QuoteReplyTopic: Advice for hair growth I wear braids Posted: January 12 2006 at 5:38pm
Hello I am new to this forum can anyone offer me any advice for hair
growth? I wear my hair natural but I keep it in braids (latchcurls,
corn rows). I take them down about every 6-8 weeks. As fast as my hair
grows out it breaks off again.
I have read about wild gro and other products. Are there any vitamins,
shampoos, or leave in conditioners I should use? I am currently using
nexuss products but thats it. Any suggestions would be helpful. My hair
is thick but thin around the ends. Its not very long. I would love to
have long hair. Please help thank you in advance. Please forgive me if
you have already answered these questions. This forum has been really
insightful about hair care.
Don't worry about hair growth. What you should worry about is the healthy of the hair that you have. Healthy hair rarely has any breakage. Since I became natural I have had nearly any breakage at all. My last Relaxer was over 2 years ago and my is about 13 inches long now in natural layers so it looks a lot longer than it is. So basically I am going to tell you what has worked for me and then may be you can work around it.
Products:
CON Conditioning/Detangling Shampoo
Nexxus Humercant Conditioner
Bumble and Bumble Leave in Con.
100% Shea Butter
WGO Wild Grow Hair Oil
100% Aloe Vera Gel
Redken Heat Glide
I usually wash my hair about once a week. I shampoo and then deep condition my hair for about and hour. Then I detangle (and stretch) my hair with the conditioner still in it using my beloved Denman D3 Brush. Then I rinse out the con. While my hair is still dripping wet I apply my Bumble and Bumble. Then I usually follow by braiding or twisting my hair using my shea butter and Aloe Vera Gel while my hair is still damp.
I try to stay away from heat but I usually end up using it once a month never any more. Because heat will kill your hair causing dryness, breakage, all that jazz. When I do you heat I use my Heat protectant. I mostly only straighten my hair in the winter because in Florida the humidity will kill it.
Heat damage or damage from wearing braids could be causing your breakage (therefore hair that doesn’t grow). Give your hair some TLC Tender Love and Care and it should start sprouting like weed in no time.
Hair Type: 4a/3c Natural
Hair Length: Mid Back (growing out Layers)
Hair Goal: Long Layered Waist length/ Super Healthy!
I also wear my hair in braid or twist 90% of the year. I have experience the same thing when I first started braiding (years ago)
It's basically the same as when your hair is loose. Moisture, Moisture, Moisture. I personally love the Better Braids products, (Braid Sparay and Unbraid Spray). I also use Infusium 23 on my hair every day when it's in braids. Actually I make a mixture of braid spray/infusium and spray my "BRAIDS" in the morning and at night. I say braids because I try not to spray my scalp every day. I section off my braids in scrunchies, hold the braids away from my head and spray the top and bottom. Nightly massages while bending head down also help.
I love Aphogee shampoo and recontructor. I do my own braids so I wash my hair about every 2 days and the night before I massage polysorbate 80 into my scalp, shower cap it then tie down the shower cap. Oh yeah and finally never go to sleep even with braids without putting on a silk scarf or bonnet.
I love braids because I can acheive 2-3" a month with them. As a matter of fact at the end of this month I'm back in my braids
you get real spoiled with braids. This combing and worrying about hair every morning is for the birds or as I would say in NJ boyds.
I'm so glad I found this website. I have had a wonderful experience. Everyone gives each other so much detailed information to help each other with their hair concerns. I really appreciate all of the information I have received.
I just wanted to say thank you. I am going to try these products
hopefully I will achieve the results both of you have. Thank you again
You better love you
Better love yourself first
Lela James
Layla, no joke in braids I can get at least 2" . I believe it's because I'm constantly massaging and can wash every day. Now out of braids with flat ironed or permed hair 1/2-3/4" because the routine completely changes.
I have 3Q hair which means I can name at least 3 ways in which it is quite difficult to deal with, quite dry, quite coarse, quite nappy, so for me to try and wash my hair more than 2x @ week with it loose is more than a job it's a frickin adventure in terror. Actually I have to have 2 days to do my hair because it is thick and takes all day to dry.
Better Braids spray, polysorbate 80, watered down wave noveau, aphogee shampoo/conditioner and massages is my everyday routine in braids.
We'll see in April when I take the braids down lol
Well for one thing if the braids are too tight that can cause breakage. I would take a break from braiding for a while and let your hair recooperate, the same thing happened to me but I gave up braids for good. For your thin edges some things that works for me is Mane N Tail regular shampoo, my hair go thicker, stronger, and I noticed new growth around my hairline. I also used sulfur8 around my hairline and scalp, but not into hair, sulfur8 works really great and helped stimulate new growth.
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I also wear my hair in braid or twist 90% of the year. I have experience the same thing when I first started braiding (years ago)
It's basically the same as when your hair is loose. Moisture, Moisture, Moisture. I personally love the Better Braids products, (Braid Sparay and Unbraid Spray). I also use Infusium 23 on my hair every day when it's in braids. Actually I make a mixture of braid spray/infusium and spray my "BRAIDS" in the morning and at night. I say braids because I try not to spray my scalp every day. I section off my braids in scrunchies, hold the braids away from my head and spray the top and bottom. Nightly massages while bending head down also help.
I love Aphogee shampoo and recontructor. I do my own braids so I wash my hair about every 2 days and the night before I massage polysorbate 80 into my scalp, shower cap it then tie down the shower cap. Oh yeah and finally never go to sleep even with braids without putting on a silk scarf or bonnet.
I love braids because I can acheive 2-3" a month with them. As a matter of fact at the end of this month I'm back in my braids
you get real spoiled with braids. This combing and worrying about hair every morning is for the birds or as I would say in NJ boyds.
BabyDimple, could you post your regimen and products you use while you are in braids. I would love to have braids, but, I'm scared of stressing my hair. It seems like you have it figured out.
Vanity 3 braids are easy to maintain, but just like when your hair is loose you have to be consistant.
Before I braid I make sure I get at least 3 deep conditioning with a cholestrol conditioner. Shampoo with Aphogee for dry/damaged hair. While my hair is drying I saturate the hair with ORS Olive Oil Lotion until I can see it in my hair. Dry and braid.
Once my hair is braided I then spray it with a mix of Better Braids spray and Infusium23 for permed hair (blue bottle). This spray I use morning and night. It looks weird the way I do it but ...
I put the braids in 4 sections w/scruncies. Holding the ends of the braids away from the head I spray the "braids" only until damp. Massage the scalp then run my fingers downward through the braids. I keep doing this until the spray is equally distributed. Move on to the next section.
Lately I have been applying MTG to the scalp at night this I do before the braid spray. Tie my head up and that's it.
I've tried just about every spray on the market and to me Better Braids give my 4a/b dry hair the best results. When I take my hair down I also use their Un-Braid spray. My hair is the softest when I take it down from braids, with very little hair loss.
Couple final tricks to making braids work for you;
1. If when they braid you have one eye closed from the pain -
It's To Tight - Stop them immediately.
2. Never let anyone add more than 4" more than your natural hair
if you plan on wearing them for more than a week. The weight of
the synthetic hair can pull your hair out from the root. (BALD) If
your hair is shoulder or above go for a nice bob with some swing
action. A good braider can have those braids curl under just like
your hair. (Armpit the absolute longest)
3. If you are starting with thin or weaken edges and have
conditioned, conditioned, conditioned have your stylist do
cornrows or twist in the front so that the weight of the hair is not
just on those few weak strands. I wouldn't do it at all, but if you
still want to - go for the cornrows or twist up front.
4. If you perm - wait at least 3-4 weeks before you braid so that the
permed hair is also supported with some stronger new growth.
5. Wash your braids at least 1x a week just like your regular hair.
OOOOO last a long post but I hope that helps because you can wear braids and not lose your hair. Remember - Spray, Spray, Spray you can never spray to much. This is a true case of more is better. This all my opinion only- someone who has been braiding and growing out peoples hair for over 25yrs with braids.
I agree with the comments on washing once a week and making sure the braids are not too tight. Also, make sure you moisturize daily. (more than once if needed)
My Hair Site Copy site: http://phoenix1017.sitesled.com
Current Length:32"
Vanity3
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Vanity 3 braids are easy to maintain, but just like when your hair is loose you have to be consistant.
Good luck post a pic when you get them.
Thanks so much for posting! I copied it into my fotki journal and of course gave your the credit!
If you don't mind, visit my fotk and give me your best advicei. I am trying to recover from thinning hair after a sew in and I'm transitioning. I have a particular braid style in mind. It is also in my photo album under "Hair inspirations."
Thanks so much again. This is stuff that they should teach in schools!
Vanity viewed your fotki and the braid style is exactly what I would recommend. Something that crosses over the thinning areas. Now, cornrows don't last as long as individuals, but in this case we are trying to let your hair recover. You will probably get 3 weeks/washes with them, before they begin to get a little fuzzy.
To help thicken definetly get the polysorbate 80 with biotin and niacin and start taken a multi vitamin. I've been taking a Mega Vitamin for hair from Puritan's Pride. If you haven't checked it out also you might want try MTG. It helped to speed up the progress for me. If you aren't allergic to sulphur you might want to try that also.
The poly will help promote a healthy scalp for your hair and the vitamins will encourage the body to produce the nutrients for healthy hair.
Finally patience is needed your hair didn't thin in 24hrs and I know it can be hard to wait but you must give your body & hair the chance to rejuvenate. I would say with daily massages, spraying your braids regularly, and the multi - in 3 to 6 months there should be a noticeable difference. Remember with your braids - SPRAY- SPRAY and SPRAY some moe. Do not let them dry out or your hair will fall out.
That should be the chant for this post - "DRY OUT, THEY FALL OUT" "DRY OUT, THEY FALL OUT" "DRY OUT, THEY FALL OUT"
If I forgot anything here it's probably in my journals. I'm not a licensed beautician or physician but I do know what I have seen work time and time again. http://journals.fotki.com/1babydimple/
Now I'm getting excited can't wait to see your update pics in June
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