Recently, I wrote an article that literally set off a slew of comments, good and bad, from people questioning the methods I used in growing natural hair for my daughter. While I always appreciate the comments, there is one lesson I want other parents who are learning to deal with their daughter’s natural hair to learn. Natural hair Nazis need to take a seat. Find out the five ways I did for my daughter’s growing natural hair!
Growing Natural Hair | Hair Practices For Your Daughter
In this article:
- Wear Your Hair Naturally
- The Successful Experiment On My Daughter’s Hair
- 5 Best Growing Natural Hair Strategies For Your Daughter
Wear Your Hair Naturally
Being natural is not a cult where you “have” to abide by certain rules or else you’ll get kicked out. Growing natural hair simply means you do not put a relaxer in your hair. It doesn’t matter if you wear your hair in an afro, straight, or curly. You are natural. I don’t prescribe to hair types or beliefs that one ingredient will ruin a product. Instead, I experiment and use trial and error. It may not work for everyone, but it’s worked for my daughter and myself.
The Successful Experiment On My Daughter’s Hair
I initially made the decision not to put chemicals in my daughter’s hair because I saw the damage they did to my hair and I wanted her to love hers — something I didn’t learn to do until adulthood. So, while I knew the journey would be difficult, I was ready to take on the challenge. Her hair didn’t miraculously start growing overnight. But, when I became consistent in my practices, her hair started to improve.
There were times when I was told by people to “just put a perm in it,” but I knew I wanted her to accept her hair in its natural state. In the end, going natural allowed her hair to be healthy, but not without a lot of trials and errors on my part.
5 Best Growing Natural Hair Strategies For Your Daughter
To further help you guys who are struggling with your daughter’s growing natural hair, I’m going to summarize some natural hair strategies that took me 3 years to learn. While these are specific strategies you can start doing today, remember everything will not work for everyone.
1. Use Aloe Vera Juice In Your Hair Routine
I mix it into my daily conditioning spray, I put a capful of conditioner, and sometimes, I even drink it. Aloe vera juice is a natural hair detangler and conditioner. I personally buy an all-natural brand, and it makes her hair soft and gives it shine.
2. Make A Conditioning Spray That Will Help You Keep The Hair Conditioned On A Daily Basis
I only “do” her hair once every two to three days, but I spray her hair daily with a homemade conditioning spray I made. It gives her hair a shine and detangles it (if necessary). Also, guess what’s in the spray? That’s right — aloe vera juice!
3. Experiment With Products To See What Works Well With Your Daughter’s Hair
It took me literally three years to find products that work on my daughter’s hair. Her hair is coiled tightly, and it sucks up moisture. So, as good as my products may sound, use trial and error to find products that work on your daughter’s hair.
4. Limit The Amount Of Heat You Use In Her Hair
I’ve never used heat on my daughter’s hair in the 4 years she’s been natural. Even after I wash and condition it, I style it wet, wrap it in a silk scarf and take it down the next day. This has allowed me to make sure I don’t damage her hair right when I finally got it to grow. I’m still debating when I will get it straightened, but until then, I leave her hair curly.
5. Deep Condition The Hair On A Weekly Basis
I wash my daughter’s hair about once every two weeks. But, in between washing her hair, I deep condition it weekly. This is the key to making sure moisture is being put back in her hair. I don’t try anything fancy. I add our regular conditioner and mix some extra virgin olive oil, a capful of aloe vera juice, and a plastic cap. I don’t add heat, but I do let the conditioner sit overnight. Whenever I wash it out, her hair is moisturized and almost revitalized from the week’s styling.
To know more about how you can grow your child’s hair, watch this video from AlopeciaFreeWithJass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewHgd-Pqm9w
In the end, learning the ways of growing natural hair is a process. What works for me may not work for you. But, when you do your research, you can rest assure you will start to notice a change in moisture and length in your daughter’s hair. Do these simple methods of growing natural hair now, and for sure, your daughter will love her hair more!
What other techniques of growing natural hair do you know? Share them in the comments section!
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on December 5, 2012, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.