When it comes to curly hair, it can feel like years before you see any growth. Many curlies get frustrated and give up when it comes to achieving the curl length of their dreams, because it seems as though curly hair grows much more slowly than those with straight hair. This simply isn’t true. Curly hair grows at the same rate as everyone else’s (about half an inch a month) but since curls are coiled, it can be awhile before you see length. If you’re feeling like your curls could need a little encouragement to help them grow, here are a few tips and tricks to help get your sluggish strands moving.
Vitamins and supplements:
There are a few supplements and vitamins that can really encourage lackluster curls to pick up the pace. Biotin encourages cell regrowth, so it can help hair and nails grow stronger and more quickly. Primrose and folic acid are beneficial as well.
Oils:
There are a variety of oils that can help your curls grow. Castor, coconut, jojoba, pumpkin seed, peppermint, lavender, rosemary and argan oils can all help stimulate scalp growth and protect delicate strands from breakage.
Inversion:
In order for healthy curls to grow, there needs to be excellent blood flow to your scalp. You can get this by flipping your hair upside down, and using your fingertips to gently massage your scalp. Do this for several minutes a day to help break up build up, encourage increased blood flow and help your curls grow. You can also add your favorite oils to give your curls an extra boost.
Cold water:
While we all love a great hot shower, hot water can be really damaging to curls. When you cleanse, make sure you end your shower by rinsing your curls with cold water to close back down the cuticle. When cleansing, avoid washing your hair in excessively hot water; the cooler the better.
Microfiber towel:
If you’re still drying your curls with your same old terry cloth towel, you might be the reason why they aren’t growing. Terry cloth is excellent at absorbing water, but it’s also extremely rough on curls. Ditch the terry cloth and pick up a microfiber towel to blot your curls dry with (no rubbing!). If you don’t want to spend the money, an old, soft t-shirt also works well.