Your edges, those soft hairs growing around your hairline are more fragile than the rest of the hairs on your head. They require extra care to ensure they stay healthy and thrive.
If you experience thinning edges, or your edges are literally snatched, this is nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone can experience this, whether they have relaxed or natural hair. To grow back your edges, there are helpful tips and natural hair growth products you will need to follow through with religiously.
Causes of Thinning Edges
1. Wearing tight protective styles
This is when your protective style isn't so protective after all. Wearing a protective style like box braids, weaves, or ponytails that are too tight can cause tension and damage your edges. If your braids are made too tight or your ponytail or bun are pulled tightly, they put too much pressure on your edges and severely damage them. Wearing your wigs too often without letting your scalp breathe can cause thinning edges too.
2. Sleeping with a cotton pillowcase
Your hair usually tends to grow at night, so if you have been sleeping with a cotton pillowcase or going to bed without a satin bonnet or silk scarf, chances are that your edges are in bad shape. The friction from the pillowcase can snag your edges out or break them.
3. Take a break from your styling products
The styling products you apply to your hair can also cause thinning or bald edges. The gels and edge control products you use to slick down your edges can severely damage them. This is because of the sulfates and drying agents contained in these products. You should ensure minimal use of these products to save your edges.
How To Grow Your Edges
You can follow these simple tips to help grow back your edges:
1. Moisturize your edges
Dry hair leads to breakage and damage, so if your edges are breaking off it only means they are dry. To get your edges to grow and flourish, you need to moisturize them often. It will prevent them from drying out and breaking off. You can moisturize your edges with any natural oil of your choice and also apply oil to your edges before laying them.
2. Massage your edges
Massaging your thinning edges with natural oils will help to keep it moisturized, repair the hair follicles, and encourage hair growth. All you need to do is get your favorite oil and massage it into your edges for about 15 minutes, three times a week. If done consistently, you will begin to see improvements soon. Also, it helps to massage your scalp often in order to stimulate blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles and to promote hair growth.
3. Deep condition regularly
Deep conditioning regularly gives both your edges and your hair every bit of that extra moisture it needs to grow. It helps to strengthen your edges with the rest of your hair as it grows. When deciding on which deep conditioner to use, go for ones which contain natural ingredients that strengthen, nourish, and moisturize your hair.
4. Use natural hair growth products
Another way you can grow your edges is to opt for natural hair growth products. For effective results when using these products, it is recommended that you apply a few drops to your scalp and massage with a scalp massage brush twice a day.
Here Are 5 Of The Best Natural Hair Growth Products You Can Try:
1. Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Made from natural ingredients rich in omega fatty acids, vitamin E, neem oil, and aloe vera, this oil stimulates hair growth, repairs damaged hair and seals moisture into the hair.
3 honest reviews of Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Marie of Curvy Fashionista says: "For me, it has promoted healthier and stronger hair growth. My scalp feels… GOOD. Not that it felt bad before, but since using this oil, my scalp feels in a better place. My hair has this natural sheen and feels a bit stronger."
Blake of Glamour says: "Within weeks I began to notice my edges gradually growing back, and after every weave install, the "new growth" I saw was insane."
Nogah of CurlsUnderstood says: "Before I applied my leave-in, I took a few drops of the Jamaican Black Castor Oil and massaged that onto my edges and crown area. This is not a new step. I’ve been doing this every night since becoming natural and it keeps my edges growing and strong."
2. Female Simplicity Hair Oil Blend
This natural blend contains organic and carrier oils that penetrate the scalp and hair follicles to repair thinning edges, prevent balding and dullness, without weighing down your strands.
3 honest reviews of Female Simplicity Hair Oil Blend
Kim of Makeup by Kim Smith says: "I’ve been using the Simplicity Hair Oil on my hairline for approximately two months, and I can say that I am seeing positive results. The areas where my hairline was thinning out is starting to become thicker, and I have noticeable hair growth, too."
Seyi of Fly Fierce Fab says: "I've found that my hair has definitely been a lot smoother and shinier, and it hasn't gotten weighed down by the oil (which was very important to me, I'm not here for greasy-looking weighed down hair). Also, my scalp hasn't been as itchy, which I'm rather happy about."
Nicole of Alopecian Tresses and Beauty says: "The only word that I can use to describe the Simplicity Hair Oil Blend is...Amazing! Just plain and simple...Amazing."
3. Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Oil
This exotic blend of nourishing ingredients penetrates the scalp and hair from root to tip, stimulates hair growth, and prevents breakage.
3 honest reviews of Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Oil
I love this stuff, it feels so good on my scalp. I wish they made a bigger size. I go through it fast. Will order again." -Pearleen Trotty
I just wanna say I love this product. I do not use this every day. I do use this with a few oils added together for an overnight Hair mask. I mainly rub this "Peppermint Oil" Into my scalp and throughout my hair. I wake up, shower and my hair never felt so soft and GREW SO fast. It would take my hair forever and I mean for freaking everrrrrrrrrrrr to grow." -Kittee Frazier.
"I just tried this product for my natural hair and loved it. First I like the spray container the oil comes in. Makes it easier to spray the hair. The oil smells good and cool to my scalp. It makes my hair soft and shiny. Will definitely keep purchasing this peppermint tea tree oil." -Sandy.
4. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Edge Treatment
The SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil is made from a blend of shea butter, castor oil, and peppermint oil which strengthens your hairline and prevents future damage.
3 honest reviews of SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Edge Treatment
Sola of DiscoveringNatural says: "This product does really well in moisturizing and nourishing the edges, but however if you are looking for a stronghold, this is not the product for it. It does give a soft hold and is great for someone like myself that does not like hard gel along the edges. Hard gels can actually damage edges. I did not experience any product build-up using this product."
Chante of Chante Burkett says: "If you’re looking for something to treat your edges while you sleep, this product is great. After 3 weeks I’m starting to notice that my edges are a little stronger and filling in a little bit more."
Camille Wheeler on Amazon says: "I'm seeing new growth! I start seeing new growth around my temples about 2 weeks after use. I use it 4-5 times weekly. I'm seeing areas that had NO HAIR finally grow in. Try it, be patient and you will see results!"
5. Taliah Waajid Protective Styles Gro Hair Gro Bamboo And Coconut Milk Growth Oil
This growth oil encourages thicker, fuller, and stronger hair on the scalp. It does this by supplying necessary nutrients to the hair follicle, strengthening hair from root to tip, and restoring moisture into the hair.
3 honest reviews of Taliah Waajid Protective Styles Gro Hair Gro Bamboo And Coconut Milk Growth Oil
"This product does what it advertises. The bald areas I have been trying to grow for years, how has hair." -Dee.
"It is a very good product. I could see my hair growing within 2 weeks of use. I have already reordered. Highly recommended." -Toyin Daramola.
"This oil is the best. it really works. I've been using it for a while and my hair is getting back to how it used to be. I will definitely keep purchasing more." -Tina.
Finally, remember that these methods require patience from you to get better results in the end. And while using these tips to regrow your edges, stay away from protective styles that cause tension to your edges. Instead try wearing your hair down or loose, wearing low ponytails or experimenting with kinky clip ins which blend with your natural texture.
Links To Product Reviews
Link to Taliah Waajid Protective Styles Gro Hair Gro Bamboo And Coconut Milk Growth Oil reviews
Link to Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Oil reviews