RAINBOW-TZ BLOG: HOW TO GROW LONG HAIR IF YOU ARE A BLACK FEMALE

As an African-American female, you may think that your hair is too fragile to grow long. Don't worry! You can grow long, lustrous hair if you're a black female by following the routines in this article.

Method 1 of 3: Taking Care of Your Hair To Make It Grow

1
Condition your hair liberally. Black women tend to have curly new-growth. These curly roots make it difficult for your hair's natural oils to move down the hair shaft and moisturize the length of your hair.
- Try co-washing. During your daily shower, wash your hair with conditioner only. Then, shampoo and condition your hair once a week.
- Use a leave-in conditioner for extra moisture after your daily co-wash.
- Deep condition at least once a month. Deep conditioners containing olive, avocado or sweet almond oil work well.
  - Apply heat to your hair and wear a shower cap while you wait--heat activates the conditioner. You can sit under a hood dryer or wrap your head in a towel that has been soaked in hot water.
  - Avoid getting deep conditioner on your scalp. The conditioner can clog your pores and cause alopecia or hair loss.
2
Apply a moisturizer (which does not contain petroleum jelly, petrolatum or mineral oil) to your hair.
- Wet your hair with water. Start about 2" (5 cm) away from the roots and apply the moisturizer all the way to the ends.
- Moisturize daily or as your hair requires - you want your hair to feel soft and pliable. You may have to experiment to find what works for you.
3
Comb your hair carefully. Excessive brushing can strip the protective layers off of your hair.
- If you are trying to smooth your hairline, brush gently, use a soft boar bristle brush and make sure your hair is completely dry and moisturized.
- Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb. Divide your hair into sections. Start combing at the ends and work your way up to the roots.
4
Treat your hair from within by taking a multivitamin. Use a hair vitamin that will increase your hair growth rate and lengthen your natural anagenesis (growth phase).
5
Incorporate healthy habits.
- Drink at least eight cups of water and eat healthy foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
- Exercise regularly to increase circulation to your scalp.
- Manage your stress with relaxation exercises or meditation. Stress can cause your hair to fall out.

EditMethod 2 of 3: Styling Your Hair While It Grows Out

1
Use protective styles that don't require you to constantly redo your hair.Some examples of good styles include twists or bantu knots.
- Braid: do a simple braid from the top and when you finish tuck in you you can also ad a hair band.
- Twists: Divide your hair into rows. Then divide each row that you just made into 2 separate sections.
  - Starting at your hairline, twist the 2 sections of the first row together.
  - Keep twisting your hair as you move toward the back of your head, grabbing a little more hair each time you go a little further down the row.
- Bantu knots: Divide damp hair into sections, using a comb to create really precise parts.
  - Twist each section of hair into a "rope," working some gel or pomade into your hair as you twist it. Keep your hair taut until you've twisted the entire section into a rope.
  - Turn the rope a few more times until it starts to curl in on itself. Doing this will create a firm coil at the base.
  - Wrap the rope of hair around the base to create your knot. You can secure it by either tucking the ends under the knot, using pins or using elastics.
2
Go natural. Natural hair can be long and beautiful if you know what you are doing. To straighten natural hair while protecting it from heat damage, blow dry your hair with a comb attachment and wet setting before you give it a quick sweep with a flat iron.
3
Get a Brazilian keratin treatment. It straightens your hair or loosens the curl with no chemicals. They start from about 1 day to 6 months. Afro hair is washed less often so the treatment will last more than the time said.
4
Use relaxer if you don't want to go natural. Relax your hair no more than once every 8 to 10 weeks, or 4 or 5 times per year. Remember that relaxing your hair in general can damage it.
- Start by applying a scalp protector or petroleum jelly to your scalp and to your hair shaft. Apply the relaxer to your roots according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure to follow the leave-in time that's recommended on the product.
- Wash out the relaxer in warm water with a neutralizing shampoo. Wash and rinse 3 times. The fourth time, leave the shampoo on for about 10 minutes before you rinse it off for the last time.
5
Use a protein reconstructor after you use relaxer. Both shampoo and relaxers will remove needed nutrients and shielding from your hair, leaving it dry and fragile. Protein reconstructor will help to prevent damage and will make your hair more resilient.
6
Clip your ends every 6 to 8 weeks or every time you have your hair relaxed.When you have split ends and you don't cut them, they will continue to split all the way up your hair shaft, which will cause hair loss. To keep your hair growth steady, avoid taking off more than 1 to 2" (2.5 to 5 cm) at a time.

EditMethod 3 of 3: Know Your Hair Growth Timetable

1
Expect to wait about 2 to 2-1/2 years for shoulder length growth if you start with a clean shave. African-American hair tends to grow a little slower than average. You can expect growth of about 1/2" (13 mm) per month if you take great care of your hair.
2
Wait another 6 to 15 months for your hair to reach armpit length.
3
Add another 9 to 18 months to hit bra-strap length. Growing your hair until the ends hit your bra strap will take about 3 years total.
4
Expect hair growth to your waist to take 3 to 4+ years. Everyone's hair grows at a different rate. Make sure that you don't compare yourself to other people; you'll only get frustrated. Just keep taking care of your hair, and be patient. You'll get results.