Many of us were brought up to believe greasing one’s scalp with “hair food”, such as Blue Magic, Sulfur 8 or any other petrolatum-based grease was essential for maintaining healthy hair. However, many in the natural hair community now argue that greasing your scalp is not essential. So is it? It depends…
Day-to-Day Management Generally, a clean and healthy scalp does not need to be greased to stay soft, pliable and well suited for hair growth. Sebum, the oil naturally produced by the scalp lubricates the scalp on an on-going basis. Importantly, unlike skin, the scalp is not constantly chaffing against clothing or rubbing against furniture so it doesn’t need to be moisturized as intensely or as regularly as skin does. Dry Scalps The above said, just as some people have drier skin than others, some scalps are more dry than others. The dryness of one’s scalp can be impacted by diet and weather. Whatever the case, if your scalp doesn’t seem to lubricate itself and perhaps gets all dry, ashy or dandruff-ridden then it certainly doesn’t hurt to oil it. If your scalp is dry, don’t use a thick or heavy grease; choose a light, nutrient-rich oil to rub into your scalp.
When In Plaits If your hair has just been plaited/braided then it might be useful to oil your scalp to prevent bumps and rashes from forming where the root has been pulled. I personally have a very sensitive scalp; even with minimal pulling my scalp gets sore and bumpy so I oil the scalp religiously for about a week after its been plaited using Neno Natural’s Hair Growth Stimulator when I have just had braids installed. After a week the new growth compensates for the pulling my scalp endured. Hair Growth Last but not least, because the scalp is so thin, you can promote the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the scalp to help hair grow by massaging it with an oil + essential oil blend. I have quite a few recipes that you can blend yourself. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu2772_DbH-LWFfnvzHn-uN6bw4LgX4_b What do you think about greasing the scalp? Is it essential for you? Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair. You might also like: Working with Essential Oils - Understanding Dilution
I am 2 years and 3 months natural in the above pictures
This is a total FAQ. I get one or two emails daily to this effect.
My answer is simple: 1. Download the free ebook and take the tips in there seriously, especially the bits on protective styling and massaging the scalp with the Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator.
2. Try these products: http://www.nenonatural.com/products.html I suggest several because although these are all good they won't all work for every head of hair. 3. If you want to know my regimen, the is my current Weekly & Daily Natural Hair Routine. NOW, HOW MUCH GROWTH SHOULD YOU EXPECT? 1/3 to 1/2 an inch a month or about 4 to 6 inches a year (I think I get about 4 to 5 inches after trims) HOW LONG CAN HAIR CONTINUE GROWING FOR? 4 to 7 years is the average, however, it can be as short as 1 year or as long as ten. Just to put this into perspective: if your growth cycle is one year and your rate of growth is 4 inches per year, you can never ever have more than 4 inches of growth. It is genetically impossible. However, if your hair has growth potential but hair care practices are messing you up then the free eBook How to Grow, Long, Health Hair will sort you out. Love and peace, Heather
According to The Science of Black Hair, "The scalp is the birth place of hair!"
If you want to create an optimal environment for hair growth you want your scalp to be: 1. Clean - wash it. Every 7 to 10 days wash your hair and scalp. This is one of the reasons I don't enjoy washing my hair with twists in it: I can't get to the scalp as freely. 2. Unclogged by petrolatums - don't use them Vaseline, Blue Magic, Sulfur 8 etc don't moisturise, they clog. 3. Hydrated - drink lots of water Scalp hydration works its way inside out. Drinking water is vital for scalp health, spritzing water is important for hair's moisture. 4. Dandruff free - drink lots of water The cells of the scalp are constantly dividing. You can't normally see this cellular division with the naked eye; however, when the moisture content of the scalp falls below 10% the process becomes accelerated resulting in dandruff! If you needed added incentive to drink more water, there you have it. 5. Not dry - oil it with Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator or another high quality vegetable oil Whilst the scalp does produce its own oil, sebum, sometimes it's not enough to keep the scalp and hair moisturised. Jojoba oil has a structure very similar to sebum so it's one of my oils of choice for stimulating the scalp. Jojoba forms 50% of Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator. 6. Well stimulated - massage it often Being a thin layer of flesh, the scalp gets less blood circulating to it than other parts of the body. You can help blood flow to the scalp with regular, gentle massages using a vegetable oil. If there is one thing that has been consistent in my natural hair routine from the get go it's been massaging my scalp and recognising its health as important to my hair growth.
You can undertake the castor oil challenge at any time you choose; it's not some historical undertaking whose time has passed.
What's the objective of the castor oil challenge? To improve hair growth Which hair types can undertake the challenge? Any and all hair types How long does the challenge last? 3 months What products do you need for the castor oil challenge? Just castor oil, your fingers and a notebook to document the changes. What do you do with the castor oil? Massage it into your scalp gently for 7 to 12 minutes. How often do you have to massage the oil into your scalp? At least 3 times a week Can the castor oil challenge be improved? I think so. For every ounce, 28 ml, of castor oil add 3 drops of the following essential oils: cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme. These are all documented as improving hair health and growth. I don't like castor oil, are there any other oils I can use for my scalp to get the same effect? Yes. Specifically for massaging the scalp I recommend jojoba, avocado oil and argan oil as the best oils for scalp massage. Where can you get castor oil? In a health food store or on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk. Is there anything else I should know? Yes. Your hair has a maximum rate at which it can grow as determined by genetics. Massaging the scalp just ensures your hair is growing at the maximum rate that is possible for you. Your results will not necessarily match anyone else's results. If you've tried the castor oil challenge please let us know how it went with a comment...
Firstly don't worry if your daughter hasn't reached the age of two yet; baby hair can be very fragile and all the tossing and turning that babies do can have an impact on the growth and thickness of your baby's hair.
If the child is older than two and you think the hair isn't growing well, then the issue could be one of the below: 1. Genetics If you or your husband's family have slow hair growth then your child may have inherited the trait. Some people's hair grows faster than others. 2. Split ends There is no scientific proof that removing splitting ends "makes" hair grow faster but there is a lot of empirical evidence to suggest this is true. If the ends are looking rough, uneven or messy cut them off! 3. Not getting relevant nutrients A lot of protein, iron and zinc is needed for healthy hair grow. Ensure your child is getting plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains and some meat. Obviously, if you're vegetarian there will be no meat in your diet so a lot of protein will come from beans and other grains. Here are specific foods you should be looking to give your children more of for good hair growth:
4. Hypothyroidism The thyroid gland in the neck controls many of the body's metabolic function by realeasing the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. You have an underactive thyroid (or Hypothyroidism) if you produce too little of this hormone. One of the symptoms is poor hair growth, hair loss and/or thinning. 5. A fungal infection A fungal infection such as ringworm (not caused by a worm despite the name) can cause hair loss or lack of hair growth. If you see a doctor they can have the child tested for this condition and prescribe an appropriate antifungal cream. The doctor can also diagnose other scalp conditions such as scalp psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis. 6. Styling and regimen Excessive brushing, combing and styling could lead to breakage. Try styling the hair in such a way that it doesn't need to be changed every day; wash and condition every 7 to 10 days. When you style the hair massage the scalp for a few minutes to stimulate the roots and go for a style that doesn't cause stress around the edges. You might also like: Tips on Caring for your Kids' Natural Hair Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair. References: What Causes Hair Not To Grow In a Toddler? How To Make Your Child’s Hair Grow Faster Hypothyroidism and Hair
Did you know that keeping you hair off your shoulders is in itself a protective measure?
Hair can struggle to grow past the shoulders if it's constantly having to rub against clothes and chairs. The rubbing movement weakens the ends causing split ends and an increased risk of breakage. The problem is exacerbated if the tips of your hair are not properly moisturised. When I learnt the benefit of keeping my hair off clothes I changed the range of styles that I wear a little: instead of having an afro roaming free all the time I pull my hair up using a hair band, clip or plaiting one large corn row sideways from one side of my head to the other. Updos are a great of way of getting hair off clothes. Short hair is naturally protective in that it doesn't reach your clothes anyway. The only worry then becomes protecting hair ends from the elements: sun, wind, cold and air conditioning.
Pinning style for:
Rosemary is one of my favourite essential oils for massage. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's beneficial for hair growth too - why?:
1. It contains vitamin A which is much needed for hair growth. 2. It stimulates hair follicles and growth by increasing blood circulation to the scalp (like lavender) thus improving delivery of oxygen and nutrients. 3. It soothes dry flaky scalps and can help with dandruff issues (anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory). 4. It's good as part of a hair conditioner, apparently its helps with softening hair. 5. It prevents premature greying of your hair(!) and can help to darken hair that is already greying or lightening in colour. 6. It helps to reduce hair loss and thinning. Rosemary is one of the oils that was used in an experiment in 1998 by scientists in Scotland to see if essential oils can help to reduce alopecia. They did. 7. It smells fabulous. How to use rosemary oil for hair? Add 3 to 4 drops of rosemary oil into 30ml of a base oil and massage it into the scalp; I personally use it as one of the four essential oils in Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator. You can also extract the amount of shampoo or conditioner that you want to use from a bottle and add 3 to 4 drops of rosemary to that. I wouldn't add it directly to the shampoo bottle so that you don't permanently change the entire bottle's ingredients. Important note: do not use rosemary oil if you are pregnant, epileptic or suffer from high blood pressure. Except under these circumstance, rosemary oil is not toxic. References: the-herb-guide.com, buzzle.com, livestrong.com, hairthickeningproductsblog.com. Follow me @NenoNatural and check out Neno Natural's Haircare Store.
I was debating whether or not my hair grows faster when I am asleep and decided to do some research. This is what I found:
1. The body repairs itself better during sleep It's going to be very hard for anyone to prove that the rate of hair growth is faster during sleep than during your waking hours simply because hair grows very little during any particular day. What can be said is that when we sleep the body repairs itself and detoxes. It also makes sense that during the day when you are up and down juggling a hefty schedule and tearing muscles in the gym, hair growth will be less of a priority for your internal systems. We've all heard the old adage that kids grow when they're sleep, so why not hair? There does not appear to be direct scientific proof for faster hair growth during sleep but this is what I can find conclusive evidence for: 2. Stress can lead to hair loss Not sleeping enough can cause or exacerbate stress. Stress itself is linked to hair loss. 'Hair loss is nearly always the consequence of an internal disturbance' (belgraviacentre.com) e.g. stress. If you're stressed or sleep-deprived or both your immune system is weaker and amongst all the functions your body has to deal with it's not going to prioritise your hair.
3. Less sleep and you'll eat less healthily
Can you believe that a study at the University of California, Berkeley has actually shown that poor sleep lowers the ability to make good food choices? Using functional MRI scanning, subjects were asked to rate their desire for certain foods; when they were more sleep deprived they were more attracted to less nutritious food! The mineral and vitamins present in a healthy diet are needed for hair growth. If your body is lacking in vitamins and minerals it uses them up for important functions first (e.g. liver and kidney operation) and for less important functions (e.g. hair growth) last. If there isn't enough left over: so long good hair! Regardless of what scientists say, I know I don't feel good when I haven't slept enough, I do eat worse and I feel all round less healthy - that cannot be conducive to retaining beautiful hair. Follow me @NenoNatural and check out Neno Natural's Haircare Store.
The weekly wash-condition-detangle routine that's brought my natural African hair back from hell!9/6/2012
Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.
FYI, THE VIDEO ABOVE INCLUDES ALL THE INFO BELOW. Until last year I completely took my hair for granted. It was effortlessly beautiful. Then, I undid my latest braids to find it wasn't. It was all broken, unhealthy, thin - ugly! Since then, I have treated my hair with reverence and it's thankfully beginning to look healthy again. I hope I don't have to start going blind before I start treating my eyes with the same respect!
I dedicate two hours every single week (usually on Sunday) to washing, conditioning and detangling my hair. I conditioned my hair even when I had braids over the winter. This is my basic routine:
1. Detangle hair gently with fingers before you start washing especially if it was in plaits. No combing - it's still too dry. 2. Wash hair with just WARM water
3. Shampoo hair once
5. Put a shower cap over the hair.
6. Blow dry on top of the shower cap for 2-3 minutes for maximum effect. Heat helps hair to absorb all the good stuff out of the conditioner and essential oils. If you are using bad products, it will absorb those too! I don't apply heat directly to the hair.
Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair. 10. In my final step, I undo each twist. Moisturise the section with a mixture of leave in conditioner, a shea butter based moisturiser and my homemade jojoba plus essential oil mix. I then redo the section in a plait or a twist. Let me explain in greater detail:
If you want your hair to stay look stretched you need to plait or twist your hair every evening for at least three nights as it starts reverting back to a kinky afro. If you replait for three nights in a row, it should stay pretty stretched for another two or three nights without re-plaiting. I like the afro look so I sometimes allow it to revert to type.
I usually wash my hair on Sundays and I don’t unplait it until Monday or even later in the week if I don’t need to go anywhere special. I usually wear some sort of headgear when I have the plaits in. The texture and curl pattern when you undo the twist is magnifique! In developing this regime, I received a lot of inspiration from kimmaytube on YouTube. I give thanks. The key difference between my routine and hers is that I'm very into essential oils. I've been using them since 2006 when I learnt the art of massage. I plan on experimenting with different conditioners and moisturisers (both bought and homemade) until I feel that my hair cannot come out any better. On a daily basis spritz with water and massage Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator. Follow me @NenoNatural and check out Neno Natural's Haircare Store. |
I now blog about wealth creation - so if you have any money questions meet me there, you can do all sorts of cool things like leave me a voicemail.
By Heather Katsonga-Woodward
I was a natural hair blogger and mixtress living between London & Chicago from 2012 to 2017. I always thought I was 4C but some say 4B; images below - you decide! Heather xx Categories
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