Growing curly hair varies. However, an average hair growth of ½ inch per month is considered normal. I used to think that only certain hair textures were able to grow curly hair fast. But, that’s not the case at all.
My kids had very little hair when they were born. My daughter was practically bald until she was about a year and a half. Her little brother had a bad case of cradle cap, which took forever to go away. It seemed like their hair would never grow. But, eventually it did. I stuck to a curly hair care routine that turned their almost bald heads into a head full of luscious curls. If you or your little ones, are looking for ways to grow hair, here are some easy tips on how to grow curly hair fast.
Grow Curly Hair Fast: Simple Tips for Healthy Hair
Moisture is the Key to Healthy Hair
Moisture, Moisture, Moisture
When it comes to maintaining length, moisture is key. My children’s hair gets wet everyday. This adds moisture to their curls and we also use shampoos and conditioners that have lots of moisture.
Don’t forget to seal in the moisture with oil
Every curly head is different. Some folks may have a sensitivity to coconut oil, but it may work well for others.
I have kinky curly hair, so my hair soaks up heavier oils like castor oil, whereas my kids’ texture can’t handle it. Argan, avocado, jojoba, and olive oils are also great options for sealing in the moisture. Your best bet is to try out different oils, and choose whatever works best with your hair.
Sleep with a satin bonnet or on a satin pillowcase
Once you’ve added all that moisture, keep those curls from drying out by sleeping with a satin bonnet or satin pillow case.
Protective styles
Let’s face it; kids are active. I’m usually picking out lint, food and other stuff from my children’s hair. One day I found glitter on my daughter’s scalp. The best way to protect her curly biracial hair is to do protective styles.
Bun and braided hairstyles work best. We spray her hair with water every morning and follow up with a simple braid or bun. This allows her curls to retain moisture and protect the ends, which is the oldest part of the hair. Protective styles are key to retaining moisture and length during cold months.
Her little brother, on the other hand, isn’t into braids. He rocks a wash-n-go all year long. But, I focus on moisture enriched products to prevent his curls from drying out.
Low manipulation
It’s fun to experiment with different styles and products. But, the key to grow curly hair is low manipulation. Keep styles simple.
Only trim when necessary
I’ve always been told that you should trim your hair every eight weeks. I totally disagree with that tip. As I mentioned, hair grows about a half an inch each month on average. If you’re consistently trimming every couple months, how are you giving your hair time to grow?
If you take care of your hair properly, then you won’t have damaged ends to snip. Focus on taking extra care of your ends – the oldest part of your hair. Make sure to keep them moisturize and keep them tucked away in a protective style, especially when the weather is cold and dry.
Things People With Curly Hair Should Avoid
Avoid pulling hair
If you think pulling your hair into a tight ponytail is a great idea to tame those edges, think again. It can ruin your hairline and lead to tension alopecia. The same can be said for braided hairstyles like cornrows. Small braids are okay in moderation. But, make sure you’re not braiding too tight.
Avoid using a lot of products
Believe it or not, your hair doesn’t need a lot of products. I went through a trial and error process with our hair where we tried a bunch of different brands.
But once I found what worked, we stuck with those products. We use a few different hair care lines and rotate once each bottle is finished.
Avoid heat
The worse thing you can do to your hair is apply too much heat. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with an occasional blow dry. But, I try to avoid it as much as possible, especially on my kids’ hair.
If we’re press for time and their hair is still wet, I’ll use a blow drier with a diffuser attached and place the setting on cool. I never dry the hair entirely with it though. The curls are usually left a little bit damp and we allow it to fully air dry.
On the rare occasion when I do blow dry my hair, I always apply a heat protectant to avoid damage. I also wait until after to apply oils.
Avoid using styling tools all the time
I’ve gotten some criticism for avoiding combs and brushes, but that’s what works for us. I don’t think I’ve ever used a comb or brush in my son’s hair. His sister and I rarely use combs and brushes as well.
When it comes to detangling curly hair, fingers work best. Finger detangling allows you to isolate the knots and gently detangle without causing damage.
Avoid teasing your curls
Backcombing involves holding your hair with one hand and using the other to comb hair toward the root. If your hair is curly, but doesn’t have a lot of volume, teasing your curls could lead to damage. Getting a fresh cut or using a diffuser could fill in those gaps and make hair appear fuller.
If you have a tighter curl pattern, separate your curls with your fingers. The same goes for twist outs and braid outs. Gently pulling curls apart will add volume.
Check Product Labels
If you want to grow curly hair, pay attention to product ingredients
I’m always combing through labels. Whenever I see a ton of ingredients, I usually avoid the product. I also pay attention to the type of alcohols found in products. For example, I refuse to use shampoos that have Isopropyl Alcohol. It’s often used in antifreeze and is no good for growing your hair.
I never use hair care products that contain Mineral Oil, which can coat the hair and prevent moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. Other ingredients to avoid are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). These types of sulfates lead to damage, and can penetrate follicle and pore openings causing skin irritation.
Curly Hair Shampoo and Condition Routine
Use less shampoo
It’s great to cleanse hair with a clarifying shampoo on occasion to get rid of dirt and product build up. But you’d be surprised by how great conditioners clean your curls as well. It also depends on your curl pattern. I may shampoo my 4c kinky hair every week or every two weeks depending on weather conditions. Then, I tend to cleanse my hair a lot more during spring and summer months because I lead a lot more of an active lifestyle.
My daughter has 3a, 3b curls which require more cleansing because her hair tends to get weighed down easily. Her little brothers 3c curls doesn’t need to be shampooed as much. I’ll shampoo each once a week and every two weeks respectively.
I co-wash their curls or just rinse with water in between wash days, which does a great job of cleaning their hair.
Use Conditioners With a Lot of Slip
Even though natural hair shampoos don’t contain sulfates that can dry out your hair, it’s still important to use conditioners that allows you to detangle your curls with ease. You can also make your own conditioners using ingredients at home.
If you want a pre-poo conditioner packed with protein, combine eggs with mayonnaise and honey for a DIY protein treatment. If you’ve got overripe bananas, mangos, and avocados lying around, don’t throw them out.
Mix them together in a blender to whip up a hair mask that has vitamins and minerals. The natural oils in bananas make your hair soft, manageable, and prevents split ends and breakage. Mango is packed with Vitamin A,B, and C.
It leaves hair feeling strong and promotes growth. The fatty acid found in avocado moisturizes, nourished, and strengthens hair.
Feel free to combine these ingredients however you choose. Follow up with your favorite shampoo and condition routine.
Detangle Hair When Wet
In order to grow curly hair, you must take extra care when detangling your hair. The safest way for getting rid of knots is to do it when your hair is soaking wet with conditioner. As I mentioned, fingers work best. But you can also use a wide tooth comb and comb hear from the ends to the root.
Another great way to detangle curls is to place hair under cool running water. The water will loosen up any tangles allowing you to easily comb through your curls.
Remember, You Are What You Eat
Maintain a healthy diet
I’ve talked about my post pregnancy hair loss on my blog and Youtube channel. It’s been a very frustrating experience, but I realized that my diet played a huge role in my hair loss dilemma. I wasn’t getting enough iron, B vitamins, and vitamin D. So I began making smoothies with veggies and fruits. I also began taking supplements to help regrow my hair.
When it comes to getting kids to their veggies, we all know that could be a huge challenge. The trick is to find what they like and run with it. My son loves bananas, so I take full advantage of his craving by making smoothies with kale, avocado, and bananas. He never complains as long as he tastes the banana flavor.
My daughter is a little tricky. She only drinks fruit smoothies. She seldom eats bananas and she’s not a fan of berries. We’re able to improvise with citrus fruits that are rich in vitamin C. She prefers apples, mangoes and carrots, which have lots of vitamin A, which promotes hair growth and prevents dandruff.
Follow these steps to a tee and you’ll on your way to grow curly hair fast.
Please share your tips on how to grow curly hair.
