Growing healthy natural hair can seem like an impossible task. But trust me, it isn’t. Think of your hair as a plant that needs ongoing sustenance and maintenance to grow. To reach your hair health and growth goals, you’ll need to create a natural hair routine and stick to it. Don’t know where to start? I’ll help you build your routine in just four steps. 

1. Shampoo Thoroughly with Effective Products

Contrary to what you might have heard, your hair doesn’t need to be dirty to grow. In fact, leaving your hair coated in product residue, dirt, excess oils, and debris can clog and irritate your scalp and inhibit hair growth. So, always shampoo your hair thoroughly with a deep cleansing, residue-free shampoo. Scrub your scalp well, bring the shampoo down the length of your hair,  and then rinse until all the shampoo is gone. 

Then, apply your conditioner, use a comb to detangle, and then rinse again. You’re ready for the rest of your hair care and styling routine.  

Note: There’s much more to learn about proper shampooing for natural hair. Read “The Great Hair Restart” for more information on this topic and others. By the end of the book, you’ll have a clear roadmap to total hair transformation.  

2. Wash At the Right Frequency

How often do you shampoo every month? Not shampooing enough can be disastrous for your hair. For the best results, I recommend you do so at least once a week to promote scalp health, prevent product buildup, and avoid other hair issues.

3. Get Regular Trims

As you strive to grow your hair, the thought of trimming it might make you cringe. But it’s an essential part of any good natural hair regimen. Generally, it’s best to get your hair trimmed every 8 to 10 weeks. The goal is to remove split ends before they get a chance to worsen and cause breakage. Yes, you‘ll lose a small fraction of an inch of hair each time, but your hair will be much healthier for it. And it will grow back fuller and healthier without the split ends. 

4. Go Easy on the Hair-Coating Products

You may have seen videos on YouTube, Instagram, and other social media sites showing people slathering their hair in thick products that simply sit on top of the hair. This is not going to help your hair. Instead of overloading your hair with products that merely coat your strands, here’s what you should do:  

• Be mindful of how much product you’re using. Only use enough to get the job done.

• Choose nourishing products that penetrate the hair to revitalize it from within. 

Your hair will thank you. 

So, there you have it - a natural hair care routine to help you grow and retain healthy hair. Remember that consistency is essential; stick to the routine to see results. I hope that the information in this article helps you craft a routine that gets you the results you’re looking for.