My hair has always been really fine and still is for the most part, but it's changed in thickness significantly since I starting using henna and shikakai oil from HairVeda. I do take biotin and MSM; however, I am sometimes not consistent with these. I think the MSM has helped my allergies, joints, and increased my typing speed more than anything. The biotin seems to peak at about 3-4 months out and taper off quickly. But the henna and shikakai oil have consistently improved my hair's condition, strength, and now thickness. I started almost 2 years ago with one layer of fine thin, bleached hair with barely any temple hair. It still amazes me when people tell me my hair is thick...I have to go run and look in the mirror before I can really confirm that yes...now it is!
...didn't know that you were once a member of the thin haired crew...
Okay cousin....this was quite encouraging....and I needed to read this
I will step it up over the next six months with the cassia and shikakai oil usage. Do the biotin like the derm said to do....and @ Sareca....will up the castor oil usage. See if all this helps along with the low mani routine.
My hair is still very, very fine though, so I have to be consistent with my regimen and very careful with protecting my edges and ends. I have a new hairline that I never had before and I adamant about keeping it!!!!
Oh yes Mona....I was a VIP member!!!! Thankfully, I've retired my club card.
me, too..that is a really great album, very inspiring!I finally saw this.......
Wowwwwwww...
I mostly did this because I've been trying to lose weight, but my hair is SIGNIFICANTLY THICKER. I have almost an 1 inch (~.9) of new growth and even when I straightened it it was noticeable thicker than the rest of my hair. It actually looks kind of funny, but I'm going to be putting it in braids soon anyways! 
Newflowers and danip:
Certainly. This is what I've read others have done, and things that has helped me....
Wow. I've written alot. Trust me, if you use this and Sista Slick and advice from all the other experts on this site, you WILL have MUCH thicker hair. Trust ! Glad to help girls ! Lotsa love....ThicknLong
- Clip bad ends. They will never improve. But, they WILL split up the hair shaft and damage the rest of your hair. Clip them off so you can "save" the other hair above them. BUT only clip off the bad ends. Don't clip anymore than necessary.
- Conditioner washes - Placing conditioner from roots (this is important, keep reading) to tips, on DRY hair B4 shampooing, using a plastic cap and going under the dryer. Afterwards, "wash" your hair with the conditioner that's in your hair (this is why conditioner is placed on roots also). Your hair tangles less, is softer, which all means less hair in your comb.
- Get a detangling, Moisterizing shampoo. Some people even add EVOO (extra virgin olive oil ) to theres.
- Get a good protein/reconstructor. This is a balancing act. Protein gives your hair strength from breakage. Use a lighter protein (more frequently) or heavier protein (less frequently). The KEY is to find one that strengthens your hair AND to use it to in the right frequency for YOUR hair. Some people need a heavy protein every 6 weeks. Some only once every 3 mos. Some use a light protein every week. Some use a moderate protein once a month or when needed. Find the product and frequency that works best for your hair.
- Find a very moisterizing, moisterizing conditioner. Use it EVERY time you wash your hair. With a plastic cap and go under the dryer. Moisterize with a water based conditioner. Follow with an oil based moisterizer (ie. olive oil ) to seal in the moister. Moister, moister, moister, moister. There is no option to skip this step.
- Use a milder relaxer and/or try to stretch relaxers. This is another balancing act. You must be careful to not do it such that breakage occurs. I know I can not DRAMATICALLY " stretch" relaxers without my hair being so underprocessed it will be a tangled, yarn ball all the time. So, to thicken my hair, I use a milder relaxer AND I "strech" an extra 1 or 2 weeks by keeping my hair in a bun during that time. It doesnt get matted because I have it so full of moisterizing cream, its soft as a baby's bottom. I do NOT wash my hair during my extra week or two of "stretching " . Your hair may can withstand it. But, my hair balls up in tanglings when it see's water, so I just keep it in a bun for the extra 1 or 2 weeks of stretching. My hair is soooooooo much thick, lawd ! Now, it's not as straigtht, but who cares ? Find your balance of time, perm strength, stretch time, and stretch routine during that stretch time, because you will need a routine.
- Get a good leave in. If your hair is very dry, hard like and "drinks" up moister by being dry after the day you have applied some, try a moisterizing leave in, Like using Cantu creams. If your hair is limp and easy to break, get a protein or water based leave in like Infusium (read ingredients, i don't want to give you bad advice)...there are others i just don't know if they are moist or protein based...Anyway, seal the leave in with an oil of your choice, like olive oil or wonder six oil or jojoba oil.
- Low handling or hair. You can wear protective styles to the max like wigs, falls, braids, covered buns, etc...or moderately like an uncovered bun, a high ponytail that prevents ends from rubbing on clothes.. or low, like wearing it down in the back, falling freely. Comb only enough to prevent matting, minimize your combing, and you can do that by wearing styles that do not require alot of it. Only comb when moisterized sufficiently. Comb with care as if it's a baby's bottom. Comb in sections. Comb starting at the END first, SLOWLY work your way up...make sure your hair is not dry and brittle or none of this will matter anyway. HAIR IS MOST VULNERABLE when wet. So, when you wash your hair, follow the same instruction on combing.
- MOISTER MOISTER MOISTER ! Don't go overboard or it will get mushy, easy to break and overmoisterized. But, regularly, apply some type of moister to the ends, and apply some type of oil to seal in the moister.
- Wear silk scarf to bed. This is so important. If you do not, your hair will break.
- Develop a routine. Of when to wash, what products works best on your hair, when to perm, etc. It's not hard. Read this board for people w/ hair probs similiar to yours, ask questions for the rest, try the products you want (keep receipt) if it/those don't work out, return for another product to try (keep receipt) also.
As you work with your hair, it will " tell " you what it likes and doesn't like.
- TAKE CARE OF THE INTERNAL. Pray to Jesus for overall obedience and righteous living (not just for hair results). Meditate. Eat as many vitamin based foods you can put your hands on, b/c these natural nutrients grow your hair. Supplement your diet with man made vitamins. Exercise to stimilate circulation which does the same for hair growth. Yes,
IMHO to improve the thickness of the hair growing out of your head you need to treat it like you would a growing plant. Make sure the "ground" (i.e. your scalp) is clean and full of nutrients:
I'd say that massaging and oiling my scalp nightly and shampooing 1x/week has kept it clean. And taking vitamins and drinking a protein shake 1-2x/day helps.
In fact, the past month I've been drinking "Body Fortress: Super Advanced Whey Protein - Vanilla flavored. You get 26g of Protein in ONE serving!
If you go to my blog it also says what else I'm doing, but I would say protein and treating your scalp with care are the two biggest things that gave me thicker growth. HTH!!!
