My Child's Hair Stopped Growing - Another Reason Besides Breakage

My child's hair stopped growing.  
I hear that very often.

I wrote about this before, but elsewhere and never posted it here. Decided to share it with you all.

When I first started my daughter's hair journey, I thought the same at one point because it seemed as though her hair stayed stuck in one length for a while.  I thought it was because her hair was breaking. But her ends were always healthy.

Many of us who are currently on a hair journey went through the phase where we thought that the hair was not growing.  And many of us learned that the hair will always grow, it's just that maintenance and length retention was key to keep what has grown out of the scalp. 

But hair does grow unless there is an underlying medical condition hindering it.  We have to remember that the oldest part of the hair are the ends and we need to take care of it more. When the ends are not taken care of properly, it will slowly break off as fast as it is growing from the scalp.  Making it appear that the hair is not growing.

But what about our kids whose hair we take care of religiously?  We follow every routine in their hair regimen, moisturize every night, deep condition...etc.? But it seems as though he or she is stuck at one length.

The hair is still growing.  But with children....let us remember that they still go through a growth process and go through growth spurts as well.  As they grow taller, their height can take away from the length of the hair.

Being adults, we stop growing taller at around a certain age.  We stay the same height from then on.  During our hair journey, we will see the length fall at certain points on our bodies as long as we maintain it to retain it. 

My daughter is currently 10 years old. Her hair length has been toggling between below waist and tail bone length. It is not a big issue for me because I know how we have been working to maintain her hair length.  She is getting taller so I do not make her hair length an issue at this point.

In keeping track of your child's hair growth progress, I recommend that measuring the length of the hair, than to rely on where it sits on their body is better. Here are also factors to consider, your child's hair growth rate as well.  Side note: personally, mine grows less than half an inch per month.

Despite that, it is still important to continue to the healthy methods you have been using on your child's hair.

*Washing/Conditioning
*Cowash more and shampoo only as needed
*Combing from ends to roots with a wide tooth comb
*Moisturize the hair ends often or as needed
*Using Oils on the scalp to help promote healthy hair growth
*Using the LOC/LCO Method to help with moisture
*Avoid too much tension when braiding/styling
*Keep moisturizing and using protective styles to protect the hair ends and retain length
*Try not to use too much hair accessories with metal connectors or pieces that can snag the hair
*Using a satin scarf around their heads or have them sleep on a satin pillow case
*Try focusing on the health of your child's hair and the growth will be an added bonus
*Measure the hair instead of relying on where it falls on the back will protect youfrom discouragement & disappointment.
*KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HEALTHY!!!!! EAT RIGHT, STAY ACTIVE & TAKE VITAMINS!

Thanks for reading!

My Natural Hair Journey So Far

It has definitely been a while!

Making my story short, family was my priority during the past few months. Always been a priority, but focusing on the children, academics and activities.  Although I have been active on Instagram, that was an easier way to quickly post and keep it going.

Blog posting and Youtube, I scaled back on it for a while. But I thank you for your support on the other social media outlets I am on.

The only thing I want to say is that I have been loving my hair. The natural journey and my tapered hair cut.  I plan on letting it all grow out next year, but for now, I wanted to enjoy a certain look. And that look has been my signature look for a while. The tapered afro. 

I can no longer call it a TWA anymore because I do have about 6-7 inches on the top of my head.

I do see the barber regularly for my cuts and he has been great every time.
When I decide to completely grow it out, I will share the news. But for now, I'm enjoying this ride with this look and the fun I'm having with it.

I will be sharing my twist out techniques and new hair regimen as well once that is in place and organized. It hasn't really changed much from when I was relaxed.

I will share more soon. But for now, a pic of my healthy hair journey so far.  Stay tuned.

Blow Drying The Hair Using The Tension Method

How I blow dry my hair, this video was recorded WEEKS & WEEKS ago. I was 8 weeks post at the time. Finally sat down and edited it. I don't like long videos and try to keep them under 6 minutes. This one is under 4 minutes long & straight to the point. Enjoy!

31 Weeks Post Relaxer - Transitioning Hair Regimen

31 Weeks Post Relaxer!  
This is not an easy hair journey at all !!!! 

Especially when you are transitioning to natural, relatively speaking.  Not only do I have to deal with my relaxed hair on my head, but also the several hair types/textures of my new growth.  So I have about 3 different hair textures/types of natural hair....and let us count the straight relaxed hair at the ends!

31 Weeks Post Relaxer

 

My hair journey has been a frustrating one.....from time to time.  I knew it was not going to be simple and easy.  I noticed that I experienced a lot more tangles with the RELAXED hair as my NATURAL hair grows longer. The areas that were the worst were the relaxed hair that was attached to the tighter natural hair strands.  I do have rough times with it.  I am not going to give you a fairy tale story on how perfect it is, because it is not.  But I have been managing so far with so much patience.

I definitely look forward to seeing what is in store for me when I do become fully natural.  I've been there and done that with my relaxed hair journey as I mentioned before and in video.  I am currently and still MBL (mid back length); the longest hair length I have ever been in my life.  The longest prior to that was APL (arm pit length) which was pre hair journey, pre-haircut in 2007.  I was going to try for WL (waist length) as I transition, but right now, I do not feel that there is a point.

As far as my new growth, when I comb through it with conditioner, it is absolutely a joy to deal with.  Goes through so smooth and....wow!!!  But when it comes to the relaxed hair at the ends, it tangles up so quickly.  Combing the new growth which has a spiral pattern to it will twirl as you comb, causing the straight hair attached to it to twirl simultaneously.  As a result, the relaxed hair latches onto the other straight relaxed hair.  Does that make sense? I do hope so...  But that is what I have experienced at times if I do not use enough conditioner to give it that "slip".  And it happens combing from the bottom up because all of the hair is not the same.  But with patience and due diligence, I manage well.

Hair shedding? Normal shedding for me.  I was shedding more about 16 weeks post.  But since, it has subsided a lot. 

Breakage? Some breakage, not much to be concerned with.  I have been keeping up with my protein treatments, deep condition and handled my hair with as much gentle care as possible.

Thinning? My relaxed hair looks thin when it is wet compared to the natural hair.  Looks like I am holding on to "thinning" hair when it is not really thin.

Edges? My edges looks good.  I keep them moisturized and I smooth them down with a scarf and hands as much as I can.  So much less use of a brush.  If I do use one, it is a very soft brush.

Hair Regimen?  I have pretty much kept the same hair care routine/regimen as I have always done when my hair was fully relaxed. 

* I part my hair in 6-8 sections. 
* I detangle with conditioner and oil.
* I wash in sections and in the shower as the hair is still in its' down position.
* I do protein treatments every 6 weeks using the ApHogee Protein treatment.  That is to avoid breakage at the demarcation line (where the relaxed and new growth meets).
* I have been clipping/trimming my ends each month.  A little less than half an inch, to avoid having split ends traveling up the hair shaft.
* I cowash more than I shampoo, same as I did before. 
* I keep my hair styles very basic, loose buns, sock buns, loose French Braids, or a simple ponytail pulled to the side or back. 
* I still moisturize!

With the exception of the hair relaxer being removed from my hair regimen, here are the minor changes.  Keep in mind that as I gain more natural hair, some things will change.  But so far, so good, I have been able to stay consistent with most of my products for now.  I moisturize my new growth and ends a little more than before and that seems to keep my hair feeling and looking healthy.

Some changes:

* I started doing the ACV (Apply Cider Vinegar) Rinse on my hair when I only see build up. The ACV rinse is a good way to clarify to remove product build up.  It is natural too. 

* And I also use Aloe Vera Gel to smooth my edges too.

* I have also been using the S-Curl "No Drip Activator" to spray my new growth.  It works beautifully and helps my natural hair "pop".  For me, it doesn't leave so much build up, which I actually expected at first, but I do not use a lot of it in the first place.

Here is the link to view my current regimen.  So far it has been working for me.
Transitioning Hair Regimen

Thanks so much for reading!

Twisted FroHawk on MadiMel's Natural Hair (Mohawk/Fauxhawk)

I had posted a photo of my daughter, MadiMel's hair on Instagram, Facebook and other sites and it has become popular.  I saw the same or similar hair style on so many different sites, many different times, etc. And I know that so many people have done it themselves. I came across a few people whho stopped me and asked about her hair style.  I gave them my Youtube channel information and told them a video will be posted soon.

It was one morning, I did not feel like doing much with her hair after being styled in a bun.  It seemed too much to deal with and I woke up tired.  I decided to try out the style on her hair since she was in between hair styles anyway. And the results were good.  MadiMel is at that age where she is becoming picky, so when she saw this style, she fell in love and couldn't stop staring at her hair.

After posting the photo, I received so many requests to do a tutorial.  I finally posted it today and hope you like it!  Take care and God bless!