Healthy Habits for Natural Hair Growth, Part 2

Hey all, 

Before reading today's post, make sure you check out last week's post, which is part 1. It can be found here. 

Last week's post dealt with habits for healthy hair growth from the scalp! So today's post is part 2, and it will deal with habits for length retention! 

Without further adoo, let's get to it!

Part 2: Habits for Length Retention:

In addition to healthy hair growth from the scalp, most naturals want to retain and maintain the current hair they have. Here are some habits you can do right now to help retain  the current natural hair you have. 

1. Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize some more! Even if you spritz your natural hair with water or actually do the LCO/LOC method, moisturize those strands. In a future post, I'll be discussing my LCO method, and I can't wait to share those details (as well as results) with you!

2.  Low manipulation and protective hair styles are key. The less you manipulate your hair, the fewer instances you will have for hair breakage! Examples of low manipulation/ protective hair styles includes buns, twists, flat braids/flat twists, braids, wigs, and weaves. And even when your hair is in these styles, you still have to care for your hair so shampooing, conditioning and moisturizing should still be taking place! 

3. Being gentle with your hair is the last habit. If you have to manipulate your hair, then take your time and be gentle as you work with it. Often times, when I am most tired, I am the roughest on my hair. I have learned to put it in a puff and leave it alone. Also, I typically use my fingers rather than styling tools like combs and brushes. Nothing against them, but my fingers create less wear and tear.

Let me know your thoughts for length retention! Definitely share them below.

Until next time...

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken 

Healthy Habits for Natural Hair Growth, Part 1

For many naturals, healthy hair growth is a common goal, and personally, I am one of those naturals. My hair growth goal is not necessarily for length, but it is for the overall benefits of healthy hair. With healthy hair growth, hair can be thicker, stronger, and shinier! Who doesn't want that!?!

In addition to getting healthy hair to grow from the scalp, one must also know how to maintain the current hair they have to see the maximum results for overall healthy hair. There is nothing worse than experiencing 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of healthy hair growth, and losing that growth to poor hair maintenance and practices. Therefore, length retention practices are vital to maintaining healthy hair as well!

To discuss the habits, I have broken healthy hair growth down into two categories: 

1.) Habits for healthy hair growth from the scalp 

2.) Habits for length retention 

In today's post, we will discuss habits for healthy hair growth from the scalp, and the next post will serve as part 2, covering habits for length retention.

Habits for Healthy Hair Growth from the Scalp:

1. Cleaning your scalp is critical to hair growth. Hair can't grow as effectively when there is dirt and gunk clogging the pores on your scalp so keep your scalp clean. In the past, I didn't shampoo my hair. Instead, I would clarify my scalp with an apple cider vinegar and water mixture (You can see more about my natural hair wash regimen here). But lately, with working out more, I have been reaching for Shea Moisture's Coconut Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo. This shampoo is gentle so it doesn't strip my hair and make it feel dry. It leaves my curls soft and smelling oh so wonderful. Not to mention, my scalp game is on point! 

2. Scalp massages are the next habit, and a daily scalp massage can help to stimulate the blood in the scalp, increasing circulation and promoting hair growth. Just grab your favorite oil, employ those finger tips, and get to massaging! To help pass time as a I massage my scalp, I like to watch YouTube videos and let my fingers do the work! Check out my post here on natural hair Youtubers you should be watching!!

3. Drinking water is the third habit, and honestly, everyone knows about the benefits of water. However, most people still don't do it. Drinking half your body weight of water can help to moisturize your strands from the inside out and also helps to flush out any toxins in your system that might be hindering healthy hair growth. 

4. Eating healthy is the next habit. We hear the phrase: "You are what you eat", but have you truly accepted it. Whatever you put in your body is what comes out of your body. Simply stated: If you eat junk, your body produces less than stellar results, which may be evident in your overall health, weight, skin appearance and hair. Your body needs its share of carbs, proteins and other nutrients to help it repair and grow. So stop and evaluate the things that you are putting in your body. Ask yourself: "Will this food be beneficial to my body and hair growth?"  Now, in all honesty, I ask myself this question, and sometimes, I still give into whatever sweet treat it is that I may be craving. Everyone is entitled to a treat every now and then! I'm not saying you have to eat healthy 100% of the time, but I am saying to make better choices so that your overall food choices reflect healthy eating habits! One of my favorite ways to consume multiple nutrients at once is through a smoothie (You can read  this post here on one of my favorite go to smoothies that has a multiple vitamins and nutrients to promote healthy hair growth). 
5. Exercise is the final habit! Exercise is known to increase blood flow and again, increased blood flow promotes hair growth! NUFF SAID!!!!

These were some practical habits that can help promote healthy hair growth from the scalp. Of course, there are other methods that can also help with healthy hair growth and if you have some additional methods, please feel free to comment down below. 

Also, check out my past post on healthy hair growth and length retention (HERE), and stay tuned for part 2 of this post! 

Until next time,

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken 

Natural Hair Youtubers You Should Follow for your Natural Hair Life

I love Youtube because I am a visual learner and Youtube has allowed me to do just that: Learn through visuals and tutorials. When I first went natural, this was one of the biggest resources I used to help me learn about how to care for natural hair, and to this day, I still use it to help me stay up to date with new natural hair products, practices, and trends. Below, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite 4a/4b/4c natural hair Youtubers:

1. Ambrosia Malbrough

Whether it's natural hair or her overall sense of fashion and style, she has got it. She recently cut her hair and has been wearing protective styles to aid the "grow out" process. Below is one of my favorite videos of her natural hair with a flawless flat twist out.

2. Angela Lauren

I came across Angela Lauren's Youtube channel earlier this year, and when I saw her skills, I knew I had to follow her. She gives off  "utter dopeness"! Check out this on a quick and easy perm rod updo:

3. My Natural Hair Sistas

These sisters have been in the game for a long time, and honestly, every time I see a new video posted by them, I get excited because I know it will be good. This channel features three natural haired sisters with a variety of lengths and textures, but each one slays! This is the newest video on their channel:

4. Kaydee TV

Kaydee TV is an up and coming Youtuber that makes you truly feel like you can grow your natural hair and look cute doing it. She provides a variety of low manipulation styles that look good and help you minimize breakage. Check out her video below:

5. Unearthed Amber

Unearthered Amber has a head full of gorgeous natural hair. I first came across her originally on naturallygg's channel as one of the sisters, but she now has her own channel full of natural hair, healthy eating, and lifestyle videos.

6. BeautifulBrwnBabyDol

BeautifulBrwnBabyDol was another Youtuber I watched when I first went natural. While her hair videos are information packed, she also provides information on her weight loss, healthy diet, exercise, and much needed inspiration/motivation. You will love her channel as well because she keeps it real.

7. Shlinda1

Shlinda1 is also someone I recently discovered, but let me say, she makes natural hair easy to understand, providing practical tips for natural hair and low porosity chicks too.

8. Journey To Waist Length

Journey to Waist Length is another recent discovery, but she really has helped me to understand my own hair better. Plus, you can literally watch her natural journey, including her transition, big chop, and her current head of lush natural hair. She is another low porosity Youtuber as well, and she does a great job of providing practical tips on general ways to manage low porosity hair:

These are just a few of my favorite natural hair Youtubers! Please share below if you plan on checking out any of these Youtubers or if you have some natural hair Youtubers that you believe should be checked out! Share the wealth!

Until next time... 

Be faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken

I AM BACK!!!

So...it happened again! I up and disappeared!!! Truthfully, I had to utilize some major laser focus to complete this final semester of coursework. As most of you know, I am completing my PhD, and I needed to wrap up my internship placement, begin dissertation, complete my neuropsychological round of coursework, and teach my undergraduates PLUS manage my personal life. So....I disappeared BUT for good reasons! I am grateful because after a very prayerful and successful semester, I can truly see the end in sight. PhD, here I come! Stay tuned for future blog posts on natural hair, skin care, and other great topics!

Until next time...

Stay faith-filled, fearless, and fabulous,

Kurly Ken