After reading the thread wanna go natural, it reminded me to ask the question I keep forgetting to ask every time I come to LHCF. Does relaxed hair grow much faster than natural hair?
I just happen to wonder because it seems that most ladies on here who are relaxed seem to have better hair growth progress in having relaxed hair and stretching in between touch ups. Believe me, I've seen some beautiful heads of hair on this forum that's natural, but it just seems so much easier to have relaxed hair and watch for the new growth, and care for it.
I've been natural for three years after transitioning from relaxed hair. I didn't realize however how much thicker and coarser my hair is. It also seems to grow much slower in comparison when I had relaxed hair. Does it have something to do with my curl pattern being much looser allowing moisture to sink in? I ask this because now that I'm natural, every time I add moisture, my hair seems to drink it up and dry out like a desert. I only wash twice a week and add light oils such as grapeseed and jojoba. But the only time I seem to be getting anywhere is when my hair flat ironed and not tightly coiled in natural curls. I hope to use caruso steam rollers to do the trick in making my hair a bit more manageable.
I apologize, I just had to vent out my frustration at that moment. But I am still curious for your answers and opinions.
This might be why it ends up feeling really drying even after moisturizing....You need to apply some form of moisturizing product after washing, like a leave in conditioner, a hair milk, (Cantu-Shea Butter, Happy Nappy, Elucence just to name a few options). Then apply the oil to seal! Hope this helps and you see some differences I know I did. I used to just wash, then apply some moisturizer, but never sealed it in, and I got the same problem, then I did what u did, wash, no moisturizer but oiled, and same problem, then finally I realized I needed both.
And oh, as far as hair growth. I'd say your hair grows the same rate, relaxed or natural, it's your maintenance that will make it seem slower or faster (trust I proved this to myself, was lazy for a few months, did nothing to my hair, it seemed like it wasnt growing but it did just really slowly, then I got back on my grind and voila, my hair was loving the moisture) So it's all in the retention and maintenance. HHG!
Thats exactly how I am too, after a relaxer my hair takes forever to grow, but once I have a lot of new growth it grows faster
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