??? I'm african american and bangladeshi american and my hair is out of control! I've managed to keep my hair natural during the summer months (its straight and fluffy) yet my curls are never defined. During the colder months, i flat iron my hair, but it gets so damaged. My hair is about to the center of my back but i want to grow it much longer so you can see the difference when its curly, yet it seems to grow only to a point! i've tried everything to stop it from breaking. any advice on how to make it grow?????? thanks!!!!

Hi Starrynight!  I understand what you mean about your hair not seeming to grow.  My hair used to get ratty and have a ton of splits well before mid back and I'd end up trimming it, even though I desperately wanted long hair. 

I started using hot oil treatments on my hair, and that kept the splits from spreading upward.  I still think I must have hit a spot of practically no growth for whatever reason because I spent 3 years at essentially the same length.  Now, luckily I've reached hip length and only have splits on the very tip of the hair strands. 

I would recommend starting with deep conditioning treatments.  Mix a couple tablespoons olive oil, with an equal amount of honey.  Heat the honey for a few seconds in the microwave and the 2 should mix together pretty well.  Put that on the length of your hair, and sit with a warm towel or a shower cap for 30 minutes or so.  Then shampoo out as normal.  As your hair gets more moisture in it, the olive oil will probably end up being too heavy and hard to rinse out.  But I like this as a starting point because you probably have the ingredients on hand. 

Stick around and read the boards and you'll get a lot of ideas on what to do to bring out your curls.  By next winter your hair will be in better condition to handle the straight iron occaisonally, but you may love your curls so much you'd rather leave it natural.   

Starrynight!  I am biracial (African American and Italian) and I know where you are coming from about the hair breakage.  You should try the CURLS products.  They will even out your hair and define your curls.  See the website @ www.curls.biz

Hey waiting4longlocks,

good suggestions....I also take good vitamins from cvs and walgreens too!  I take these hair/skin/nail vitamins called, "Nature's Bounty."  I also take Hair Formula37's as well.  I'm trying to take as many vitamins as I can to make my hair grow faster and longer, and they all are really working wonders for my hair growth too.

Blondie35