Is long flowing luxurious hair possible for African Americans?  Of course it is!  Oprah Winfrey is a perfect example.  Before she permed it, her hair was the perfect example of what it’s like to have long flowing hair.  But what is your definition of “Long”?  To the person with no hair, two inches is “long”.  But for the most part “Long Flowing” means down your back.

OK, so why do  you want long flowing hair?  Because of the tight coil effect in which your hair grows,  your hair is in fact,  longer than it appears.    And in order for African Americans to enjoy the beauty of longer healthy hair there are a few things that you might want to take into consideration.

Long hair is the hairstyle choice for many people. For many African Americans, because of the dry texture of your hair,  some of you struggle with growing your hair long. Contrary to popular belief, African American hair actually grows at the same rate as other Ethnicity’s. It is the texture and tendency to break that makes it seem more complicated. Caring for African American hair is not difficult and one of the keys to long hair is to reduce breakage.

How do you reduce breakage?

• Avoid the use of chemicals. Natural hair that is saved from relaxers and dyes is the best route for longer lengths. These substances can break down your hair and make it weaker.

• Do not double process it because it will be too much for your  hair to handle. For example, if your  hair is straightened, don’t color it.

• Have a deep conditioning treatment.  This will help in rebuilding some of the natural nutrients in your hair and scalp.

• Apply light oil to your hair daily aside from conditioning treatments. However, do not apply it on the scalp because it tends clog up hair pores and leave a dirty residue. Your scalp already produces its own natural oils. If your scalp is dry or flaky, use a special shampoo and limit the amount of oil you apply to it. The dryness could be a result of the dependency it has developed from constantly oiling your scalp.

• Excessive brushing will  pull your hair out. Use a wide tooth comb or even the fingers when brushing. Some believe brushing can help distribute oils from the scalp but this is not necessary for black hair since the idea is to apply a small amount of oil on your hair daily.

• Also, avoid excessive heat in styling. Heat from blow dryers and curling irons can help dry your hair out and cause even more breakage. When styling your hair, use rollers, wraps and  natural hair care methods.

• Be extremely careful with styling equipment such as rubber bands or hair ties. These holders will break your hair if they are not used properly. When taking them off, loosen them slowly and carefully so the hair that’s being held does not break. Give your hair a break from styling occasionally.

• Braids or weave styles can look good but styles like these should not be kept in longer than two months at a time, as it will cause breakage.

• Reduce the Stress in your life.  When you’re under stress, it sets off certain chemical reactions in your body.    Your skin and hair are usually where you see signs of it manifesting.

We spend more time trying to “make” our hair grow, when in fact it’s always growing.  We just want to rush things as usual and not be patient and wait for the natural occurance of things to take place.

Let’s not forget that what you feed your bodies is just as important to the health  of your hair.  We’ll talk about nutrition in another article.  Until then ….. keep it simple, hydrate your body from with in, stop pulling and tugging on your hair and sleeping on a silk pillow case or in a silk scarf will ease the tension at night.

Dedicated To Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Publisher

NYRAJU Skin Care

http://www.nyrajuskincare.com