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.

The Girlfriend Test She Must Pass Or Give Her The Boot!

THE TRAIT: Responsibility

THE TEST: play the blame game. Next time she rear-ends someone during rush hour, listen to her post-game analysis. “Successful couples focus on positives,” says Dr Scott Haltzman, a psychiatrist and the author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men. “Is she the eternal victim? Or does she accept responsibility?”

THE TRAIT: Flexibility

THE TEST: cook dinner at her place. If she’s a control freak in her kitchen, she’ll have a hard time letting you take the reins elsewhere in life. Even if she’s a gourmet, she should still accept your different way of chopping carrots, reveals Pat Love, author of The Truth About Love.

THE TRAIT: Patience

THE TEST: talk about work. The time she made an intern cry may make you laugh, but that attitude won’t stay in cubicle land. “If she rips into a co-worker for no reason, watch out. It shows what she’s like under pressure,” warns Dr John Van Epp, creator of the “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk” program (nojerks.com).

THE TRAIT: Empathy

THE TEST: take her shopping. Malls are buffets of human interaction – peeved customers, airhead shop assistants, mums with kids, all begging for vitriolic commentary. “You want to see empathy for the stressed and clueless. If she thinks most solutions are clear-cut, expect the same absolutism with you,” cautions Haltzman.

THE TRAIT: Adaptability

THE TEST: make last-minute plans. Sure, you’d planned a chick flick, but the only film not sold out is Scary Movie 19. Relationships change, so see if she can roll with it. Another time, show up 15 minutes late. If things like that set her off, “she’ll have no problem finding ways that you disappoint her”, explains Haltzman.

THE TRAIT: Confidence

THE TEST: remove the spotlight. Take her to a party, then watch her mingle. Does she seek male attention? Could be needy. Dodges women? Not good: women “deliver necessary honesty” to other women, says Love. Also, she knows that your female friends will offer a realistic review of her. Talking with them shows balls.

Nassau tun over last nite….party shatttttt..me nah seh nuh more…

I were a perfect couple, save for the absence of sex. We eventually grew on each other. He was way more matured that I was and quite frankly, than surprised me. I mean, whoever told me that gay people aren’t humans with brains? The only snag was sex. Although we both didn’t talk about it anymore, it was an undercurrent issue between us. I was growing frustrated by the day and I could sense that he felt it too. I had resolved not to leave the marriage for two reasons. Or maybe three. One, the world would keep score (let’s see how many husbands she is going to end up with). Two, I don’t want to confuse my little girl. I mean one day she has a daddy, the next she has a stepdad. Next, she doesn’t have anyone or worse, she has another stepdad? I mean, common! That was enough to mess the poor girl up. Then the last one, I kind of like the guy. Yea, yea, I know you think I’m crazy. I think so too. I mean who does that? Who likes a guy who lies to her? Truth is, we’re all humans, and we make mistakes, right? Right! Anyway, since I still haven’t figured out what to do with my non-existent sex life, I was stuck. I can’t go around sleeping with people, can I? That would be a scandal. Besides, I feel that would be morally wrong. Then, there is this issue of conscience. I feel I can’t cheat on my husband.

Then one night, something happened, Martins woke me up in the dead of the night, wanting to talk. I was dead tired and quite frankly, cranky. Martins had travelled for two days without me hearing from him. I tried calling but couldn’t connect. My sweet father popped in to” keep me company” that was what he said. But somehow I suspected that there was more to it. My mother misses me, he said and I would very much appreciate it if I went to see her. She was the one who exiled me, not the other way round, I reasoned. To cut a long story short, he went with my girl for the weekend. That, he said would buy me some more time before I finally showed up. To keep my sanity, I asked the helps to leave for an early weekend so I could busy myself with reorganising and redecorating the house. I could see in their eyes they were super excited. By the time I was done, I was weary and my husband hasn’t called. Gosh, I miss Martins, why in hades wouldn’t he just call me already? With that thought I went to sleep.

It was when Martins woke me up that I realised I was sleeping on the couch in the guest room and that he had indeed called like one million times and I missed them. He left tons of messages even. The way he carried me into our bedroom suggested to me that he had missed me too and the look in his eyes, gosh, I could swear that the man is deeply in love. I mentally kicked myself for daring to hope that he would love me. What was I thinking?

Martins told me about his trip which was surprising to me that he would. Then he handed me a bulky, sealed brown envelop. He advised that I read it in the morning when I had the chance. I was too tired anyway, so I left it on the night stand and prepared for bed.

He kissed me on the lips and he said good night. But I could see that he was worried.

The following morning, after our normal routine, he inquired if I’d had the time to read the contents of the envelope? I lied. I said I did and I saw a look in his eyes. A look that suggested to me that he was terrified. I asked if everything was okay, he said everything was fine. He was eager to know what my reaction was and I said I needed some more time to think. He said he was going for a casual business meeting and asked if I would go with him. I said I would love to but I needed sometime alone. He said fine and left. Now I am worried.

As soon as the gate shut behind him, I dove for the envelope. Dear Vi, I know how much hurt I have caused your beautiful spirit. I am deeply and truly sorry. I will forever live to earn your forgiveness. Martins.

To read such a heartfelt letter from Martins brought to the surface all the emotions I had buried deep within me and I totally lost control of the handle. With blurry eyes, I read through all the other documents. Martins was worth much more than I had thought (in liquid cash, fixed deposits and fixed assets) and he had signed over half of all he has all over the world to me and they are legit. Then I got to a separate envelope. With trepidation, I opened it. Lo and behold, my fear was confirmed. Martins was giving me a way out. There was marriage annulment papers in that envelope and they had been signed! I was furious with him. How dare he? After three years of living together, how dare he sign an annulment papers without even consulting with me? How could he even think of that? How long has he been thinking of it? I mean Martins didn’t control a vast business empire by doing things on the impulse! He thought carefully and planned thoroughly before each decision was made. He was a careful planner. Then I remembered his note. He never said he loved me. He barely even signed his name. He never referred to himself as my husband. He wanted me out of his life.

He then dropped a bombshell. He told me he broke up with his gay lover half the world away from us (yea, that’s Martins for you. If he sets his mind on keeping a secret, he goes all the way and it stays that way, a secret).