Hair Type: All
Hair Porosity: All
Hair Sensitivities: All
Hair Goal: All
Expanding on This Principle
We are on our final HairCare principle! What a wonderful series it has been! This is probably one of the the MOST underrated principles if not THE MOST underrated principle EVER. This is because no one thinks about this principle at all. It is done all the time and it actually encourages hair growth. The act of pulling the hair (gently). We do this all the time when we section and add product to our hair and when we style our hair. Pulling at the hair, gently, encourages hair growth by stimulating blood circulation and increasing hair growth activity in the follicles. Pulling is also a form of stretching the hair strands and it reduces tangling, knotting, and matting. These are all factors that can impede on length retention. Lastly, tension on the scalp includes pressing down in the form of massaging. Massaging the scalp also encourages blood circulation and it breaks up build-up on the scalp. These, in turn, encourage hair growth and overall length retention.
Over-Balancing The Tension Principle
Certain protective styles and hair practices pull the hair too hard and can even lead to traction alopecia. Tight braids, sleek ponytails, tight cornrows, and other tight styles. The key word is tight. Tight styles and practices uproot the hair from the follicles. Any style that leaves your hair sore and in pain is too much. Your hair should only feel snug, and even slightly sore for those who are tender-headed. If you are in pain, see irritation bumps, redness, scabbing, bleeding, etc...you need to take the style out. You risk damaging your follicles and losing your hair due to traction alopecia. It is more difficult to heal follicles that have been damaged.
Tension can also come in the form of pressing too hard on the scalp. Wigs with tight bands, scarfs, headbands, etc. Anything that is pressing too hard is cutting off blood circulation. Blood circulation is key for hair growth and overall hair health. Pressing too hard can lead to soreness and inflammation. This, combined with blood circulation cut off, damages the hair follicles deeply. It takes a long time to recover from this type of damage.
Note: Tight headbands press down on the scalp and pull the scalp taught. The damage is not irreversible but one does have to treat it right away. Tight pony tails can also cause alopecia around the perimeter of your hair and they break the hair strands in the middle. Suffocating your scalp with wigs, scarfs, and headbands can lead to hair thinning overall hair loss. The principle should stimulate blood circulation, not diminish it.
Under-Balancing the Tension Principle
Not putting enough tension on the scalp by pulling gently or massaging can keep your from reaching your hair potential. There is benefit in pulling your hair strands, stretching your hair, and pressing on your scalp.
Not doing this enough can easily lead to a form of neglect. Neglected hair can get matted, tangled, and knotted. It can also have build-up that disrupts hair growth. Not massaging can also slow hair growth. It is possible to increase and decrease your hair growth. Yes! Depending on how healthy your body and your hair regimen is, your hair growth rate can change.
🌸Make Sure To Subscribe
Last principle! Such a hair gem! Make sure to stay tuned for next week, part 2. This will go over the many ways to use tension in your hair regimen. Make sure to comment, like, and subscribe :) You can always ask questions in the comments and I will answer, no matter what! Follow the social media pages Insta and Tik Tok: @africanhaircarescience. See you next week :)
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