What Is Kinky Curly Hair?
Ever wondered how curls are formed? The bonds formed between the disulfides and keratins in your hair shafts make your cuticles bend and form curls. Andre Walker, Oprah Winfrey’s renowned hair stylist, came up with the classification of curls into 4 different types. Type 1 is straight hair, type 2 is wavy hair, and type 3 is curly. Kinky hair is classified as type 4 and is further divided into 3 sub-types. Let’s take a closer look.
Type 4: Kinky Hair
Kinky hair usually follows a zigzag pattern. Though it looks thick and resilient, it is actually the most fragile hair type. Kinky hair has the same frequency of hair growth as all the other hair types, but lack of proper care can lead to breakage, which hinders hair growth. Type 4A (Soft) – It is the most fragile of all hair types. These curls are tightly coiled and have an irrefutable ‘Z’ pattern. This hair type can experience extreme dryness. Type 4B (Wiry) – This hair type lacks a definite curl pattern. It looks puffed up and is highly susceptible to dryness. Type 4C (Wiry) – This hair type experiences 70% shrinkage. This means that even if the length of your hair is 10 inches, it appears only 3 inches long. Growing your hair can be a daunting task, especially if you have kinky curly hair that is extremely prone to shrinkage. But it’s totally possible to accelerate your hair growth by following some maintenance tips. Scroll down to check them out!
Maintenance Tips To Make Your Kinky Curly Hair Grow Faster
1. Washing Your Hair
Prepare Your Hair For Wash
As a pre-shampooing routine, apply coconut oil to your hair a couple of hours before you wash it. Massaging your scalp opens up the pores and helps them absorb nutrients. It also prevents the chemicals in the shampoo from building up on your scalp.
Use A Pre-Shampoo
Pre-shampoo or pre-poo is a conditioning treatment applied to wet hair before shampooing. It acts as a protective layer that prevents drying or breakage caused by chemical-filled shampoos. Divide your hair into sections and coat each hair strand with the pre-shampoo treatment. Let it sit for 30 minutes and rinse before shampooing your hair. This will lock the natural oils and moisture in your hair when you shampoo it. Some of the best pre-shampoo treatments can be made at home with ingredients such as extra virgin oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, yogurt, and shea butter.
Use The Right Shampoo
For, different hair types have different needs. Textured hair is delicate and brittle, so it needs a gentle shampoo. It is essential to use a sulfate-free shampoo as it prevents your hair from becoming frizzy and dry. Most shampoos on the market are filled with chemicals that damage your fragile hair. Therefore, to get the best results, use an organic shampoo that contains jojoba oil or argan oil.
Section Your Hair Before Washing
Washing your hair all at once can lead to tangles. Hence, divide your hair into four sections and wash one section at a time.
Focus On Your Scalp
Dirt, oil, and other residues can build up on your scalp. These pollutants act as a barrier to hair growth. It is important to cleanse your scalp to keep your hair clean and fresh. Therefore, use an organic shampoo that can clean your scalp without stripping off its natural oils.
2. Keeping Your Hair Moisturized
Use A Conditioner After Every Wash
Shampoos tend to strip away the natural oils from your hair and scalp. Use a conditioner that keeps your hair moisturized throughout the day. Look for a conditioner that is specifically made for curly hair. These hair care products soften your locks. For best results, leave the conditioner in your hair for 5 minutes before washing it off.
Use A Deep Conditioner
A deep conditioner penetrates deep into each hair strand and revives dull and damaged hair. It controls frizz and repair brittles and broken strands. Conditioners containing argan oil or keratin are the best choices. These deep conditioners nourish your hair thoroughly from root to tip. They can be prepared at home with mayonnaise and other natural conditioning ingredients.
Moisturize Your Hair Daily
Textured hair is highly prone to damage. To avoid this, apply a leave-in conditioner daily to retain the moisture in it. Choose an organic conditioner that has coconut, shea butter, or olive oil.
Use A Hair Oil
Regular oiling can improve the health of your hair drastically. In textured hair, the natural oils that are secreted by your scalp find it difficult to reach to the ends of your hair. This is because the kinky curls act as an obstruction. So, oil your hair twice or thrice a week to promote healthy hair growth. Massage the oil into your scalp and let it sit for a couple of hours. Use castor oil or argan oil for best results.
3. Keeping Your Hair Healthy
Remove Tangles Gently
Textured hair can get tangled easily. You can risk causing severe damage by brushing it hard. Remove tangles gently with the help of a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. Using your fingers is the most gentle way to remove knots. Always start from the ends and move upwards. Detangle your hair as many times as you can since kinky hair can get tangled pretty often.
Trim The Ends
The ends of your hair are prone to dryness and split ends. These can stunt the growth of your hair and make it look dull. To prevent this, get your hair trimmed once every two months.
Go Sparse On The Shampoo
Limit the number of times you wash your hair in a week. Washing your hair more than 1 to 2 times a week can strip off its natural oils, leaving it dry and limp. Most of the shampoos today contain harmful chemicals that can damage your hair.
Avoid Heat Styling Tools
Though blowdrying your hair gives effective results, it also comes with a lot of cons. The excess heat can weaken your hair follicles and cause breakage. Instead, gently rub your hair with a microfiber towel or let it air dry naturally. For better results, wrap a silk scarf around your head and let it dry overnight.
4. Styling
Use A Wide-Toothed Comb
Textured hair needs extra care while detangling as it is delicate and prone to breakage. This is why you need to use a wide-toothed comb to untangle your hair. It helps control unruly hair and untangles hair without being too harsh on your locks. On the other hand, a fine-toothed brush can disrupt the structure of your curls and cause breakage.
Wear Your Kinky Curly Hair In Protective Styles
Textured hair is extremely vulnerable to environmental stressors like dust, strong, pollution, and sun rays that can weaken it and prevent it from growing. Protective styles protect your hair from these stressors, prevent breakage and split ends, and encourage new hair growth. Here are some chic hairstyles that can protect your hair and give it a glam look.
1. Goddess Braid
The protective hairstyle involves weaving thick and oversized cornrow(s) around the head. These braids can be kept for at least eight weeks. The micro braids running down the scalp from the center add versatility to the style.
2. Braided Updo
This is yet another stylish way to update your plain box braids. You can go for micro box braids and weave them with red or dark caramel extensions to add a hint of warmth to your natural hair color. The braids stay safe in the bun and you can also wrap a scarf around it to protect your hair from damage.
3. Box Braids
The square-shaped partitions in this style protect your hair from breakage and promote hair growth. They are low maintenance and can be worn in various patterns and styles. They can last for months. They do not get tangled and are very easy to style.
4. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots look super cool and give off a very 90s vibe. They are not actual knots, but coiled buns. These twisted buns are very comfortable and protect the ends from breakage. They preserve your curls and help them last longer.
5. Cornrows
This unisex protective hairstyle offers easy maintenance and can be left in for weeks. In this style, the hair is braided very close to the scalp in underhand and upward motions to make the braids pop over the scalp.
6. Havana Twists
Slightly different from cornrows where three sections are used, Havana twists are done using two sections of hair and hair extensions. The process involves taking big chunks of hair and twisting them along with hair extensions. Since the twists are big, the tension on your scalp is minimal.
7. Cornrows Updo
This hairstyle involves cornrows that are twisted into a bun. It is a formal hairstyle that gives you an elegant and chic look. It keeps your hair from getting tangled and protects your tresses from damage as they are safely braided in place. It also aids hair growth.
8. Boosting Hair Growth
There are many misconceptions about the growth of textured hair. If given proper care, your hair can grow to a great extent. You can follow the tips given below to boost hair growth:
Follow A Vitamin-Rich Diet
Your hair needs certain vitamins to grow. Many a time, your diet lacks these vitamins. Therefore, to make your kinky curly hair grow quickly, you need to consume foods rich in these vitamins. Vitamin A – This vitamin helps in the secretion of sebum, which keeps your hair moisturized. It is mostly found in pumpkins, spinach, and kale. Vitamin B – Vitamin B is responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the scalp, which promotes rapid hair growth. It is found in almonds, whole grains, and dark leafy vegetables. Vitamin E – It is an antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress. It has a high nutrient value. It is usually found in sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocado.
Have A Balanced Diet
Did you know that your hair grows up to 0.5 inches per month and 6 inches per year? But its speed depends on various factors, including your diet. A balanced diet is one of the best ways to keep your hair healthy and nourished. Including the following foods in your diet can help the growth process immensely:
Natural Hair Packs
Keratin is the protein that is responsible for the structure of your hair strands. But constant use of harsh chemicals and heating treatments can break down this protein, leaving your hair dry and lifeless. To restore the health of your hair, you can opt for simple home remedies. Hair packs can keep your natural hair healthy and beautiful. Following are some DIY hair packs that boost your hair growth.
I. Avocado Mask
2 avocados 2-3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon organic honey 2-3 tablespoons coconut milk
Avocado is rich in vitamin E, amino acids, and fatty acids. Hence, it aids hair growth. This mask also strengthens your hair. It prevents breakage and tangles and nourishes your hair. It also reduces frizz and moisturizes the cuticles.
II. Banana Hair Mask
1 ripe banana 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2-3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon honey
Banana is a natural source of biotin that keeps frizz and roughness at bay. It also prevents hair fall. Coconut oil keeps your hair moisturized, and honey adds shine to your hair. Olive oil soothes dry strands and promotes a healthy scalp. On the whole, this mask will keep your hair healthy and soft. With regular application, your hair can grow quite quickly.
III. Castor Oil And Aloe Vera Hair Mask
1 aloe vera leaf 2 tablespoons castor oil 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Castor oil promotes hair growth. It also fights dandruff and has anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties that keep your scalp healthy. Aloe vera nourishes your hair and smoothens dry strands. All these ingredients improve the condition of your hair and prevent hair fall. This mask strengthens your hair follicles from within and enhances the texture of your hair.
6. Avoid These Things To Grow Your Hair Quickly
Heat Styling Tools
Kinky hair is prone to damage as it is quite fragile. Therefore, it dries out and breaks easily. Continuous exposure to heat can worsen this problem. Blow dryers and flat irons emit extreme levels of heat. This damages the outer layer of your hair shafts and obstructs their growth.
Chemical-Filled Hair Products
The most important step while choosing hair products is to avoid shampoos with SLS as it strips your hair of its natural oils. Go for natural products that protect your hair and enhance your curls. If you are a regular user of relaxers and texturizers, try limiting their usage. The chemicals in these products build up on your scalp and cause hair fall. Harsh chemicals can also weaken your hair and decrease its resilience.
Emotional Stress
When you are under stress, there are a lot of physical changes that occur in your body. One of them is hair fall. Telogen effluvium is the term used for the hair fall caused by stress. It is seen in people who neglect their regular sleep cycle. There is something called the rest cycle of hair, where 80 % of your hair is in growth mode, and 10-20% is in resting mode. Stress causes an imbalance in this cycle, resulting in hair fall. Why does kinky hair grow slow? Kinky hair grows in waves or curls, which is why the shrinkage occurs. The coils or twists in this hair type cause shrinkage, where kinky hair appears shorter. Is kinky hair the same as curly hair? Kinky hair is often associated with 4A to 4C range and is just another term for curly hair.
