Tips for Charting your Hair Growth!

(Braid take down..I Retained 1.66 in 2 months) 

Hello ladies!  My Crochet braids have been out going on 3 weeks and I'm currently nurturing my hair.
In my last couple posts I've been talking about how I plan to protect my hair all summer  with braids or twists to retain length.  My first style of choice were Crochet Braids.  If you've been following me for a while you know that braid extensions are my style of choice when I want to retain maximum length.  When my hair is fully covered it allows my hair to grow uninterrupted(meaning no detangling, no handling of my hair at all for 6-8 weeks). This ensures that whatever I grow during the this time is retained. During my second year I noticed I didn't retain much as I could have, because I didn't max protect as much. I quickly noticed the difference in my retention and somewhere during my second year I picked  it back up! When trying to grow your hair out you have to pay attention to any changes in your hair before you get too far off track!  

Big Chop, Years 1-3(slightly stretched)

Big Chop, Years 1-3 curly

Most of us have read that hair grows on average 1/4 to 1/2 an inch per month. Most of us who are interested in retaining length will estimate that we should be able to retain about 5 to 6 inches a year. But, when this doesn't play out many women assume that their hair is simply not growing.  

So first thing's first, lets make sure that you are actually growing new hair out of your scalp!  There are several ways to do a length check. Set your calendar for a 2 month marker. Measure the length of at the start of that marker, then again at the end of your 2 month marker.  You can choose your measuring stick everyone use different means to track length retention.(Some use a measuring tape, marked shirts,or body placement)   

Measuring new growth before removing braids(1.66 inches)

Measuring 1 inch in the front

In the above photo, I am at 8 weeks growth in my braided protective style. I decided to measure my new growth before removing my braids. This measuring stick helped me to learn that my hair does grow at in average rate  in one area, but a faster rate in another. So I know it grows!

Body placement Measuring
(taken 2 mos ago I am now close to  my 4yr anniversary)

 If you aren't into measuring inches it may help to simply use body placement measuring. Checking at the end of your 2 month marker (At 2 mos there should be enough noticeable growth to chart).  Find a place on your body to which you measure your retention  each time. Above I chose to make a shirt marking Bra Strap, Mid Back, and Waist length. I also have small 2 to 3 inch markers in between these large lines, but its not necessary.   The idea is to established that within a 2 month time period that your hair is actually growing. Now that you know its growing,  its time to learn how to hold on to that length!   This is what I like to call protecting your investment. Most of  us put a lot into our hair care and retaining consistent length is one way of knowing that you are doing something right.    

To Help Retain your Growth

1.   Wear low manipulation hair styles
2.    Keep your hair moisturized to prevent breakage( includes Deep Conditioning!)
3.    Keep your hair strengthen with protein and or Henna treatments
3.    Handle your hair with extreme care
4.    Keep your ends super moisturized and sealed with oils
5.    Wear protective styles as much as possible(keeping ends off shoulders)
6.    Be consistent with your proven  regimen
7.    Be Patient


*Of course the above tips are all proven based on my personal journey and experience. You  probably will hear it doesn't take all of that to retain length, and for "some" this is true. But if you know you need help in this area, then try it because you have nothing to lose!

Well until Next Time keep it Healthy and Happy! 

"Pros and Cons of Long Natural Hair | What To Expect"..-Naptural 85!

Are you constantly wishing, hoping, and praying for more length as you try to adjust to your newly natural hair?  While its' true there are those who don't desire to have longer hair, there are more than enough women, that  just can't wait.  I use to be one of those women, and now that I have long natural hair, I love it! However, long natural hair comes with a whole lot of.......lets just say.. love and appreciation for the shorter stages!  

  

My short  Coily natural Hair w/3yr post comparison

Long natural hair in kinky curly state


So,  I was indulging in an old favorite pass time, and I came across a vlog from one of my faved You tube vloggers Naptural 85.  She recently did a video about the Pros and Cons of Long natural hair and I loved it!  Everything she has to say is SO true and I thought her points were definitely worth sharing.  We all need to know what is actually waiting on us past 10 inches!   Most of us are so busy wanting to get to that next level in our journey,(primarily more length)  that we are unable to fully enjoy where we are. If you constantly desire to have long natural hair check out Naptural 85's  video below for all the pros and cons! I for one can say that I didn't expect most of what I have been encountering with my much desired longer natural hair and would have loved a video like this before I actually reached this stage!  Check it out! 

Want to Re-Grow your Hair?

I often run into women who have experienced extreme breakage and damaged to their hair and scalp. The biggest culprit for these women is hair that has been ripped out due to tight weaves and braids. Others suffer from breakage due to hormonal issues, chemicals, side effects from medication,or horrible hair care practices.

Traction Alopeica

  Whatever the cause of hair loss it can catapult you into an overly anxious state!  

Result of tight braids

If you want to stop the breakage and balding cycle the first thing to do is to identify what could be causing your problem. And stop it! Yeah, I know if it were that easy to figure out you probably would not be reading this post. But I have found when we slow down and think about our hair care practices we can figure out what is causing the breakage or hair loss. You can identify the cause, reverse it, and get your healthy hair back! 

Healthy Growth

Below are some tips to re-grow damaged broken hair: 

First identify the cause of your breakage or stunted growth: Frequent heat styling, poor diet, chemicals,dry hair,rough detangling, tight weaves and braids can all be the culprit of your broken damaged hair.  If you want your hair to stop breaking and you are currently doing any of the above things you need to stop asap!  ( I don't know any other way to say it ) Hormones or medication can also be culprits and a lot trickier to adjust. If you are on medication please research all of the possible side effects of your medication to find out if it could be causing hair loss. Only you and your doctor can decide if its something that you can refrain from taking. If medication is the cause you could have a harder fight but its not impossible, you learn what you're dealing with, and adjusting your diet and hair care regimen can definitely help lesson those side effects! 

 If your hair is dry and breaking it will not retain length. If you are constantly wearing styles that pull at your hair follicles aka too tight styles, your already weak hair will continue to break.  I know many women run to braids and weaves when their hair is not "acting right"  and that is the last thing they should do. 

Do frequent strengthening and deep conditioning  treatments on your hair to increase the integrity of your strands. You can use several different treatments like Protein, Fenugreek seed powder, Henna, and deep moisturizing treatments to stop breakage and strengthen your hair. 

If you wear weaves and braids. Don't wear weaves or braids while you are trying to re-grow your hair. Hair that is already weak does not need anything pulling on it and adding additional tension. Get your hair in a healthy state first. The best protective style to wear while doing this are natural styles with your own hair, if its not too severely broken to do so, or wear wigs. These styles offer the least amount of tension. 

Get a consistent hair care regimen, It has been proven, our hair responds to consistency! This is probably the best advice that I can give you.  Please resist the urge to jump from product to product and switching up every time some new trend or miracle growth product  enters the market. Stick to a simple regimen of  cleansing, deep conditioning, moisturizing, and protecting. You will also want to add to your regimen a monthly strengthening session( for example Henna, Protein  treatments, and other Ayurvedic treatments)  You should also add frequent scalp massages with stimulating growth oils like Rosemary, lavender, Bhringrachj, or Vatkia oil. Keep your manipulation low,  be consistent!

Patience is a must, once we decide to change our regimen make all the right choices we want to see results like the same day! It reminds me of how quickly we like to see weight come off after a couple days of  healthy eating and exercise. It just doesn't happen that quickly! When trying to re-grow your hair you have to be patient. Keep this in mind, hair typically grows at a 1/4 inch to 1/2 an inch per month.  If you are doing everything right and your follicles are producing hair the way they should you're gonna have to wait atleast 1 to 2 months before you see ANY noticeable growth. So don't watch the pot boil. Just be consistent with your regimen and the growth will come. 

*This topic of hair loss and  regrowing hair is diverse. There are many scenarios that can be addressed. For the sake of time I've only addressed the most common causes of hair loss and possible solutions. If you feel your situation  is beyond what I've mention, for example Alopecia Areta or severe Traction Alopecia you will need to see a Dermatologist or a Tricologist.  These are doctors with specific medical training in this area. They should be able to cut to the chase, and let you know if your hair follicles will re produce hair. 

Well until next time, keep it happy and healthy!!

Get your Healthy Hair Back: Alyson's Success Story!

Alyson’s Healthy Hair Journey

  

Hi Chan!  I know that I have written to you before, but I wanted to make sure Happy Healthy Hair and its followers understood just how much I appreciate your consulting, feedback and styling tips that I have received.

I am approaching my 3 year anniversary of being natural.  It’s a little hard to believe for me because when you first mentioned that you were considering going natural – before the business was even conceptualized, I decided to do it as merely a challenge, not fully understanding how it would turn out to be the BEST decision and transition that I made as it pertains to health and beauty for my life.

Alyson 16 mos into Natural Transition

I didn’t go natural to grow my hair long, most people who know me know that I have always had long hair; my goal was to obtain Healthy hair.  I chuckle now because I reflect on a conversation that we had within the first 6 months of my transition.  I told you that I was “growing a new head of hair.”  I didn’t even realize that my hair line had slightly receded, exclusively, because of the relaxers that I had been getting!  When I stopped getting the relaxers, the hair that had been receding, started to grow back and now has completely grown in.   

After  Big Chop(check out that hair line!)

I remember prior to this, a lady walking up to me asking if I had been stressed because my hair that was thick everywhere else, but was thin around my temples.  She meant nothing by this, but it bothered me, and it wasn’t until I stopped relaxing that I even realized, I was supposed to have hair there!!!

Because of my hair texture it’s been easier for me to style my hair without heat or much manipulation while I was transitioning and even now.  I am not a hair ”styling” person so being able to wash and go is truly a blessing from God for me!  I have always refrained from using a lot of heat, but this journey has been great for me because it has allowed me to further reduced the heat damage my hair was enduring.  Ladies, too much heat is not our hair’s friend.  Moisture and low manipulation is! I don’t do much to my hair and it thrives because of it.  

Wash n Go

Recent Flat iron(was removed from an updo)

We don’t go plant flowers in our yards, and then dig around in the dirt every day do we? No, we let them do their thing. I’ve found the same applies to hair.  You should choose styles that you can maintain with as little manipulation as possible. (I wear my hair protected 99% of the time)

  

 Total “girl” confession – I LOVE it when my husband runs his fingers through my hair every night.  I LOVE that he loves MY natural hair, whether I wear it curly, or the very rare times that I flat iron straight (once once a year max!). I love that my children love playing with my hair when they cuddle with me at night.

I love that my daughter will NEVER, as long as she lives in my house, have a relaxer come near her head.  I love that she loves her beautiful locks, and while she does like her hair straight, she isn’t in a panic when she goes swimming or running around the water park because she can’t get her hair wet.  She is a kid!  GO PLAY IN THE SPRINKLERS!  GO SWIM!  Get your natural hair wet.  It’s fine!  We’ll take care of it when you are finished. I’m happy that I am able to raise her to love her natural hair and not be in bondage to it.

Alyson's Daughter enjoying her Healthy Hair

Healthy Happy Hair has been a true blessing in my life.  What started out as a challenge to see if I “could do it” has turned into an attitude of “I would NEVER do without it!”  Yup – I am going on record in saying that I will never perm my hair again because I have been fully equipped, through your services, to care for my natural hair!

Thank you HHH,

Alyson and Me

 If you have a success story that you would like to share please contact me, lets continue to inspiring our women!   Well Until Next time!

Got my Natural Hair Flat Ironed!

 First flat iron in 2 years! 

Yay! I finally did it I was on the fence because you know I am really anal about the health of my hair and didn't  want to flat ironed  for obvious reasons.   I took all of the precautions I could think of, prayed and then allowed someone else to flat iron my hair. Yep. I know after the last experience 2 years ago I vowed to just do it my self if I EVER decided to have it flat ironed again.  I didn't want to do it so I guess I had to trust someone! Kimberly Christopher at Kimberlyc.com is the stylist that I chose to tackle all of these kinks!  I did consult with her first so she would know all of my concerns and see what the nature of my hair is like.(Thick and tangley!)  I was very pleased with how smooth she was able to get it without too much heat. We talked about not taking the heat any higher than 400 and adjusting the heat lower for the looser textures. Hopefully all that worked out! (I cringe at the possibility of heat damage), I did notice that she only did a couple passes with the flat iron which was good. Also prior to the blow out, she put in chunky twists and set me under a dryer for a few minutes to stretch it out some. So she wasn't blow drying it forever.

Blow out

blow out..I was shocked

Blow drying at a salon (IMO) can be a pretty stressful session on natural hair that isn't straightened much. I was kind of cringing with every rake of the brush! Be sure you do everything you can to fortify your hair(deep condition, moisturize, Pre-poo). Do whatever you can  to get as much moisture in as possible) I only had about a week to get my hair ready, I wish I would have taken 2 weeks! The more moisture sessions prior to the better.  Overall I was very please with my hair, and I'm happy that I made the decision to flat iron it.  I wouldn't encourage anyone to do it unless its something you really desire and has given a lot of thought about because I think it is definitely a gamble. I am  praying every day that all of my strands revert back!   knew what I was getting into so I'd say make sure you are prepared for whatever. (I wouldn't flat iron on the spare of the moment or out of frustration because there's definitely a higher risk of damage with that.)

3 yr growth comparison

Grazing Bra strap! 

Until Next time!!