How to Make an Afro Grow Faster

Your hair grows at a relatively consistent pace, but it grows slightly faster when you're at the peak of health. There are a few things you can do to keep your afro in good shape and achieve more length in a shorter time. You'll want to start with your health and nutrition, and then consider your afro itself.

Things You'll Need

• Filtered water Whole foods Coconut or jojoba oil, or shea butter Moisturizing shampoo Moisturizing conditioner Wide-tooth comb

Instructions

1. Give your lifestyle a makeover to achieve optimal overall health, which will ensure that your hair is growing at its fastest. You should be exercising on a regular basis, getting enough sleep and finding ways to alleviate stress---through friends, activities, mediation or spiritual pursuit.

2. Drink enough filtered water to flush toxins out of your body. Though it may not seem as if water would affect hair growth, if you keep yourself fully hydrated, your afro will be more nourished if you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

3. Nourish your afro from the inside out. Focus on eating whole foods rather than processed foods, and look for foods that give you the components that help build your hair: B vitamins, essential fatty acids, iron, protein and vitamin E. Foods like beans, dark green leafy vegetables, avocados and nuts are some of the best hair-beautifying choices.

4. Trim your hair to remove any trace of chemicals and damaged hair. Chemicals can weaken hair and cause it to break, while damaged hair often affects the whole hair shaft if you don't remove it. Even though you may lose some length in this trim, your afro will seem to grow faster because you're not losing hair to damage.

5. Give yourself regular scalp massages with pure coconut oil, jojoba oil or shea butter, which are all natural moisturizers that will keep your pores open and healthy. Scalp massage increases the flow of blood to the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth.

6. Wash your hair with a mild moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, such as those offered by the Organic Root company. Wash your hair only when necessary, not every day. Between washings, rinse your hair with warm water.

7. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb as you're growing your afro, which will reduce damage to the hair shaft. If you encounter tangles, remove them gently with your fingers when your hair is dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on how your hair grows, plan to spend about 5 to 6 months growing your afro. If your goal is a long afro, realize that it may take a year or more to achieve.