By Tamlyn Canham
Want to grow longer, fuller, and shinier hair?
If you get the basics right, your hair will flourish. We have put together four tips to help you on your journey to longer hair.
READ: Watch: ‘Gorilla Glue Girl’ finally gets all the glue out of her hair
Start with your hair type
Knowing your hair type of the first step in your healthy hair journey. There are four different hair types.
Straight hair
Wavy hair
Curly hair
Coily hair
Each hair type is broken down into a, b, and c (example 4a, 4b, 4c) to accommodate the different wave or curl patterns.
Once you know your hair type you can find products that work specifically for your hair.
Low, medium, high porosity
Many women do not understand their hair porosity. This is important to know because it determines how well your hair can absorb moisture.
People with low porosity have greater difficulty absorbing moisture while people with high porosity absorbs moisture easily but does not retain the moisture very well.
Watch the video below for more tips.
Avoid heat as much as possible
Applying direct heat to your hair often can cause major damage to your hair. It can also change your hair pattern, which is particularly bad for people with curly hair. They hair could end up limp and flat.
If you do want to use heat on your hair, make sure you use a heat protectant beforehand. Deep conditioning your hair before applying heat can also help.
Protective styles
Have you noticed that every time you take your braids down, your hair seems longer? That’s because your hair has a better chance of growth when you are not tugging and pulling at it every day.
Protective hairstyles like braids are a great way to give your hair a break from the stress we put on it daily.
But remember, tight braids can damage your hair – particularly your “edges” – so make sure they aren’t too tight.
Extra tips
Protect your hair from the sun: Consider wearing a cap, scarf, or hat on extremely hot days. Not only does this provide extra UV protection, but it also helps your scalp retain moisture.
Stay away from tight hairstyles: Wearing your hair in tight styles can cause breakage. If the hair is pulled back too tight, it can break away from its roots, which can result in splitting, hair weakness, and follicle damage reports the Byrdie website.
