5 Reasons Why Your Natural Hair Stopped Growing
By Tiffani Douglas
So, you decide to transition. You see hella growth for months - nothing like you’ve ever seen with your chemically processed hair. Then, suddenly…skeeeert…the record scratches, and your natural hair stops growing. WTH? Truth: Unless you’re facing certain medical issues, or suffered permanent damage to your follicles, your hair is ALWAYS growing. The problem is you’re not retaining the length from healthy growth; that is, your hair is breaking off faster than it’s growing.
So, What’s Really Going On?
You’re doing something wrong. It’s time to evaluate and troubleshoot your regimen to get you back on track. Here are the five main reasons you may not be achieving the length you want.- You’re not moisturizing. Sis, now you know those curls need to be moisturized! If your hair is dull, brittle and lifeless, chances are you haven’t been adding the necessary amount of moisture to your hair care regimen. Deep conditioning and daily moisturizing are the building blocks of healthy curly hair. Without proper hydration, especially on the ends, your hair can start breaking. To prevent your hair from drying out, deep condition it regularly with Sea Kelp & Cucumber Hair Mask.
- You’re using too much heat. It’s okay to stretch out those curls and rock silky, straight hair from time to time. However, if you go overboard with heat styling, especially on already dry and brittle hair, it can cause your hair to break and lose its length. If you must heat-style your hair, use curly hair care products with a thermal heat protectant.
- Your hair is protein-deficient. If you notice your curls are limp, stringy or losing curl, it could be a sign that your hair lacks protein. Having healthy hair involves maintaining a moisture/protein balance. When your curls are absent of either, it can kill your hair’s elasticity, thus making your kinks brittle and prone to breakage. After you deep condition your curls, follow up with a Bamboo Protein Treatment to even the moisture/protein balance and promote hair growth. Remember, you can overdo it with the protein. One treatment every 4-6 weeks should do the trick.
- You’re styling too much. Okay, we know it’s hard to get the style just right the first time, but too much styling can lead to over-manipulation. Constantly combing, brushing and detangling causes breakage. Instead, wear protective styles which don't require daily manipulation. Additionally, style your hair with curly hair care products which protect your hair from breakage. Try Avocado Hair Mousse for styling and setting protective styles.
- You’re not taking your vitamins. Your hair needs proper nourishment to grow from the inside out. In addition to vitamin-rich curly hair care products, you might also need to add B vitamins to your diet or through hair growth supplements.