxing their hair, using harmful chemicals, and altering their natural curl patterns in the process. Amidst all of these seeming challenges, if you are armed with the right knowledge and practices, your hair can thrive and achieve significant length even in a relatively short period.
Can Black Hair Grow?
Yes. Black hair can grow very long. On average, hair grows half an inch per month. That means that under normal circumstances, your hair should grow to about 1 and 1/2 inches in 3 months. Depending on other factors, it could grow faster or slower than that.
The reason why black hair always appears to be shorter and slow in growth is due to its very tightly coiled structure. It is extremely prone to shrinkage, and some people tend to get discouraged because of that. They don’t seem to see or feel any added length to their hair, because it always shrinks.
Well, even if you do not see it, shrinkage does not stop your hair from growing. Now, since you know that having black hair does not stop your hair from experiencing growth like other hair types, you should know that if your hair is ‘not growing’, there must be a reason/reasons. Some of these may include breakage, dryness, rough handling, over-manipulation, bad hair practices, and lack of good hair products.
Effective Practices for fast Growth in 3 Months
Hair growth is not only possible but also attainable. Like the straight hair you see and admire, type 4 hair can also be long and admirable. But you have to know that hair growth doesn’t happen like magic. I have seen some ads on social media talking about a hair growth product and showing a waist-length picture on the next slide, deceiving vulnerable people into believing that their hair can grow to that length in a few days after using the product. I remember seeing an ad that promised 24 hours of instant hair growth using their hair product. I couldn’t help but laugh and wonder if anyone could truly fall for such an obvious scam.
You can not attain waist-length hair just overnight – in 24 hours. But your hair can grow very fast and long within a few months if you can put in adequate work. As you go on in this article, you will learn all of these practices you can imbibe to grow your hair fast, even in 3 months.
Below are the ways to grow your hair fast in 3 months:
Daily Scalp Massage
Scalp massages work like magic. Regular scalp massages help to stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, promoting circulation and encouraging hair growth. Whenever you massage, you should use natural oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil for added nourishment and lubrication.
A scalp massage can be done using your fingers or a scalp massager.
Hydration and Moisture
Hair, especially type 4 hair, loves moisture and thrives in a well-moisturized state. To prevent dryness and breakage, you should keep your hair well-hydrated and moisturized. You can achieve this by using a water-based leave-in conditioner, moisturizing cream, and oils. Do you want to have long hair? Then, prioritize moisture.
Low Manipulation Styles
One major hindrance to hair growth is the over-manipulation. Sometimes, you should just keep your hands out of your hair and leave it alone. Over-manipulation leads to breakage and tension on the hair and scalp, which in turn hinders hair growth.
Opt for low-manipulation hairstyles that minimize stress on the hair and scalp. This includes protective styles like twists, braids, or buns and embracing your natural texture and allowing it to rest and grow without constant styling.
Avoid too much Heat
Using too many heat-styling tools on your hair can damage your hair and scalp. Do well to avoid the use of too much heat on your hair. If you must do so, then use a heat protectant alongside.
Ditch the extensions
Now, for your hair to thrive, some things should be minimized. And that includes extensions. Especially if you are the braids or cornrows lover, using extensions for these hairstyles can cause a lot of damage to your hair. It becomes worse if you have a hairstylist that is not professional in handling natural hair.
Extensions can be very beautiful, but if the health and growth of your hair is your priority, then you should keep them aside for a while. If you must use them, choose hairstyles that will not be too damaging on your scalp and hair, especially your edges.
Use Hair Growth Oils
Hair growth stimulating oils are natural oils that help to promote hair growth by nourishing the scalp, strengthening hair follicles, and improving blood circulation to the scalp. You can try any of them such as castor oil, argan oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil or rosemary oil.
These oils can be used as a pre-poo treatment, hair mask, Leave-in treatment, or for scalp massages.
Protective Styling
It is essential to avoid styles that cause tension or damage to the hairline or scalp. Protective hairstyles such as braids, twists, and buns can help minimize manipulation and protect the ends of the hair, reducing breakage and promoting growth.
Take Vitamins
Vitamins play a crucial role in promoting healthy hair growth. Vitamins that helps in hair growth includes vitamin A which helps in the production of sebum to keep the scalp moisturized, vitamin C, vitamin E, Biotin, niacin. Eat foods containing these vitamins, and you can as well take them as supplements.
In conclusion, growing black hair long is attainable. So, by debunking all myths about hair growth and consistently following these right practices, you will be amazed at the results you can achieve in a relatively short period.
