10 SECRETS TO 4C HAIR LENGTH RETENTION

One thing many naturalistas want but struggle with is hair length retention. We can assure you that the reason your hair length hasn’t improved is not that the hair is not growing; human hair is constantly growing. The reason it may feel like it isn’t to you is because of hair breakage. So until you get to the root of breakage in your hair and actually do something about it, you will have trouble retaining your hair length.

Hair length retention requires some work from you. It is basically taking care of your existing hair to keep breakage at a minimum. You really can’t control how fast or slowly your hair grows but one sure way to get your hair length goals is by preventing hair loss. In this article, you will learn ten secrets to maintaining your hair length. 

1. Moisturize and Seal  Your Hair

TBH, keeping your hair moisturized is one of the secrets to having healthy hair. Do you want to add volume to your hair? Moisturize. Do you want to keep your strands alive? Moisturize. Do you want to retain your hair length? You guessed it; moisturize, baby! Since hair length retention is basically trying to avoid breakage, moisturizing your hair will help you achieve that. Your attention should focus on your ends while moisturizing. This is because they’re the oldest and most fragile part of your hair. If any breakage is going to occur in your hair, it’ll most likely be the ends. We recommend using a water-based moisturizer and sealing it with oil or butter. Coconut oil, carrot oil, shea butter, and avocado butter are great for sealing moisture.

2. Trim Your Ends Regularly

Many people underestimate the importance of trimming off split ends for their hair’s health. Trimming your ends is not going to make you lose length, so dead that idea. Split ends are damaged hairs at the tip of your hair strands that suck up the moisture that your other hair parts need. Honestly, they’re a menace and you’ve got to let them go. 

FAQ:

How often should I trim my ends?

Answer:

We cannot answer this question for you. It depends on how often you need a trim. We recommend consulting a professional to get the best help possible.

3. Sleep With Your Hair Protected

Every self-respecting naturalista knows that their sleeping routine has to be favorable to their hair. Sleeping without protecting your hair will make you lose the moisture you’ve added to your hair. This will cause frizz and dryness in your hair, and ultimately breakage. To keep your moisture in, sleep with a satin hair bonnet or scarf. You’ve also got to do away with those cotton pillowcases and upgrade to satin. To get your satin hair bonnet or cap, visit our virtual store.

4. Wear Low-Maintenance or Protective Hairstyles

Your hair needs as little manipulation as possible to retain its length. Constantly tugging at your hair and roots will cause breakage, so keeping your strands tucked away in a protective hairstyle is a perfect way of maintaining your hair length. If you can’t go with the protective styling option, then you should opt for hairstyles that are low maintenance (do not require daily styling) like topknots.

5. Watch The Hair Accessories  and Tools You Use

Many accessories and tools like hair pins, clips, combs, and elastic bands do a lot of damage to the hair. Using elastic bands without adding some kind of moisture like oil can cause breakage. Similarly, using hair pins, clips, or comb with broken parts can break your hair. So, if you plan on retaining your hair length, you have to be careful with the accessories and tools you use on it. Always crosscheck your tools for signs of damage and also moisturize your elastic bands before use.

6. Wash and Style Your Hair in Sections

Working on your hair as a whole makes it more prone to tangles (especially for afro-type hair). The best way to avoid tangling is to divide your hair into sections. Apart from preventing breakage, sectioning your hair makes it easier to work with and for products to get evenly distributed. When detangling your hair, be very careful and gentle to avoid breakage.

7. Take Care of Your Scalp

It is not rocket science, your hair grows from the scalp so its health mainly depends on the scalp’s health. Taking care of your scalp includes treating it with utmost care. When washing your hair, massage the scalp gently with your fingertips – not the nails. Make sure you’re careful when using sharp pins and clips on your hair so that you don’t bruise or scar your scalp. Also, you must always keep your scalp moisturized with essential oils.

FAQ:

Which oil is good for the scalp?

Answer:

Avocado oil, carrot oil, coconut oil, and olive oil are great choices. They are filled with nutrients that help nourish and rejuvenate the scalp. If you battle with itchiness in the scalp, we recommend applying warm peppermint oil to your scalp regularly.

8. Avoid Tight Styling Habits

Protective hairstyles like braids, locs, and twists defeat their purpose when they are too tight. They pull at your roots which can cause breakage, especially for the hairs around your edges and this can cause breakage. When getting your hair done, ensure that they’re not too tight and that you don’t feel soreness or pain. Bumps and irritations are also signs that your hair is too tight. 

9. Minimize Heat Usage

Anything that strips the moisture off your hair is not going to help you retain length. Constant heat usage is dangerous for your hair’s health. Heat damage causes breakage in the hair, especially for type 3 and 4 hairs. If you must use heat, we advise that you use very low temperatures.

10. Use Products with Nourishing Ingredients

Before buying any hair products, check the ingredients to make sure there are no dangerous chemicals in them that can affect your hair. For example, avoid shampoos with ingredients like paraben and sulfate because they strip your hair of its natural oil. When you use products with nourishing nutrients, your hair will thrive and break less. 

Wrapping up, with these tips, we’re sure your hair retention game will be upped to 101%. But we want you to keep in mind that just as people differ from one another, so does their hair. So, you need to be patient with your hair if it seems like it’s not going the way you want. Remember, good things take time.