Hair Growth Tips for Black Men
Learn how to avoid breakage and boost your hair health and you'll have longer hair in no time!
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Many black men want to grow their hair longer but have trouble
doing so. There are many reasons why it can be challenging for black men
to grow hair. Although black hair grows just as fast as other types of
hair — roughly a half inch each month — it is often very curly, fragile,
brittle, and dry. This makes black hair susceptible to breaking, and
the more it breaks, the shorter it seems. While genes and diet play an important role in how long hair grows, how you care for your hair may play an even larger role in growing black hair. Here are the latest hair growth tips for black men.
- Trim off damaged and split ends regularly, as they will interfere with the hair growth process.
- Keep hair clean. Clean hair and a clean scalp help hair grow faster. When hair is dirty, the dirt clogs the hair follicles, which makes it more difficult for hair to grow. But try not to shampoo every day, as black men’s hair is easily damaged, and daily shampoos can actually cause breakage. Cleanse with conditioner instead.
- Use the right shampoo for your black hair type. Not all black men’s hair is alike.
- Rinse hair only with lukewarm water. Hot water dries the hair and makes it brittle.
- Condition your hair every day. Each time you shampoo, use a conditioner afterward to soften and detangle the hair.
- Deep condition every other week. At least twice a month, use a deep conditioner that contains protein to strengthen the hair. Try a hot oil treatment with olive oil to intensely moisten the hair follicles.
- Be gentle with your hair when it’s wet. Don’t pull, tug, twist, comb, or be rough with your hair in any way.
- Never use chemical treatments on your hair. Despite making curly hair look longer, relaxers also slow the growth of black men’s hair.
- Avoid hot hair-care products. Heat from hot irons, blow-dryers, and other appliances damages the hair. Set your blow-dryer on a low temperature setting.
- Protect hair from heat damage by applying a protein lotion before you dry.
- Lubricate your hair. Applying a moisturizer to the hair can greatly reduce the amount of split ends and breakage and promote growth. But be sure to use only a little so your hair doesn’t become oily.
- Massage your scalp every day. Massaging the scalp circulates blood and brings nutrients to the scalp. Place both hands on the head and move your fingers in slow, circular movements. Your scalp should feel warm and tingly — that’s how you know the blood is flowing to the scalp, helping hair grow.
- Add vitamin B supplements to your diet, as vitamin B has been shown to help increase the rate of hair growth.
- Bone up on protein either by eating a high protein diet filled with meat, fish, eggs, avocados, nuts, and beans, or by adding protein supplements to your drinks, as protein strengthens hair and encourages growth.
- Increase your folic acid intake. Folic acid is critical to hair health and growth. You can easily eat a diet high in folic acid by making soybeans, green vegetables, and carrots a part of your daily menu.
Last Updated:
Monday, August 15, 2011
This material is written by members and has not been medically
reviewed. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of this
information is solely at your own risk.
