6 Ways to Avoid Setbacks on Your Natural Hair Journey

The setback.  Your stylist cuts off much more hair than you anticipated.  Your first time at flat-ironing results in permanently straight, heat-damaged strands.  Your attempt at a henna treatment leaves your hair brittle and breaking.
Many of us have heard “horror stories” about a setback that stunted a hair care journey.  Some of us have actually experienced one in the past and never want to experience one again.  Whichever boat you’re in, the following six steps can help you avoid a future setback:

1. Speak up at the salon

Before you allow the stylist to touch your hair, voice your preferences.  Do you want heat used on your hair or not?  If so, what level of heat?  Do you want a trim?  If so, how many inches?  I have heard so many stories about clients leaving a salon with heat damage or more hair cut off than desired.  I, myself, experienced a setback years ago – breakage and a cut – after a visit to a popular salon.  Just because your stylists are professionals or the salon is well known, does not mean that your hair is invincible to experiencing a setback.  Speak up to your stylist and be assertive while you are at it.  Let your stylist know your limits when it comes to your hair.  Do not be passive.

2. Care for your hair yourself

Sometimes, the best way to avoid a setback is to care for your hair yourself, or to become a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer).  I know that, for me, this was the best decision I made for my hair.  The reality is, that while stylists are trained to style and care for hair, they may not know how to style and care for “your” hair.  Each individual’s tresses are unique to that person.  What works for me may not work for you, and vise versa.  When it comes to our own hair, sometimes we know it better than anyone else.  This is all the more reason why caring for your hair yourself may be a better option for you.

3. Do a strand test or a section test

Unfortunately, doing a strand test (or even a section test) is underrated.  When it comes to damage from heat or chemicals, some setbacks can be avoided by merely doing such a test.  In order to reduce the possibility of heat damage, try experimenting on one small section near the back of your hair first.  Then wet that section and see if it reverts successfully.  If it does, then chances are you are good to go ahead with the rest of your hair.  If not, then you can easily disguise that section and have avoided a possible disaster to the rest of your hair.  For color, try dyeing a small section of hair and seeing whether breakage or texture change occurs in the weeks or months to come.  If not, then chances are you are fine to color the rest of your hair.  If so, then you, again, have avoided a potential setback.

4. Do your “own” research

I emphasize “own” because the World Wide Web is not free from misinformation.  Just because a particular hair care guru says, “shea oil is bad for the hair,” does not mean his or her statement is true.  Doing your own research can decrease your chances of experiencing certain setbacks.
Additionally, learn all you need to know about a technique or product before trying it.  If you want to use heat, learn what temperature ranges are dangerous for the hair.  If you want to try co-washing, learn what conditioner types are unsafe to leave on the hair.  When it comes to products, familiarize yourself with the ingredients label in relation to what substances your hair likes and dislikes.

5. Be patient

Patience is extremely important when it comes to progressing in your hair care journey and avoiding setbacks.  If you detangle your hair in a hurry, you can potentially experience more breakage than if you were to take your time.  If you turn to high, direct heat in order to avoid hours of air-drying your hair, you can potentially experience split ends from heat usage.  If you skimp on your deep conditioning routine in order to rush to a party, you can potentially experience breakage in the days to come.  Practicing patience is key.

6. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Translation: If your regimen and products are working for you, then why try to change them?  Sometimes, it is best to stick with what works and leave it at that. Say your hair flourishes with water, glycerin, castor oil, and inexpensive conditioners. Why change what your hair loves? Stick with what works.
These are just some of the many ways to avoid a setback in your hair care journey.
Have you ever experienced a setback?  If so, what did you learn?

Hair Growth Tips for Black Men

 Learn how to avoid breakage and boost your hair health and you'll have longer hair in no time!



Many black men want to grow their hair longer but have trouble doing so. There are many reasons why it can be challenging for black men to grow hair. Although black hair grows just as fast as other types of hair — roughly a half inch each month — it is often very curly, fragile, brittle, and dry. This makes black hair susceptible to breaking, and the more it breaks, the shorter it seems.
While genes and diet play an important role in how long hair grows, how you care for your hair may play an even larger role in growing black hair. Here are the latest hair growth tips for black men.

• Trim off damaged and split ends regularly, as they will interfere with the hair growth process.
• Keep hair clean. Clean hair and a clean scalp help hair grow faster. When hair is dirty, the dirt clogs the hair follicles, which makes it more difficult for hair to grow. But try not to shampoo every day, as black men’s hair is easily damaged, and daily shampoos can actually cause breakage. Cleanse with conditioner instead.
• Use the right shampoo for your black hair type. Not all black men’s hair is alike.
• Rinse hair only with lukewarm water. Hot water dries the hair and makes it brittle.
• Condition your hair every day. Each time you shampoo, use a conditioner afterward to soften and detangle the hair.
• Deep condition every other week. At least twice a month, use a deep conditioner that contains protein to strengthen the hair. Try a hot oil treatment with olive oil to intensely moisten the hair follicles.
• Be gentle with your hair when it’s wet. Don’t pull, tug, twist, comb, or be rough with your hair in any way.
• Never use chemical treatments on your hair. Despite making curly hair look longer, relaxers also slow the growth of black men’s hair.
• Avoid hot hair-care products. Heat from hot irons, blow-dryers, and other appliances damages the hair. Set your blow-dryer on a low temperature setting.
• Protect hair from heat damage by applying a protein lotion before you dry.
• Lubricate your hair. Applying a moisturizer to the hair can greatly reduce the amount of split ends and breakage and promote growth. But be sure to use only a little so your hair doesn’t become oily.
• Massage your scalp every day. Massaging the scalp circulates blood and brings nutrients to the scalp. Place both hands on the head and move your fingers in slow, circular movements. Your scalp should feel warm and tingly — that’s how you know the blood is flowing to the scalp, helping hair grow.
• Add vitamin B supplements to your diet, as vitamin B has been shown to help increase the rate of hair growth.
• Bone up on protein either by eating a high protein diet filled with meat, fish, eggs, avocados, nuts, and beans, or by adding protein supplements to your drinks, as protein strengthens hair and encourages growth.
• Increase your folic acid intake. Folic acid is critical to hair health and growth. You can easily eat a diet high in folic acid by making soybeans, green vegetables, and carrots a part of your daily menu.

By following these simple tips, black men can easily grow their hair to get any look they want.