Thinning edges have become very common among women of the African-Caribbean descent. While some people may be able to get away with, poor hair styling methods, others aren’t so lucky.
As a child that grew up in an African household, having tight hairstyles was the norm. Infact, tight hair equated neater hair, it was a requirement for school and although the mere thought of the pain of having my hair braided could result in tears rolling down my face and I had to go through this every weekend and back in the day, not too many people paid attention to the repercussions of tight braids.
So what is the cause of thinning hairlines? Simply put, poor Habits. Poor habits done consistently over a long period. I started noticing a pattern of bald edges among young ladies in my late teenage years when I got into university and for a lot of ladies in Africa, this is when they start getting regular sew-ins, hair extensions and wigs. It was as if it was a requirement to be regarded as well put together and we had no problem with that.
I have come a long way in my hair growth journey and I daresay, I have seen huge improvements in my hairline over the last couple of years and I am going to share some tips. It is worth noting that there are cases of hair loss that are as a result of damaged hair follicles, illness, aging etc, in such cases, it might be better to consult a dermatologist especially if none of the tips I’m about to give work.
TIPS FOR THINNING EDGES
1) Style your hair by yourself as often as possible. This way, you will be able to give your hair the love and care it deserves.
2) Ensure your braid aren’t done tightly, never shy away from telling your hairstylist to be gentle with your hairline.
3) Be very selective with your hairstyles. Avoid braids that start at the hairline and go all the way to the back the further back your hair is braided, the more tension you put on your hairline.
4) Avoid products that tend to dry out your hair e.g products with alcohol and gel.
5) Before putting and product in your hair, check the ingredient in the products. Products with silicon, mineral oils etc should be avoided.
6) Sleep with a satin scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase to prevent your hair from drying out. Dry hair = brittle hair
7) Sometimes let your hair be. Zero manipulation, zero tension, no braids. Instead rock an afro or a loose bun.
8) Moisturise your hair regularly most especially with water and oils.
9) Avoid using heat on your hair.
10) Drink water and take a good multivitamin.
Recommended Products
These are a few products I have tried out and that have worked for me:
1) Essential oils eg rosemary oil, almond oil
2) T44Z Cream – a lot of people swear by this so it won’t hurt to try it out
3) Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Also, remember that consistency breeds results. A lot of people have been applying tension on their hairline for years but expect to see results immediately after starting a new hair regimen, it doesn’t work that way. Patience and consistency is key.
Comments