Probably the most frequently asked question among new, and even seasoned, naturals is how to grow healthy natural hair. I know I’ve been asked this many times, and the answer isn’t simple.

No, there isn’t a miracle product or tool that’ll make your hair grow overnight. Honestly, long natural hair only comes when your hair is HEALTHY. And healthy hair only comes when you’re patient and consistent with a healthy regimen/routine.

Below, I’m sharing tips on how to grow healthy natural hair based on things I’ve incorporated into my routine.

It’s more important to identify your hair density and porosity over hair typing. Density and porosity will help you figure out what products, tools and techniques your hair needs.

Porosity

Hairs ability to absorb and retain moisture – there’s high, medium/normal and low porosity. Determine yours by spraying a clean section of hair with water and observe how it responds to being saturated. My hair is high porosity, so it absorbs water easily, but doesn’t retain.

Density

How much hair you have on your head – there’s low, medium and high density. Determine yours by observing how easily, or hard, it’s to see your scalp without having to part or move your hair. My hair is high density, meaning it’s thick and hard to see my scalp.

Moisture and protein overload are real. Too much moisture can cause breakage/split ends, and too much protein can cause dryness/stiffness. Make sure you’re alternating between protein treatments and deep conditioners on your wash days to keep a balance. Since my hairs high porosity, I deep condition once a week, and do a protein treatment 1-2x a month.

You can follow every tip in this post, but if you neglect getting regular trims everything else won’t matter. Trimming your hair ensures you don’t get split ends and breakage that trails all the way up your hair shaft. One telltale sign you need a trim is if you’re experiencing lots of knots/tangles, especially towards the ends of your hair. I get my hair trimmed every 3-4 months.

• DON’T detangle dry hair – first dampen hair with water and/or product with slip
• Finger detangle, then follow up with comb and/or brush
• Detangle starting from ends and work your way up
• Detangle in sections, especially if your hair is high/thick density

Use a satin/silk: bonnet, scarf and/or pillowcase. This fabric doesn’t snag or tug on your hair, reducing breakage and frizz. I sleep with a satin scarf and pillowcase (in case my scarf slides off in the middle of the night)

This tip is just as important as getting a trim (tip #3), in my opinion. A dirty scalp with product buildup can clog pores and slow down your healthy hair growth. So make sure to use a cleansing shampoo often. I use a cleansing shampoo every time I wash my hair, which is typically once a week.

Fairly self-explanatory, but constant use of heat (especially without properly cleansing and prepping your hair) can cause heat damage. If you’re going to use heat on your hair, then make sure to follow tip #6. Using heat on dirty hair can cause heat damage from the product buildup, oil, etc. I get silk presses from my hairstylist when getting a trim, I rarely use direct heat on my own hair.

I always opt for styles that limit how much I’m playing in my hair throughout the week. This reduces breakage and helps with length retention. Low maintenance hairstyles are also easy to install (e.g. mini twists/braids with natural hair).

Taking care of yourself (mentally, physically and emotionally) should always be a priority. But neglecting your overall health and wellness can negatively impact your hair growth. So make sure you have a balanced diet and are exercising, drinking water, taking vitamins, etc. These things (individually and collectively) will aid in your hair growth.

I can’t stress this one enough, but PLEASE be patient and remain consistent. Growing long and healthy hair really doesn’t happen overnight. If you want real results, you’re going to have to learn to trust the process and keep going. There’s going to be a lot of trial and error and days where you’re doubting yourself – trust me, I know. I’ve been natural since 2015, and I’m still learning things about my hair. I also have setbacks from time to time, no one’s natural hair journey is going to be perfect. But that’s the point, right? It isn’t about the destination, but the journey!