Curly hair requires different care from straight or wavy hair. More difficult care for curly hair makes it more prone to breakage, making it difficult to lengthen. However, with proper care, curly hair is still possible to grow. Continue reading to find out how.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Washing Hair
Step 1. Limit the frequency of shampooing
Don't wash your hair every day. Washing your hair daily will strip your hair of its natural oils, and because curly hair is more prone to dryness, washing it every day can make it drier and more prone to breakage. So, wash your hair once every two days or a few times a week.
- The tighter your curls, the less often you have to wash them. If you need to wash your hair more often, try using dry shampoo between shampoos and your regular shampoo.
- Do not wash, rinse, then repeat when shampooing. This method may be suitable for people with straight hair, but not for those with curly hair. Wash your hair only once when shampooing.
- If necessary, you can wash your hair with conditioner between shampoos. This way, your hair won't be damaged by the sulfates found in most shampoos.
Step 2. Wash your hair and apply conditioner to your hair in sections
Curly hair can be very thick and stiff, so it may sometimes be difficult to reach it all at once. If your hair is very thick or curly, wash and condition your hair in sections.
- How large a section of hair is taken depends on the thickness of the hair. The thicker the hair, the smaller the section you should take.
- Consider using a shampoo specifically for curly hair. This shampoo will be more moisturizing and remove less of the hair's natural oils.
Step 3. Use a nutrient-rich deep conditioner every time you wash your hair
Conditioning your hair between shampoos may also be helpful if it's very dry.
- You may also consider applying a moisturizing/protective treatment after or between shampoos. There are several oil products and hair serums that can help "lock in" the hair cuticles and protect them from damage.
- Apply conditioner close to the roots of the hair. Generally, you don't need to apply conditioner more than the lower half of your hair shaft, unless the hair near your scalp looks very dry.
Method 2 of 3: Hair Styling
Step 1. Use your finger
Do not use a fine-toothed comb or brush on curly hair. Tools like this will only damage and make your hair break easily. It's best to use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to tackle any tangles before styling.
- You can start by running your fingers through your hair and then finish with a wide-tooth comb.
- You should also not brush your hair, especially when it's wet and more prone to breakage.
Step 2. Dry your hair by pressing a towel instead of wiping it to prevent moisture from escaping
Do not wipe the towel over your head when using it to dry your hair. You should only gently press the towel against your hair. The friction caused by rubbing the towel on your hair will make it damaged and break easily.
You can also replace the towel with a cotton t-shirt or microfiber cloth to dry your hair. Both types of material are generally finer than towels, so they are gentler on the hair
Step 3. Avoid styling your hair using heat
This includes the use of dryers, curlers, and hair straighteners. High temperatures will change the structure of the protein in the hair, so that over time the hair will become weaker and more susceptible to breakage.
- If you want to use a heater to style your hair, apply a heat protectant first to minimize the risk of heat damage to your hair.
- While avoiding a hairdryer is the best option, it can sometimes be difficult to do. So, if you need to use a hairdryer, you can turn it on at low temperature with a diffuser. You can also consider applying a curling cream before blow drying your hair.
Step 4. Avoid ponytails or buns every day
The occasional ponytail or ponytail won't cause serious problems for your hair, but if you do it too often, your hair will break more easily.
- Just ponytail or bun your hair loosely if you really like that style.
- Use a hair tie that doesn't get caught easily in a ponytail. Avoid hair ties decorated with metal objects, and of course rubber bands.
Method 3 of 3: Further Treatment
Step 1. Give a protein or oil treatment
Oil or protein treatments can both moisturize and repair hair, which means they can prevent breakage and keep your hair healthy. Most people will feel the benefits of using this treatment once a week or several days each month. The response generated in each person may be different. So, try several types of treatments before deciding which is best for you.
- If you choose to use a commercial protein treatment, it's best to balance it with a conditioner treatment afterward, or your hair will become stiff or prone to breakage.
- Natural protein treatments, such as using eggs or mayonnaise, may be beneficial for hair that doesn't respond well to commercial protein treatments.
- Hair oil is divided into two types: oil that locks in moisture and oil that moisturizes the hair. Moisture-locking oils are used on wet hair to protect and lock in moisture, while moisturizing oils such as castor oil and avocado oil are heavier and are intended for regular deep conditioning treatments. Heat a moisturizing oil and gently massage it into your scalp for 5-20 minutes to help moisturize your hair and promote growth.
Step 2. Cover your hair at night
Protect your hair by wearing a silk or satin hat, bandana, or scarf before bed. This protection will help prevent hair breakage and breakage.
- Alternatively, you can spray a little water on your hair and put on a shower cap right before bed to create a naturally warm and moist environment, so your hair will stay moisturized and protected.
- If you don't want to wear a shower cap, try sleeping on a satin or silk pillow, which will reduce friction with your hair.
Step 3. Trim the ends of the hair regularly
While this may seem to hinder your goal of lengthening your hair, untrimmed ends are likely to damage your hair and make it break more easily, resulting in stunted growth.
- Trimming dry, damaged and split ends improves the overall health of your hair, making it grow healthier and stronger.
- On average, hair will grow about 1.2 cm each month. If your hair ends more than 1 inch (2 cm) at the ends, it's likely that your hair isn't growing any longer.
- When you visit the stylist, ask to have your hair cut once it's dry, if he doesn't already know it. Or better yet, be sure to visit a stylist with experience dealing with curly hair. The texture and length of curly hair is different in wet and dry conditions, so cutting it dry is the best option.
Step 4. Control stress
Stress has a big effect on hair health. When stressed, hair is more prone to breakage and begins to fall out more than under normal conditions. So, if you want long and healthy hair, you have to control your stress.
Try meditation, yoga, or tai chi. All of these exercises are very beneficial for relieving stress that can lead to hair loss and breakage
Step 5. Take care of your body
Hair not only responds to nutrients applied to its surface, but also nutrients that enter the body. To maintain healthy hair, you must also take care of the health of the whole body by providing good nutrition and getting enough exercise.
- Eat a balanced diet that is good for health. Make sure to eat enough protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are essential for strong hair.
- Drink lots of water every day.
- Exercise regularly. You don't have to spend time in the gym all the time, just 15 to 20 minutes of moderate exercise a few times a week can improve overall body functions, including hair growth.
Tips
- Some people's hair growth rate is faster than others.
- Keeping your hair in a ponytail can help prevent breakage because it protects it from the weather, even if you brush it by hand. The hair will stay damp when it is gathered together. Just make sure to apply moisturizer and lock in moisture beforehand.
- Hair that stops growing once it reaches a certain length is just a myth. What's more common is that people with brittle hair have a harder time growing hair beyond a certain length because the stems break easily.
- The curlier the hair, the drier it will be. This is because the natural oils from the scalp are difficult to spread to the hair shaft, as a result the ends of curly hair are generally drier than average.
