Recovering your thinning edges

Thinning edges are among the top five hair concerns for black women. Too many experience thinning or balding edges. Much of this thinning is preventable. It's easier to prevent your edges from thinning than to restore them. Nevertheless, with early treatment, in most cases, your edges can recover. 

HOW TO PREVENT YOUR EDGES FROM THINNING

Prevent thinning by remembering the causes of thinning edges. 

1. Small or tight braids 

Very small or tight braids of any type around your edges. Those small braids which look like they are coming out your scalp might look good, but they are terrible for your hair. Most hairlines naturally consist delicate and finer hair, when compared to the rest of our hair. The braid extensions around your edges should be bigger to avoid hair loss. Never have your braids put in tight around your edges.

2. Braiding your hair in the same direction all of the time

Cornrowing hair into the same pattern over and over. This creates traction hair loss. If you are constantly getting cornrows, be sure to change the direction of your cornrow pattern each time. Allow your hair to rest from manipulation at least a week between each braid style. 

3. All types of adhesives: tape, gels, glues etc.  
4. Combs from lace front wigs. 
5. Hats
6. Scarfs tied tightly day after day.
7. Relaxer chemicals

Hair loss solutions

CQR EDGE FUSION RECOVERY 
Supplies needed for this treatment

Silk wrap
Plastic wrap
Natural moisturizer
Stimulating hair growth blend #1

If you cannot cornrow then flat twists your edges as shown here. One cornrow down each side. 

1. Cornrow your edges going in the downward position
2. Massage stimulating oil to all of scalp with extra concentration on the edges. 
3. Spray scalp with warm water
4. Apply moisturizer
5. Cut a strip of plastic wrap, wide enough to cover your edges.
6. Wrap plastic around your edges.
7. Apply silk wrap on top of plastic wrap.
8. Now tie down the rest of your hair as you normally would. 

When you remove the silk wrap in the morning your edges should feel nice and soft. You will do this treatment every night for the first week. Week two, you switch to every other night for 40 days. 

If your hair follicles remain open, you should see your edges filling in nicely within 40 days. You may continue the fusion treatment twice a week until your edges are fully restored.

Additional hair loss solutions
Hair skin and nail vitamins (works wonders if you use them right)
Rogaine (you must continue to use for continued results)
DHT blockers
HAIR FIBERS (temporary solution)
HAIR TRANSPLANT (lasts many years)



USING HAIR FIBERS TO GIVE YOU FAST RESULT!
After you finish the 40-day edge fusion recovery, you can then use some hair fibers to help your edges look better as they grow back. Do not use the hair fibers during the first 40 days of the edge fusion recovery, because you do not want to risk clogging your hair follicles and slowing your progress. 

The hair fibers I recommend are said to be healthy for the hair. They work well to give you the illusion of full edges, without causing you further damage. Check out NATURALME4C as she shares how great the hair fibers work for her. 


HAIR TRANSPLANTS 
There are cases where hair edges cannot be restored and have no chance of regrowth. After consulting a doctor and consistently following all suggested tips, if there is still no 90% recovery of your edges, a hair transplant may be considered. For those experiencing significant hairline recession, this could be an excellent solution. It's worth researching before dismissing the idea. YouTuber Destiny Godley's detailed journey through her hair transplant procedure, which addressed her long-standing receding hairline, can be insightful.

Do hair vitamins work?

I RECEIVED THIS QUESTION  ON FACEBOOK

"I am currently taking

Hair skin and nail vitamins, collagen,

Gelatin, garlic oil, and using regular castor oil sweet almond oil, shea butter and vics vapor rub in my hair and it's working. My hair is getting. Thicker but no length yet. Am I on the right track?"

WHAT MAKES HAIR THICK?
None of the items she mentions can make your hair thicker. Hair thickness is determined in the womb. We are born with a set amount of hair follicles. We can lose hair follicles but we cannot grow more. Hair thickness is also determined by how wide your individual hair strands are. The size of your hair strands and the number of hair follicles you have are established at birth based on genetics.  

Let's breakdown what she is using

Hair vitamins
Vitamins do not give you larger strands or additional hair follicles. They do help feed the body nutrients, you might be lacking. By taking up the slack from your diet, vitamins make the hair grow better and stronger. 

One of the vitamins I take. You can buy this HERE

Another vitamin I take. Buy HERE

Castor oil 
Castor oil coats the hair and makes it appear to be thicker. So applying castor oil often for weeks builds up on the hair. Once you wash the castor oil off, you are left with your normal thickness. Castor oil is anti fungal. It prevents fungus and eliminates fungus off the scalp. Once that issue is removed the hair grows and flourishes. Keep in mind that you may not have a fungus. Cold pressed castor oil is still an excellent oil for the hair. It is an awesome conditioner for the hair. 

Vick's vapor rub
This product is made up of petroleum. It also coats the hair and makes it "appear" thicker. However it cannot make your hair thicker. The clove, eucalyptus oils stimulate better blood flow and this leads to increased hair growth. It is possible that Vick's can also increase hair growth by eliminating certain scalp issues that hinder hair growth. I am not endorsing this product for hair growth. This is simply my response to her question.

Side note:
The properties of the Vick's healed my scalp quickly. I developed some scabs on my scalp. I could not pinpoint the cause of the scabs. I will say this happens to my scalp every few years or so. I decided to give the Vicks a go. The scabs cleared up within 3 days. quickly. 

So why is she "only" seeing thickness with her hair growing regimen?

When Afro hair grows from the scalp it makes all the hair look thicker. She sees thickness due to the new growth. Since Afro hair grows curly, it grows up not down. Thus you will notice fullness before you notice length. You cannot have an increase in fullness without gaining new growth. 

Tracking your growth to remain motivated
Would you like to know how well your growth aids are working? Before you begin, measure your hair in 3 areas. Use a tape measure. Note the condition of your hair, so you can have your hair in the same state when you measure for results.  Write the measurements on a calendar. Measure again in 40 days.  Continue to measure your length every 30 days. Tracking your growth will give you confidence to stay consistent with your journey.