Natural products, including herbal hair loss remedies, that restore hair growth are much easier on the wallet and may provide to be safer and better for you to use over time.

Natural Hair Restorers include:

Castor Oil

• There have been claims and testimonies to verify the powers of castor oil to restore hair growth
• Castor oil is a natural hair restorer that promotes growth and thickness in the hair
• Jamaican Black Castor Oil is said to be castor oil in its most pure form, containing ash which helps to promote hair regrowth naturally

MSM

• MSM has been proven to promote hair growth; the natural sulfur that is contained in MSM is essential to the body and actually known to be helpful in hair, skin and nails
• MSM may be bought over the counter at your local health food store

Leafy Green Vegetables

• Leafy green vegetables contain the many nutrients that help promote overall health, which includes health to hair, skin, and nails.  Whenever I increase my intake of leafy greens and vegetables, I notice better growth cycles
• With better growth cycles come the possibility and/or instance of hair restoration

Garlic

• Improved blood circulation to the scalp helps to restore hair growth; garlic is a known natural herbal circulatory agent, in addition to its many other functions
• The old follicles that may not have been active are excited through the onset of blood circulation, which in result reacts as a hair restorer
• The herbal hair loss remedy, garlic, may be taken in many forms including capsules, odorless capsules, or eaten raw

The aforementioned list of hair restorers is a partial list of natural products, and supplements that may help to spark hair regrowth.  Many African American women, like myself, have experienced issues with hair loss at the hairline/”edges” and various forms of alopecia.  The list above may prove to be somewhat helpful in putting you on the right road to  achieving growth, hair regrowth, and overall hair restoration!

Chloe from San Jose, CA says:  I have been experiencing issues with hair loss in the last few months.  Do you have any tips for hair regrowth?

Hair loss is an something that is noted all too often among men and women across many different racial and ethnic lines.  Hair loss knows no age boundaries either.  Hair loss often devastates those who experience it.  However, hair regrowth is not always out of reach for those who have experienced hair loss.  Hair regrowth can be generated in a variety of ways.  Many steps to achieving hair growth will soon be stated in this article.

Hair regrowth can be achieved through several ways.

1. Oiling the roots of the hair

• Keeping the hair oiled helps with the pliability and elasticity of the hair, preventing snapping and breakage of the hair
• The more oiled and moisturized the hair is, the likely it is to live longer
• Oiling the scalp creates the environment for new hair to survive and grow as opposed to a dry, unhealthy scalp

2. Massaging the scalp

• Massaging the scalp gently helps to improve circulation of the blood to the scalp and often generates the growth of new hair
• Hair regrowth is often created through massaging the scalp because the scalp is shocked and invigorated through the relaxing process, the key is to be consistent in this practice (oil may be used to perform the massage)

3. Cleansing the scalp and hair more often

• There has been the perception that “dirty hair” grows faster, however, I beg to differ.  with my hair regrowth in areas that I experienced losses, my hair grew faster when I maintained clean hair.  Washing the hair weekly did more justice to my hair follicles than leaving them clogged with dirt and build-up

4. Cut the Stress

• Stress is one of the number one reasons for hair loss; you must learn to relax in order to maintain a healthy hair growth cycle in order to prevent hair loss

5. Seek advise/counsel from a professional

• A licensed dermatologist may be able to help you assess the reasons for your hair loss and, in result, find you some helpful solutions to gain hair growth

Chloe, the above referenced hair restorers may be utilized in order to help spark hair regrowth for those who have experienced hair loss.  I hope that the tips will provide some sort of help for you. Feel free to contact us further if you need anything else!

Here is a link to a video that may help you as well to achieve hair regrowth.  Check it out!  Youtuber, Shima, addresses black hair regrowth.

Shima Addresses Hair Regrowth

Bantu knots done on pressed out hair.

The hair was parted into about 6-8 sections and placed in knots immediately after heat was applied; left in overnight for more definition.  SheaMoisture Curl and Style Milk was used on the ends.

When I transitioned to natural hair, the first thing I had to realize was that taking care of natural hair required methods that were totally different from the steps to care for relaxed hair.  The moment I had the revelation, my transition became much simpler.

My Natural/kinky  hair must be manipulated with product in it.  My dry hair would be a total mess to deal with in its natural state.

Natural Hair is not to be “wrapped”, but best to be manipulated gently and secured with a soft satin or silk bonnet at night.  You may also opt to sleep on a silky pillowcase at night in order to maintain the oils, prevnt dryness, and to avoid breakage.

Natural hair gets/feels dry quicker than relaxed hair. The natural hair still produces sebum (natural oils) from the scalp, however, it is harder for the oils to travel down the hair shaft (especially with kinky/curlier hair).  Do not shy away from keeping the hair oiled regularly.

You are moving towards becoming natural now, DON”T FEAR WATER. A little H20 never hurts, and with natural hair, unlike relaxed, you may bring on the water!  You no longer have to run from the rain, but embrace a little mist on your hair.  Natural hair loves moisture, and water based moisturizers are great for maintaining elasticity and overall healthy hair.

Remember these simple tidbits when managing your hair, it may make your transitioning to natural hair that much easier!  God bless you on your journey!

Where: Sweet Potato Sensations Bakery Cafe
17337 Lahser (Just north of Grand River)
Detroit, MI 48219
When: Saturday, December 11, 2010
6:00 pm

Cost: $1 Donation is appreciated

For more information, call 313- 532-7996

For Added Slip – EVOO is an oil that may be added to products to provide extra “slip”, which makes the product go through the strands easier; this makes manipulating the hair easier.

As a Detangler - EVOO may also be used as a detangling agent.  The oil may be applied to the hair, and be worked through your coils in order to make detangling a breeze.

As a Sealant – Extra Virgin Olive Oil may be used to “seal” in moisture that comes from moisturizers in order to give the hair an extra layer of protection.

To Enhance Your Conditioner’s Properties – Your conditioner may be fine on its own, but it may be spectacular once you add in evoo.  Through trial and error you can quickly find out if your hair loves added evoo in your conditioner.

For Oiling the Roots or Scalp - If you have a dry scalp or a low production of sebum, consider oiling the scalp with evoo.

As a Deep Conditioner/Hot Oil Treatment- Let the EVOO sit on the hair with a bag on it…add heat if you like and enjoy an all natural DC or a hot oil treatment.

Natural hair, in general, flourishes in protective styles when done correctly.  This twist pin-up style was created freestyle.   I did plenty of twists and pinned them up accordingly.  Protective natural hairstyles keep the ends off of the shoulders and clothing in order to preserve the hair that has been around the longest.  With protective styles, usually comes length retention.  I intend to incorporate more protective styles into my styling hair regimen.

For years and years, a dry, flaky, scalp haunted my head.  I took trips to the dermatologists and all to no permanent relief, until I took my hair care journey in another direction.  I started to see concrete results when I stopped using sulfate shampoos.  Also, I immediately saw results when I stopped chemically relaxing my hair.  However, not everyone will want to take on the same regimen as I have, so in addition to my own personal success tips, you may opt to try a number of things.

Tea tree essential oil, infused in a carrier oil (such as olive oil), will often work to keep the scalp clean of debris.  Try lightly oiling the scalp with the tea tree oil.

Try shampooing the hair with a sulfate-free shampoo or shampoo with a shampoo less often and co-wash in between shampooing.  Conditioner Only washing will keep the scalps natural sebum (oils) in tact, without stripping the hair.

Do not block the pores of the scalp with certain products such as petroleum or mineral oils.  My hair, in its natural form, does not like those products; without them, I remain dandruff- and build-up free!

The acidity balance of the scalp or the pH balance is a contributor to the amount of dryness or oiliness of the scalp as well.  More details to come on pH balance and your hair in the future!!!

Have you heat styled your hair too much?

If so, lay off the heat and opt for roller sets and or alternative styles such as curlformers sets or bantu knot outs for styles that stretch the hair more into cutesy curly looks.

Have you over-manipulated the hair?

Try to do protective styles (braids, buns, twists) that allow the hair to be manipulated less often.

Are you using waaaaaaaaay too much protein without a healthy balance of moisture?  Or are you using a ton of moisture products without enough protein to balance it out?

Try to find the right balance of moisture-protein levels in the hair by evaluating based on the “mushy” or “stiff” feel of the hair.  pH balances in the hair may be off as well, so try to balance it out with apple cider vinegar rinses and similar products.

Be consistent.  Remain patient.  Evaluate results.

Hi Julie, I am a natural, so quite honestly I am no expert in relaxed hair.  Also, the fact that you say you have biracial hair does not tell me anything about the type of hair you have – whether or not it’s coarse, fine, dense, wavy, kinky, or curly.  Therefore, I cannot suggest any relaxers for you to use.  I haven’t relaxed my hair in about 3 years or so, but I do know some ladies with nice relaxed hair who may be able to help you.  Maybe you should consider joining a forum, or checking out Fotki or YouTube to get ideas from those whose textures are similar to yours.  Sorry I couldn’t help!