Everyone grows hair, including Afro hair! However, there is a significant difference in maintaining length compared to other hair types. Curly afro hair is particularly fragile and tends to break easily, it is the curliest hair (yes afro hair is curly). If your hair breaks as much as it grows, you won't notice any significant difference in length. This is a common reason why people wonder why their afro hair isn't growing.
Hair growth occurs in several phases, with the growth phase being just one of them. Some people with long curly afro hair experience normal breakage and shedding, while there are periods when their hair appears to stop growing or grows more slowly. This can be affected by various factors such as health, diet and the stage your hair is in.
1.Curly Hair Type
Hair types and the Hair Chart help you find the products that suit you best! Today, many brands will have afro curly hair care products recommended for specific hair types. Take Shea Moisture for example, on their website they have a hair chart and a quiz that shows all of their hair care product lines and what particular hair type they are intended for.
For loose curls and wavy hair (for example 3c 2A), the papaya and neroli collection is perfect, it hydrates, keeps frizz away and does not weigh the hair down), virgin coconut oil is perfect for all curly hair , afro and wavy, the line of Manuka honey and mafura oil is excellent for hydrating afro curly hair, from 4c to 4A.
Shea Moisture Line for Afro, Curly and Wavy Hair Hair Chart
2.Choose Products Suitable for Afro Hair
Choose rich, hydrating products, such as hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Use creams enriched with shea butter, oils then rinse-out conditioners to hydrate your hair during the week or a refreshing spray.
Curls Dynasty and Shea Moisturise 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Line are great for moisturizing type 4 hair. These lines offer a wide range of products, from shampoo to styling products, that focus on curly and tight afro hair, with particular attention to the hydration. Oils and butters are other ways to moisturize afro hair. For example, shea butter, together with a leave-in conditioner or cream when styling, helps keep hair soft and well hydrated.
3.Wash Afro Curly Hair
Using a hydrating shampoo is recommended for curly hair, as it is less harsh and contains super hydrating ingredients compared to purifying shampoos which can strip afro hair of its natural oils, causing dryness and breakage. It's important to follow up with a hydrating balm or mask to maintain moisture balance. Massaging the shampoo gently into the scalp and distributing it throughout the hair helps prevent damage and tangling.
It is essential to find the right balance of products, as not everyone reacts the same way to shampoos. Cowash can be a gentler option for frequent cleansing, but it should not completely replace regular shampoo to ensure effective cleansing. Priority should be given to the health of the scalp for proper hair care.
4.Moisturize Dry Afro Hair
Use the LOC or LCO method to moisturize your hair, especially if you have curly afro hair texture. Liquid (liquid), Oil (oil), Cream (cream), or you can replace the oils with butters such as shea butter. Locks in moisture in your strands so your hair stays hydrated for several days.
5.Manipulate your Afro Curly Hair less
Minimize the time you spend combing and manipulating your hair. If you can keep the same style for a week, that would be great for hair growth and maintenance. The more time you spend twisting, combing, brushing, obviously the more susceptible your hair will be to breakage. Heat styling, straightening your hair too often or using the blow dryer on maximum power is also a big no-no for any hair type, but especially for our fragile afro curly hair.
@NaturallyHigh Content Creator
6.Protective Styling
Styles-Braids, Extensions, Wigs - Using extensions, wigs and the like to help maintain length is great if done correctly, as this way you don't have to comb and touch your hair every day. However, these practices should be done correctly, otherwise they can cause damage to afro hair instead of helping it.
China Mclain Actress
7.Detangle Afro hair
Use a wide-toothed comb when detangling your afro hair or a detangling brush on damp hair. Always start by detangling your hair from the ends to the roots, in order to eliminate all the knots and loose hair. This will save time and pain and will also reduce hair breakage.
Finger detangling is also a great way to get rid of knots in curly afro hair. Divide your hair while detangling, you will work faster and more efficiently and you will also reduce pulling and hair breakage this way.
8. Eat Well!
Make sure you eat properly! Anemia affects hair growth, so make sure you are not deficient in important vitamins and minerals in your diet.
9.Cut your Afro hair
Fairy knots (Afro hair tends to curl in on itself creating knots at the ends of your strands), split ends, if left, will eventually travel up the hair strands and cause even more damage. Use good, sharp hair scissors to remove them. In addition to this, trim your hair every 4-6 months to eliminate split ends and get rid of the weaker parts of your hair that are more susceptible to breakage.
10.Silk Cap
Use a silk scarf or bonnet when you sleep to protect your hair from drying out and reduce friction.
Here are some content creators with amazing curly afro hair.
@Naptural85 @kandikinks @roothie__ @Janetdavies
