Hair grows on average ½ an inch per month. This means that Hair grows approximately 6 inches per year. The amount of growth that is visible depends on how long we can keep our ends on our head. Here are some tips for retaining length.
1.) Treat your hair like fine lace. Be very gentle when brushing or combing. Try wearing protective styles.(Hairstyles that keep your ends covered and protected)
2.) Take your time! Tangles happen over time during the course of the day. It did not take 2 seconds for your hair to tangle. Do not expect for it to take two seconds to get it untangled.
3.) Begin at the end. Yes that advice may not be what you are used to hearing but it’s actually true. Detangling your hair beginning at the ends will prove much easier and do far less damage than raking through from root to tip.
4.) Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! I can not stress enough how important this is. No matter how shiny you think your hair is, Afro textured hair is the driest of all hair types and needs a lot of moisture.
5.) Oil your hair not your scalp. You can add oil to your scalp if you like but your scalp produces oil of its own. (sebum) When oiling your hair concentrate on the ends not the scalp.
6.) Deep condition your hair weekly. Not a regular 1-5 minute conditioner. You need one that you use with heat that you leave in for at least 30 minutes. Not only will your hair be in better condition, but it feels great to pamper yourself while you are doing this.
7.) Do not use brushes that have balls at the tips. Those balls on the tips come off and you are left with jagged areas on the brush that catch your hair and break it off. You are better off using wide tooth combs. (Personally I use the Denman brush and I love it)