HOW DO I GROW MY HAIR BACK?

Isn’t that the million-dollar question?

Generally, our hair grows about a half-inch each month, which means, that we might see as much as 6 inches of growth each year. But I know you’ve been looking in the mirror and you’re not seeing those inches. So, where the heck are they?

That answer depends less on your genetics and more on what you’ve been doing to your hair. Now, don’t get me wrong, our age, genetics, diet, and overall health have an impact on the growth of our hair. But a lot of what we see in the mirror is a direct reflection of how we’ve been taking care of our hair.

Here’s a list of things we gotta stop doing to our hair if we want for it to grow long and healthy.

I call these the Nasty 9.

1.     Direct heat (ie, flat irons, curlers). Direct heat is not a curly naturals’ friend, so you should really minimize/eliminate direct heat from your hairstyling routine.

2.     Relaxers and other chemicals. *Sigh*, please go back and watch the documentary “Good Hair”, so I don’t have to get on my soapbox today.

3.    Gluing wigs to your edges. Listen honey, rock your wig if you wanna, I promise I support you, but gluing wigs to your edges YOU KNOW is killin’ em and got you out here in these streets looking cray.

4.     Not protecting your hair at night when you go to sleep. Get yourself and your babies a 100% silk or satin pillowcase and/or bonnet.

5.     Overstyling. Unless you’re a famous hair blogger and you make a living doing your hair every day, stop overstyling it; do less, boo, your hair will thank you.

6.     Dirty hair.  Chile, please wash your hair every 7 to 10 days. This is a non-negotiable.

7.     Keeping hair in protective styles way too long. Queen, that crown has to breathe. Your beautiful strands need a good wash and deep conditioning so don’t keep them prisoner for months on end. And let your hair out for a little bit before you put the next protective style back in.

8.     Letting split ends stay for the sake of length. Ya’ll seen Frozen? Let it gooooooooo, let it gooooo, you don’t need those ends no mo’ . Get your ends trimmed as needed – and be honest with yourself as to when it’s needed. Neatly trimmed hair does a lot to improve the look of your natural hair

9.     Bad hair product ingredients. Do your best to stay away from drying alcohols, parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil (aka paraffinum liquidum)

So how do you grow your hair back? Here's the simple million-dollar answer:

Take care of yourself and your hair.

The health of your hair starts inside of your body with your diet. You hear it from everyone: maximize your intake of fruits and vegetables; spinach and berries are two great sources of beneficial nutrients.

DRINK MORE WATER. Yep, at least 8 cups. Add some lemon or cucumber to your water and go to town.

Get your protein in. Eggs are a great source of protein and biotin, and provide some zinc and other nutrients. Fatty fish such as salmon, are a great source for Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and a number of minerals/vitamins that help promote healthy hair.

Now, let’s talk about what's happening outside of your body.

You have to actively, consistently take care of your hair. This means regular washing, conditioning, and daily moisturizing with high-quality products. 

Do a diluted apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse once a month to get that product buildup off your hair and be sure to get those ends trimmed.

Do a strengthening protein treatment once a month as well. Use an egg yolk for best results

If you’re experiencing some hair loss (that isn’t due to a serious health issue or condition such as alopecia), you can use the Naturalicious Spanish Almond Regrowth Oil. It’s a lightweight treatment oil that will moisturize your scalp as it gently and naturally helps hair regrow. It’s for everyday use, with results seen in as little as 30 days.