How To Prevent Shrinkage In Curly Hair

Natural hair is gorgeous and offers a wide range of styling options. Nonetheless, most people with these locks need to deal with natural hair shrinkage. Though shrinkage is not unhealthy, it stops you lot from seeing (and enjoying) the actual length of your cute locks. You can easily retain the original length of your natural hair without shrinkage. Wondering how you can do that? This article explores what shrinkage is, why natural pilus shrinks, and some effective ways to reduce it. Roll downward to learn everything about this hair phenomenon!

What Is Natural Hair Shrinkage?

Natural hair shrinkage happens when your curly, kinky, and coily hair shrinks to form tight coils. Natural hair may shrink around 20% to 80% of the natural length. However, compared to blazon iii hair, type 4 hair tin shrink significantly and appear much shorter than the actual length.

Let'south understand the science behind natural hair shrinkage.

Why Natural Hair Shrinks

Shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair. Natural hair is more porous compared to any other pilus type. It can hands soak water (simply like a sponge) to expand and stretch. Every bit a result, damp natural pilus may announced elongated (due to the water weight), and the curl pattern becomes apparent. However, when the water evaporates, the hair will shrink to its original course. Information technology will lose the h2o weight and appear puffed up.

You may experience shrinkage in humid weather weather condition and if y'all sweat profusely. Still, the shrinkage level also depends on the hair porosity and harm levels. High porosity hair may experience less shrinkage equally it absorbs moisture real quick. On the other manus, depression porosity hair undergoes the maximum shrinkage.

4C hair type undergoes the maximum shrinkage as it cannot agree on to wet for long. That's why 4C curls are tighter and denser than the other curl types.

However, if your hair does non shrink even after you wet information technology, that may signal heat damage. If you want to continue your curls manageable, here are some ways to command the shrinkage.

8 Constructive Ways To Reduce Natural Hair Shrinkage

1. Leave-In Conditioners

Leave-in conditioners can lock in the moisture, proceed the strands hydrated, and minimize shrinkage. Use conditioners with plant oils and other hydrating ingredients to forestall dryness. This will also help reduce breakage and define your curlicue pattern.

2. Follow A Moisturizing Routine

Using moisturizing hair products can prevent shrinkage, irrespective of your roll type. A regular moisturizing routine also helps retain hair length. You may buy a hair moisturizer containing beeswax or silicone, a hair oil, and styling gel or lotion.

Follow this 3-step moisturizing routine:

Section your hair and employ moisturizer evenly to each hair section.
Follow it up with hair oil to lock in the moisture.
Set your hairstyle with a hair lotion or gel for a lustrous look.

3. Plaits and Twist Outs

Plaiting and twisting your natural hair tin can reduce shrinkage significantly. Depending on the hair porosity, these hairstyles can offer bouncy and manageable curls. You tin carve up your hair into small sections and apply oil. Complect and twist each pilus department to keep them stretched. Undo the sections after a few hours and way them.

iv. Try A Blowout

A blowout is the best manner to stretch your hair, increment its length, and keep information technology manageable. However, you have to prep your hair to prevent heat damage and breakage. Employ a skilful heat protectant and a deep hair conditioner before blow drying. Also, employ a comb attachment with the hair dryer to control the amount of heat your hair is exposed to. This will as well assistance stretch the hair.

5. Pilus Bun

Tying your damp pilus into a high bun is another manner to minimize shrinkage. Still, do not secure it too tightly to prevent creases. Go on your hair in a bun for at least 1-2 hours, so fashion information technology.

6. Roller Sets

Stretching the hair with roller sets is one of the least damaging ways to prevent natural shrinkage. They are oft used on moisture hair to stretch information technology while air drying.

To use roller sets:

Comb out pilus knots and utilise hair moisturizer.
Split up your hair into several small-scale sections.
Use consistent tension and roll each section into smooth rollers.
Leave your hair to air dry.

This technique works well with freshly washed wet and dry out hair.

7. Bantu Knots

This protective hairstyle helps stretch the strands minus any heat. Information technology involves twisting the hair section into knots. However, creating this style requires skill. You have to twist the hair sections in the same direction and secure the knot tightly. Brush your pilus thoroughly before styling and employ hair moisturizers to forestall damage.

viii. Banding

This is some other neat way to make your curls announced long. Banding involves stretching and securing pocket-sized pilus sections with snag-costless elastic bands. Yous may try banding freshly done damp hair.

Bank check out this easy wash-and-go banding tutorial here.

To Sum Upwardly

Do not be alarmed past natural pilus shrinkage. It is a sign that your pilus is salubrious and the curls are fine. You cannot end your gorgeous type 4 hair from shrinking. Nevertheless, yous can manage the shrinkage and retain your pilus length. Follow the tips discussed in the article, and keep your hair moisturized and nourished. Similarly, get for hairstyles that volition protect the strands and reduce shrinkage. All the tips suggested above volition help go along your hair healthy, forbid breakage, and retain its length.

Cardinal Takeaways

Blazon 4 pilus can shrink significantly more when compared to type three hair. It also can appear much shorter than its bodily length.
The shrinkage level depends on hair porosity and the extent of the damage.
Banding can reduce shrinkage significantly. It involves stretching and securing small hair sections with snag-free elastic bands.

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Writer

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze. Prior to that, she authored over 200 manufactures on pare and hair care. She... more