By Tosin Ayinde

American rapper and record producer, Sean Combs, popularly known as Puff Daddy, once said, “At Bad Boy Entertainment, we turn shits into hits.”

The same can be said of Afro hairstyles, which date back to the 1960s and was first fashionably associated with the advocates of civil rights movement in the United States of America. Back then, it was used as a symbol of rebellion, pride, and movement. Some other reports traced the origin of Afro hairstyle to Africa, where in the early years, afros, braids and other tribal hairstyles were used by the female folk as a social identifier. Today, Afro hairstyle has been restyled and has become an attraction of high-discerning ladies who rock with it big time. It has even become a signature hairstyle for some Nigerian celebrities such as Genevieve Nnaji, Omawunmi Megbele, Omoni Oboli, Beverly Naya, Chioma Okpata, Yemi Alade, and Monalisa Chinda, to mention but a few.

The paradigm shift from chemically-treated hair to growing natural hair from the scratch has not only become trendy, but has got many ladies pushing the boundaries of the Afro hairstyle, thereby introducing different twists to the

game. Are you wondering, how can I grow an Afro hairstyle and how long will this take? Here’s a step-by-step guide to growing your natural hair fast.

Keep your hair moisturised

Just like the way our bodies need to stay hydrated, our hair also requires same to stay and look healthy. Use a quality hair moisturiser to wash your hair regularly. Thedivashop.ng provides options of Mega Growth hair moisturisers that can work for you. Check them out at megagrowth.com and they just might do the magic. You can also add a good hair oil to prevent it from dryness.

Avoid too much heat

Don’t allow the sun to dry your locks out and also increase your dietary intake of vitamin E to protect your hair from being damaged by the sun.

Gentle brushing

Afro hair is more prone to tangles. So, you will always need a comb close by, but this has to be done gently.  Pulling a comb through knotted hairs places stress on both the root and hair follicle and can also lead to hair breakage and snapping.

Avoid excessive styling

Avoid stressing your hair through regular changes in styles. Try and leave style in place for up to 10 weeks at a time. You’ll notice the difference in your afro hair growth in no time.

Ditch extensions

Say no to extensions to help fulfil that dream of a long natural hair. It can hinder your chances of natural, long afro hair. When extensions are applied, particularly when used with glue, it causes tension and the constant pulling can lead to breakages.

Wrap it up

Sleeping with exposed hair on a cotton pillowcase can encourage hair to fall out as well as causing friction, which can lead to breakages. Use a silk pillowcase for a frictionless snooze that protects your hair and helps to maintain its condition. Ubuy Nigeria sells collections of colourful silk pillow cases. Check them out at www.u-buy.com.ng

Up the vitamin intake

A balanced diet is a key factor in helping to maintain a healthy body, but the vitamins and minerals you consume can also play a big part in helping your hair to grow, too. Dietary intake of hair-targeted multivitamins: Vitamin A, which helps to maintain a healthy scalp, Vitamin B, which helps with hair growth as it carries oxygen to the scalp so that the follicles can create new hair, Vitamin E, which protects hair from sun damage by consuming a diet rich in vitamin E, and Zinc, which prevents dry, flaky scalp and hair loss, among others.

Introduce an oil

Regular use of oil on your hair comes with the benefits of instant improvements to your locks. You could even pop a few drops of peppermint oil into your shampoo for added hair growth stimulation. You can get some of the best peppermint oil at Vinci Hair Clinic, vincihairclinic.africa.

Use deep conditioners

Deep conditioning and hair masks often complement hair oil. If you are suffering from dry, dull hair that breaks and sheds easily or, perhaps you’re a regular user of chemical hair treatments that leave your hair a bit parched, then deep conditioning is the best choice. Jumia has a wide range of conditioners such as Men’s Everyday Essential Hair, Men’s Hair Shampoo, Men’s Complete Hair Growth, among others.

Daily Scalp massaging

Do scalp massage regularly. This helps to stimulate the hair follicles to produce thicker hair and growth. Try introducing this for five minutes per day and see results in as little as eight weeks when used with a stimulating hair oil and other growth supporting products.

Don’t over-wash your hair

Regular use of shampoo tends to dry the hair out so try to stick to hair washing once a week. Moisture is the key to hair growth and if you are washing your locks too frequently, it can strip the hair of essential oils and hydration, leading to breakages and damage.

Regular trims

It’s advised that you give your hair a trim and lose some of the precious growth you’ve achieved, but this should be done with care as this can negatively impact your hair growth progress.

Care for your edges

The edges and ends of hair are far more vulnerable and damage-prone than any other part of your tresses. Tending to be much finer hairs, the edges will require extra care through injections of moisture from oils and other hair hydrators.

Be consistent

Develop a hair care routine on your path to growing your afro hair growth success.

Adapted from Equi Botanics.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.