As mentioned in a prior post, I have been natural for 10+ years.
I went to a professional until I began my journey to maintain my hair on my own and fully transition.
The natural hair community does not call the experience a journey for no reason.
It is most definitely a challenge, full of ups, downs, hits, misses and everything in between.
Now I do not say this to intimidate anyone. I say this to encourage. Do not be ashamed if your braid-out failed or your textured curls are a bit frizzy.
Or, if your curls are very tight with little hang time. Or if you’re like me, your edges have started to thin.
Who actually wants thin edges?? Nobody that I know!
Keep reading to learn 4 helpful tips to treat thinning edges.
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The Discovery
Recently, I styled my hair in this beautiful updo. I absolutely love this hairstyle, and it was so simple to do. I did the LCO method (L-Liquid and/or Leave In Conditioner, C-Cream, O-Oil) prior to stretching the hair without heat.
Once dry, I cornrowed my hair in the front, slicked into a high ponytail with gel and a medium bristle wooden brush– securing my hair into a tight bun and added the kinky straight drawstring ponytail that I purchased from Amazon.
Everything turned out amazing. Take a look below to see the style on the first day 😁.
After wearing the style for about a week, I looked at myself first thing in the morning and thought that my edges were looking a little scarce.
I was not happy about the state of my eddggess of course, so I decided to look for a solution!
Tips and Tricks!
If you are dealing with thinning and/or bald patches around the hairline, these tips may help regrow your hair.
Regular scalp massages- This method cannot be emphasized enough. People do not realize the effectiveness of scalp massages, but it really helps to get the circulation and blood flowing which results in hair growth.
Massage gently with the pads of your fingers with or without oil.
Start out massaging the thinning areas for 5-10 minutes daily. Even 2-3 minutes would be effective, but do so at least twice a day since the massage time is much shorter.
Consistency is key!
Try this for 2-4 weeks and you should definitely see some progress.
Try a temple balm or oil- Not all balms or oils are created equal, so do you research before making that purchase!
Dr. Miracle’s Temple and Nape Gro Balm and ORS Fertilizing Temple Balm are two popular products that work very well. Each product has great reviews!
Jamaican Black Castor Oil is another staple for re-growing edges. It has so many benefits and is king for increasing hair growth in general.
JBCO moisturizes, thickens, and strengthens hair.
Use natural remedy- Ginger juice anyone? Yes ginger juice works wonders to regrow thinning edges. Ginger is packed with nutrients.
It’s full of antioxidants and contains many vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, phosperous and potassium. Each are incredibly beneficial for hair growth!
Use about 1 inch of the ginger root and a carrier oil like Jojoba or Argan oil. Grate the ginger and add to a small strainer. Over a bowl or container, strain the grated ginger with a cheese cloth to make the juice. You will need to add the oil because ginger is potent!
Add about 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Mix well, and transfer to an applicator bottle for convenience.
You should not need to make a lot of ginger juice since it is being used for the edges, but feel free to double or triple the recipe if you intend to use all over your head.
Once applied, massage into scalp and leave in for 30 minutes or overnight. Rinse out with shampoo afterwards.
As always, it is advised that you do your due diligence and research the use of ginger juice before trying on your hair!
Wear loose, low manipulation styles- I know a lot of us naturals love a slick ponytail or updo.
I tend to pull my hair up quite often, especially if a style that I was experiencing with failed or when my hair gets old and is due for wash day.
In case anyone is unaware, frequent wear of tight ponytails could gradually thin out the edges.
Constantly slicking those baby hairs and brushing the edges can unfortunately do more harm to the hairline than good.
Choose styles that are easy on the scalp and edges, such as a Twist-Out, Braid Out, Afro, Rod Set to name a few.
When the hair is down, it benefits the scalp as well as the hairline- no tension and the scalp is able to breathe so let it out!
The Takeaway
Thinning edges can be prevented if you choose to keep your hair hydrated and wear tension free styles.
In some cases, thinning or hair loss may be due to an underlying medical condition.
Be sure to eat a balanced, nutritious diet and visit your doctor if you believe that your hair loss is due to an issue internally.
If you are experiencing hair loss of any kind, do not be discouraged! There are plenty of safe, helpful and effective tips to regrow your hair.
What are your experiences with hair thinning or loss and what techniques do you use to fix? As always, feel free to share in the comments below!