JMG SUNDAY HEALTH

10 Steps to Grow Black Hair Longer

Step 1: Use a gentle shampoo. Many common shampoos contain harsh sulfates that can strip your hair, causing it to become dry and eventually leading to breakage. A good gentle shampoos is Essentious Exonerate.

Harsh sulfates include:
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
TEA Laureth Sulfate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

These types of harsh shampoos should be used for clarifying only. A clarifying shampoo can be used once monthly, if at all. Clarifying shampoos can be used to remove excess buildup. The following sulfates are gentle and will not damage your hair:
Polyoxethylene Fatty Alcohols
PEG 80
Sorbitan Laurate
Decyl Polyglucose
Cocamidoprpyl Betaine
Sodium Myreth Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Review this list of hair products for help with finding a new “gentle” shampoo

Step 2: Use protein treatments to rebuild hair structure and strength. Your hair is about 88% protein. These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. When hair is chemically straightened, these bonds are broken, causing the hair to lose strength. If this protein is not replaced, it will eventually cause the hair to break. Egg treatments are effective protein treatment for black hair and usually stops breakage immediately. A protein treatment should be used every other week (for chemically relaxed or damaged hair). If using an egg treatment, heat should not be applied. The treatment should be applied to the hair and covered with a plastic cap for 60 minutes. If using another type of protein product, it should be applied and covered with a plastic cap for 10-15 minutes. For healthy hair, a protein treatment should be used every other week, alternating with a moisture treatment.

Step 3: Use moisture treatments. Moisture treatments help build hair’s resilience and prevent breakage. If protein is not balanced with moisture, it can lead to breakage. A good moisture treatment for black hair is Essentious Rejuvenate. It can be used after your protein treatment. Or on alternating weeks (one shampoo do the protein, and then the other shampoo do the moisture.) This treatment may not leave your hair feeling as “smooth” as many conditioners that contain silicones. You can use any instant conditioner that you like after your treatments to get a smoother feel. Instant conditioners are not necessary and do not need to be applied with heat. If pre-shampooing is done, the moisture treatment can be skipped.

Step 4: Use water and oil based moisturizers correctly. Your hair may be dry even though you are using a variety of moisture products on it. The reason is that oils and other moisturizing products that contain petrolatum, lanolin, and mineral oil do not moisturize your hair effectively. Instead they seal moisture in or out of your hair. They should only be used to seal the hair and add shine. Water based moisturizers effectively penetrate and moisturize the hair.

Some examples are: Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-in
Profectiv Anti-Tangle Leave-in
Profectiv Mega Growth
Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong
Elasta QP Mango Butter
Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in
You can also try applying your oil moisturizer after rinsing the moisture treatment to combat dryness.
Use a light oil moisturizer following the application of these water based moisturizer to seal moisture in the shaft.

Step 5: Use hair vitamins to increase your growth rate and lengthen your natural growth phase.Hair grows at an average rate of about 1/2 inch per month. Your hair vitamin should contain nutrients such as Biotin and Folic Acid that make your hair grow faster. Also, they should contain MSM which lengthens your natural anagen, or growth phase. This allows your hair to grow much longer. Your anagen phase, or growth phase, is genetically determined and limits the maximum length that your hair can reach. The hair growth phase (anagen phase) is one of three phases (growth, resting, and shedding) your hair goes through during its cycle. For example, a person with a 2 year anagen may only grow hair to their shoulders before it enters the resting phase. On the other hand, a person with a 4 year anagen will grow hair down their back before it enters the resting phase. Learn how HairFinity Vitamins can help your hair grow longer.

Order the Vitamins Now

Step 6: Use a wide tooth comb.

Step 7: Use a satin scarf/ pillowcase for sleeping. Cotton scarves and pillowcases can absorb much needed moisture from the hair. Satin does not have this effect. It allows your hair to retain moisture, while protecting it from friction and damage.

Step 8: Limit heat styling to once weekly, and use thermal protectants. Heat styling can damage your hair, especially if done too often. When you straighten your hair with heat, you are temporarily altering the protein bonds in your hair and weakening it. A good thermal protectant that can be used when flat ironing hair is Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protection Spray. It is only available at Sally’s Beauty Supply. It should be sprayed directly on each section of hair just before it is flat ironed.

Step 9: Wear protective styles. To minimize breakage and retain moisture, try wearing your hair in a protective style at least 3 days a week. Protective styles are those which do not expose the ends, such as buns and French twists

Step 10: Properly neutralize after applying chemical relaxers.– Also, when you relax your hair, you need to make sure you properly neutralize. You will first wash all relaxer out with water. Wash with neutralizing shampoo at least three times. Then apply the neutralizing shampoo once more and let sit for 10 minutes. Then wash and proceed with conditioners and styling.

In order to achieve the longest hair possible you need to do the following:

1. Stop Hair Breakage – by following the hair care techniques in Secrets for Faster Hair Growth, you can minimize your hair breakage and allow you hair to reach it maximum length.

2. Increase Anagen (Growth) Phase- Using Hair Vitamins with MSM will naturallly lengthen your anagen phase and allow your hair to grow much longer before entering the resting and shedding phases.

3. Address Any Other Problems that May Limit Growth- Using specific types of products as part of a hair care regimen can help reduce breakage and increase your hair length. Get your FREE Customized Hair Care Regimen.