The less room hairs have to move about, the less mischief they can get into! French-style braids, which braid the hair from the hairline down the back of the head, are longer-lasting than English-style braids which start at the nape of the neck. Double braids are similarly more confining than single braids. At the extreme end of the spectrum, lots of little braids like cornrows usually stay neat for a very long time (although they take some time to style initially). For a hairstyle that lasts for a week or more, cornrows are worth doing; for a style that only needs to last a day or two, double French braids should be sufficient.
Different types of braids such as French, Dutch and herringbone stay neat; rope braids tend to become “fuzzy” very quickly. Five-strand braids take practice to get right, but are very sturdy and confining once completed.
Oiling hair is a bit of an art – slathering oil on the hair will just make it look greasy. Using a light oil to give the hair the faintest touch of shine will help prevent braids from becoming fuzzy and flyaway at night. Braiding damp hair may also help give a smoother look. In the morning, smoothing water or a drop of oil over the braids may help to smooth them back down.
General conditioning of hair will also help it stay neat and reduce flyaways.
According to CNN Food Central, the body requires 13 vitamins to operate. Vitamin A, B, C, D and E are vital for hair to grow fast. Eat foods have these vitamins in abundance. Get vitamin A from liver, fish oil, eggs, dark-green leafy vegetables and red, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits. Vitamin B1 includes whole-grain products, and vitamin B2 includes milk, cereal, nuts and kidney.
For vitamin C, eat citrus fruits. Get vitamin D from cheese, fortified milk and some fish such as sardines and salmon. Vitamin E is available in foods made from nuts, vegetable oils, seeds and leafy green vegetables. Soy protein foods such as tofu are good for hair because hair is made up of protein.
Give the hair a hot oil massage to improve the scalp’s blood circulation, which makes the hair grow quicker. Apply coconut or castor oil to the hair for a minimum of one hour—the hair should absorb the oil properly before washing it out. Trim hair at least once every five to six weeks to remove split ends and dry hair. Once the hair forms split ends, it stops growing.
Try to limit washing the hair to once a week using cold water and a gentle shampoo because hot water and harsh shampoos can destroy the hair. Refrain from blow-drying the hair to avoid damaging it. Brush hair once every morning and evening for better scalp circulation.
