Healthy Hairlines Reflects A Healthy Body
Listen, we all know Mexican food is everything and pizza is life.
But, contrary to popular belief, broken ends, thin edges, can be the result of a bad diet.
If your natural hairline is generally struggling to regrow or appear healthy, take a closer look at what you’re eating.
Obviously, we all don’t have the means to go and buy all-organic everything, but cutting out excess sugars, high-glycemic foods, and increasing your protein, iron, and zinc intake will not only do wonders for your overall health, but your natural hairline as well.
How To Regrow Your Edges: Wrap Your Hair In Silk
After applying the oil blend, I wrap my edges in a silk scarf and bonnet, sleeping on a silk pillowcase to avoid any tugging at the hair strands often caused by cotton. However, there are those rare instances that I opt in for a distanced patio happy hour. In those moments, I’ll do my signature perm rod set, which gives me a larger-than-life spiral fro, and allow that to hold me over until the next wash day. This ensures little to no tension on my edges, encouraging no more breakage. It’s undoubtedly not the most glamorous, but my hair from my edges to my ends are having a moment to breathe. And if I really want it to turn out larger than life with a bit more length, I’ll blow dry my hair before putting it in perm rods, rather than styling while wet.
I won’t lie and tell you that following these steps will leave you with flourishing edges in two weeks, because that’s just not true. In fact, I didn’t begin seeing real results until about a month in. However, a little patience and following these easy steps has left me with noticeable growth that’s not just getting longer, but also getting fuller. Now I can rest assured that when I dive back into the protective styles after the world opens up again, I’ll leave the installation to the experts, and continue to show my edges some extra love in between appointments.
Tips To Regrow Your Edges And Avoid A Thinning Hairline
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While styling your hair as usual, you realize there are some sparse areas and short hairs around your edges that definitely werent there before–a telltale sign of breakage. Not only are the little bits of hair annoying to look at, but styling becomes more of a challenge when you have to blend damaged edges into the rest of your hair–which usually causes even more damage.
Whether you slick them back for a simple and clean look, create edge art FKA Twigs-style, or just wear them au naturale, edges are important in most curlies hair journeys. And although breakage around the edges of the hair is a common issue among naturals, the whole situation can be downright stressful. The good news is even if your edges have abandoned you, if you take the right steps to provide a healthy environment for them to grow, theyll most likely come back looking better than ever.
Keep scrolling for some tips on how to return your edges to their formerly-laid glory.
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Try A Protein Treatment If Needed
Protein treatments can act as a temporary filler in cracks along the hair shaft. In other words, they fill in the fractures along the hair caused by chemicals, manipulation, and heat that can result in breakage. If you color or bleach your hair, you should consider integrating a protein treatment into your routine.
Be Gentle With Styling
This is probably the most straightforward and pertinent advice for nursing your edges back to life–just be gentle. The hair around the hairline is typically some of the most fragile hair, and if you have dry or fine hair, that risk of breakage is even more present. Laying your edges can really add the finishing touches on a sleek hairstyle, but taking a toothbrush and edge control to your edges on a daily basis can do more harm than good on already-fragile hairs. And if youre currently experiencing breakage at extreme levels, try stepping away from the edge control altogether.
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As Tempting As It May Be Dont Skip Wash Day
To ensure healthy edges, you have to have a healthy scalp. Although you may want to postpone wash day until the end of time when dealing with dry hair, its important to get rid of debris from the scalp and buildup from the hair to guarantee that newly applied products will be able to penetrate the hair shaft properly. For curlies that use edge control products frequently, youre gonna want to wash that regularly out to avoid extreme buildup. Take a look at these 5 ways you might be making your hair dry on wash day.
Request A Looser Installation
Ever gotten braids installed and needed to prepare by taking some Advil? Well, if you have, then your protective styles are being installed too tightly. Contrary to common Black hair experiences, you should not be experiencing pain, throbbing, or inflammation while getting your hair done. Before a stylist installs a protective style, ask them to create looser braids or locs at the scalp. This will eliminate any harsh tension or pulling that can cause your edges to thin.
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Use Strengthening And Protein Products
Another way to grow your edges is by using repairing products. Using strengthening and protein products, specifically deep conditioners, is going to be your gateway to beautiful edges.
Below will be a list of the best products to use:
- Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Grow and Restore Edge Treatment
- The Mane Choice Growth Stimulating Edge Control
- Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment
- Mizani Intense Strengthening Treatment
- Eden All Natural Temple Balm
The above products that are listed are going to help strengthen your hair as it grows in. All of these products are deep conditioners except the Eden and The Mane Choice products.
Those two products will still strengthen and protect your hair but as a top coat barrier.
When using the deep conditioners, be sure to apply the product after you wash your wash. Use a generous amount, especially on your edges and cover your hair with a plastic cap and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
This conditioning step will ensure your edges and hair gets the proper nutrients and make sure that your hair gets penetrated.
When Protective Styling Goes Wrong
Im all about that easy life, especially when it comes to protective styling. Im a fan of extensions as well as wearing wigs, but if youre not maintaining your hair with each style you risk dealing with bald spots and thinning in your hairline. I installed crochet styles and twists, but the weight of the hair caused a lot of tension on my edges.
Wigs are another one of my favorites, but you WILL lose your edges if you arent protecting your hair underneath. I didnt wear a wig cap and I used glues that were difficult to remove from my hairline.
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Avoid Friction And Heat
As already stated, friction of any type is not hair-friendly, so stop rubbing your wet tresses with a towel after washing. Instead, gently blot your hair or wrap your hair in an absorbent towel. You can also give your hair friction-free nights by sleeping on an 100% organic bamboo pillowcase designed to protect hair.
Hot tools are also not good for your hair. They can pull on already fragile strands and further damage your edges. While you don’t have to give heat styling up forever, it’s time to take an extended break to give your edges a chance.
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Extra Tips For Your Edges
For further help with distressed hair edges, Sharon Williams, the co-owner of Nappily Naturals, has these expert tips specifically for Black women dealing with the issue.
Be as natural as possible, she said. Black peoples hair or natural hair grows when its dirty. Our hair grows quicker in its natural state. Dont condition your hair every day, and dont keep your hair wet. Deep condition it once a month. Dont use oil and gel every day. If you keep it oily, it will thin and break off. Dont overdo it. Also, dont put braids on the edge of your hair. You have to be gentle with your edges.
Williams suggests if youre keeping your hair in protective styles, keep your edges out. Also, if you want to grow your edges, do not twist your edges. The pull could do damage.
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Here Are 5 Of The Best Natural Hair Growth Products You Can Try:
1. Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Made from natural ingredients rich in omega fatty acids, vitamin E, neem oil, and aloe vera, this oil stimulates hair growth, repairs damaged hair and seals moisture into the hair.
3 honest reviews of Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Marie of Curvy Fashionista says: “For me, it has promoted healthier and stronger hair growth. My scalp feels GOOD. Not that it felt bad before, but since using this oil, my scalp feels in a better place. My hair has this natural sheen and feels a bit stronger.”
Blake of Glamour says: “Within weeks I began to notice my edges gradually growing back, and after every weave install, the “new growth” I saw was insane.”
Nogah of CurlsUnderstood says: “Before I applied my leave-in, I took a few drops of the Jamaican Black Castor Oil and massaged that onto my edges and crown area. This is not a new step. Ive been doing this every night since becoming natural and it keeps my edges growing and strong.”
2. Female Simplicity Hair Oil Blend
This natural blend contains organic and carrier oils that penetrate the scalp and hair follicles to repair thinning edges, prevent balding and dullness, without weighing down your strands.
3 honest reviews of Female Simplicity Hair Oil Blend
Seyi of Fly Fierce Fab says: “I’ve found that my hair has definitely been a lot smoother and shinier, and it hasn’t gotten weighed down by the oil . Also, my scalp hasn’t been as itchy, which I’m rather happy about.”
I’ve Noticed That My Edges Are Thinning What’s The First Thing I Should Do
Whether you’re noticing patches of thinning or your hairline is completely bald, the first thing you should always do is see a board-certified dermatologist who can assess your scalp, give you a proper diagnosis, and start an effective treatment plan.
“Thinning of the frontal hairline is complex and can have multiple causes,” says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elyse Love, who also notes that in many areas of the country, making an appointment to see a specialist can take months. In the meantime, she suggests being mindful of the types of hairstyles you do and Brown agrees.
“Many are unaware that wearing a bun day in and day out can be extremely damaging on the hairline,” the hairstylist explains. “The first two to four inches around the hairline is the most fragile hair on the whole head, so you have to treat it delicately.”
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What Are Some Surgical Treatments For Bald Spots
Surgery should be considered a last resort if other, less-invasive means dont work.
The most common form of hair restoration surgery transplanting follicles from elsewhere on the head doesnt always work. And transplanted hair follicles may not continue to produce healthy hair growth for a long time.
Be sure to discuss with your doctor or surgeon whats realistic to expect from any procedure.
Avoid Wearing Tight Hairstyles
Even though tight hairstyles may be your go-to, you need to drop them like a bad habit. If you are experiencing pain, the style is too constricted. If there is pain, throbbing or bumps, you are shocking your hair follicles. For your edge’s sake, make yourself a promise to ditch the ponytails, box braids, cornrows and other hairstyles that tug on your hairline.
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Heat And/or Chemical Damage
Heat and chemical use can cause irreversible damage to the structure of our hair. A damaged and weakened hair shaft is prone to breakage. If you arent maintaining healthy hair care habits even with the use of heat, hair dyes, etc., this can further increase the amount of breakage you are experiencing and lead to the appearance of thinning hair and edges.
Be Super Gentle When Brushing Your Hair
Trust me, I get that it takes a lot of effort to pull your hair back into a bun or a ponytail, but I’m going to need you to handle your edges with care if you want to reverse any breakage. According to P. Williams, over-brushing your edges with a hard boar bristle brush can weaken your already fragile baby hairs. Instead, try a brush with softer bristlesor even a toothbrushto gently lay your edges flat.
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What Professional Hair Loss Treatments Should I Also Look Into
Recovering from hair loss isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. But a mixture of salon and in-office treatments done by a dermatologist can help resolve the issue overtime.
For Brown, this means adding effective treatments into your wash day routine. “I will always recommend doing an Olaplex Stand Alone Treatment for those strands that have seen better days,” she says. “This in-salon professional treatment can dramatically improve the strength of the hair and repair the hair in one session with the brand’s patented scientifically proven technology and even more over the course of time. It’s honestly my ace in the pocket with stressed-out tresses.”
As for what’s available at your dermatologist’s office, there are plenty of options, including hair transplants, if necessary.
“Intralesional cortisone injections are helpful to pause inflammatory causes of hair loss including alopecia areata, frontal fibrosing alopecia, traction alopecia, and central centrifugal ciccatricial alopecia,” says Dr. Love. “Platelet rich plasma is effective for increasing hair growth in female and male pattern hair loss and may be helpful in the regrowth phase of other types of hair loss. But once the hair follicle has been scarred, the only way to achieve hair growth is with hair transplant. I typically recommend hair transplant when the amount of scarring is large enough that coverage can not be achieved with growth of the surrounding hair.”