5 best things for maximum growth

[wyldcurlz]

What would you say are the top 5 (five BEST) things you can do to/for your hair to promote growth. I'm still learning (and hopefully everyone will come up with lots of suggestions...and maybe some new ideas too) but so far, this is what helped me the most:

1. No Heat - or cut heat usage in half!
2. Using good leave-in Conditioner on my ends - keeping ends Moist.
3. Protective styles...although I HATE buns (and i'm hoping they aren't necessary)
4. Deep Conditioning Weekly!
5. Gentle Combing - especially after washing.

This discussion came up in a conversation with my 62-year old Aunt with natural classic length hair. She's been pressing for 40+ years after a stylist burnt out almost all of her hair with a relaxer, but she still washes & presses it herself weekly and puts her hair up into a bun.

(kinda Off-topic: she's noticing some dryness and having a harder time maintaining length because of menopause.)

 

[Lucia]

adding on :
Co washes if it works for you
daily moisture or oiling for the ends-baggie method
Wow, natural classic leangth, I'm impressed. You're aunt may want to start taking hair vitamins that might help.

 

[SerenityBreeze]

Also scalp stimulation with massages, sulfer, tea tree oils..anything to get the scalp stimulated will increase growth.

 

[Sosoothing]

What i think works for me:

1. Minimal heat usage
2. Moisture (frequent washing, deep co.,sta sofro)
3. protein
4. Good Diet
5. Minimal manipulation (protective styling)

 

[Victorian]

I really only have 3:

1. Healthy body (drink lots of water, exercise, vitamins/good nutrition)--you want the hair that does grow to be as strong and healthy as possible.
2. Healthy scalp--for me this means always keeping scalp clean and stimulated
3. Healthy hair--take care of the hair that grows by keeping it clean and conditioned

But if I had to pick just ONE thing that has contributed most to my growth, it would definitely be con washes. Con washes keep hair and scalp clean, stimulate the scalp, and of course condition your hair. Kill a whole flock of birds with one stone
I can slack in other areas with regards to keeping up with drinking water/taking vitamins, and my hair will still keep growing well as long as I'm diligent with my con washes.

 

[California]

1) Not fooling with it too much
2) Not overprocessing or underprocessing
3) Supplements
4) Drinking a lot of water
5) Protein

 

[CarLiTa]

-Exercise
-Good diet including vitamins

i've only been at this hair thing for a little while, and these have been the only things so far that increased GROWTH. As soon as I get my touch-up on friday, i plan to:

-Exercise at least 3 times a week, on top of band practice 2hours/day
-Wear a plastic cap while i exercise, to increase circulation up there
-Eat even healthier
-Keep up daily intake of 8-10 glasses of water *i'm at about 6 of water, and 2-3 more glasses of OJ or milk right now*
-massage scalp every 2 days with light oil *maybe or every week*
-Start washing hair twice a week again
-Deep condition every week
-More often protein treatments
-WEAR PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES (buns mostly- i'm gonna do a personal bun challenge)
-Moisturize every single day...

it sounds like a lot but i wanna get the maximum growth till the rest of 2005. I'll have four months to try to achieve 3 inches, at about 3/4" per month... or even hopefully 1"... wow that'd be awesome!

 

[Sweet_Ambrosia]

What works for me:

*Using Less Heat
*Moisturizing Regularly
*Protective Styling
*Deep Conditioning
*CO Washes

 

[Babygurl]

1. Protective styles (buns in particular)
2. Washing every 3 days
3. Deep conditioning with heat
4. Limit direct heat
5. Moisture, moisture, moisture

 

[Brownie]

1. Little manipulation
2. protective daily hairstyle that protects ends
3. vitamins
4. protein
5. moisture (water, leave ins)

 

[star]

1. Less manipulation
2. Good Products especaially conditioners
3. Scalp stimulates like sulfur-8 & glovers
4. Good oils for hair and especially ends such as olive oil
5. Protective Hair Styles to give hair a break from enviroment

 

[Guyaneek]

I'm still a newbie but the 5 I'd choose at this point are
1. Clean scalp (washing 2-3xs per week)
2. deep conditioning and moisturized ends
3. Protective styles
4. scalp massages
5. minimal to no heat

 

[Tami]

These few things have made a world of difference:

minimal heat
extending relaxers
moisturizing everyday
tieing hair up at night
washing more frequently
less manipulation

 

[MeechUK]

The 5 best things that have helped me achieve maximum growth & length are;
1. Weekly shampoo with acv rinse & deep conditioning with heat
2. Daily x2 moisturising with distilled water or homemade leave-in
(*soaking my hair)
3. Regular dusting & moisturising ends
4. No manipulation & only oiling scalp weekly after washing, on damp hair
5. Diet & vitamins

Doing all the above with protective styles, I have recently experienced a lot more growth and the retaining of length.

MeechUK

 

[wyldcurlz]

...so it seems like protective styles are a necessary evil? Anyone achieving length without protective styles?

Also, I'm noticing healthy diet come up in a lot of posts? Are most of you eating a good mix of lean protein and complex carbs.

Anyway - this post is very educational (if I may say so myself...) so please keep them coming...and don't feel that you have to leave it at only 5 suggestions. You can add MORE!

-thanks

 

[lovechic]

Limit heat.
Wash & Deep condition 2 x weekly.
Keep hair moisturized daily.
keep ends extra moisturized.
Don't Overprocess or Double process your hair!

 

[SUPER SWEET]

1.Healthy Diet
2.Vitamins- Biotin
3.Very little heat at the max once a week
4.Protective styling buns,phony tails,braids
5.Moisture

 

[Bublnbrnsuga]

My sentiments exactly

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

Stop measuring every goshed dern minute! A watched flower never blossoms.

Just my 2cent$

 

[lovechic]

Stop measuring every goshed dern minute! A watched flower never blossoms.

Just my 2cent$

Yep! Frequent measuring will drive you crazy!

 

[Divine Inspiration]

Hmmm...I would say

1. Healthy diet (no junk, lots of water, fresh fruits & veggies, nuts etc)
2. Regular exercise
3. Deep conditioning at least once a week
4. Only using a shower comb (IF you comb) shoutout to Jilbere!
5. Regular protein treatments
6. Using a product to ease detangling & save strands-con/leave-in/whatever!
7. Being patient!!!

I know that's the more than 5, but I think those things have really helped my hair this year.

 

[Naijaqueen]

For me its been

dropping flat iron
Protective styles like baggie
Moisturize like nobody's bizness, hair is never dry
Conditioner wash, and put in ponytail when wet
MTG

 

[DahomeyAhosi]

MTG
constant moisture (I recommend curl activator)
finger/gentle combing
protecive styles
no heat

 

[Supergirl]

Yeah, what y'all said! Ditto on all of the above, but let us not forget that if we do all those things and still have a scissor happy stylist then all that hard work won't show. So the only thing I'd like to add to what has been said is of course

**Stay away from scissor happy stylists**

 

[MzTami]

I agree with all of the above, plus:

1. Water filtering system.
2. Distilled water with wash/daily moisturizer.

 

[Lovelylocs]

1. Protein treatments
2. gentle combing/ less manipulation
3. Leave- in conditioners
4. Mild shampoos
5. Deep conditioners (moisturizing conditioners)