How To Stimulate Your Hair Growth While You Wear Your Braids, Toppers, Wigs, and Hair Extensions

Okay, fellow straight hair, kinky, coily, curly hair, braid, wig, and hair extension Sista’s, you don’t want to hear this but this is the God’s honest truth. If you don’t give your hair follicles a break, you will permanently damage your scalp and create permanent hair loss. It’s a hard pill to swallow because those braids, wigs, and weaves look beautiful when we wear them. But here’s the reality. Women have caused irreversible damage because they just didn’t realize what was happening and when it’s too late, they are devastated.

There are hairstylists out there that see this happening and they know the damage they are causing but they are more interested in collecting the dollars.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying stop. I’m just saying we have to be conscious of what’s going on. We have to take care of our natural crowns if we want to keep them.

For those of you who don’t know, here’s the definition of the follicle.

fol-li-cle – a small secretory cavity, sac, or gland. The sheath of cells and connective tissue surrounds the root of a hair.

When hair follicles are traumatized they will completely die and your hair will never grow back.

If you are concerned about the loss of hair, loss of volume, or a lack of thick, lush growth, there are simple strategies that you can incorporate into your daily hair care regime that will make all the difference.

Not only can there be hair loss from braids, wigs, and hair extensions, but our hair can become dull and fragile when we lack specific nutrients, and over-processing and too much heat styling also damage our crowns. Hair loss can also be attributed to hereditary factors.

From weak hair to hair loss, take a look at our steps to stop losing your tresses and stimulate hair growth.

Nutrition for Your Insides That Stimulate Hair Growth

You can stimulate hair growth by incorporating a complete haircare and wellness regime. Not only does what you do on the outside impact your hair strength and volume but what you do on the inside matters too. Hair growth and high shine results require nutrition and care.

Here are a few nutritious foods you should be eating regularly to help stimulate your hair growth:

High-protein foods such as eggs are a good source of protein and biotin.

Chicken breasts, lean beef, almonds, and peanuts help to stimulate hair growth.

Foods that are high in vitamin C, vitamin D, fiber, magnesium, and iron-like cheese, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, beans, quinoa, and lentils are excellent foods to add to your diet.

All types of fish are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and are also great for heart health.

Make sure you have sufficient levels of Iron and Zinc. Insufficient levels of these can cause hair loss.

Hydrate your whole body by drinking plenty of water. Drink at least two liters a day to help promote hair growth.

Control the Amount of Time You Wear Braids, Wigs, Toppers, and Hair Extensions as a Protective Style

Braids - 6 weeks is good, 8 weeks of braids is a long time but with extra care, you can get away with it. While wearing braids can help with hair growth, keeping them in too long can cause breakage. The hair that is added can also cause your natural crown to become dry and weak. This will cause breakage when you take them out.

Hydrate your braids daily to keep them moisturized. Water is the best thing you can do for your hair. A natural oil (almond oil or olive oil) and water-based spritz work wonders.

A good moisturizing cream can also help to keep your braids from drying out. Hydrate your scalp as well to keep it nourished.

Avoid tight heavy braids. The pulling will damage your follicles and could cause permanent damage. Knotless braids are the best because they put less stress on your edges and create less tension on your scalp.

Wash your braids at least every two weeks to get rid of buildup. Be sure not to pull on your braids when you wash them. If you don’t want to completely saturate your braids with water and shampoo, try using dry shampoo instead. Or simply use a washcloth to wipe your braid down in sections.

Sleep with a satin or silk scarf to keep your crown from drying out at night. A satin pillowcase may work best with some braid styles.

Take your time when removing your braids. Spray your braids with water and add a detangling conditioner to your fingers to create slip and loosen the braids for easy removal.

Wigs – Take your wig off at night when you go to bed to give your scalp and hair a chance to breathe.

Lace Front Wigs – Depending on how you apply your lace front wig will determine how long you should wear it without damaging your scalp and natural crown.

If your lace front wig is applied with glue or tape you’ll most likely want to wear your style for a long time. Check the glue recommendations on the package. Most glues will hold anywhere from 4 – 6 weeks.

But here’s the real truth about the glue and tape, and please don’t shoot the messenger. We just want you to know the real deal.

The glue can block your pores, pull out your edges, dry your hair out, and cause real damage to your follicles. It’s important to test the glue on your skin before applying it to ensure that you are not allergic.

To really keep from damaging your natural crown, a lace front wig shouldn’t be worn for longer than one week.

Hair Extensions – 6 to 8 weeks is a good time to remove your hair extensions. Since hair extensions are sewn onto your natural hair, like with braids, you should care for your natural crown while you wear your extensions.

Avoid tight cornrows – Like with braids the pulling will damage your follicles and could cause permanent damage. Minimize the stress on your edges and reduce tension on your scalp.

Wash your crown at least every two weeks to get rid of buildup. Be gentle as you wash so you don’t pull at your corn rolls when you wash them.

Take your time when removing your hair extensions. This is where you can lose your growth if you don’t remove your extensions with tender loving care.

Hair Shedding

We shed at least 50 – 100 strands a day. Don’t be alarmed when you see significant shedding of your strands when you take down your styles that have been worn days at a time.

Techniques to Stimulate Your Hair Growth

Control the Use of Styling Products

Your hair needs a break now and again from harsh styling agents. Whether chemical or the use of flat and curling irons or blow dryers, these processes can wreak havoc on healthy tresses. Allow your hair to dry naturally and take a week or two off styling agents to improve and stimulate hair growth.

Hair Follicle Stimulator

Naturally stimulate hair growth by applying a combination of Jojoba oil, peppermint oil, and tea tree oil to your scalp on wash day. Massage your scalp by moving the pads of your fingers in a circular motion for 5 minutes. Or purchase a scalp massager. This will stimulate blood circulation, open the pores, and facilitate absorption. Place a plastic cap over your head so the heat from your head opens your pores. Wash out after 15 minutes.

Two powerful ingredients to facilitate hair growth are incorporated into our Stimulating Scalp Elixir product. The all-natural ingredients are developed to support healthy hair and a healthy scalp. Stimulating Scalp Elixir by Intrinsically Crowned.

Natural Oils for Hair Growth

Stimulate hair growth by incorporating the best natural hair growth oils into your hair maintenance regime. Specific herbal and natural oil formulations are wonderful for your crown.

Try our Intrinsically Crowned Vanilla Rose Natural Hair Growth Butter & Stimulating Scalp Elixir

Vanilla Rose Natural Hair Growth Butter has 15 natural oils that promote wild hair growth. It not only promotes growth, but your strands will feel the softest, and smell the sweetest, and when used on wash day, the moisture will be locked into your strands for the ultimate protection.

Our Stimulating Scalp Elixir has the power of over 7 natural oils to give soothing scalp itch relief while promoting hair growth. You will have the perfect hair oil massage added to your wash day regimen. Using these two together as a hair growth scalp oil will nourish your strands and promote natural hair growth. Visit our Intrinsically Crowned Shop to get yours. 

Tea Tree, Peppermint and Rosemary Oil

Tea Tree, Peppermint Essential Oil, and Rosemary Oil blend stimulate hair growth. Our Stimulating Scalp Elixir product is infused with these ingredients and can be applied daily to encourage hair growth.

Have you suffered from hair loss from wearing braids, wigs, crowns, and hair extensions?

What precautions do you take to protect your crowns when wearing protective styles?

What have you done to keep your hair healthy?