How to Grow Black & Afro Hair Fast! (15 Natural Methods)

As already mentioned, one of the biggest issues for those with curly, black or afro hair is that these hair types find it challenging to retain moisture, making your locks dehydrated. We’re all aware of how important it is to keep our bodies hydrated, but the same is also required for healthy, happy hair.

With the natural helix shape of coiled or curly hair making it a challenge for moisture to make its way down the hair strands, your main focus needs to be keeping your locks hydrated.

Find a set of designated products, like this Afro Hair Growth Set, which focuses on moisturising your hair at every point of the hair wash and care routine as this will help your black hair grow faster and thicker. A targeted set of products will leave you in the best position to see swift hair growth progress.

It’s common knowledge that heat styling can damage hair by causing split ends and breakages, as well as dehydrating your locks. It isn’t just your hair drying and styling tools that can have an impact though; the sun with its UV rays can also dry your locks out. Vitamin E can help to provide protection from sun damage so aim to increase your dietary intake of this, wherever possible.

Keep heat styling to a minimum and always apply a heat protectant spray before use. It’s also worth investing in an SPF hair product to limit the effects that the sun can have on your hair. Another great idea, simple though it may seem, is to pop a hat on when exposed to direct sunlight.

Many big haircare brands use chemicals in their products that hinder, rather than help, the health of your hair. Sulphates are put into shampoos to create that thick, foamy lather that many associate with cleansing, but the lather in a shampoo isn’t what cleans your hair and isn’t essential to the product.

Sulphates are known to strip hair of essential oils and moisture as well as damaging scalp health. Stick to hair care products with naturally-derived ingredients, such as the Baobab Hair Detangler & Cleanser, that aren’t just kind to your locks and scalp, but to the environment, too! 

The dry and frizzy tendencies of black hair can make it more prone to tangles and matting, meaning you’ll never want a brush too far from reach. But whilst it might be tempting to yank the brush right through, this certainly isn’t the best move for your tresses!

Roughly pulling a brush through knotted hair is going to place stress on both the root and hair follicle and can also lead to breakage and snapping, something which is entirely counter-productive for those wanting to see hair growth.

Divide your hair into small sections to make it more manageable and gently tease the comb through your hair. Detangling sprays can help brushes glide through with greater ease. Not only should you avoid yanking your brush through knots, it’s also much better to avoid brushing hair whilst wet. The reason? Wet hair is at its most vulnerable and therefore more likely to break.

If you’re keen to see hair growth quickly, then avoid placing your hair under additional stress through regular changes in hair styles. Whilst some hair styles protect the hair – braids, for instance – you should try to leave them in place for up to 10 weeks at a time. You’ll notice the difference in your black hair growth in no time!

In your search for longer hair, you may well have turned to extensions to help fulfil that dream. This could actually be hindering your chances of natural, long black hair, however. Traction alopecia is all too commonly seen by trichologists with hair extensions being the main cause. When extensions are applied, particularly when used with glue, it causes tension and the constant pulling can lead to breakages as well as follicle damage.

You wouldn’t think that going to sleep could negatively affect the growth rate of your locks, but if you're sleeping on a cotton pillowcase then this could be decreasing the rate at which your hair grows. 

Sleeping with exposed hair on a cotton pillowcase can encourage hair to fall out as well as causing friction which can lead to breakages. Use a silk pillowcase for a frictionless snooze that protects your hair and helps to maintain its condition.

Another useful tool to add to your hair care routine is a silk hair wrap. Silk’s smooth surface helps protect hair cuticles, and is a less absorbent material than cotton or satin so your hair won’t be stripped of its natural oils or moisture. This leaves your hair less dehydrated as a result.

A balanced diet is a key factor in helping maintain a healthy body, but the vitamins and minerals you consume can also play a big part in helping your hair to grow, too. If you neglect your diet, this will likely be reflected in your hair’s appearance, quality and growth (or lack, thereof).

There are a variety of hair-targeted multivitamins available to purchase but, of course, you could always boost your intake of essential nutrients for hair through your diet, too. Vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for hair health include:

Vitamin A

• Sebum production is reliant on vitamin A. Sebum helps to maintain a healthy scalp and, without it, hair may become dry and therefore more prone to breakage. Find vitamin A in foods such as carrots, mangos and sweet potatoes. 

Vitamin B

• Found in broccoli, spinach and peas, vitamin B helps with hair growth. B vitamins carry oxygen to the scalp so that the follicles can create new hair.

Vitamin E

• Protect hair from sun damage by consuming a diet rich in vitamin E. Nuts are a great source of this vitamin, and also help increase your zinc and protein levels that are also needed for healthy hair.

Zinc

• Low zinc levels can lead to a dry, flaky scalp and hair loss. Keep a healthy, balanced scalp by increasing your zinc intake with food such as beef, eggs and wholegrains.

Biotin

• A hair powerhouse that’s considered essential to hair health. It’s actually a B vitamin but deserves its own section because too little biotin can cause brittle tresses and hair loss. Biotin sources include wholegrains, eggs and yeast.

Iron

• A lack of iron is a major cause of hair loss and could be affecting your growing progress. Iron-rich foods include red meat, edamame beans, dried fruit, and fortified breakfast cereals.

Protein

• Hair is made up of protein, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s needed in your diet to keep your locks healthy and strong. If your diet lacks protein, hair is likely to become dry and brittle which can cause hair loss as well as limiting growth. Eggs, dairy, nuts and chicken are all high-protein foods.

If you haven’t used an oil on your hair then now is a great time to try one and benefit from the instant improvements to your locks. Hair oils such as coconut, jojoba, argan or black seed oil are ideal for locking in moisture and restoring hydration to dried-out hair. You could even pop a few drops of peppermint oil into your shampoo for added hair growth stimulation.

Black seed oil, in particular, is known for its naturally restorative properties (as well as helping to darken greying hair, offering an added benefit). It has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that work to protect both the hair and scalp. It works to slow down shedding and hair loss whilst stimulating growth at the same time. Try this Black Seed Hair Oil Elixir if you’re looking for black hair products that promote growth speedily!

Deep conditioning and hair masks often help to support the role played by hair oil. If you are suffering from dry, dull hair that breaks and sheds easily – or, perhaps you're a regular user of chemical hair treatments that leave your hair a bit parched – then deep conditioning is the best choice.

If you feel that your hair is particularly damaged, then use a deep conditioner. For how long, we hear you ask? To start with, use the conditioner once a week but ensure that, once its condition has improved, you reduce that usage to twice per month. A hair mask is the ultimate intensive treatment for dehydrated hair that lacks moisture. Let these rich, targeted formulas hug your hair from root to tip and expect to see some serious hair growing almost overnight!

Another great hair stimulation technique is the scalp massage. Performing a daily scalp massage stimulates the hair follicles to produce thicker hair and growth. Try introducing this for 5 minutes per day and see results in as little as 8 weeks when used with a stimulating hair oil and other growth supporting products.

Stress and anxiety can be a factor in hair loss. By introducing massage techniques, not only will you be supporting your hair and scalp health, but you could also be working to relieve some stress and tension throughout your body.

Regular use of shampoo tends to dry the hair out so try to stick to hair washing once a week. Moisture is the key to hair growth and if you are washing your locks too frequently, it can strip the hair of essential oils and hydration leading to breakages and damage.

If you feel like your hair needs washing more frequently than this, you could introduce a rice water wash. Using rice water is known to grow hair due to its naturally occurring amino acids. Not only this, but it increases volume and shine so it’s a complete win-win!

Whilst it isn’t essential to use shampoo every time you wash your hair, we would always recommend using a conditioner to maintain its health.

It’s only natural that you may be apprehensive to give your hair a trim and lose some of the precious growth you’ve achieved, however this can negatively impact your hair growth progress. 

New hair grows from the roots, but you will only see results if the ends of your hair are in good health, so chop the dead weight by removing dead ends that otherwise will see your hair strands prone to snapping.

The edges and ends of hair are far more vulnerable and damage-prone than any other part of your tresses. Tending to be much finer hairs, the edges will require extra care through injections of moisture from oils and other hair hydrators.

Braiding hair keeps the ends far less exposed than if hair is just loose and hanging down. If you use a toothbrush to comb your edges into place, then switch to a soft-bristled brush to avoid placing hair under unnecessary tension.

Developing a hair care routine is going to be key to your black hair growth success. If you are keen to reach your hair goals swiftly then be sure to create a consistent routine that you stick to. Steps we would advise to put into your hair routine include:

• Washing hair with shampoo once per week.

• Using a hair mask or deep conditioning, with a product such as the Babassu Oil Treatment Hair Masque, twice per week.