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Here’s how I did it
Long hair on black women could be normalized if we didn’t flood our heads hair with too many products, chemicals, and manipulation.
Long hair doesn’t require “good genetics [which is a whole different problem]” or a mixed background. Long hair is entirely up to how you manage your hair.
I’ve Always Had Long Hair
Long hair has always been my situation, and I’ve received the following questions several times:
“Are you all black?”
“Did you add some hair into yours?”
“Is that all of your hair? That can’t be all of yours.”
“You must have something else in your genes, right?”
Yes, all the hair in my pictures is 100% mine, and here’s how I’ve done it.
How I’ve Managed To Maintain Long Hair
If you’ve read some of my other articles, you’ll see that I have worn protective styles my entire life. The last time I wore my hair straight was in 2015, and before that, I took my hair out once a year or every couple of years.
I can’t speak for every head of African-American hair because we are all different, but I will say that protective styling is where I captured all of my growth. Even today, my hair is locked up, and I often wear it in Bantu knots as a double protective style.
Black Hair Requires Tremendous Care
Notice I didn’t say tremendous amounts of product; I said “care.” I have 4c hair, which means my hair can break off easily if I’m not careful.
If I’m wearing my hair loosely or straight, I’m creating more opportunities for manipulation.
Taking care of black hair = means manipulating your hair as little as possible.
Manipulation equates to messing around with your hair – styling, combing, brushing, braiding, twisting, blow drying, flat ironing, etc.
Any time your hands go in your head, you’re manipulating it. The less we manipulate our hair, the less opportunity we create for our hair to break off.
What does this mean? Choose styles that require the lowest amounts of manipulation. Throughout my life, I’ve maintained a select few styles:
Braids
Twists
Locs
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These are the primary styles that have rewarded me with insanely long-down-the-back hair. Would you notice how long my hair is from looking at it? Nope, this is because of the shrinkage, which is about 80% for me.
Fewer Chemicals & processes
Almost two decades ago, I received the last perm/relaxer – or the white crack. When I was getting the process done on my hair, I didn’t realize it was damaging; I only knew it burned. Thankfully, my hair was always thick enough to be unaffected negatively by the chemicals, but who knows what could’ve happened if I had kept putting the white crack on my hair.
For the most part, I utilize three things on my locked hair:
Jojoba oil
Hemp oil
Water
The other ingredient I might utilize is a leave-in conditioner if I ever feel I need it, which I often don’t. That’s it.
Less is more. Since I’ve eliminated all of my products (outside of the two light oils), my hair has grown healthier, longer, and thicker.
Products often promise hair growth and miraculous results, and there is often an urge in the black community to try several products. But deluging your hair with products can impede hair growth. Our hair needs to breathe; the best way for our hair to do this is to not put too much stuff on it.
Black Hair Doesn’t Require A Lot Of Work
I used to think Black hair required a lot of work. Okay, it still does, but only when it’s not in a protective style, such as braids, locs, or twists.
Single braids took me 8–10 hours.
Mini twists took me 1–2 weeks.
Sister locs take me four hours every six weeks, and I don’t do anything to it in between that time except water it, oil it, and put it in Bantu knots. That’s it.
Less Manipulation. More Growth.
The less you manipulate. The more your hair will grow. Now that I don’t have to manipulate every strand of hair [I only get my roots retightened] as I had to do with mini twists and braids, my hair can grow as much as it pleases.
I’m not encouraging you to lock your hair up if you want to experience exponential growth, but I am encouraging you to manipulate your hair less and utilize less product.
Whether your hair is thin, thick, balding, or damaged, there is hope. I’ve colored my hair several times and have damaged it, but our hair is resilient. If you treat it right, it will bounce back.
Cheers to healthy, strong, and gorgeous black hair. If you don’t already know: Your hair is f*cking beautiful.
Another myth African-Americans believe when it comes to 4c and the kinkiest hair types
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.