15 Effective Ways To Grow Hair Naturally

Growing natural hair and retaining its length can be a challenge. If you are wondering how to grow hair naturally after the big chop, we can help. Usually, natural hair is extremely fragile and breakage-prone. It has a slow growth rate, and multiple factors may affect overall hair health.

Do not worry. Growing natural hair and retaining its length is easy if you follow the right hair care practices. Keep reading to discover the 15 essential hair care tips that will help you grow the curls safely.

How To Grow Healthy Natural Hair

1. Co-Wash To Prevent Dryness

Natural hair is fragile and breakage-prone, and as a result, it can be challenging to retain its length. Co-washing (conditioner-only technique) can keep it moisturized for longer, especially in colder climates. This hair care tip is becoming a staple in curly girl routines as it also helps you maintain the hair’s natural texture and curl definition.

2. Shampoo When Needed

Frequent shampooing can strip the natural oils, while an infrequent hair washing routine can cause buildup and hair fall. The key is to strike a balance. Wash your hair 2-3 times a week and co-wash in between. This will help maintain a clean and healthy scalp, which is crucial for your hair health.

From one study on 5793 US participants, approximately 29% of people wash or shampoo their hair every day, 31% do so three or four times a week, 26% do it once or twice a week, and 11% do so less frequently than that.

3. Go For Deep Conditioning Treatments

For strong, soft, and shiny curls, weekly deep conditioning is a must. A good deep conditioner replenishes moisture and nutrients, minimizes hair breakage, and helps your hair grow longer.

Quick Tip

After conditioning, rinse your hair with cold water. This will seal the hair cuticles, reduce frizz, and enhance the hair’s natural shine.

4. Detangle Carefully

Do not use your hair brush as a weapon against those knots and tangles. Aggressively detangling dry and unconditioned hair can damage the strands, make them frizzy, and cause breakage.  Always use a detangling brush and start from the hair ends, working your way up. Ensure that your hair is moisturized and conditioned while detangling. This is crucial to maintain long and healthy natural hair.

5. Say No To Your Cotton Towel

Drying your hair with a cotton towel can be harsh for fragile type 3 and 4 hair. Rubbing your curls causes friction, frizz, and breakage. Instead, use a microfiber towel to squeeze out extra water and pat your hair dry.

6. Avoid Excessive Heat Styling

Excessive heat styling can make your hair brittle and dry. Avoid using heat styling tools like hair straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers. If styling is necessary, apply a heat protection spray or serum and use the lowest heat setting.

Emily, a blogger, has followed a few tips for healthy hair and shared her experience in a blog post. She says, “The best thing I ever did was to stop using heat. Now I’m not talking about every kind of heat 24/7, but I haven’t blow dried my hair with heat in years, and when I do use hot curlers or a crimper I try and make it as infrequent as possible. (i).”

7. Protect Your Baby Hair

The edges are more prone to damage. Make sure you protect your edges and care for them too. Use leave-in serums to keep the baby hair strands nourished and healthy.

8. Go For Regular Trims

Although this tip may seem counterintuitive, trimming your ends will help your natural hair grow longer. Regular trims eliminate split ends and knots and promote healthier and faster hair growth. Trim your hair every 4-5 months to keep your Afro-textured hair looking healthy.

9. Follow The LOC Method

The liquid, oil, and cream (LOC) method is a way to prevent moisture loss and keep the hair smooth and soft. It involves using a leave-in conditioner or water-based product to hydrate the hair, followed by hair oil application to lock in moisture and applying a cream-based product to close the hair cuticles. This method reduces frizz and makes your hair soft and manageable.

10. Switch To Protective Styling

A protective hairstyle prevents unwanted hair damage and is the best option when you are trying to grow your hair. Pick a hairstyle according to your hair type. You may go for box braids, cornrows, and bantu knots. However, get them done professionally to avoid rough handling and breakage.

11. Use A Satin Scarf Or Pillowcase

Satin scarves and pillowcases minimize friction while you twist and turn in your sleep. This minimizes hair fall and breakage.

Quick Tip

Before bedtime, gather your curls into a loose pineapple hairstyle using a satin scrunchie to reduce the risk of hair breakage.

12. Use Nourishing Hair Products

Choose shampoos and conditioners according to your scalp and hair hair type. If you have an oily scalp and hair, you can use products that contain sulfates. Use sulfate-free products if you have frizzy and chemically treated hair. Opt for products that contain plant oils, keratin, and ceramides. Understand which components work for your hair type and read the ingredient list before buying any product.

13. Pre-Poo Your Curls

Pre-poo

involves massaging your scalp with a nourishing hair oil before shampooing. Scalp massage may help stretch the hair follicles cells. This, in turn, may help boost hair growth and thickness. Further, it also helps dilate the blood vessels beneath the scalp, which increases blood circulation. This, in turn, may bring more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, boosting hair growth and giving it a healthier and stronger appearance (1). However, more studies are warranted in this regard.

This pre-treatment makes your hair softer and prevents excess moisture loss while shampooing. Use nourishing oils like coconut, castor, and argan oils to strengthen your hair shaft. Apply light-to-medium pressure with your fingertips to the scalp. Do it for at least 5 minutes. If you are not comfortable using your fingers, you can use a scalp massager to massage the scalp and ensure the oil gets soaked in.

14. Opt For ACV And Beer Rinses

If your hair is starting to look dry or lacks enough moisture, you can use beer or apple cider vinegar as a post-wash rinse.  They help maintain the scalp pH, clean product buildup, and add shine to your hair. However, always dilute the ACV with water before using it.

15. Follow A Balanced And Nutrient-Rich Diet

Your hair health is related to your overall health, and a nutritious diet can help boost faster hair growth and maintain healthy locks.  Consume foods rich in iron, biotin, fatty acids, vitamins A, D, and E, folic and amino acids, niacin, antioxidants, and proteins to prevent hair loss (2)
These nutrients and antioxidants regulate scalp moisture and reduce oxidative stress to maintain hair health. You may consume foods like green leafy vegetables, seafood, poultry (eggs and chicken), nuts and seeds, and whole grains. You may take supplements after consulting a doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does rice water grow hair?

Yes. Studies show that rice water may be useful in enhancing hair growth and treating hair loss issues (3).

What oil makes hair grow fast?

Peppermint, jojoba, lavender, and coconut oils work wonders for providing nourishment to hair and protecting it against damage (4), (5), (6). Therefore, they may help promote hair growth.

What causes hair to grow fast?

The speed of hair growth in an individual is determined by their genetic make-up. This speed could be affected by various factors like age, pollution, stress, diet, medical conditions, etc. Consult a doctor, and they may advise you to change your diet or prescribe vitamin and nutrient supplements to improve hair growth.

Does aloe vera grow hair?

Aloe vera may promote healthy hair growth. Studies have shown that aloe vera has properties that could ensure good health of hair (7). Anecdotal evidence suggests using aloe vera is good for hair growth.

Is it good to sleep with oil in your hair?

No. Leaving oil in your hair for one-two hours is good enough. It is okay to sleep with oil in your hair once in a while, but it is best not to make a habit of it as the oil could form a seal over your scalp, clog the pores on your scalp, and result in buildup.

Does oiling hair make it grow faster?

There is not enough scientific research to prove that oiling has any effect on hair growth. But it only nourishes and strengthens your tresses and help boost blood circulation to the scalp which, in turn, may help hair grow faster.

If you are looking to achieve longer hair, the tips provided in this video might be helpful. The creators share how they were able to grow their hair long in a short amount of time. Check out the video now!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Saloni Vora-GalaMBBS, DDV

     

Dr. Saloni Vora-Gala has over 8 years of experience in the field of dermatology and cosmetology, managing and treating common skin, hair, and nail-related issues as well as social issues like leprosy and venereological diseases.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

 

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.

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