5 NATURAL HAIR MYTHS DEBUNKED!
1. CERTAIN HAIRSTYLES GROW HAIR:
Growing up I was told that hairstyles like african threading or Didi(inverted conrows) grows hair or makes your hair fuller. This is a flat-out lie. Whilst these hairstyles may ‘stretch your hair’ like a blow dryer will, It doesn’t ‘grow’ your hair. Hair growth is as a result of blood flow to the scalp. So anything that stimulates the flow of blood certainly aids growth. e.g exercise, massages and hot oil treatments….
2. NATURAL HAIR GROWS SLOWLY
My hair was longest when I was in elementary school, I had almost mid back length hair, then I cut my hair. Since then my hair never grew past nape length whilst relaxed. I cut my hair again 2 years ago and what took 17 years to reach nape length has been achieved in the two years I went natural…so you judge. The average rate of hair growth per year is six inches, and this applies to ALL races. If you have a white/Asian friend whose hair grows faster than this, it’s not because of their race but their diet, genes, environment, etc. African hair grows at the same rate but the tight curl pattern makes it less obvious.Also we Africans generally have bad hair habits with our obsession with weaves, relaxers and once a month washing habit.
3. NATURAL/AFRO TEXTURED HAIR IS THE STRONGEST
This is a very common myth. I’ve met many naturalistas with weak and brittle hair. Due to the nature of our hair texture we ought to take extra care while combing. No matter how thick your hair is, you should be gentle with it. Too much manipulation and excessive combing may break the hair off. The way our curl pattern is set up, there are more opportunities for it to break than in sleek straight hair.
4.TRIMMING MAKES HAIR GROW
The only job of trimming is to cut off split ends. (split ends are damaged ends, if you retain them they’d keep splitting upwards the hair shaft, and would eventually break off. then you can’t retain length). Although trimming is a healthy hair habit, it has nothing to do with the hair that grows out of your scalp. Split ends are not compulsory, you can have healthy hair from root to tip so you don’t need to trim off your healthy hair all in the name of preventing split ends.
5. WATER WILL DRY OUT NATURAL HAIR
Water is the best moisturizer for natural hair. The key to maintaining a moisture balance is retaining the water that you do apply to your hair via sealing(L.O.C methods). So your hair shouldn’t always be dried out, dry hair promotes breakage and brittle hair strands. Hair needs moisture for effective conditioning. You should buy products that are water based also.. (the first ingredient is usually water/h20)
And that’s all!
Got Questions, requests or suggestions? Kindly leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you…
All the best in your hair journey.
xoxo
Tosin
AFRICANISM COSMOPOLITAN 
When I was younger, I was told that african threading grows hair too. I would actually like to thread my hair but only to stretch it. The rate of your relaxed hair growth and your natural hair growth may perhaps be different because of your haircare practices now. That might be a factor. I’m not expert on these things.
By the way, I’m looking to forward to trying out the natural hair style you explained on IG- I think it’s the high puff even though something keeps telling me it might not suit my face. I still want to try the style sha
Aww hello lol! I think the bun would suit you, and yes those hairdressers didn’t help with the myths lol thanks for stopping by
sharp n straight
Does the african threading thin hair
Thanks for your post. Please, how will I grow my egdes? I have applied black castor oil, almond oil, virgin hair fertilizer but my egdes have not grown. Kindly advise. Thanks