Celestina asks:
Hi I’ve been checking out your blog, it’s very inspirational, but I wonder if depending on my heritage I can get similar results to you? I have afro hair of a 4b texture. It hasn’t been relaxed for 10 years and its down to my shoulders. In that time I have never had my hair left out out I’ve used braided extensions, then weaves, now only wigs that I take off at home everyday.
I want my hair to grow more ( to waist length, it tends to stay the same length more or less) but all the blogs I’m checking out are by African American women (I’m from london and I’m half barbadian, half Nigerian) and I’m not sure but i think african americans have a lot more mixed heritage. Are you mixed race or does of your parents have finer hair? I ask because I want to know if i am setting realistic goals for my hair. You seem to have a natural kink in your hair that reminds me of mixed race people or can I, with 4b hair achieve it too?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you dig the blog!
I get questions similar to this one very often. I’ve addressed it on youtube, but want to just address it here and hopefully not have to address it again.
I am black+black=black, my hair grows and my length is retained because of how I treat it, not because of my ancestry.
Your hair will grow and your length will be retained if you get a solid routine, using products that work well with your hair, and you remain consistent.
If you want to see 4a and 4b women with long hair (waist length and longer) check out sera, mwedzi, and luvnaturals.
Kudos to you for being natural for so long!! Now, as for what you’re doing daily, wigs are a great way to keep your hair “safe” from the elements while it grows, but you have to also be sure to keep it clean, conditioned, untangled, low-manipulated and moisturized so you will maintain the length you grow.
Please remember that being mixed race does not mean that your hair will be growing down to your butt with ease. It’s how you treat your hair (whatever hair type from 1a to 4z) that matters!
Hmm wait a min now ……. I av been on a hair jny for a while and yes I see great results on mine
but I am sorry I think that’s rubbish that a person with type 1 hair and type 4hair are able to retain length in the same manner meaning yes a person with type 1 hair is more likely to reach butt length with ease in comparison with a person with type 4 hair doing the exact same regimen ….lets keep it real now.
Happy haircair ppl!
Maybe I wasn’t clear. My point is that just because your hair is a looser curl pattern, doesn’t mean you’ll have an easy time with retaining your length. Just as you won’t necessarily have difficulty retaining length with a tighter curl pattern. What matters is how you treat your hair. If you abuse type 1 hair to death you won’t get results, just as if you abuse type 4 hair to death. If you consistently use hair-friendly techniques and products you’ll achieve success no matter what hair type you have.
I know several women with hair looser than mine, and some mixed women with looser curls that have a hard time growing their hair out simply because they’re not treating it properly.
Can you share what line of products you use? I am in search of good products to use but do not want to constantly keep buying and trying new products. I have VERY dry and itchy.