LBS Beauty: 4 Tips for Natural Hair Growth

natural-hair-growth-tipsAs we’re about to embark on another fall/winter season (deep sigh), I’ve already started to consider what steps I plan on taking to maximize my hair growth potential. I was going through my Natural Hair archives and stumbled on this old post about My Blowout Month back in 2012. Within it, I listed some important tips for growing out your natural hair. Many of these truths still hold true so I decided to dust off the list and add a new best practice to it. This upcoming Fall season, aside from experimenting with a few hair vitamins now that I’m no longer breastfeeding BabyBrownSugar, I plan on implementing these 4 tips for natural hair growth below.

1. Limit heat-styling.

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It’s hard, yes. But you can do it! As someone who has been addicted on & off to the creamy crack, press & curls, and blowdrying, I know it’s a hard habit to beat. But letting your natural curls grow without applying heat is a great way to protect them from damage and breakage. Do a heat-free challenge for a few months and you’ll begin to notice a clear difference in your hair’s texture and strength. And there are TONS of cute styles to get into that don’t involve heat at all.

2. Do more protective styling.

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Way back in 2012, I wrote a post for Carol’s Daughter Transitioning Movement site about this very principle. Protective styling isn’t just braids, weaves and wigs. Believe it or not, rocking a turban out one day is a protective style! Wearing your hair in a loose bun is another protective style. As long as your ends are being covered and shielded from the harsh elements, you’re protective styling. And more of it leads to less breakage and therefore more length retention.

RELATED: 5 Tips For Growing Long Healthy Natural Hair

3. Condition, condition, condition.

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I live by my weekly deep conditioner. Whichever deep conditioner you choose, try to make sure it incorporates natural ingredients that will nourish your hair and scalp. You can also make DIY deep conditioners (there are tons of YouTube vids for this). Making sure your hair is properly conditioned is the best way to assure proper length retention.

4. Eat Right & Exercise

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Sounds simple enough but you would be surprised how many people complain about lack of hair growth when they refuse to feed their bodies and keep hydrated! Your hair’s health really does start from within. The better you feel on the inside, the more lustrous your locks. So drink your 8 glasses a day and live an active lifestyle. Your curls will thank you.

 What do YOU do to unlock your growth potential?

Christina Brown

Lifestyle influencer and digital mompreneur Christina S. Brown is a New York native, LA resident, and the founder of LoveBrownSugar.com and BrownGirlsLove. She's an award-winning storyteller, a motivational speaker and an advocate for confident millennial black women.