Why Many Black Women Don'T Have Long Hair| Genetics, Race, & Hair Growth
A key point that I did not stress too much in this video is the fact that our hair's thickness is not uniform and gets thinner at each bend in our kinks and coils, making these points the weakest points in our hair and where the most breakage occurs!
Instagram: @seunokimi
https://www.instagram.com/seunokimi/
Why Does Black Hair Not Grow, Take so Long to Grow, or Break off So Easily for Some People?
Want to Grow Black Hair Long And Fast? Think you can't because of your race or genetics? In this video I answer questions such as:
Why does my hair grow so slow? Why is black hair so fragile? Can African- Americans grow their hair long naturally? Why do black people generally have shorter hair? Why does black hair take so long to grow? Why does Black hair not grow? Why does Black hair break off so easily?
Is growing long hair genetic? Is hair length an inherited trait? Can anyone really grow long hair? How can genetics affect hair growth? What determines how long hair grows? Is hair length an inherited trait?
Previous Videos in this series:
The Science Behind Protective Styling, Breakage Explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OODD3F...
The Science Behind The Growth Plateau:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64Wn_X...
References Used:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ab...
https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com...
http://doi.org/10.1159/000436981
The Science of Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy
Hey guys, it's show, I was a bit apprehensive about making this video, because so I someone with long hair who likes to encourage other black women that they are capable of growing their hair long as well. Um ha. My response that I get is oh well, it's because of my genetics. You just have better genes than me. I just don't have good genetics, that's why my hair is short and I feel like a lot of us, are using genetics or even just the fact that we're black as an excuse for why we won't be able to grow long hair. So I didn't want to make this video originally, but it would be remiss of me to not talk about genetics on my channel at all, because genetics at the end of the day do play a role in our hair growth. So that's what I'll be talking about today. So first thing is the actual rate of our hair growth. How fast are here is growing, so, on average hair grows for 1/4 of an inch to half an inch a month on, people's hair can grow even slower than that, and some people's can grow even faster than that and one my previous videos, I misspoke, and I Said that black people's hair grows the same rate as all other peoples here and while it may be true for some black people that their hair grows as fast as like say, a white person on average black, the hair of black people grows slightly slightly slower, but The point I was making in that video and the point that still stands is that that is not the reason why I write hair is shorts, like the differences are small. It is true that your hair may be growing slower than some other piece and then so. Another factor that grows into hair growth, that is genetic, is the actual time that our hair is growing on our head before it sheds off the anagen phase of our growth cycle, which is the how long our hair grows before it shuts off. So, on average, the engine phase is four to seven years, which is a pretty big range and some people's can be even shorter and some people's can be even longer, which means, if you are on the lower end, your hair will grow for four years before it Stops growing and then sheds off and then the cycle continues, whereas someone with a longer growth phase, it can take them seven years before their hair stops growing and leaders shuts off, but the thing about growth phase, even if you are on the lower end of that And your hair goes for four years without shedding. You would still be able to get pretty long here. If you didn't have that much, because you would still be able to get your hair down your back. So it's not something that I want us to hold to too harshly that, oh because I have these bad genes, I will never be able to get my hair long, because it's not true, but it is a factor that you may have to do. Another thing that contributes to how long our hair is able to get is our hair's thickness, but I say thickness, I'm not talking about like the density, how much, how many hair strands we have on our head, but the actual thickness of each individual hair strand, because Thicker hair strands take less force to break, which means you can be doing more to thicker hair strands and you wouldn't get as much breakage as someone who has thinner hair strands. So if you are someone with finer and hair and you're seeing a lot of breakage. Yes, it is because of your genetics and the fact that you were just born with finer here. Okay, so those are the main things that cause variances among black people. Typically, so now, I'm sure you guys are wondering okay. Well, so is there difference between black people and white people or black people, and any other race is their hair able to get longer because of their race? So when talking about this, I'm going to not necessarily talk about it in black person versus white person perspective, but more of geekier coyly or hair textured versus straighter, looser coiled, hair texture. So a lot of studies have been done. Comparing these two types here and what they have found is actually pretty interesting and definitely surprised me to know that there's actually almost nothing different between the two hair types in terms of what the hair is made up of and how strong the here inherently is. So let me read you a quote from from and I'll lead all of the studies that I have used for this video down below. But, according to one of the studies, it said, the observation of the normal distribution of the cysteine-rich proteins is inconsistent with an inherent weakness. So cysteine, bonds and cysteine proteins are what give our hair strength, and so this study basically looked at how many cysteine-rich proteins or present in the kinky coily hair types versus the straighter hair types and saw that it was exactly the same, so the strength, giving bonds That make our hair strong is the same in kinky, coily, ER types of hair versus a straighter hair types. So inherently aren't here, isn't we I feel like a lot of us, I kind of thrown this idea that are here, at least for me. I definitely kind of had the idea that black hair was inherently weaker, but then you may be wondering okay well, why am i suffering so from so much breakage and how come white people in general or other races, don't necessarily have to go through some of that, So the difference between kinky curly, hair types and straight hair types isn't that inherently there is something a weaker about one versus the other. One is stronger than the other is all about how the bonds are giving structure to our care and how it creates a different pattern on the outside, which causes different routines for the different hair types and because our hair takes a little bit more care. It'S a lot easier for us to mess it up, because our hair kink, your clear here - has all of those kinks and all of those coils when we're combing. It there's a lot more opportunities for us to mess with that and for us to pool and for us to snack on it for it to not on itself, for us to try and detangle in my last videos in this series that I'm doing I've talked about How damaged is it something that happened once, but is a continuous thing where one act kind of builds upon another? So, even right now, if your hair is still on your head and hasn't broken off just because I didn't break that time, that you're up to it doesn't mean it wasn't damaged and the next time you're up to it, there's a higher chance of it. Breaking so is our hair inherently weaker? No, but is, for some of us are here weaker at this very moment than someone with a straighter, looser curl pattern. Maybe a lot of tests show that, like when kinky record there types of hair are fooled during these things called tensile tests and other tests that measure how easy it is to break a lot of the times ducking your code. New types of here are breaking much faster than the Strader here and in general, compared to the straighter hair types when tested the kinky requir hair types have so much more variances in how easily they break and the reason why there are so many variances in the Kinky coily or hair types that have been tested is because of the donor and what they were doing today, hair specifically because the kink iroquois their hair types that many black women have honestly just take more work and more effort to compare to straighter hair to not Damage and to not mistreat, for example, one of the donors who donated their kinky, coily or hair type could have been someone who wasn't very good to their hair and didn't really put conditioner when they're combing. It was kind of rough did this and that and that's why they saw a lot of breakage for that hair type, whereas someone with a straighter hair type could still mistreat their hair and, yes, they would see damage, but not to the extent that someone with kinkirk Or their hair texture would see. So, while inherently the structure is the same, the types of bonds are the same. The hair that's sitting on your head, probably after this moment, has gone through more damage. Then someone will says straighter, hair type because of the stuff that we oftentimes do to our hair and I think we're all guilty of this, but at the end of the day I thought we can take this information with some pride it. For me, at least, it is pretty interesting to know that no are here, isn't inherently weaker and we do have the power over how we take care of our hair, going back to the differences among us as black women, if they're or, if you're, not black, watching This the differences of ugly black women aren't things that have to be such a hurdle for us and such a hindrance for us, and we can still grow our hair because, like I said before, like I always dress on my channel, the main problem is breakage and How we are treating our parentage, do you want to learn more about that? You can watch in the previous videos in this series. This series - I am just taking some work from the cosmetic science world and showing how we can use it to understand our hair. So you can watch some of the videos in the series or videos from the past that aren't in this series, but at the end of the day, yes, genetics does play a role. Genetics can be the difference between mid back the length and butt length, but isn't the difference between shoulder length and buckling like if your hairs out your shoulders. It'S not genetics. It'S something else that you are doing so don't let this would be something that is holding you back, but do know that. Yes, there are some things in your genetics that are contributing to how your hair grows so yeah. I really just want to make this video. I hope you guys found this helpful. It'S really interesting to me. Learning all this stuff as well, so yeah I'll see you guys in the next one
Comments
Raysibek: I watch your videos every day and rewatch every single day so decided let me just subscribe. Your hair is beautiful.
Blue Bird: White/European and black hair have around the same amount of cuticle layers but east Asians tend to have a few more; which is why their hair tends to be thicker(strandwise, not necessarily density) and harder to cut. Our main problem is curl patterns that naturally tangle, leading to breakage. Growth hasn't really been a problem, otherwise relaxer touchups wouldn't be needed as frequently. Terminal length is important to note too but length Retention via keeping the hair strong is the most important - ex. Dreadlocks.
A Rhythmed Life: It's pretty much the same thing as White people having to care more for their skin because of their skin's sensitivity to the sun. We have hair that requires more pampering & extra TLC. I've learned to turn my haircare ritual into my spiritual and contemplative practice
Debonae Simpson: I think that we've had this problem of our hair not growing for such a long time because we've always been forced to do or hair and take care of it the way other races do it, especially whites. Since recent years a lot of people like you Seun have come and out and are now educating us how to do OUR hair in the way it should be done. Thank you.
Ginger Snaps: We just need to take care of our hair. Keep it moisturized and trimmed. Be gentile with it, and leave it alone. It will grow in time. It took the Lord 7 days to make the world. We certainly can't expect hair to grow down our backs over night. We can't put huge expectations on hair growth. It takes time to grow. Great video. Please keep sharing.
Alana: My hair never ever grew past my shoulder blade until my thirties when I started paying a hair dresser $40 a month to wash, deep condition, LIGHTLY blow dry my hair then cornrow. I leave the braids in for four weeks, moisturize with mane choice growth oil sometimes mixed with castor oil every two days, detangle with my FINGERS first, then gently comb and go back to the salon same steps as above. Now my hair is a few inches from elbow length.All black hair can grow long.
Ari Elle: The only part genetics play in is the ease of maintenance. Your hair grows either way, but fine hair is easier to navigate. However, It also tends to be less appealing as the years go by due to loss of volume or density.
Zahra: Very informative video! The Science of Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy is a great book! I read it a few months ago and it definitely changed my perspective on my natural hair. While genetics is a large part of the equation in determining how easily you retain length and the natural density of your hair, how well you care for your hair is in your control! For most of my life, I've been someone with less hair than average hair (fine, low density hair, below 10 inches). However, I've made peace with the fact that while I may be predisposed to not having as much hair as another person, I can still work toward having the healthiest, thickest, longest head of hair I can have! Ultimately, you just have to make the most of what you have
w b: I've noticed a trend lately of people coming in with this genetics tripe in order to declare that they have a terminal length of 6 inches... Terminal length is irrelevant imo. Everyone's hair can grow to at least tailbone length before it does its terminal shedding. It's like boohooing about whether your hair is going to be floor length vs butt length. Meanwhile you have never seen your potential length retention in the first place because it broke off after 8 inches. Like are you really going to be mad that your hair can _only_ grow to knee length??? Please. As an african, I'm aware that a good chunk of black people seem to have fine stranded type 4b/c hair. This hair type is difficult to retain length if it comes in contact with any sort of friction, or manipulation. There's a reason why most long haired type 4 naturals tend to have coarser(strand thickness) or higher density hair. A long-haired finestrand natural with med to low density 4b/c hair is rarer. But like with the curl definition issue, its a matter of the natural hair community being relatively new, and solutions not being discovered yet. That's why speaking in absolutes when many people are trying to handle their hair the way higher density/coarser strand naturals like urban bush babes do makes no sense. You haven't tried to do anything different. Its like when I was a new natural almost a decade ago and was attempting to take care of my hair the way some 3c/4a naturals did. I thought I didn't have a curl pattern, because none of the techniques that were common ground worked for me. It took me 6 years to figure that out. Eventually I discovered clay masks, and _how to apply_ the clay masks to my hair. (look at Protective Princess on yt to see a visual on defined 4c hair) I also learned about green house effect in order to grow back alopecia. I had to greenhouse effect for a month straight 24 hrs a day, and then when the hair grew in, it grew back defined from the root, 4c hair that didn't curl with the strongest gels, clumped naturally with no product) Now 4 years since doing this clay max hydration regimen for a about 8 months straight before switching to something else, the curl definition comes with just wetting and detangling even though I stopped that regimen 4 years ago. *If I listened to people's absolutes I never would have experienced this with my hair. They would have ROBBED me of the ease in styling I now have access to. As for growth, I learned from the african chebe women. They use grease on their hair and do not ever wash their hair, instead they rewet on old hair, and seal with this grease oil mixture over and over. I stopped using shampoo, and stopped conditioner. Now I only use water and blue magic indian hemp hair grease, and refresh it on old hair over and over, and band my hair into 2 imitation "corn rows", wearing a silky durag. A wigcap and wig over that when I go out. Since doing this I retained 1 inch every month for the past 5 months. Nothing but remoisturizing on old hair, using a good sealant like grease which has lanolin--sheep sebum. No shampoo, no conditioner or leave ins, no rice water. I'm 11 years natural. Before my second big chop, I used to wear protective styles constantly, mainly braids and sew in wig. It took my hair 6 years to get to a very uneven brastrap length, and the only hair that reached brastrap was the hair at the nape that was 4a. My hair does not retain length easily. So Imagine me getting 1 inch every month, with what basically is: Water and grease only, band my hair for 3 weeks, before I reapply the grease on old hair, then reband and wear my satin durag for 3 weeks. My hair is constantly in a stretched wash n go, that I could wear as a style if I wanted. I apply the grease on dry hair first, then smooth water from the roots down, then seal with grease again root to tip, then band, adding sections and wrapping a very stretched out headband around it once until I get to the ends, which after banding down the length of it I bun on itself. It helps the detangling if I apply the grease first, as it lubricates the strands before I wet it, which makes them not to try and matt.* I lot of finestranded naturals are doing protective styles that do not make sense. How is it a protective style if you have a leave out, one that you manipulate daily? How is it a protective style if you are putting in these long braids or sewins that give you no access to rewet and lubricate your hair for months? Why are you immedietly wetting hair after weeks of not moisturizing it? The shed hair build up will leterally turn into a dreadloc, that you rip out all your newgrowth by combing it out. Lubricate while its dry it first with oil so it can slide out. Why are you using weak sealants on your 4c hair like olive oil that don't even hold moisture in for a few hours, and have no lubrication whatsoever? Grease holds moisture in for a solid 14 days. Use grease, its got sebum in it, for Christ sake. This isn't genetics. Its about taking care of your hair the way it needs to be taken care of, based on your hair type. It took me time to realize all this stuff didn't work for me. Imagine if I just threw in the towel and started wailing about genetics. Imagine if the people in the natural hair movement just gave up while their hair was breaking over their ametuer relaxer care, and cried, "genetics!". We wouldn't even have black women with long 3c/4a hair, let alone the ones with 4b/c hair. They would still be trying to straighten and overprocess their hair all the time, using glue weaves, etc. Genetics only means you need to take care of your hair in a certain way. For example, I genetically have fine hair strands, so I can't do certain styles as they needlessly hinder potential length retention. So far as hair growth itself, our hair grows at a normal rate. I feel this genetics conversation is another way to pidgeon hole black women with 4c hair. Meanwhile its clear we do not know enough about our hair as you still have people out here who are leaving their hair for months without reweting and lubricating their hair, wondering why it broke off. We need that oil layer. White hair grows fast because they produce more oil and it slides down their hair in a matter of 24 hours. Why would you think leaving your hair in braids for 3 months letting it get so unlubricated it feels like sandpaper would be a good idea? Also, there are a lot of naturals with fine hair wahsing their hair too often. They do this because they do not beleieve they are to remoisturize on old hair, so they don't, at all. Or if they do, they spritz their hair with a bit of water and call it moisturized while their hair is visibly matting over the lack of oil lubrication, coming out with huge hair balls every detangling session. Nothing about that is a sign you are doing the correct things to your hair. They are the first ones to try and then drag everyone with them, "Its genetics" No, its you not lubricating your hair. No, not even shea butter will do, if you are not using it often enough.
Fallon M: The first women I’ve seen in my life with long hair down her back is my mother. My hair grows long just like hers and we have different hair regimens, so genetics definitely play a huge role. I think people should do what works best for them at the end of the day!
D Enigma: Shout out to all black women . God loves us and sees us always Yahweh hears our voices . .. We are not alone! You are beauty and the foundation of beauty! Never forget!
Evangeline Mmayie: Nice video. I apologize in advance for what I'm about to say but I'm really irritated. The part about black people's hair growing slower than other races is a lie. I've also seen the same bullshit on the internet and I know it is not true because I have watched hair growth videos of other races and have noticed that their growth rate is nothing wonderful. It's the same as ours. There's a middle Eastern girl's video I watched and she said that without growth aids, her hair grows only 3 inches in ten months and with a growth oil it grew 5 inches in 9 months imagine! And Asians are known to have the longest hair in the world. It doesn't matter if an experiment was conducted to prove it because I have noticed that half of the hair experiments conducted are flawed. There are many things scientists have said about hair that I have discovered to be false. And the part about terminal length is also false. Waist length is not a terminal length for a woman that takes really good care of her hair. Here's proof. I'm sure you know of the Chadian women that use chebe powder right? If you look at their pictures their hair they are always in braids that run down their backs and it stops at at least tailbone length. They all have natural hair and everyone knows how much it shrinks plus braids make hair shorter than it's length. And you can't tell me that everyone in their tribe has fast growing hair. Genetics only affects how fast hair growths and not the lengths it can attain. A girl that grows one inch per month can attain thigh length and so can a girl that grows half inch. It would only take her longer. Please don't make it look as if black people's hair is worse off than other races.
Abiding In Truth & Beauty: It is soo exhausting taking care of this hair. And disheartening when it’s not growing the way I think it should. I’m always looking for new and better ways I can care for my hair to help it be healthy and long. Thanks for your videos! And Sis please put a new battery in that smoke alarm!
JA Queen: Hi Seun, great video! I totally agree with you. You and Two Lala inspired me to grow my hair out. I am relaxed with midback length hair after 2 years and 4 months with 3major setbacks. I learned so much about my hair from it. Thanks for the empowerment! Please keep the videos coming. Tfs
Kiki: My boyfriend is Hispanic. He cut his hair really short in 2017. His hair is now to the middle of his back. Meanwhile I take very very good care of my hair, I have a good hair care regimen and I was just past my shoulders until I got a trim yesterday and the stylist butchered my hair. It will now take forever for me to get that length back and I'm so upset about it
Victoria Yates: My sister cut her hair at the same time as mines. We have different dads. She looks mixed tho with 3c type of hair. I have 4b/c hair. Her her grew almost double than mines. She did pretty much nothing to it. Except wore wigs. I also did protective styles and her hair is still longer than mines. I believe her genetics is why her hair is flourishing. I've been nurturing my hair and it's still slowly growing
Beautiful94x: I also feel like my hair thrives when I'm in warmer climates
outherewildin' b: A very responsible take on genetics. Too many videos are "woe is me" or completely disregard it. Also -- all of y'all skipping on your (recommended) 3 month trim, you know what you need to do!
imagine that: A lot of us have did protective styles over the years and it has came a long way a lot of it didn't protect our hair from certain products that we were used to using now with the protective styles we have so many different products now to protect our own hair from breakage from pulling and too much stress on the scalp I never had an understanding of why we felt so different about our hair I've seen all types in the black community long straight thick thin we are just too hard on ourselves... The focus isnt hair ...really its self love and respect of family and community....we are who we are love it...curly or straight rock what you love...and move on in life there so much more to life then hair...when you die no one is talking about your fabulous hair or weave...so live your life to the fullest no matter the hair....your inner you shines no matter what the world thinks....black women you are dope....love it..enjoy it...trend setters....now big butt big lips wide hips..wigs weave look at all the other women who were laughing...now participating very much so...and forever asking questions...dating black men....so now they wanna ask about what products we use...for there kids hair...where you go for this and that....funny how life turns around... Be encouraged ladies love my queens...they wanna look like y'all without really being us...you get it....like taking on the image... I promised you my hair didn't land me my job...my talent and hard work did..and stop trying to conform your not white be your authentic self you are different....
NA Music: Thanks for the advice ❤️. I’ve been getting my hair braided bit often so it’s grown so much for almost two years. I get asked by non-black people if it’s my real hair when I wear braids/cornrows. They’re not used to seeing our natural so they’d be surprised if our hair grew longer. I’m so happy you’re encouraging other black women. You’ve got a beautiful long hair.
SaksPlaylist: I’m mixed so I don’t know if this information exactly applies to me but all I know is don’t touch your hair, keep it in bonnet at night and do wash routine once a week. Find what products work best for you but DONT smother your hair in tons of products because it causes build up making hair break faster and hard to breathe. ALSO only do twist outs because I’ve had one plenty experience with box braids and cornrows and my hair always broke off FINALLY hair growth is mainly about your mind and health if you aren’t a healthy person you can’t expect healthy long hair so meditate daily, be in a healthy mindset and don’t rush life, live in the moment because it doesn’t last forever godbless all of you and live a wonderful life
paz: thank you for being so positive. I dont like watching these types of videos because a lot of women make fun of those of us with short hair ESPECIALLY SHORT 4B/C HAIR (one person on another video literally said "God doesn’t like a nasty ugly skull to put beautiful hair on.") They have an innate sense of superiority which comes from imperialist narratives so I get happy when I see ppl like you who are truly helping and supporting the rest of us and just spreading rays of sunshine as well as well-researched, hard facts!! (loved it when you pulled out your laptop lool so cute) breaking the generational curses and toxic identity confusion that colonialism tied us to thank you for being such a beautiful person
Seun Okimi: Have any requests for other videos you want me to do in this series? Let me know!(:
Champagne: gave up all the puddings, oils and custard. went back to good old fashion grease my grandma used to use on my hair as a kid and my hair started growing like gangbusters.
Lavinia Latham: Hi Seun, I’m really enjoying your content. Quick question - do you think protein treatments and strengthening treatments are effective at reversing the damage done to hair when it is handled to roughly?
Shiva G: Thank you Seun for another highly professional video with advanced technical knowledge, while being easy to understand. Some of us refuse to admit that there are genetic differences. I genetically have fine tiny strands that break much easier than others. I have not committed to the amount of attention probably needed to get my hair super-long. I don't even know how long it can ultimately grow because many strands break and chip off before the growth cycles for the individual follicles is finished. I think I can gain progress with super low to no manipulation styles - like a full wig. Even if my growth stage is the minimum 4 years like you said, with 6 inches growth per year I should have 24 inches or 2 feet of hair. Maybe a little less. But of course I end up having to have it trimmed because of all the breakage at the ends.
The Box Ghost: Thank you. I’ve been learning more about how to properly take care of my hair for this second natural hair journey and I feel a lot more knowledgeable and excited this time round. Channels like this, green beauty and embrace your natural hair are very helpful.
Melissa Varner: Keep ur ends clip every 3 months & keep it moisture in it. No gel no tight braids, & that's all need to be done I promise u. ,& Don't pull ur hair back in ponytails.no heat & watch ur hair grow. Boom it's not hard. Genetics don't always have nuthin to do with hair growth
EMR80: I'm not sure about the Black women hair not grow thing. I seen pictures of my Grandmother and Great Aunties Photos. They hair was long and grew like crazy. I never seen so much pride in how Black women dress and take care of their hair. I mean I seen a ton of them Black and White photos. Learn your hair and diet right it will grow. Then again if your is 2 inches groom it and will still look good.
T Manuel: This video is full of research and is so informative! Thank you
Darin Jones: I like your scientific approach to hair dynamics.
Kaykay brown: I’ve been trying to grow my hair for 15 years! I’ve been natural for 15years I’ve tried everything anyone could think of NOTHING works. I really hate it! I feel like a fucking man. So I guess I’ll be wearing weave forever. I wasted to much time on my hair. I have underlying health issues, I’ve been to 8 different dermatologist. I concluded from personal experience that genetics do play a MAJOR factor in hair growth. Most of all NOT ALL BLACK HAIR CAN GROW LONG. ♀️
Tameska: Don’t use race when referring to genetics, they aren’t the same thing.
Yodi Collins: Thank you for distinguishing between hair density and strand thickness.
Koppa Bam: Loving this series! ❤️
Gods Amazing: A lot of Blacks have relaxers. So, their sebum shouldn't have any issues going down their strands I think it all comes back to neglect. This could come in many forms; relaxing the hair and throwing it up in weaves, when they know it needs much more conditioning and moisture due to the chemicals, lack of moisture and overall care period (that could be for natural or relaxed). One last thing, over-manipulating hair is a killer; yes, those frontals, glue ins, tight braids, etc. and doing these styles to frequently (for my every weekers). Just care for you hair like your caring for ya child and watch it flourish We got this Fam!
Miss Nolver: My mum's hair has always grown very fast and long. Since 2018 I'm on a hair journey and now I know what my hair needs, my hair grows incredibly fast. This goes for a lot of black women who know how to treat their hair the right way. It's very simple: if you treat your hair with protein, moisture and nutrients, watch how you proof science wrong that kinky hair grows slow
Natural Injector - Emily Dowe, PA-C: Really good video I love how you went into the science
Little Farm House: Watching your videos while brushing my hair makes me feel so accomplished
Weberlyn: Girrrl, I just subscribed I love your videos and the information you provide! I would love for you to do a history centered video or series on hair growth and the effects of hair growth. ie pre slavery, slavery, 50's,60's,70's 80's etc, and now.
shiny eyes: suggestion for the next vid. is the damage from having texlaxed or relaxed hair better for retaining legnth rather than the damage from having tight kinky coils ? such a well researched and presented video, subscribedt !!!
Yaqarah Letellier: More science videos!! I use Marley braids as my default protective style because they are light weight and can be easily redone to last longer
marcia peak: My mom had long hair and she used simple products. She washed her hair with either a bar of Ivory soap and sometimes she used a bar of Castile soap. Hot combed her hair with Hair Rep dressing & during the week she would use Du Sharme hair cream.
Tre: My hair doesnt hardly grow at all. Its frustrating to be grouped into categories period. Some people have harder times than others doing something just like anything in life, dont lose hope. If its something you really want then you just have to work hard at it. At the end of the day we're all beautiful. Hope everyone has a better day and keep a positive attitude and smile on that pretty face
Koppa Bam: Loving this series! ❤️
Larai Abdulkadir: Really amazing knowledge, thanks so much for sharing all you researched
Galaxi: I noticed growing as a kid that white kids and other race kids had long hair but black girls never had long hair.
Tracy Renee: Thanks so much for this video. It helped me alot. I've been natural for 3 years and I'm so discouraged but not ready to give up. I have 4c hair with thin strands. I'm not retaining as much length as I hoped. After watching this, I believe the problem is I need to be more gentle with my hair. But it already takes so long on wash day that I try to detangle faster and stop caring about it coming out. My philosophy was well it's weak so it'll come out eventually.
Summer Breeze: Genetics plays a HUGE ROLE, in every cell development in your body, just as weight & height are GENETIC, dont blow smoke to your subscribers
livelovelaugh: @Seun Okimi: Thank you for making and sharing this video. You spoke truth and shared some good information.
Alli A: We need a FULL hair tutorial ASAP! I’m talking relaxed day and what you do in a daily
kemi7689: Never, ever had issues with hair growth in my life and I think most blacks don’t have hair growth issues, the issues is hair retention due to dryness, how do you keep your hair. Oil and water has been my saving grace and one new secret I discovered recently uncook/unseason animals oil fat. Game changer, retain most my hair now, pass my bra strap and shiny.
My GERD Life: Hair will grow no matter genetics or not if you take care of your hair it will grow..my mom never had long hair and my hair is pass my butt. My family has all different hair textures and thickness. People think that since my hair is good texture...that im mixed with something but all black women can have good hair :)
WEFAbender6: I dyed my hair yesterday because i wanted to try something new and it didn't come out quite how i wanted, so i want to try again, but then the idea of sanding my hair and cutting it and having to stay all over almost made me cry because i feel like a slave to my hair. I've never had long hair and it's finally part my shoulders, but that took like 5 years, and i don't want to have to wait another 5 to get to that same point of i do, but i want to do fun things with my hair because it's just dead protein. I wish I didn't care so much about my hairs length but it was always an insecurity of mine. Funny enough i keep saying I'm going to shave it all off at some point, but i want it to at least text my butt once before i do
tashan benjamin: MSM can keep you in the growth stage for longer.
constantly33 dreaming: can you PLEASE focus more on natural hair growth and science than applying extensions and wigs. So many other youtubers are doing that and I believ you stand out by being a student at the cosmetics science/hair i too i think because not many people are doing that and I noticed more people watch that content than applying wigs. THANKS FOR READING!! HOPE THIS IS CONSIDERED><'
2damecuteUK: All hair grows but growing long hair doesn’t always equal big thick long voluminous hair when you have less strands that grow out your scalp. Hair strands and density is genetic no magic products or oil is going to make a natural who has low density suddenly something it’s not. It’s definitely not going to make people with fine strands suddenly have thick strands no matter what race you are. There alway these assumptions that to have beautiful Afro hair your must be big long thick and voluminous. Which really is not the case There a beauty and uniqueness in all our hair we just have to embrace that more.
uberhaute _naturalz: I'm not even crazy about long hair. So far my hair is neat, I'm good
E.B: Our hair is definitely weaker. PERIOD! The hair used for weaving is way strong: dyed, permed, relaxed, flat ironed daily, brushed with plastic bristtles..etc
KevTL: This still doesn't give me enough to why my hair grow so dang fast.
marie Brad: My hair just doesn't grow and now that I know genetics plays a role despite me taking care of it and never really seeing growth is good to know. I'm gonna keep it very short from now on cause I'm done wasting money on products or time in wash days. 6 years being natural was a waste. I give up
Safiyaa: Someone needs to do a video for males. Same genetics as my brother but his is 3 inch past his shoulders and mine is just resting ontop. And i take more care of mine, he does nothing at all..doesn’t even wash it regularly or nothing. Kid goes to bed on cotton pillow cases and just illegal hair activity. Never make sense to me.
Beth Roach: I learned to make sure you don't have vitamin deficiencies to make sure your hair doesn't break so easily. If you are vitamin D deficient, hair breaks easier. Many people are vitamin D deficient and don't even know it. When vitamin D gets to low, especially in winter or in areas of less sun, hair will start to break more. The only way to make sure you are not vitamin D deficient will require a trip to the doctor. The darker your skin, the more deficient you might be if you don't get enough sun. Hair grows quickly in warm climates for many people where there is lots of sun because you make a good amount of vitamin D.
Sable 711: So if you're growth phase is as little as four years does that mean that the hair never grows anymore once you've grown it for 4 years?
Miss WOG Daily: Let's just be blunt, genetics plays a huge role in the appearance of our hair; however, if we ask God to show us the proper way of handling our hair he will tell us and it will grow as long as He wants it to be. Don't spend all day in your hair; let him do it!
Lorna Hunter: What about patters of growth? I have a pattern that the top and front of my is always a lot shorter than the sides and back. I can cut my hair even and that pattern returns. My baby pictures shows bald in the front and tufts of hair on the side. No definite hair line ever! I know other girls and women with the same issue. We would kill to have hair on top and front because all hairstyles are geared for that pattern.
Anyanwu: Hi Seun, given all of this, what are the best practices for us to retain length?
Del Green: Beautiful hair and great video I always wonder is our hair grew differently compared to other races
Maxine Henry: The genetics doesn’t have anything to do with the growth
Joanne Boyton: omg i love your videos. you have absolutely beautiful hair!! infact you are just beautiful!
Iauriirxblcx: honestly it’s not genetics it’s just bc a lot of black women are not taught how to properly take care of their hair and it’s sad :(
madame360: Thank you! What is the science behind traction alopecia? Does the hair really grow back because this issue is do common. I know people that barel y did anything but are loosing their edges when their hair is not that tight.
Yansa Toussaint: How can a person tell what the anagen phase of their growth cycle is?
Williams J: Great Video Seun! ♥️
little miss sunshine: what vitamins or supplements do you take it?
Kelitha Conliffe: Can you still dye your parts of your hair if you want to get it long ?
Lady D: All black hair is not the same. I went natural because all the women in my family get very thin or bald edges as they get older. I have 4C low porosity hair. I am unable to use 90% of the products most use because of my allergy to Shea butter. This is my second year natural. I never did the big chop I have been able to retain length. The one thing I always do on Saturday is a pre wash with aloe vera and oils, deep conditioner with a heat cap weekly. A leave in conditioner with my oils massaged in Then I sleep in the plastic cap over night to seal in moisture. On Wednesday I add more oils massage my scalp to last until Saturday. I also take 10,000 mcg of liquid biotin. My hair is shoulder length and growing. I don’t cut my hair I know your ends. It’s just for appearances My hair grows from the scalp not the ends
A L.: Thanks for this video lovely!
d. veritas: Don't forget, some dark-skinned people are mixed with Caucasian genetics, like East Indian, etc.
Lolita St.Clair: Hello Seun good advice on hair growth. Please have a blessed day.
Wicka B-Aime: Wow your natural makeup look is very pretty!!! Could you make a skin care and makeup tutorial?
Queen Apryll M: I find taking care of hair keeping it moistured, conditioned and braided it grows slowly grows slowly but grows. Maintenance. That why don't relax or straighten my hair anymore
Krustallos Williams: What to do when a person have *thin hair strands* ? *How to fix it to retain it* ?
Qara Anna: Straight hair can be colour stripped, and blow dried and flatironed daily for months with not much damage. Do that on kinky coily hair
Tiffany Williams: Great video!
Ashai: this is so frustrating i think i’m just gonna shave all my hair off
TheOddBeauty: Grace Eleyae slaps hair product was being advertised before your video started ✊❤️✨
Betrice Jackson: Everyone hair texture is different.
Brooklyn Byrd: Had to leave a comment to clarify cause THIS VIDEO IS MISINFORMED. our hair is just curly!!! its extremely extremely curly. and also a lot of people in our community have used chemicals to straighten our hair which breaks it off so then it actually doesnt grow. BLACK PEOPLES HAIR IS JUST AS LONG AS OTHER NATIONALITIES.
Tyanna Hatton: I decided to loc my hair and its longer than ever. PROBLEM SOLVED
Aim High: Thank you!!
S J: Well besides the obvious do you have tips to find out EXACTLY what you're doing wrong?
Liseia Parisian: People don't realize that there's such a thing as the telogen phase of hair... in this hair cycle of hair life it LITERALLY DOES NOT GROW then sheds. Some people's telogen phase is much longer than others and is definitely a strong contributor to lack of hair length. I read online that the typical telogen phase time frame is 100 days, so a little over 3 months time. I legit can go 4/5 months with NO GROWTH despite doing hair growth techniques, low manipulation (high puff & I rarely comb or brush my ends), spraying water on my hair daily, drink half my body weight in ounces, homemade DIY hair oil with stimulating essential oils, try to not eat crappy, make sure I'm getting all of my vitamins, protein treatments, deep conditioners that I mix w aloe/and oils, scalp massages, rice water... and my hair still won't get past a little below collarbone. Oh... and the icing on the cake... I'm part white ♀️ and still 'bald' so genetics ain't help me AT ALL despite my grandmother having thigh length hair when she was alive. I'm extremely grateful that at least I have a full head of hair and rarely have shedding issues but still... I used to even do two strand twists on a regular basis and I did definitely retain some length but nothing amazing... my hair legit only grows 1/8 (if even that) to at most 1/4 and I know this because I color my hair every 4-5 months and that allows me to keep track. I know you about to say "well coloring your hair is breaking it off. Cut the hair color and you'll have floor length hair sis!". BIG NOPEEEE . I actually had stopped coloring my hair for 3 & half years to see if it would help me retain length but it was exactly the same as if I had colored my hair. I'm so sick of it all. *rant over*
mychitect: Good info!
K C Francis: My aha moment...my low porosity 4a/b hair needs minimal manipulation and moisture retention. My cuticles are already raised so a gentle cleanser is needed sporadically (there's little to 0 trapped oil & dirt trapped by closed cuticles); and adding oil to both my cleanser (which can be a little diluted ACV) and conditioner - is a protectant against stripping. Also GROWING stronger strands by drinking aloe vera & coconut water. Scalp massages with almond oil. And external strengtheners such as rice water and fresh aloe vera rinses. I used to rake thru the ends of my tangled curls...now I use the comb to hold my ends as I gently pull peices to separate them. My hair is "GROWING" (?)...it's ALWAYS been growing. But now I'm growing stronger strands and retaining them (inside of protective styles....sans adding any synthetic hair that will pull moisture from my own; I used coated hair now).
crystal taylor: Hello Seun, do you want to try the passion twist hair?
Long Hair Care Girls: Beautiful hair.
Alexis Alexanderia: Jeezus you’re so gorgeous
Tanya Roberts: Any tips for short hair?
Wet Em Up: My sister her dreadlocks are past her elbow, falling on her butt.