Ok, so we are debunking the hair growth myths that have some how become gospel. Last time we talked about terminal length, and that often times the reseason we perceive that our hair growth is stunted has less to do with heredity and more to do with unhealthy hair practices. If you're healthy, your hair is growing; the question is whether or not you keep that hair on your head! This brings us to another popular hair growth myth...
Myth #2
Frequent trims will make hair grow faster.
Yeah...so this one is sooooo popular, yet, when you think about it, the concept doesn't make much sense. I guess the most important thing to remember here is that hair grows from the scalp, not the ends. From a physiological standpoint, nothing you do to the ends of your hair will have any affect on what your scalp is doing. Simple enough, right? Here's where I think the wires get crossed.
We all know that split ends left untreated (and by treated I mean cut off because you can't "repair" split ends...) will eventually get worse. What may start as a tiny split will begin to make its way up the hair shaft. Let's say you keep putting off that trim--weeks turn to months. While you may have only required a 1/4 inch trim, you are now in need of a hair cut, chopping off 1 inch or more! Or, perhaps you spot those nasty splits and get to work quickly by removing that 1/4 inch. Well, that's it. You just just avoided a full blown hair cut, thus retaining more length! So you see, it's not that your hair is growing any faster. By nipping those pesky ragged ends before they really become problematic, you are able to avoid having to cut off ridiculous amounts of hair at trim time. Trim a little, keep a lot.
The moral of the story: Don't get scissor happy. Yes, it is important to incorporate trims as part of a healthy hair care regimen. But remember, over trimming will have a negative effect on your hair growth journey. If your hair is growing 1/2 inch per month, and you're constantly trimming 1/2 inch per month...well...your growth is going nowhere FAST. Remember to moisturize and seal your hair as needed and utlize protective styling to keep those ends shielded from the elements and frequent manipulation. And as for how often you should be trimming--that depends on your hair practices. Standard timing is every 6-8 weeks; however if hair is properly moisturized and the ends are kept protected, you may be able to go a bit longer. Personally, I trim using the search and destroy method about 4-5 times per year. I can get away with this because I protective style MOST of the time, and I only flat iron my hair in preparation for trims (this may change slightly as I get closer to my goal length, but for me protective styling is a must for growing out my hair). As with any regimen, you have to do what's best for your hair.
That's all for now folks. Back away from the shears, and just let it GROW!
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