The Northwest Scents Blog

Question: I need u to give me tips on how i can grow my hair VERY LONG and please tell me what to do and what to use.

Answer: Hi. You didn't tell me exactly how you are wearing your hair now, so I will give some general tips which you can use for growing longer hair.

For most people, hair growth comes when they stop doing the things to their hair that are causing breakage. For us as black people, it is not that our hair doesn't grow, the problems we face with our hair are usually due to doing too much to our hair. The things that we do usually cause hair damage, which causes hair breakage. For example:

If you are using chemical treatments of any type (relaxers, texturizers, dyes, etc.) I would recommend that you stop using them. Chemical treatments work by altering the natural structure of your hair. This causes the hair to weaken over time. For some people it happens right away. Others don't see the damage until years later, and by then it is often irreversible. So, if you are wearing chemical treatments, my advice is to stop them.

If you are using synthetic hair, such as braids with extensions, or weaves, I would recommend that you avoid those too. They tend to cause hair damage by adding weight to the hair shaft, which can cause the hair to be pulled out.

If you use heat on your hair, be moderate with it. Don't use your flat iron or pressing comb or curling iron every day. And when you do use a heated styling too, don't turn it up to the highest temperature. Heated styling tools work by temporarily altering the protein bonds in our hair. But if the temperature is too high, the changes become permanent, they weaken the hair, and they cause it to break off.

Do use shampoos and conditioners and oils that are moisturizing and gentle. Avoid sulfates in your shampoos (these are very drying and can cause the hair to become brittle), and avoid mineral oil and petrolatum in your conditioners and hair oils. Mineral oil and petrolatum can actually cause the hair to dry out. They coat the hair shaft (instead of being absorbed into it) and prevent other moisturizers from penetrating the hair shaft, causing dryness.

Be patient with your hair. Learn to love it for what it is. Not everyone can or will have floor length hair. Give your hair time to grow to its maximum length, and nurture it the best that you can.