6 Tips for Growing Out Your Short, Curly Hair

Whether you’ve always had short, curly hair, or bounce back-and-forth between longer and shorter lengths, you may be looking to grow out your hair. And while just avoiding any major haircuts and letting your hair grow on its own is a simple way to get longer lengths, there are some things you can do to promote faster hair growth. Here, six tips and tricks to help grow out short, curly hair.

How to Grow Out Short, Curly Hair

These six tips will help you on your hair growth journey, and they’re all pretty simple to implement into your hair care routine.

1. Leave Your Cut to the Professionals

While it can be tempting to either not cut your hair at all, or turn to at-home trims, it’s important to collaborate with your stylist to make sure your cut and shape will still suit your face as you grow out your hair. Trims and hair dusting are also important, even as you grow your hair, as your stylist can cut off any dead ends, maintain your haircut, and overall assess the health of your hair.

2. Stay Away From Heat-Styling Tools

While hot tools are great for creating bouncy ringlets or sleek strands, heat can make your hair more fragile and slower to grow. Instead, try heatless curls, and air dry your hair instead of reaching for the blow dryer or curling wand. If you do need to use a heat tool, always protect your hair with a heat protectant like the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant.

3. Keep Coloring to a Minimum

Even when done correctly, dyeing your hair can lead to weakened strands. If you’re in the process of growing out your hair, you’ll want to ease up on dyeing your hair, and pretty much completely avoid bleaching it. When you do reach for the hair dye, it’s essential that you use hair care products that will nourish and protect your colored strands. 

The L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid and the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid use citric acid to penetrate your strands and rebuild and strengthen any weak hair bonds for stronger strands.

4. Try a Scalp Massage

A study by the National Center for Biotechnological Information showed that regular scalp massage led to increased hair thickness due to the increased blood flow to the scalp. Scalp brushes and scalp massagers can also help to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the scalp, which can make it easier for hair to grow. 

5. Boost Hydration

Moisture is one of the most important factors for longer, stronger strands. In addition to regularly conditioning your hair when you shampoo it, add a regular deep conditioning treatment or a hair mask to your routine to add moisture. A product like the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Simply Clean Elastic Fiber Masque will deeply hydrate and wrap your hair in the essential moisture needed to grow it. After using the mask, continue hydrating your hair with a hair oil like the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Simply Clean Sheer Oil, which uses a five-oil blend of sunflower, olive, jojoba seed, coconut and rosemary oil to moisturize hair and help control frizz.

6. Protect Your Strands Every Night

Your nighttime routine is also important when it comes to growing out your hair. Tossing and turning can lead to breakage and fragile hair, which will hamper any length progress that you’re making. To avoid this, make sure your hair is pinned or tucked away each night, and you can also sleep in a satin bonnet or on a silk pillowcase for extra protection.

Next: 8 Hydrating Products Your Curly Hair Will Love

Photo Credit: Katrisha Rose, IG/@katrisharose, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier