Growing long curly hair takes more patience than growing straight hair. The curl shrinkage can make it difficult to determine the true hair length. Some curlies feel like their hair never grows. A few may be right because of breakage.
Can Curly Hair Grow Long?
Yes, curly hair can grow long just like any other hair type. On average, all hair grows half an inch a month. Curly hair can appear shorter because the strands curl up or appear to "shrink", making the monthly growth less obvious. Curlies must gain at least a few inches before the curls appear longer.
Why Does Curly Hair Break Off Easily?
Curly hair is more fragile than straight or wavy hair because the cuticle naturally remains somewhat raised. When a hair cuticle is raised, the strand is more vulnerable to split ends and breakage.
According the curly hair expert Ouidad, the majority of curlies have fine hair. Fine hair is fragile and more prone to damage without the right care.
Unfortunately, many curlies believe they have coarse hair because the raised hair cuticle feels rough and frizzes issues. This leads to the use of harsh hair products for a stronger hair type.
Protecting Curly Hair to Gain Length
An aspiring long-haired curly needs five things to start a journey to long hair:
- Mild shampoo, preferably sulfate-free
- Moisturizing rinse-out and leave-in conditioners without silicone ingredients
- Moisturizing styling products such as gel
- Gentle hair tools and accessories
- Satin pillow case or satin sleep bonnet
Curly hair is naturally dry. Pick shampoos designed for dry or curly hair. Avoid harsh sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate and choose a sulfate-free product to avoid drying out hair.
Consider skipping shampoo and using conditioner only to cleanse hair. Curly hair expert Lorraine Massey wrote an entire book on the benefits of washing hair with conditioner for curly hair health.
Always use a moisturizing rinse-out and leave-in conditioner that is free of silicone ingredients such as dimethicone. Silicones are common conditioner ingredients that initially coat the hair to make hair soft, shiny and easier to comb. However, many curlies find silicones build up quickly on the hair and require harsh sulfate-based shampoo for removal. The silicone eventually dries out hair because it blocks moisture. Natural moisturizers tend to work best for curlies. Natural moisturizing ingredients for conditioners include wheat protein, shea butter, olive oil and jojoba oil.
Select alcohol-free moisturizing styling products for hold. Consider using natural aloe vera gel instead of conventional styling products.
Choose gentle hair tools and snag-free accessories. Look for handmade seamless wide-tooth combs made out of cellulose acetate. These combs make curly hair easier to detangle and do not have rough seams that catch on hair like normal plastic combs. Use only snag-free hair elastics and smooth barrettes and hair clips for styling.
Protect curls from tangling at night by wearing a satin sleep bonnet or sleeping on a satin pillow case. This will preserve a curly hair style for a second day.
Ways to Prevent Curly Hair Breakage
- Throw out hair brushes, which only roughen up a fragile cuticle and cause frizz. Comb curls with a wide-tooth when the hair is wet and saturated with moisturizing conditioner.
- Air dry curly hair whenever possible. The heat from the gentlest blow dryer can still damage curly hair over time.
- Leave hair alone after styling. Once curly hair is dry, it can tangle easy or catch on things with too much manipulation. Carefully handle hair after it is dry and styled to prevent breakage.
- Healthy, defined ringlets are possible with gentle care.
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