How to Grow Long Hair If You Are a Black Male

Moisturizing products keep hair healthy

Black hair grows half an inch per month, and the quality of your hair depends on the health of the cuticle, the first layer of hair, according to Shamboosie, author of "Beautiful Black Hair: Real Solutions to Real Problems." Although men's hair grows at a slower rate than women's, the hair can grow to a long length as long as it is maintained with a combination of moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, and regular trims to remove dead ends.

Things You'll Need

• pH-balanced shampoo
• Moisturizing conditioner
• Deep conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Setting lotion
• Wide-toothed comb
• Lightweight hair oil
• Satin pillowcase

Instructions

1. Avoid using chemical treatments on your hair. Relaxers, texturizers and hair color penetrate the cuticle and weaken the chemical bonds in your hair. Broken chemical bonds cause the hair to become damaged and increase the likelihood of hair breakage.

2. Wash your hair with a pH-balanced shampoo. The higher the pH levels in shampoo, the more damaging it is to dry hair, according to Shamboosie. For black hair, use shampoo with a pH level between 4.5 and 5.5 to clean the hair without stripping it of your hair's natural oils. Your hair slowly produces oil to keep the hair healthy, but washing it with a harsh shampoo leaves your hair vulnerable to damage.

3. Condition your hair every four to five days with a moisturizing conditioner. Deep condition your hair once a week to supplement your regular conditioner, as a deep conditioner penetrates the cuticle to provide additional moisture, according to Shamboosie. Cover your hair with a plastic bag or aluminum foil, and allow it to stay on your head for at least 25 minutes. The heat from your scalp opens the hair shafts, and allows the hair to absorb the conditioner. Alternatively, sit under a hair dryer set to warm for 15 minutes. Once the time has passed, rinse your hair with cool water to close your hair shafts.

4. Apply a leave-in conditioner through your hair, and dispense two to three pumps of the setting lotion into your palms. Work the setting lotion through your hair, and style. A setting lotion in combination with a leave-in conditioner softens your hair, and protects it from heat styling if you blow-dry your hair.

References

• "Beautiful Black Hair: Real Solutions to Real Problems"; Shamboosie; 2002
• Treasured Locks: Black Hair Care Tips, Style and FAQs