How to Get Black Hair to Grow

Unfortunately most black women looking to achieve long hair have turned to weave, hair that comes from Indian women. Indian women give their hair away as a religious sacrifice. Every day thousands of Indians make a pilgrimage to the country's biggest temples, according to ABC News. The hair from the temples is then taken, cleaned, dyed and shipped to the United States so that African Americans can buy it up at corner stores and glue it on their heads. Some call it exploitation. Others call it a "win/win" situation. However, black women can grow hair long if they just know the right things to do.

Not all hair dressers are created alike

This stems from personal experience. Many people know that the beauty industry promotes the use of mineral and petroleum oil on African American hair.They are cheap fillers that are used in the majority of hair moisturizers. However, the oil sits on top of the hair and weighs it down, doing anything but moisturize it.

Well, just like many have bought into the myth that oil moisturizes hair, many have bought into the idea that all hair dressers are the same. But the truth is that a large majority of black hair dressers believe perms are a good way to manage African American hair, and as a result they encourage perming every four to six weeks. African Americans may be hard pressed to come into a salon when their hair has not been permed for months without getting a lot of flack from the beautician.

The truth of the matter is that perms can do a lot of damage to hair especially if applied as often as four to six weeks. This can cause hair strands to weaken and become easily prone to breakage. Contrary to popular belief, there are hair dressers out there who don't mind working with your hair if you don't get perms often. Perming less will get your hair growing. Your hair will be stronger and show more length in no time.

I only perm my hair once per year, and as a child my hair was in a nutshell described as "the nappiest of nappy." But now, after years of always perming, I have a hair dresser who works with my new growth by straightening it with a straightening comb before she curls it with a flat iron. My hair ends up looking just like it has a perm it, silky, bouncy, and healthy. This hair dresser cares about hair health, and my hair is longer than it has ever been. So search for a beautician that cares about hair health not just a good looking hair do.

Going to the hair dresser is essential
I've fallen into the trap many times of thinking I would be just fine doing my hair myself. All I had to do was pick up the right products from the Korean store down the street or spy out what the hair dresser was using and buy the products online. I have even permed my own hair several times, and when I was natural for five years, I did twists, and all other sorts of hair styles on my own. However, truthfully, my hair never really showed an increase in length. Also my hair never really looked as good as it did when I had it professionally done. Honestly, professional hairdressers get my hair looking nice in less time then than it would take me to do it myself. Sure it may cost more money. However, not having enough money for things is a problem in itself.

When you don't have enough money to buy things that are good for you, consider taking care of the money situation rather than cutting out essential things like keeping your hair done. Go to the hairdresser at least every two weeks. Make sure she isn't encouraging you to get perms to make her job easier and make sure she isn't scissor happy. Before you know it, you'll see nothing but healthy hair growth.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/21/2825860.htm