Reasons for why afro hair doesn't retain length?

[katblack]

I like to take a scienific view at these matters every once in a while, and one thing in class I learned for sure is data/concensus/hypothesis. Whatever you want to call it let's just say insider tipsThis will not be a debate, just personal opinions why afro hair is consistently lacking in the retention game.

Disclaimer- This does not mean I agree or disagree with the title of the thread

My theory:
- too much use of styling products,
-a general over obssession with styles and having to look on par, equaling to hair breakage.
-Little to no cleansing (compared to others)
-Little to no trimming (more like none)
-Lack of knowledge on how to take care of hair (natural or altered)

I wont go on, that's just some of what I think causes it. Of course our hair is dry and prone to breakage? But that still doesn't mean it should retain so little. I want to hear opinions (of course not facts, unless you have sources)

 

[Queen_Earth]

for ME (and only ME)...my problems have been
--lack of knowledge for how to care for my hair (the BIGGEST problem which causes hella setbacks when trying to determine a regimen that is best for my hair)
--not being able to figure out how to keep hair from knotting/tangling and thus causing it to knot up with my other hairs resulting in breakage

HOWEVER, I am getting better and every week I see the improvement in my hair....before I went natural the longest my hair had ever been was barely touching shoulders NOW it is the longest it has EVER been and I am learning how to take care of it so that it continues to grow and thrive (THANK GOD FOR LHCF)...I swear I would be a bald eagle otherwise

 

[youwillrise]

for me...

too much manipulation

so i've started wearing styles where my ends are hidden

 

[wheezy807]

I like to take a scienific view at these matters every once in a while, and one thing in class I learned for sure is data/concensus/hypothesis. Whatever you want to call it let's just say insider tipsThis will not be a debate, just personal opinions why afro hair is consistently lacking in the retention game.

Disclaimer- This does not mean I agree or disagree with the title of the thread

My theory:
- too much use of styling products,
-a general over obssession with styles and having to look on par, equaling to hair breakage.
-Little to no cleansing (compared to others)
-Little to no trimming (more like none)
-Lack of knowledge on how to take care of hair (natural or altered)

I wont go on, that's just some of what I think causes it. Of course our hair is dry and prone to breakage? But that still doesn't mean it should retain so little. I want to hear opinions (of course not facts, unless you have sources)

Basicly it all boils down to this imo.

 

[Fine 4s]

I like to take a scienific view at these matters every once in a while, and one thing in class I learned for sure is data/concensus/hypothesis. Whatever you want to call it let's just say insider tipsThis will not be a debate, just personal opinions why afro hair is consistently lacking in the retention game.

Disclaimer- This does not mean I agree or disagree with the title of the thread

My theory:
- too much use of styling products,
-a general over obssession with styles and having to look on par, equaling to hair breakage.
-Little to no cleansing (compared to others)
-Little to no trimming (more like none)
-Lack of knowledge on how to take care of hair (natural or altered)

I wont go on, that's just some of what I think causes it. Of course our hair is dry and prone to breakage? But that still doesn't mean it should retain so little. I want to hear opinions (of course not facts, unless you have sources)

An obsession with styles does not cause hair breakage IMO and neither does the desire 'to look on par.'

As someone already mentioned it all boils down to your last line...

 

[charmtreese]

for ME it was:

*Finding the right products for my hair type
*Decreasing manipulation
*dusting / search & destroy instead of regular trimming (something I just recently started)

 

[godsflowerrr]

I think that lack of knowledge is the key

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

for me...

too much manipulation

so i've started wearing styles where my ends are hidden

"Why must i cryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy" Is that quote from our homie on youtube????

 

[Ganjababy]

I think our hair is more fragile compared to others and so needs extra care. I think that the tighter the coils/kinks/naps the more delicate our hair is so to retain length we need to go that extra. Though relaxer straightens the hair, relaxed hair is also fragile because the bonds are broken due to the chemical process leading to weaker hair compared to natural unprocessed hair. However some people do not know how to care for their hair and some people just refuse to take the extra care needed to look after their hair because they do not believe their har can grow or retain length or they just cannot be bothered and prefer to take the easy route of maintaining a short do or wear extensions/wigs. I do know that if you know how to care for your hair, it can grow long, no matter how tight the coils/kinks/naps are.

 

[imaccami]

My theory:
- too much use of styling products,
-a general over obssession with styles and having to look on par, equaling to hair breakage.
-Little to no cleansing (compared to others)
-Little to no trimming (more like none)
-Lack of knowledge on how to take care of hair (natural or altered)

I completely agree with each of these points except for the obsession for styles. When I'm out and about I don't see a lot of black women with hair that looks like they did anything with it. I guess a lot of black women have given up.

QUOTE:
However some people do not know how to care for their hair and some people just refuse to take the extra care needed to look after their hair because they do not believe their har can grow or retain length or they just cannot be bothered and prefer to take the easy route of maintaining a short do or wear extensions/wigs.

I agree with this also.

ETA: Yeah for some reason stylists are ALWAYS trimming, claiming that the ends are damaged. This holds a lot of women back because they go to a decent stylist who keeps their hair healthy, but trims off all the length they have gained.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

I disagree with the trimming thing. I think with us, our styles are more adamant about us trimming our hair every time we go in for services.

 

[Eiano]

for me...

too much manipulation

so i've started wearing styles where my ends are hidden

The most important factor which has helped me grow my hair the longest it's been...Especially when you're into a relaxer stretch: too much manipulation on the roots, not enough TLC for the ends.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I don't have a problem with length retention. It just is not that visible with shrinkage. In fact, my natural hair has grown faster than my relaxed hair. I think that daily Cwing helps. I really think that we "trim" out hair so much that it seems our hair is not growing. I really am not the best at protective styling, either. It's mostly wash n go.

 

[anon123]

for me...

too much manipulation

so i've started wearing styles where my ends are hidden

this combined with the fragile nature of the hair. I certainly don't manipulate my hair as much as straighter hair types, seeing as how I only comb my hair once a week max. But every time I do, it breaks.

 

[ycj]

I am so glad this thread was started. I have been wondering why my hair is growing in so slowly. And for me only my personal opinion is my hair from touching it today does needs to be dusted or trimmed. I felt those little knots at the ends and I think they are preventing the retention in length and growth. I do moist. every day most times 2 times a day but the knots are still there. I have been trying to find a solution to this knotting problem and still to my dismay have'nt. But I will be going in for a trim next week to see what and how my hair will react. I am also very interested in Godsflower Hydratherma products. I've read so many good and bad things about them. But as we all know everyone's hair is not the same, so everything does not work for everybody. My hair seemed to grow alot faster when I had a relaxer tho, that's for sure. But I don't want to go back to one just to get my length back. I will keep everyone updated after my trim and the preceeding weeks about the growth. Just to see will that make a difference. Wish me luck!

 

[msa]

It's a combination of factors.

The turns, curves, and zigzags of coily, kinky, highly textured hair are points where breakage can happy easily. And it is more difficult for the natural scalp sebum to travel down the hair shaft because it's obstructed by the kinks and coils, leading to drier hair.

Combine those two factors with the fact that people are not knowledgeable about haircare, use techniques that are designed for and work best with straight hair, and try to force their hair through chemicals & heat to do things it isn't naturally meant to do, you have a lot of short haired black women.

It's really difficult to retain length when you don't understand that highly textured hair is fundamentally different than straight hair, and therefore you cannot use the same techniques that straight haired folks use. Simple things like combing and washing are detrimental to length retention when you're not using the best technique for your hair.

 

[katblack]

An obsession with styles does not cause hair breakage IMO and neither does the desire 'to look on par.'

As someone already mentioned it all boils down to your last line...

We are speaking generally, most doesn't apply to LHCF'ers, but those who have a different style every week usually have little to no hair, IMO, especially when coupled with lack of knowledge.
By all means make your own opinions, I want to hear what you wonderful ladies think!

 

[katblack]

I think our hair is more fragile compared to others and so needs extra care. I think that the tighter the coils/kinks/naps the more delicate our hair is so to retain length we need to go that extra. Though relaxer straightens the hair, relaxed hair is also fragile because the bonds are broken due to the chemical process leading to weaker hair compared to natural unprocessed hair. However some people do not know how to care for their hair and some people just refuse to take the extra care needed to look after their hair because they do not believe their har can grow or retain length or they just cannot be bothered and prefer to take the easy route of maintaining a short do or wear extensions/wigs. I do know that if you know how to care for your hair, it can grow long, no matter how tight the coils/kinks/naps are.

Just a thought, my friend and I are always talking about hair, and we talk about how afro hair and how it's quote unquote weaker? Well, how would anyone know if that statement is true or not? STRAND TEST! That's right I took a strand from my caucasion friends hair and my own popped both with equal difficulty. My mother's strands is even harder to pop.
Point of my little story is I wonder if this whole "afro hair weaker than euro hair", I wonder if it's just another way to make us feel insecure.

 

[katblack]

I am so glad this thread was started. I have been wondering why my hair is growing in so slowly. And for me only my personal opinion is my hair from touching it today does needs to be dusted or trimmed. I felt those little knots at the ends and I think they are preventing the retention in length and growth. I do moist. every day most times 2 times a day but the knots are still there. I have been trying to find a solution to this knotting problem and still to my dismay have'nt. But I will be going in for a trim next week to see what and how my hair will react. I am also very interested in Godsflower Hydratherma products. I've read so many good and bad things about them. But as we all know everyone's hair is not the same, so everything does not work for everybody. My hair seemed to grow alot faster when I had a relaxer tho, that's for sure. But I don't want to go back to one just to get my length back. I will keep everyone updated after my trim and the preceeding weeks about the growth. Just to see will that make a difference. Wish me luck!

If you feel as if your hair is not growing as fast perhaps it's not. The main key is to keep your hair well hydrated and moisturized. Also make sure your diet is supplement proper hair growth, meaning your hair is growing out strong and not weakened to begin with. Try a detox and try using products tht help keep moisture. I do a honey rinse and also seal with castor oil.

 

[katblack]

It's a combination of factors.

The turns, curves, and zigzags of coily, kinky, highly textured hair are points where breakage can happy easily. And it is more difficult for the natural scalp sebum to travel down the hair shaft because it's obstructed by the kinks and coils, leading to drier hair.

Combine those two factors with the fact that people are not knowledgeable about haircare, use techniques that are designed for and work best with straight hair, and try to force their hair through chemicals & heat to do things it isn't naturally meant to do, you have a lot of short haired black women.

It's really difficult to retain length when you don't understand that highly textured hair is fundamentally different than straight hair, and therefore you cannot use the same techniques that straight haired folks use. Simple things like combing and washing are detrimental to length retention when you're not using the best technique for your hair.

I seem to be quoting everyone. You make very great points. The whole sebum thing seems like a joke to me because caucasions wash their hair almost everyday and some of us know with the water only method, sebum actually get's a chance to travel down our lengths(mind you it takes months). Meaning if your shampooing and even conditioning you take away the ability for your hair to have sebum travel down it's lengths. That along with other so called facts are questios unanswered in my head.

Our kinks, well I have recently started a no comb method and it works wonders. Our hair likes to clump together and with combs and brushes we are removing them from their natural tendency, aka breakage (sometimes).

Why can't their be a black kinky hair bible?

 

[msa]

Just a thought, my friend and I are always talking about hair, and we talk about how afro hair and how it's quote unquote weaker? Well, how would anyone know if that statement is true or not? STRAND TEST! That's right I took a strand from my caucasion friends hair and my own popped both with equal difficulty. My mother's strands is even harder to pop.
Point of my little story is I wonder if this whole "afro hair weaker than euro hair", I wonder if it's just another way to make us feel insecure.

Well, our hair does have more points where breakage is likely to occur. Every bend and turn is a fragile spot. Our hair isn't "weaker", just more fragile or susceptible to breakge when using the same technique someone with straight hair may use, like combing.

I seem to be quoting everyone. You make very great points. The whole sebum thing seems like a joke to me because caucasions wash their hair almost everyday and some of us know with the water only method, sebum actually get's a chance to travel down our lengths(mind you it takes months). Meaning if your shampooing and even conditioning you take away the ability for your hair to have sebum travel down it's lengths. That along with other so called facts are questios unanswered in my head.

Our kinks, well I have recently started a no comb method and it works wonders. Our hair likes to clump together and with combs and brushes we are removing them from their natural tendency, aka breakage (sometimes).

Why can't their be a black kinky hair bible?

The sebum thing is true, but kind of in a vacuum. Like if you too a coily haired person and a straight haired person and had them both not wash their hair for a while, the straight haired person's sebum would find it easier to travel down the strand.

Obviously washing and conditioning, no matter the type of hair, affects how sebum travels and how effective it can be.

As far as the kinky hair bible, we each have to come up with our own. That's why there are so many blogs and haircare sites dedicated to kinky hair. Personally, my bible says no combs, no relaxers, no straightening, water your hair like a plant, use oil for lubrication, don't put synthetic products on your hair, and just let it be. But just like in Christianity, everyone's bible is different.

 

[CandacyEliz]

One major reason is disbelief

Many folks that I know truly believe that genetics ALONE has the most to do with hair growth...

They don't know any better and won't allow themselves to believe that a black woman's hair can be long

When I say, I'm going to grow my hair down my back, they look at me like HUH? They continue to weave it up out of necessity and leave their hair behind

 

[Fleurzty]

Lack of knowledge and public misconception about Afro textures is the main reason that it "seems" to not grow. I have yet to meet one person who's developed an understanding of their hair coupled with better choices of products and styles whose hair did not flourish. And, of course, I am not speaking of those who have a medical condition slowing their growth.

 

[MissNina]

I like to take a scienific view at these matters every once in a while, and one thing in class I learned for sure is data/concensus/hypothesis. Whatever you want to call it let's just say insider tipsThis will not be a debate, just personal opinions why afro hair is consistently lacking in the retention game.

Disclaimer- This does not mean I agree or disagree with the title of the thread

My theory:
- too much use of styling products,
-a general over obssession with styles and having to look on par, equaling to hair breakage.
-Little to no cleansing (compared to others)
-Little to no trimming (more like none)
-Lack of knowledge on how to take care of hair (natural or altered)

I wont go on, that's just some of what I think causes it. Of course our hair is dry and prone to breakage? But that still doesn't mean it should retain so little. I want to hear opinions (of course not facts, unless you have sources)

I know some ppl have disagreed with the bolded one, but I think it may be a cultural/regional thing b/c I completely agree.

Down South I see a LOT of styles that require coloring, glued in weaves, Pump It Up and globssss of black gel. Then micros and stuff. . .oh gosh. Down South meaning FL/GA. I don't know about the other places but it is rampant around here.

 

[Sui Topi]

Obviously knowledge is the main point,but to expand on that, for myself personally, the main solution that I've found with retention seems so simple. It may not work for others, I know Cichelle said that low manipulation or no combing was sooo not for her hair and if she continued she would lose her hair, but finger combing my hair instead of using my bone comb is really giving me excellent results. Mind you I'm only 1 week in, maybe less, but my breakage has stopped tremendously and I really mean tremendously. Pretty much every hair that I see on my hand when I detangle it has a white bulb on it. I do get like a little piece here and there, but in comparision it's crazy. I also because of time restraints (ie. being lazy) have been co washing every other day instead of daily, and the amount of breakage I see by the second co wash is like 10x less that how much I would see when I used to cowash daily and detangle with a comb.

 

[BrooklynSouth]

Value placed on style rather than care to obtain healthy hair and feeling that water to the hair is a bad thing. I think our biggest bugaboo not retaining growth is due to neglect of the ends of our hair. I mean, how many times have I heard Black women stating "My hair does not grow" while I try to explain why they feel the need to relax new growth! They think it's because the relaxer 'wore off'ohwell:. Yup, lack of wanting to know-knowledge.

 

[MonPetite]

I agree with 99% of the well thought out opinions of the previous posters.

I'd also like to note, that we seem to be a very stylist dependent demographic. I have never heard any of my friends of other persuasions claim they "can't wash" their OWN hair.

It startles me every time I hear a relative or friend who would call themselves "Black" if you asked tell me this.

How can you not wash your own hair? Not know "how". Not "be able to" or "just can't"?

I can only speak to my experience but I have lived everywhere from Hawaii to Nebraska to DC and I've heard this. Class and education hasn't made a difference (in MY experience, please do not think I am saying this as a general statement!!!)

Clearly this isn't ALL "black women". LHCF is testament to that. It's just odd to me that while yes, women of ALL "races" frequent salons....I've yet to hear anyone other than the black women in my life say they cannot wash their own hair.

I'd also like to note, that while I've only had 1 good stylist in my life and the rest butchered my hair and claimed it was my fault (considering I was a child, I found it doubly hurtful), I know there ARE good stylists out there. I just don't think women of ANY persuasion should be so dependent upon them that if they can't get an appointment for two months...they don't wash their hair for two months.

IMHO everyone should at least be able to wash/dry/wrap or wash/dry/bun their own hair just in case "life happens".

 

[AtlantaJJ]

We are speaking generally, most doesn't apply to LHCF'ers, but those who have a different style every week usually have little to no hair, IMO, especially when coupled with lack of knowledge.
By all means make your own opinions, I want to hear what you wonderful ladies think!

This is why I am wearing lace fronts...my hair is protected and resting and I able to rock the fly look of my choice during the work week.

This allows me to workout and not fuss with my hair. I co-wash daily if I like. I am retaining the most length in my life using this method of protective styling.

I enjoy working out, which causes me to sweat. In the past that was caused me to manipulate and wash my hair too much and try to keep a style to look decent for work. That caused damage and loss of length retention over time. Now I co-wash in my braids and I'm good. This is an example of applying self knowledge when it comes to hair care.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

I agree with 99% of the well thought out opinions of the previous posters.

I'd also like to note, that we seem to be a very stylist dependent demographic. I have never heard any of my friends of other persuasions claim they "can't wash" their OWN hair.

It startles me every time I hear a relative or friend who would call themselves "Black" if you asked tell me this.

How can you not wash your own hair? Not know "how". Not "be able to" or "just can't"?

I can only speak to my experience but I have lived everywhere from Hawaii to Nebraska to DC and I've heard this. Class and education hasn't made a difference (in MY experience, please do not think I am saying this as a general statement!!!)

Clearly this isn't ALL "black women". LHCF is testament to that. It's just odd to me that while yes, women of ALL "races" frequent salons....I've yet to hear anyone other than the black women in my life say they cannot wash their own hair.

I'd also like to note, that while I've only had 1 good stylist in my life and the rest butchered my hair and claimed it was my fault (considering I was a child, I found it doubly hurtful), I know there ARE good stylists out there. I just don't think women of ANY persuasion should be so dependent upon them that if they can't get an appointment for two months...they don't wash their hair for two months.

IMHO everyone should at least be able to wash/dry/wrap or wash/dry/bun their own hair just in case "life happens".

Excellent obsevation, and I find this to be very true based on my experience as well. I am natural now because I can not self relax and I refuse to be dependent on a stylist for anything. I consider going to a stylist a "nice to have" not a necessity.

 

[glamazon386]

I think that not knowing how to properly care for your hair and it's texture is a big part of it. I agree with some of the other things mentioned but I don't think that manipulation and heat overall are the causes. Other hair types wash, blow dry and flat iron daily without damage. They also color frequently and don't do deep treatments. IMO that's more manipulation than washing once a week or once every two weeks and then setting or applying heat and then styling.

I think afro hair starts off more susceptible to damage for the following reasons:

First off, type 4 hair has one less cuticle layer than types 1-3 so that makes it more susceptible to damage from jump.

It is also more fragile because of the kinks and curls - each place where the hair changes direction is a potential breaking point.

Also, relaxers break down the bonds in the hair and make it more susceptible to damage.