Fast Growth vs. Slow or No Growth: Are You a Tortoise or a Hare?

Some people say it doesn't matter how fast you run, but whether or not you make it to the finish line. It's funny how we learn as kids that in the case of the race between the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race. You see, our parents and teachers wanted to encourage us that it doesn't matter how fast you finish, but that you finish. Well, the same could apply when it comes to hair growth. And yet, some of us keep trying to compare ourselves to other as if it's some kind of contest. But, how can we can compete with someone else when, well it's biology at work?

I am now 5 years natural. Woohoo!! I celebrate, dance, and pat my fro. And then, I go on some natural's hair blog and she talks about how her hair grows SO fast. Blah, blah, blah! And then, I feel like my fro isn't good enough. Does this sound familiar? Do you watch other naturals wishing your curls could grow faster than a speeding bullet? Hey, curly.. Snap out of it! Your hair is growing at YOUR rate. If you've had hair loss and other set backs, but you've got some hair growing on your head, then clap your hands and pat yourself on the back. STOP thinking your hair growth rate isn't good enough.

September 2011

Remember to celebrate EVERY milestone with pride and joy. Don't minimize the great gains that you have made. Why? Because every gain is moving your closer to your ultimate hair goal. It's just like with any other goal. Begin with the end in mind. If your goal is to grow your hair as long as you can, then stay the course and keep a pic of someone with the hair length that you want. On the other hand, don't lament about why isn't your hair so and so's length or as pretty as such and such. I've been there, done that and I have the medal to prove it.

Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't get you anywhere. I remember turning my back to the mirror and holding up a handheld mirror to look at the bald spot that I had in the center of my head. I cried. Looked at it. Cried some more, then laid down and cried even longer. But, when it was all said and done, I didn't keep crying. I went to the library and checked out books on natural herbs and hair care. I googled natural hair growth remedies and watched YouTube until I thought I'd say "Hello, YouTube" in my sleep. When the going get tough, the tough get growing. Yes, I said growing.

May 2013

Last, but not least keep a hair journal. Why? Because how will you know what you're doing right or what is messing you up if you don't keep track of it. List all of your staple products and the first ten ingredients. Write down every step of your regimen and notice changes (both  positive and negative).

This is a race, but it doesn't matter if you're the lumbering, slow tortoise or the super nimble and quick hare. At the end of the day, people won't know if it took you 1 year to grow a head full of hair or 20 years. You can rock your hair proud at every single length and not feel an ounce of guilt. You can rest assured that if you keep on running the race, then the finish line is in sight.

5 Dangerous Hair Practices That Cause Major Damage

There are so many great YouTube tutorial vids out there, but beware... Most of the persons doing tutorials ARE NOT hair experts. They are the experts to THEIR hair. Keep in mind what works for some does NOT work for all.

I was watching the viral video with the young lady who was doing a hair curling tutorial and she burnt off her hair. She was calmly talking and the smoke was sizzling as she continued to talk. When she pulled the curling iron away her curled hair was still attached to it! Oh, the horror!! Surprisingly enough.. I did the SAME thing to my bangs when I had relaxed hair. Burnt hair IS NOT a good look!!

I've decided to count down the top hair practices that can cause hair loss in some individuals. In fact, I have had personal experiences with many of these dangerous practices. It is my hope by sharing that someone will take precaution and not lose handfuls of hair.

TOP 5 DANGEROUS HAIR PRACTICES

#1. Using products that cause your scalp to burn. A little tingle is not dangerous but if you feel flames starting then that is a BAD sign. Wash your hair and scalp IMMEDIATELY and rinse it well. A few years ago I used a product by Dr. Miracle that caused the burn and I thought it was working. Instead, I ended up with red, irritated bald spots in the area where it was applied. I understand and recognize that some people love these products, but I'm sharing MY experience. Someone else might find that a specific natural oil causes and irritation.

#2. Using hair tools that rip the hair out and cause broken hairs. Combs that have close together teeth and hard brushes are a definite NO. While I don't totally finger detangle, I will say that when using combs and brushes, I am EXTRA careful. Wide tooth combs are way better than the combs with the close together teeth. Detangling brushes like the Tangle Teezer are great but can cause further damage on fine hair. Don't pull snarles. Take your time and detangle from the ends up.

#3. Using products with heavy dyes and fragrances. Some people are not sensitive to dyes and fragrances. But, then there are those of us who have to use products with no dye or fragrance. How does this cause hair loss? Skin allergies translate to scalp allergies. If it irritates your skin then it will irritate your scalp. I've had to return or throw away MANY products because the dyes caused sores and lesions on my scalp. I didn't understand the culprit until my dermatologist told me that I am allergic to dyes. While a product may seem enticing, I pass if it has dye in it.

#4. Using hair accessories that have metal pieces. Now this hair practice is particularly damaging. You find a beautiful hair accessory and you look forward to wearing it. So, you wear it in your hair then go to take it out. Chunks of hair come out with it. Why? Because the metal piece gets caught on some of your hair. Be CAREFUL. A pretty accessory IS NOT worth hair loss.

#5. Manipulating hair TOO tight to achieve a style. You want to achieve a high hair bun, two strand twists, or fake pony and you brush, brush, brush then pull it SO tight that your eyes are stretched. You've achieved the hair style, but your edges are thinning and other parts of your hair are breaking off. Was it worth it? I've learned the hard way that forcing my hair into certain styles takes a toll on hair length retention. Some styles just AREN'T going to happen until my hair grows a little. While some styles may NEVER happen. I've accepted that fact and I've moved on.

What are some dangerous hair practices that you feel stunt hair growth and/or cause hair loss?

The Hair Growth Chronicles--Operation Grow It! (Day 1)

I'm still a lazy natural even with my new hair growth regimen. Why? Because I am not obsessing over my hair growth despite documenting my experiences. I wear my hair in protective styles during the week and wear it out on the weekends. While I want to grow my hair LONG, I'm not thinking about it until I have to share what it is that I've done. So, without further adieu.. Here's my day 1 observations.

Last night I mixed about a little more than an ounce of Pimento/Jamican Black Castor oil with a strip of Miconazole Nitrate (MN) cream. The oil contains a mixture of  Jamaican pimento oil, Jamaican black castor oil, grapeseed oil, peppermint oil, and eucalpytus oil. I used an old oil bottle that has a tip. I vigorously shook up the mixture. Then, I lightly sprayed my hair with my spritz mix (water, aloe vera juice, JBCO, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, rosemary, lavendar, and tea tree oils. Next, I used the bottle tip to dab small amounts of the mixture on my scalp. Initially, I felt a small tingle that most likely was the result of the stimulating effects of the peppermint and eucalyptus oils. I wrapped my head up in a satin headwrap and went to bed. When I woke up my scalp felt refreshed. There is no feeling of itchiness or irritation.

I drank my cup of Yogi detox tea a few hours before bed. The tea tastes similar to ginger. It is bitter but it has a taste of spicy undertones. I think the taste will grow on me. The only effect the tea has had is that I have had to urinate more. This is due to the cleansing of my livers and kidneys.

I will be getting in my evening walk on the treadmill today. My exercise shoes have to be pulled out and I have to pull my treadmill down. I didn't use it for several months now because a few months ago I fainted while using it. I became fearful that this would happen again, so I stopped exercising on it. I used to run on the treadmill up to about 45 minutes to an hour a day. I've decided to power walk from now on and I may even get back to using my kettlebells. Working up a sweat, feeling good, and increasing my hair growth? That sounds like a win/win situation.

Before I forget I want to share my new refreshening spritz that I've been using for the past few weeks. My son has used it for his hair too and he shared his opinion with me. I asked him how he compared it to the store bought leave-in spritz I used (Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier) and this is what he stated. He feels that my homemade spritz "leaves my hair more moisturized longer". With his positive reviews and my great experiences, I feel the need to share my spritz recipe.

Rosemary/JBCO Moisturizing Spritz
Use 1 small (8-10 oz) spritz or spray bottle and fill it 2/3 way with water. Add about a tablespoon of aloe vera juice. Next, add about a tablespoon of Jamaican Black Castor oil. Then, a teaspoon of grapeseed oil and a teaspoon of jojoba oil. Add about 8 drops of rosemary oil, 5 drops of lavendar oil, 4 drops of tea tree oil, and 2 drops of peppermint oil. Shake vigorously. Your spritz is ready to use. Store the mixture in a cool, dry area.

Operation Grow it LONG!

I have always dreamt of having LONG hair. Blame it on fairy tales with princesses with LOTS of luscious hair. As a relaxed head, I often thought about my dark brown (almost black hair) swinging in the wind. Now as a bodacious natural, I want BIG fluffy hair. I'm not caught up on someone else's curls, I just want MY curls and I want LOTS of them.

So, what's a curly to do to get more growth? Well, I turned to researching more about my scalp condition, seborrhea dermatitis. This scalp condition is thought to be caused by a yeast or fungus overgrowth on the scalp. It is not the result of poor hygiene but rather, it can be exacerbated by a changing in seasons, stress, or certain cosmetic products. While digging deeper into this frustrating condition, I learned about some possible ways to manage and even almost eliminate it. That brings me to Operation Grow It Long!

I am committed to embarking on a renewed interest in fighting this scalp condition, getting good growth, and improving my overall health. Due to the nature of my problem, I'm attacking it from the nutritional diet and haircare aspects. I will be blogging about my experiences over the upcoming months to share my observations, celebations, and challenges. I'm doing this in hope of helping others with the same issue.

#1. Tea Detox.. For the next 30 days I will be drinking a tea detox which will benefit my internal functions. According to my research people with seborrhea dermatitis will benefit from a detox cleansing. I will be using the Yogi Detox tea which contains many natural ingredients, including clove and burdock root. The theory behind detoxing is that it will cleanse the body of any toxics that contribute to the overgrowth of yeast.

#2. Exercise... I will walk on my treadmill at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. I hope to increase my walking to most days of the week. But, I know I must start somewhere so I will start slow. Studies show that people who exercise are healthier and their bodies function more efficiently. Also, this will help to increase my circulation.

#3. Use MN mixture on scalp... For this one I did A LOT of research and prayed about it. For those of you who don't know miconazole nitrate (MN) is the active ingredient in Monistat 7. Yes, the vaginal cream. I know I will probably get some flack for using this on my scalp BUT my scalp condition is due to an overgrowth of YEAST. There are MANY testimonials on YouTube and on various blogs about how using the cream diluted with oils or water resulted in at least double the growth. I will be mixing a small amount to start with Jamican Black Castor/Pimento Oil. Diluting a small amount of the MN with oil will eliminate any side effects. According to my research some people have gotten side effects, such as redness and tenderness at the application site; ringing the ears; and increased shedding. Mostly, this is due to applying MN straight from the tube to the scalp. For more info on Monistat for hair growth visit http://suicidesevemonistat.blogspot.com/2011/03/growing-your-hair-using-monistat.html?m=1.

#4. Increase my produce (fruits and veggies) intake and decrease fatty foods and sugars. Unfortunately, I have some bad eating habits. While I drink A LOT of water daily, I have somewhat of a sweet tooth. Just the other week my son and I made some red velvet cupcakes. I devoured them to the point where my son complained that I ate more than my share. I think out of all things in my new challenge, this one will be the most difficult for me. Also, I have an obsession with bread and starch. I LOVE bread products and anything made with dough like pizza. I will be working on finding some healthy alternatives.

This is my plan to increase my hair growth and become healthier. As I've said, I did a lot of research to ensure that my plan was tailor fit for MY needs. I'm not advocating that anyone follow my lead. I have suffered with this scalp condition for years. I've gone to the dermatologist for years and then, I realized that what I was being prescribed dealt with my symptoms but I was not being healed. I go forth in this journey with excitement and anticipation.

Have you decided to change anything in your hair regimen? If so, why ? What are your plans?

The New Lazy Method to Hair Growth

I am always in awe of naturals, who have grown their hair to long lengths without a bunch of gimmicks or seemingly hard work. I have several long haired naturals in my family and I've always asked them the burning question "how do you grow your hair so LONG?" Most of the time they will shrug their shoulders and give that cursatory "I just wash my hair and condition it" response. Hah! I thought. Well, I began to watch them more closely. Not satisfied with observing my long haired relatives (after all, we share some of the same genes), I observed other long haired naturals. What I found common in their practices, helped me to become a part of the lazy naturals club.

#1. Minimize your products. The majority of long haired naturals don't use a million and one different products. In fact, they mostly have just a minimal amount of staple products that they use. Piling a bunch of product on top of product all the time, is just not what I see long haired naturals doing. This is not to say that you shouldn't try new products. No, I'm saying don't go overboard putting a bunch of them in your head at one time then waiting to cleanse your hair forever. Some naturals can shampoo once a month but at some point you have to cleanse to keep your hair follicles from choking on all the gunk in your hair.

#2. Style your hair then keep your hands out of it for the rest of the day. Notice I said style but not protective style. Why? Because I've seen long haired naturals who wear their hair out most of the time. My niece wears her hair down and she has mid back length hair (mbl). There are times when some long haired naturals protective style, but it's up to the individual. I work in an extremely hot environment, so I protective style 99% of the time because having my hair out makes me feel like I am going to pass out. Just make sure you're not constantly tugging, pulling, and picking at your hair.

#3. Balance your moisture and protein. I know some people say they are protein sensitive, but avoiding all protein is not a good idea. Why? Because hair is mostly made up of keratin, which is a protein. Using light proteins can work well for those who feel they are protein sensitive. Long haired naturals know when they need to add moisture or protein back into their hair. Also, I notice a lot of them co wash. Now I can't do co washing, because of my scalp condition, but I use little shampoo to a greater amount of conditioner. This is like my own modified co wash. I use conditioner that has light protein in it, so I get the best of both worlds.

#4. Eat, drink, and be merry! I see a lot of long haired naturals drink water and other healthy drinks, such as natural juices and smoothies. Many of them eat well. After all, the lack of nutrients can rob your hair, skin, and nails resulting in brittle, breaking, and severe shedding. Finally, keeping your stress levels low is beneficial as stress affects hair fall. In other words, try to be as happy as you can!

#5. Avoid chasing after EVERY gimmick! I was SO guilty of doing this that my wallet was screaming in agony over all the money I had spent on gimmick after gimmick. The new growth shampoo, conditioner, vitamin, and oil is always tempting to buy. Now, don't get me wrong. I use an oil called Wild Growth Hair Oil, but I'm not sitting here thinking that it's my sole source of growth aid. It has great ingredients, but I know that it takes more than just a miracle product to encourage growth. Long haired naturals use simple ingredients and their hair grows, and grows, and grows. Whether you use petroletum or opt for more natural products, the key is consistency and good hair practices.

I haven't been length checking my hair in a while and at this point, I'm subscribing to the "lazy" naturals method. I've automated my hair regimen to the point where I'm not overly concerned with length. I want my hair to grow, but I'm putting my overall health first. After all, healthy on the inside means that it will also reflect on the outside. While I enjoy hair forums, they also contributed to me doing too much. I would see a new product or method and feel the need to try it. Don't get me wrong, hair forums are an awesome source of information and if you're newly natural then it can provide a great support system.

Now, this is my new commitment to laziness. What's yours?

Part 2-My Hair Journey: How the Bald Spots Disappeared and My Self Esteem Soared

After suffering through one of the WORST natural hair salon experiences, I resolved to learn more about my scalp condition and learn how to care for my hair. Desperate for information, how to's, and tips I stumbled onto the natural hair community on YouTube. I developed almost an obsession for learning through product reviews, tutorials, and hair journeys. Among my favorite YouTubers were CurlyChronicles, African Export, and Kimmaytube. They have type 4 hair and it is well preserved. Their videos are pretty informative and helpful. Also, I learned a lot about DIY (do it yourself) recipes for spritzes, hair butters, and oil mixtures.

My hair journey about 2 yrs ago took a turn for the better as I learned that my hair thrives on natural ingredients. After using products that had awesome ingredients, such as shea butter, aloe vera, castor oil, and mango butter, I saw my hair change from brittle to breaking to moisturized and thriving. I could not believe that my hair was the same hair that was falling out horribly.

I remember giving up on the products that I typically found in the beauty supply store. All of the greases, pomades, and moisturizers promising the softest hair DIDN'T work for me. Frustrated, I gave up and just continued to work on mixing my own hair butters and moisturizers. While the moisturizers were fun to make; I found that I could never get my mixes quite right. I decided to go into the health store and there I discovered TheraNeem shampoo and conditioner by Organix South. Although it was more expansive then what I was used to, I bought it. I felt relief from my itching scalp and I continued to use it for several months. But, after a while the shampoo's effectiveness began to wear off. It was just as my doctor had said and I remembered that I had to rotate shampoos according to his instructions.

One day while walking through Target I saw a display on the outside of the aisle featuring a new hair product called Shea Moisture. Intrigued I went over and started reading the story of the creators, who now used their grandmother's shea butter preparations. I knew that raw shea butter in my hair worked really well. So, I began picking up the products reading their ingredients. I was impressed, but I wasn't willing to buy up a whole bunch of products, so I settled on the Coconut & Hibiscus Hair Milk. After using it for the first time, I was instantly hooked.

Over the next few months I tried out different Shea Moisture products including the Restorative shampoo, deep treatment mask, and moisturizer. I quickly learned that my hair did not like the raw shea butter line. So, I went back to the Coconut & Hibiscus line trying out the shampoo and curl enhancing smoothie. Instant love!! But, I still wanted something to calm my itchy scalp and that's when I discovered the Black soap line. The Purification Masque shrank the bumps on my scalp and took away the flakes. The shampoo was awesome and the conditioner worked well.

These last 2 yrs my knowledge and understanding of my hair has grown and changed. Initially, I did not know that my hair was curly and coily. I only knew the thick, thirsty kinks that resulted from my hair needing a touch up. Even as a child I had dry hair that poofed into a dry afro once my braids or plaits were taken out. My fear of water had disappeared and I run to water using it in my spritz to revive thirsty curls. Shea, mango, and cocoa butters in natural products provide a good sealant. Oils, such as Jamaican Black Castor, grapeseed, and jojoba are among my staples. I use store brought natural products along with my occasional mixtures of oils and butters.  Shampoo bars have replaced regular shampoo and dye free conditioners and stylers keep my hair moisturized.

What is the point of sharing my hair journey? I want to encourage ladies, who have balding, shedding, and breaking hair to not give up! Don't get caught up in coveting thick, luxious hair. It took my 4 yrs being natural to figure out my hair. Work with the hair you have in order to get the hair you want.

Looking back on your hair journey what do you now know that you wish you knew when you first started? What are your hair milestones.

Practical Hair Length Retention for the Forgotten Natural

Many of the hair growth and retention articles and videos provide standard hair growth tips- moisture, protective styling, healthy eating, and exercise. But, when you're a "forgotten" natural, you are a part of the groups who do everything right AND it still doesn't work, it can be very frustrating.  So, what's a forgotten natural to do?

Looking back on my natural hair journey I realized that although I thought I was doing the right things, I actually wasn't. My hair literally stayed the same length for 2 yrs until I found Youtube, began watching, and reading information about hair for myself. The next 2 yrs of my hair journey my hair grew longer and I was finally beyond the TWA stage.

Here are some tips that I learned along the way to moving from my growth plateau:

#1. Closely examine your hair regimen. Are you cleansing too frequently or not frequently enough? Are you using damaging hair tools (combs, brushes, clips)? Do you have a moisture/protein balance for your hair? Have you tried protective styling (no/ low manipulation)?

Don't try to completely follow someone else's routine. You may borrow parts of someone's regimen, but work on designing one for your OWN hair. For instance, I tried co washing and my scalp TOTALLY rejected the idea. But, using little shampoo on the scalp and generous conditioner on my hair works well for me. Unlike some naturals, wearing protective styles like mini twists for months does not work for me. But, I can wear my hair in twists for 7-10 days then cleanse and condition.

#2. Review your staple products. For years I was a severe PJ (product junky) buying every line of products that promised beautiful curls and coils. I kept switching from product to product and my hair suffered breakage and baldness. The light bulb went off when I found the right products that contained the right INGREDIENTS. I began product looping and using products within the same line and/or products with the same top 5-10 ingredients.

#3. Look at your diet. I had to have a serious talk with myself because I was eating too many empty calories (sweets and fats). I began drinking a lot more water and green tea. I added more fruits and vegetables to my meal. I even began taking a healthy lunch to work. I added a great multivitamin like Nature's Way Alive Women's Energizer to my diet.I felt better and it helped my hair to grow back in the bald areas.

#4. Consider going to the doctor and/or dermatologist. My balding and thinning areas were a result of a skin condition known as seborrhea dermatitis. The dermatologist was able to provide a prescription shampoo and ointment to help with the reddening, dryness, and itch. My condition has lessened, but I now use natural remedies, such as Chagrin Valley Neem & Tea Tree Hair/Body & Cafe Moreno bars to control my condition.

Hair growth is probably one of the biggest areas of concerns for naturals. But, the key is to remember than unless there is a medical condition then hair will grow. The goal is to retain length.

My Fav Product Staples
#1. Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bars- Babassu & Marshmallow, Cafe Moreno, Olive Babassu, Butter Conditioner & Neem & Tea Tree Hair/Body Bar

#2. Shea Moisture Yucca & Aloe Thickening & Growth line.
Anti Breakage Masque & Hair Milk

#3. Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie & Curling Souffle

#4. Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp & Tamanu Hair Treatment Masque & Edge Taming Taffy

#5. Wild Growth Hair Oil

#6. TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture conditioner

#7. Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, & Grapeseed Oil

#8. Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier