Decreasing Natural Hair Shrinkage

One common thing that comes with being a naturalista is shrinkage and this is especially true on washday. This is because curly hair that is typically type 2-4 can lose inches on its appearance after being wet or even just retracting back to its natural shape after being stretched. Don't take shrinkage as a negative sign; it's a trait of healthy hair. This article will show you how to decrease natural hair shrinkage.

You're not able to eliminate shrinkage from happening because it's a part of having a natural hair texture, but you are able to reduce it! Here are a few ways to reduce the shrinkage on your natural.

Blow-drying your roots is a great way to semi-stretch your hair. It is best to do so while your hair is damp and not soaking wet because the excess water will cause your hair to re-shrink. You can use a diffuser or a concentrated nozzle to target your roots specifically.

This is a quick and easy way to stretch your hair and give it some more shape rather than letting it dry without manipulation. If you would like to go a step further and don't mind using heat on your hair, you can opt for a complete blowout.

Section your hair off into large parts so that you are able to work through it thoroughly with the blow dryer. Just be sure that you pre-treat your hair with a protective heat serum or spray before blowing out your hair. This way you can avoid damaging and drying out your hair.

African threading is a traditional technique where wet hair is wrapped using weaving thread. Basically, the hair is sectioned off and the thread is wound from the root of the hair to the tip. African hair banding is the same concept; only that it is done with hair bands placed on the section of the hair from root to tip. Both of these methods should not be left in your hair for more than a few weeks.

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Hair twists have always been a tried and true method for gently stretching hair. You can do individual twists or flat twists (flat twists are just cornrow twists!). The great thing is that both methods can double as a protective style as well. Just apply your favorite moisturizing product, section your hair off into your desired style and twist away.