Five Bad Habits That are Sabotaging Your Length

You’ve been natural for months, maybe even years. Yet, your hair just isn’t growing. You’ve tried a variety of hair products, yet nothing seems to work.

What do you need to do to finally see some noticeable growth?

The problem isn’t your hair’s ability to grow. Most of us experience about a half-inch of hair growth per month.

So why aren’t you seeing that extra six inches of length per year?

The difficulty for most of us lies in retaining that precious length. We unknowingly do things that damage our hair and sabotage length retention. Let’s examine five bad hair habits that wreck retention of length.

Say No to Suds

Sulfates are harsh detergents found in most shampoos. They create suds. Yet, despite what many of us were taught, suds aren’t necessary to cleanse the hair. In fact, harsh detergents strip the hair of its natural oils, making it more susceptible to breakage. So don’t buy into the hype. Skip super sudsy cleansers and opt for a sulfate-free option, like Olive You Scalp Cleanser or Virgin Hair Girl Poo that will cleanse the hair without stripping it.

Ditch the Heat

Heat appliances (hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, straightening combs, etc.) fry the hair, causing irreversible damage. The intense heat turns soft, supple hair into a frazzled, dry and brittle mess that feels like hay. The loss of moisture and elasticity causes hair to break during styling and manipulation. Protect your length by nixing heat from your hair care routine. If you must use heat styling, save it for special occasions, and be sure to prime tresses first with a heat protectant product, like Curl Creation Styling Serum. 

Loosen Up

Protective styles can give your hair a much-needed rest, but avoid braids, ponytails and other hairstyles that are pulled too tightly. If the scalp feels tight, you’re in obvious pain, or small bumps form near the hairline, your hair is pulled too tightly. This stress can cause permanent damage to the hairline and cause breakage.

Say Goodbye to Metal Accessories

Cute accessories can add pizzazz to a hairstyle, but be selective about the hair accessories you use. Examine barrettes, hair combs and elastics to ensure there are no jagged edges or metal pieces that will snag or damage hair. Opt for ouchless hairbands and elastics. Your hair will thank you for it.

Beware of Moisture Vampires

Your sumptuous cotton pillowcase is wreaking havoc on your tresses while you sleep. The thirsty, absorbent fabric is like a vampire—sucking precious moisture from your hair. This dries the hair and causes breakage and tangles. To protect your length, simply cover hair with a satin bonnet or trade your cotton pillowcase for a satin one. The smooth surface will protect your hair from unnecessary stress and breakage.

To attain the long, healthy natural tresses you desire, you must protect the length that you’ve achieved thus far. By eliminating these five bad hair habits above you’ll take a major step in the right direction. Next week we’ll consider five things that are essential for a healthy hair routine designed to protect length.