I was searching on the net for info on dreadlocks and found this posting on a site out of the UK:
http://www.wcyh.org.uk/beauty/hair/growing-black-hair/
If you are a black woman who wants long, luxurious locks, you may be out of luck. People are genetically pre-disposed to have different lengths of hair. Each hair on your head has a growing cycle, after which it sheds. Hair grows at a rate of about 1/2 inch per month. If you try to grow your hair out long and finds that it only gets to your shoulders and then stops, it may be because your hair has a short growing cycle.
People of African descent tend to have shorter growing cycles for their hair, usually only about three years. At 1/2 inch per month, your hair can only get so long in three years. Luxurious hair that falls half-way down the back takes at least five years to grow.
If you want long hair, you have to get extensions. Extensions are long strands of artificial hair which are woven into your real hair. The choice to wear extensions is one of personal style but, without extensions, a black woman will never be able to throw her hair around like Beyonce.
If you want to wear your hair natural and grow out an afro, your hair will require some special care. Relaxed hair may never be nappy again, so there may be some transition time between your formerly relaxed hair and your afro. During the transition, you may want to keep your hair in braids as the relaxed hair will clash with your natural hair. Once you have cut off all of the relaxed hair and have a head of natural, nappy hair you can spray your hair with a de-tangler like Sta-Sof Fro spray and comb it out with a wide-toothed comb. This will need to be done frequently.
Another option for long hair is dreadlocks. You can start your dreadlocks with some braids, you just don't remove them. Twist and lock to reinforce the locks and let them go. Dreadlocks will allow your hair to grow long as the old, shed hairs are still attached to the growing hairs on your head. Dreadlocks can be styled just like braids and are becoming a more acceptable way to wear your hair.
There are many options for Afro hair, even if long natural locks are not necessarily one of them. Braids, dreadlocks, extensions, curls, afros, etc. are all fun possibilities for your hair, change it up!
http://www.wcyh.org.uk/beauty/hair/growing-black-hair/
If you are a black woman who wants long, luxurious locks, you may be out of luck. People are genetically pre-disposed to have different lengths of hair. Each hair on your head has a growing cycle, after which it sheds. Hair grows at a rate of about 1/2 inch per month. If you try to grow your hair out long and finds that it only gets to your shoulders and then stops, it may be because your hair has a short growing cycle.
People of African descent tend to have shorter growing cycles for their hair, usually only about three years. At 1/2 inch per month, your hair can only get so long in three years. Luxurious hair that falls half-way down the back takes at least five years to grow.
If you want long hair, you have to get extensions. Extensions are long strands of artificial hair which are woven into your real hair. The choice to wear extensions is one of personal style but, without extensions, a black woman will never be able to throw her hair around like Beyonce.
If you want to wear your hair natural and grow out an afro, your hair will require some special care. Relaxed hair may never be nappy again, so there may be some transition time between your formerly relaxed hair and your afro. During the transition, you may want to keep your hair in braids as the relaxed hair will clash with your natural hair. Once you have cut off all of the relaxed hair and have a head of natural, nappy hair you can spray your hair with a de-tangler like Sta-Sof Fro spray and comb it out with a wide-toothed comb. This will need to be done frequently.
Another option for long hair is dreadlocks. You can start your dreadlocks with some braids, you just don't remove them. Twist and lock to reinforce the locks and let them go. Dreadlocks will allow your hair to grow long as the old, shed hairs are still attached to the growing hairs on your head. Dreadlocks can be styled just like braids and are becoming a more acceptable way to wear your hair.
There are many options for Afro hair, even if long natural locks are not necessarily one of them. Braids, dreadlocks, extensions, curls, afros, etc. are all fun possibilities for your hair, change it up!