There are all sorts of hair growth myths out there, but one of the most popular is that braids can help your hair grow. While there’s no scientific proof that this is true, there are a few reasons why it might seem like it is.
So, if you’re looking for a way to help your hair grow longer and faster, read on to find out more about the benefits of braiding your hair.
Does braiding your hair help it grow more?
There’s no doubt that braids are a stylish way to keep your hair out of your face. But did you know that they can also help your hair grow? By keeping your hair healthy and moisturized, braids can help promote healthy hair growth.
There are a few possible explanations as to why people say that braiding your hair means it will grow longer and faster.
First of all, you can’t easily touch or style your hair when you have it braided. This means that there may be less breakage and damage than if the hair was constantly being pulled on during brushing and styling.
Another explanation is that because braids put pressure on the scalp by increasing the circulation in that area, it can stimulate hair growth.
What about dreadlocks?
If you have short hair or are considering getting dreadlocks, you might want to know how long does it take for dreadlocks to grow.
There are a few things you can do while your locks are growing to help them stay strong and healthy until they reach their full length.
For example, you should make sure to wash and condition your hair regularly and moisturize (and don’t forget to use a leave-in conditioner) to help keep your locks soft and detangled.
How long does it take for braids to grow your hair?
The average time is around 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how tightly the braids are done.
If you want to keep it for longer, you’ll have to take excellent care of it to avoid breakage.
Here are some suggestions that may assist you in taking better care of your hair when it’s in braids:
- Rehydrate your hair
You should keep the roots of your hair hydrated with oils every chance you get . You can do this at home, or alternatively, keep a spray bottle with a little bit of oil and a bit of water in your purse if you’re going to be out all day and don’t have a chance to rinse your hair
Also, when you get out of the shower, try to air dry your hair for a few minutes before you use a towel to get rid of excess water. This will help to seal in the moisture from your shower that’s still in your hair.
- Properly remove tangles
A wide-tooth comb or one that has balls at the end will reduce the chance of breakage.
Be gentle when detangling your hair – it’s better to take longer than risk breaking off pieces of your braids or hurting yourself! Also, try not to use too much force when removing tangles; instead, slowly break them apart with the comb.
This way you’ll reduce the chance of ripping out strands of hair.
- Properly remove dandruff
If you use a shampoo that has sulfates or parabens, try replacing it with one that uses coconut oil instead of the harsher chemicals. If you don’t want to buy a whole new shampoo, simply mix it with water – this will dilute the harsh chemicals and make your scalp less irritated.
- Wash your hair often
You should wash your hair at least once every week or once every two weeks if you’re using moisture-rich shampoos. If you do this, your scalp will be less itchy and won’t have flakes of skin on it.
What helps hair grow while in braids?
It’s no secret that hair grows faster and healthier when it’s not subjected to daily styling and manipulation. For this reason, many women choose to wear their hair in braids while it grows out.
Braids are a protective hairstyle for your hair.
Braiding your hair provides protection to the ends of your hair, making it benefit from not having any contact with the environment (like wind and pollution), but also protecting it from mechanical damage like brushing and heat styling.
While you can benefit from braiding your hair for this purpose, it’s important that you do not neglect the other steps in your hair care routine like regularly shampooing and conditioning as well as moisturizing.
Be sure to take good care of your scalp to prevent dandruff and itching which can be uncomfortable and can even harm your hair.
Also, it’s important to remember that the longer you keep braids in, the longer it will take for them to come out. This is mainly because your strands of hair will become entangled and matted with the braids, and removing them without any hair loss will be very difficult.
You might want to consider taking out braids after a month or two of having them in if your goal is to grow your hair.
Are braids damaging hair?
Braiding is only damaging if you do not properly take care of your scalp or moisturize your tresses. If you are using the right products to moisturize your hair, then there should be no problem with braiding.
The ends of hair may break away from its roots if it is pulled back too tightly, resulting in splitting, hair loss, and follicle damage.
As such, it is important to remember that when you have braids in, you should avoid tying your hair back tightly.
If you wear braids for a long time, the longer it will take for them to come out and also the more chance of breakage due to pulling on your roots. This is especially true if you have thin hair.
Follow some of the steps below to reduce breakage and keep your hair healthy.
Moisturize your hair every day
You should also keep it moisturized while wearing braids. If you’re not sure how to do this, here are some suggestions
- You can apply leave-in conditioner or coconut oil on the ends of your hair, before putting it in a braids.
- Another option is to wear a scarf or wrap in between your braids, so that you can keep the product on your hair in between washes.
Use products with natural ingredients
This might help to boost your hair’s growth even more by nourishing it naturally. If you want extra strength and protection for your hair while wearing braids, it’s highly recommended that you use products made specifically for natural hair (and not any old shampoo!)
Be sure to keep your braids moisturized
Sometimes people forget about this important step! You should make an effort to condition your braids with oils or leave-in conditioner whenever you see that the braids are starting to feel dry
You can do this in-between washes when you apply your scalp oil.
Dry your hair properly
When your hair is wet, it’s more prone to breakage when it’s brushed or styled. This is mainly because your braids will be heavier on your head and put more stress on your scalp and hair.
Therefore, it’s important to allow your braids to dry properly to protect your hair. If you want, you can use a blow-dryer and low heat on your braids – but be sure not to hold the dryer too close for too long, as this will cause damage.
Some people find that they have less stress (and breakage) when they air dry their braids and then seal the ends with melted shea butter or some other oil.
Removing Your Braids
It is important to be gentle when removing tangles from your hair to prevent pulling on it too roughly. Take your braids off gently and slowly to help avoid breakage.
You can use a spray bottle of water to keep your hair moist while removing the braids. This will prevent further tangling and breakage.
Take your braids out one by one to avoid pulling on any of them too hard. If you plan on re-braiding your hair after removing the braids, wait a few days to allow your hair some time to rest.
Once you have your braids out, it is important to remember that some breakage is unavoidable. However, if the damage was more than usual, this might be due to how tightly you braided or conditions of your scalp (e.g dryness).
If you are really in need of a good brushing, consider using an alternate method like finger-combing instead. This won’t cause any harm because your hair isn’t being pulled by a brush.
You can take a few days off from braids to allow your hair to recover so that you can prevent breakage and damage. Your scalp and roots also need some time to relax and regain their strength.
Final Thoughts
Braiding your hair is a great way to protect it from harm, but it can also damage it if you don’t protect and moisturize your braids.
Be sure to follow the steps above to keep your braids healthy and long-lasting, remember that you’re doing this for your overall health as well as the appearance of your hair.
Remember that your hair is braided for a reason, and you need to take care of that reason. If your hair is already damaged or poorly conditioned then braiding it might not be the best option for you right now.
