Black hair care is different from what most people think when it comes to hair growth. Black men’s hair typically grows in a curly pattern and its genetics dictates the thickness of the follicles, which in turn affects how vigorously your locks grow.
More often than not, African Americans struggle with patches of head that do not grow back.
What helps black men’s hair to grow is taking a daily supplement with biotin or eating more foods rich in B complex vitamins like split peas, lentils, almonds, whole wheat bread (including sprouted whole grain bread), and seaweed-like kombu kelp sheets.
The good news is that there are ways to stop the cycle of breakage and penetrate through your damaged follicles with gentle treatment tactics-especially when combined with a nourishing diet and proper daily routine. Your locks may be resistant but they aren’t invincible!
Tips to prevent damage
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1. Drink water
2. Avoiding stress
3. Eating healthy foods
4. Getting enough sleep
5. Using a leave-in conditioner or hair mask
6. Minimizing heat exposure
1. Drinking plenty of water
Yes, it helps black men’s hair grow, plus you need water to function properly. Although this may sound obvious, many people do not drink enough water because they simply forget. It is a good idea to build a habit of drinking a certain number of glasses each day so that your body stays well hydrated and no one has to remind you.
2. Avoiding stress
Many people assume that when hair loss starts happening, there is nothing they can do. However, this is not always the case. Stress can sometimes interfere with hormones and cause hair loss, so you need to try and avoid stress in order to prevent the problem from getting worse.
3. Eating healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
Eating healthy is essential for hair growth, but for African American men, in particular, make sure you are getting enough nutrients including protein and B vitamins can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your hair.
4. Getting enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for the health of your hair and also increases your chances of growing more hair. Even if you only get five hours a night, it is better than nothing, and sometimes just makes a big difference.
5. Using a leave-in conditioner or hair mask to keep the ends hydrated
After washing your hair, try applying a small amount of leave-in conditioner to the tips. This will help them stay softer and easier to manage throughout the week. You can also buy a special hair mask if you want, but it is not something that most people need to do every day.
6. Minimizing heat exposure by using heat protectant products when styling hair (blow drying, flat ironing)
African American men are advised not to use high temperatures on their hair every day, because the more often you do this, the more likely it is that your hair will become damaged. If you do need to use a heat styling tool, make sure that you use a special product first.
What makes black hair unique?
The scalp of each individual is unique in many ways. Just like fingerprints, no two heads of hair are alike. And people with dark complexions often experience varieties of problems that light-skinned individuals do not even think about.
Though it is true that African Americans have thicker, more durable hair strands than people with pale skin tones, it’s the strand’s structure that makes caring for this type of hair a challenge.
Because of its tightly coiled curl pattern, black hair tends to be drier and absorbs less moisture from its surrounding environment, which often leads to dry, itchy scalps.
The cuticles (the outermost layer of the hair strand) are also very fragile and act as a protective barrier for your sensitive scalp. But they weaken when exposed to harsh chemicals that strip away their moisture or cause breakage through excessive brushing or manipulating your strands into styles that do not complement your curl pattern.
What are some common hair concerns of black males?
The natural hair community has taken to social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook to discuss these issues far and wide.
Many black men are beginning to embrace their natural coils after years of trying different methods for straightening the hair with no success.
-Dryness
-Itchiness
-Brittle hair strands that snap or break easily
If you suffer from these conditions, your diet likely plays a role. Many black men confess to eating fried foods on the regular and do not think twice about their negative effects on scalp health.
Sure greasy fast food may taste good on a lazy Sunday afternoon but it’s not going to give you the mojo you need to grow long, luscious locks!
Your body does not have a natural filter system, so these greasy toxins get absorbed into your bloodstream and affect every organ in your body. If you’re already struggling with a dry scalp or hair breakage, there’s no way you’ll be able to gain length or fullness.
So, what should black males do to promote healthy hair growth?
Many naturals say keeping the scalp clean is absolutely key. They take extra special care of their African American tresses by washing only every few days instead of every day as other people do.
Some black men also swear that using natural remedies to stimulate the scalp and encouraging blood flow to promote healthy hair growth works best for them.
Essential oils like tea tree oil or rosemary oil with added peppermint can soothe an irritated scalp and even fight off infections when combined with a hot towel treatment-a great way to open up your pores and let your scalp breathe.
Using gentle shampoos that do not contain harsh sulfates or drying alcohols is also good for the scalp, but you should steer clear of using these products daily.
Black men’s tresses tend to be drier because the natural oils produced by the roots are not as efficiently reaching all strands of hair. Washing your hair too much can cause you to lose these natural oils and dry out your scalp, which could lead to breakage.
The best part about being black?
Your kinks and coils can be manipulated in many different ways without necessarily resorting to heat! Wash and go’s, twist outs, braid outs, Bantu knot outs, and roller sets are all great ways to keep the ends healthy and strong.
Give these tips a try and you’re guaranteed to see some drastic changes in your hair length and fullness. Take care of your tresses and they will take care of you!
The bottom line
As you can see, there are many things that help black men’s hair grow. The most important thing is to be patient and consistent with your routine.
I hope that this article has been helpful to you. If there are any other questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out anytime!