How To Grow Natural Black Hair Without Chemicals

Last Updated on September 11, 2022 by The Blessed Queens

Today we are looking into how to grow natural black hair without chemicals! Yep, you read it well girl, we are skipping the chemicals and finding great ways to grow your natural black hair without them.

How To Grow Natural Black Hair Without Chemicals

How To Grow Natural Black Hair Without Chemicals

There is so much bad information circulating about black hair growth.  I want to start by addressing the myth that black hair doesn’t grow.

First of all, if that was the case people wouldn’t need relaxers every two months.  So yes, our hair does grow, and it can even grow long.

The problem is many people have trouble retaining length (breakage) — which is a big difference from not growing.

I’ll talk about length retention later, but let’s go back to growing black hair.

Know that Genetics Play a Huge Role

Everyone is always searching for that miracle product that will give them the long tresses they’ve always desired.  But the truth is hair growth is largely determined by genetics.

Look at the women in your family and see if you notice any kind of length pattern.

Some people simply have genes that help their hair grow faster and longer than others.  That’s definitely the case in my family.

Many women on both my mom and dad’s side have longer hair, and my hair has always grown at a pretty good rate.

Now, don’t get discouraged.  Genetics aren’t the end all be all.  It’s just something to keep in mind when you’re comparing your hair to someone else’s.

Give Hair Growth Products A Try

Most products have very little impact on hair growth.  Now unless you’re talking about a prescription product like Rogaine (for thinning and balding), most products do very little.  A lot of what you see is just marketing.

Now, of course, everyone has an optimal growth rate, which can be inhibited by things like diet, stress, etc. and promoted by vitamins, exercise, and eating healthy. I discuss all that here.

However, there are very few products that will make your hair grow faster than your optimal rate — which varies from person to person.

If you’re looking for a natural remedy for thinning hair, try rubbing a small amount of castor oil into your scalp every night before bed.  Castor oil is known to have a positive effect on thinning hair and is also used to thicken eyebrows.

Keep in mind, though that if your hair is thinning from over-processing with a relaxer or traction alopecia (wearing braids too tight), rubbing castor oil is not going to help unless you stop what’s causing the problem.

Hair Texture & Pattern Really Matter

If your hair is super kinky (meaning your strands have a lot of bends/turns, draws up and tangles easily), then it can be more difficult to grow your hair longer.

Wait, this DOES NOT mean long hair is unattainable.  It just means that it may require more attention than someone with a looser pattern.

When your hair is very kinky, oils from your scalp do not travel down the strands as easily.  As a result, your hair may be dry, more brittle and prone to breakage. Don’t feel discouraged. At least you now understand why you have trouble retaining length.

So the key is taking extra time to ensure your hair is properly moisturized and wearing a lot more protective or low-manipulation styles (rod sets, straw sets, etc).

I don’t want to create unnecessary division by mentioning hair texture because I know this is often a touchy subject in our community.

However, your hair’s texture and curl pattern definitely play a role in length retention because it affects your hair’s natural moisture level. Hair that retains moisture, has more elasticity, breaks less and retains more length.  Dry hair is more brittle, breaks off easily and prevents you from retaining length.

Some people say that kinky hair is stronger because it’s more course, but it’s actually the exact opposite.  Our hair is more fragile than naturally straight or curly hair because of the moisture issues mentioned above.

Those Ends Need attention too!

A lot of times we pay less attention to the oldest part of our hair, the ends. They are the last part to receive moisture and product, but they are the first to lose these things. In addition to trimming split damaged ends, you should apply your product for ends to tips. Always, always moisturize and seal your ends.

Less Manipulation is super important

As much as I love to style my hair, it can be somewhat temperamental — and I’ve found that it thrives when left alone. I dare not comb or brush this tightly-curled hair daily, not even every other day. Low manipulation or protective styles, like twists or braids, protect my hair from manual breakage and moisture loss. 

Work In Sections for easier hair days

I have been blessed with a very thick head of hair. It’s beautiful, I love it, but it can be challenging. The longer my hair grows, the thicker it becomes.

Everything must be done in 4-6 sections, from shampooing to conditioning to moisturizing to detangling. These ensure full coverage.

Penetrating Oils Will do the trick

Lighter oils, like coconut or olive oil, actually absorb into the hair, giving it the ability to strengthen and reinforce the hair’s internal structure.

A Hooded Dryer will go a long way

I’m not sure how the hooded dryer got a bad rep, although I think there’s confusion about heat damage. There’s actually a greater chance of heat damage with blow dryers than there ever will be with a hooded dryer, according to Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, author of The Science of Black Hair – hooded dryers are indirect or diffused heat source.  With the indirect heat, there is little or a zero chance of heat damage.

It’s very beneficial to sit under a dryer during deep conditioning treatments because it will help your conditioner enter the hair more thoroughly. Plus, 30 – 45 mins under the dryer reduces air drying time and helps your style to set and last longer.

Try to not skip your Leave-In Conditioner

For some, a leave-in conditioner is optional. Not for me! Especially if I want beautifully, defined curls. I had a hair aha moment (an epiphany, really) when I used Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner for the first time.

As I saw my curls defined and popping, I thought, “Yes, this is what I went natural for!” Leaving in your conditioner minimizes frizz, dryness, and flattens the hair cuticle for fewer tangles and moisture loss.

Take A Multivitamin to boost your growth

I know there are a lot of hair supplements on the market but I don’t trust them.  Many of the dosages are unregulated and way above the recommend daily dosage for these particular supplements.

Ingesting nutrients that your body isn’t a deficiency can be disastrous. Hypervitaminosis of vitamin poisoning can lead to adverse side effects such as hair loss, acne, and even death…

Besides many nutrients rely on each other to actually get the job done.  For example, biotin is almost ineffective if taken in the absence of zinc to inhibit shedding.

A simple multivitamin and well-balanced diet is all you need for healthy hair.  Read more about vitamins for healthy hair.

Drink More Water girl!

There you have it, How to grow natural black hair without chemicals

How To Grow Natural Black Hair Without Chemicals

How do you grow your natural hair?

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