How to grow black hair long is a common question in the black hair care sphere. And I get asked what I use for my hair or how I style it. I’ve tried to explain it to people as best as I can. But I don’t think it is received well because I think people are shocked at how boring and basic my answers to their questions are. My tips are less “how to grow hair” and more of a how to maintain hair health.

Maintaining hair health and being careful with your hair reduces breakage. Black hair grows just like any other ethnicity. But the reason we don’t sometimes see it is because the hair is affected by breakage because of certain care habits. Contrary to popular belief, black people can and do have long hair and it is fully possible to have it.

The best methods will probably vary by how you style your hair. I’m a straight hair natural. I hardly wear my hair its natural texture. I’ve always had it stretched in some way. I blow my hair out with a blow drier and straighten it. I’ve also worn it twisted or in braid outs and twist outs or just a blowout without straightening for a couple of days before I flat iron it.

My Hair History

I had my hair relaxed for about 7 or 8 years. But I’d say going natural no chemicals is best for afro hair health. Not that relaxed hair can’t be healthy because it definitely can. Even when I was relaxed I was into hair care forums and researching hair care tips. And I came across many people with relaxed hair that was very healthy and long. I am NOT a hairstylist. But after wearing my hair both natural and relaxed, I’ve learned the same basic hair care applies no matter how I style it.

1. Moisturizing 💧

Dry hair is one cause of breakage. I don’t use hair oils or moisturizers everyday. I usually use them if I feel like my hair needs it. If it feels dry I will use an oil as a moisturizer or the serum used to straighten my hair if my style still looks fresh after a wash.

When I get closer to my next wash day, I switch to a cream or water based leave in moisturizer or conditioner like the one below.

2. Detangling and combing gently and Sectioning 🪮

I think a common mistake in black hair care is combing. I’ve seen people rip through their hair with combs before. Hair can get knotted at times but the best way to comb it is to be gentle and patient.

I use a wide tooth comb and start from the bottom. If my hair is wet after a wash I use a spray conditioner to comb. It’s usually sectioned in four. I spray a good amount on the ends and through the rest of the section before I comb. It helps the comb to slip though textured hair easier. And also it makes it easier to use the de-tangling method I describe below.

When I get to a knot I stop and pull the comb out instead of ripping it downwards. Then pick at the knot insert the comb on the bottom edge of the knot and it move downwards and out in short swipes. The knot will loosen and you’ll be able to comb downwards from that point. Then you move a little bit higher and do the same thing until you loosen more of the knot.

Another tip is to comb your hair in sections. This is especially helpful if you have thick hair or high density. It makes combing or detangling a lot easier. I usually do two in the front and two in the back. Or I have three sections on the left side of my head and three on the right going backwards.

And if it happens to tangle in its straightened state I don’t add any product just comb gently from the bottom.

3. Keeping ends trimmed ✂️

Stylists usually recommend trimming every six weeks. But I wouldn’t say hair has to be trimmed strictly every six weeks if you don’t want to. If you want to grow your hair it may be too often. But if you’re trying to trim off damage it would work well. I trim my hair myself and have for years now. I personally go off of how my ends look. If the ends are starting to look thinned or split I trim them. I check them every so often to see how they look. And I haven’t been told it looks funny so I guess I’m doing a good job. 😄

Hair will have at least some split ends all the time. If you’re styling by combing, brushing, or using heat all of those things will cause splitting. So just because you see split ends it doesn’t mean that it needs to be cut urgently. But when it has been a few months or you’re starting to see a lot of splits you can trim or dust them slightly.

Extra Tips from a Non Professtional Novice

Cutting Tip :Be sure to use hair cutting shears to cut if you’re going to do it yourself. Regular scissors can cause more splits.

Relaxer Tip: I think one of the most important tips for relaxed hair is to stretch the relaxer for longer than the recommended time and don’t overlap hair that has already been processed. Relaxers melt the bonds in the hair that make it curly and if the hair is over processed it will melt off.

Overall, there is no special formula nor one magic product or special bonnet or silk pillow that “makes hair grow”. Hair WILL grow. Basic hair care , trying products to see what works best for you, and making daily/wash day care manageable so that you can preserve your growth is what will be most effective.

Thanks for Reading

Amber ❤