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Truly Longs
GROW Hair 3-5 INCHES PER MONTH!!

This blog is all about growing your hair & correcting damaged hair. The "average" speed of hair growth is roughly 1.25 centimeters or 0.5 inches per month, which is about 15 centimeters or 6 inches per year. With age the speed of hair growth might slow down to as little as 0.25 cm or 0.1 inches a month. I found out how to grow my hair 3-5 inches PER MONTH. Now who can beat that??!

There are lots of books out there that I myself have purchased and read, but they talk about achieving a good length of hair after YEARS and YEARS. Who wants to wait that long??! So of course I did not settle for that. I kept looking and tried almost everything until I found a few things that worked.

Throughout my hair growth journey I used mainly MTG, an Ouuchless hair brush, and got perms consistently. Other than that, I also used a scalp massager. Today I no longer use MTG. The only thing I do with my hair is I still get perms and only use an Ouchless hair brush. I never comb my hair.

Please do not follow just SOME of my advice and ignore the rest or do other things. I can’t tell you how that would turn out. I can only speak for my experience, and those that have followed my advice have had similar or better results than me. My friend who was balding used MTG and a scalp massager and his hair grew back. You can’t even tell that he used to have a receding hairline.

Most people that I come into contact with will think that my hair is a wig or a weave, and they are really surprised to learn that it is all mine. Sure, a lot of people have real hair, but my hair is so healthy and shiny it is hard for a lot of people to realize mine is MINE.

I sometimes get a little annoyed that many people automatically assume that individuals of African descent cannot grow hair past a certain length. Not only myself, but everyone I have shared this advice with who has been using it at least 5 months now have length to their hair.

For some who have never been able to grow past ear-length, this could be called a miracle. But it is as simple as being good to your hair, and doing what works. Nourish your hair and it will grow out of control.

SHOPPING LIST

I found all products/tools on this list to be very beneficial and crucial during my hair growth journey. Some I still use today to maintain the condition of my hair.

Before using any products that I recommend, please do an allergy test. This is usually putting a small amount of the product on your wrist, rinsing it off and then waiting 24 hours to see if you have any adverse reaction.

Here is the list:

1.    Shapley’s M.T.G. available at www.shapleys.com and fine equestrian stores. I recommend the 35 ounce bottle. It will be MORE than enough to last you about a year.

Original M-T-G has been providing quick and effective relief from numerous skin ailments since 1938. Originally formulated for humans, this safe and easy-to-use product is the only one needed for relief from a variety of bacterial and fungal skin problems, such as:

•    Rain Rot
•    Scratches
•    Girth Itch
•    Sweet Itch
•    Dry Skin
•    Tail/Mane Rubbing

Original M-T-G provides results after just one application! Formulated to eliminate the causative agent creating the skin problem, it conditions the skin and hair around the damaged area, promoting both healthy skin and maximum hair growth. In fact, Original M-T-G has been proven to work exceptionally well promoting hair growth. Users report up to 3 inches of new growth on (horse) manes and tails in a single month.

Original M-T-G creates a healthy environment for the hair follicle, resulting in maximum growth while keeping the length of the hair shaft soft and pliable for minimum breakage.

It is a time-tested, user-supported solution to both skin healing and hair growth in a single bottle. An oil-based product that does not require washing or water for application, it is not only easy to use, but great for cold weather.

Original M-T-G is also safe and effective on dogs and other animals skin problems, such as hot spots, itching and dry skin. It is available in 32 oz. and 6 oz. bottles. Suggested Retail Price 32 oz, $20.95; 6 oz, $7.95

I have heard of the MTG for humans (Sulu MaxGro) which is supposed to smell great, but I have never tried it.

Keep in mind MTG smells BAD (a little like bacon) and the smell is strong. That is why I recommend using only a little, just enough to get on your scalp. The smell seems to fade off after a few hours. Plus, no one can really smell it unless they are extremely close to you. If you are married or in a relationship, you may want to try Sulu Max Gro. It’s sold at www.shapleys.com.

Using MTG, my hair could get dry and brittle, and shed a lot. This is a small price to pay for the bigger picture. It is normal for the MTG to get on to the hair shaft, etc. I have tried but there is no way to avoid it. Although my hair would shed, it is actually NORMAL to lose about 100 hairs per day, and I believe I lose about that much.


NOTE: Before applying MTG, always have a paper towel ready to catch any MGT oil that may run down your face or neck.

2.    Goody Brand Ouchless Brush

Available at almost every pharmacy or www.amazon.com. I recommend that you buy two. These brushes work great, but they fall apart easily, usually after only 2 months. It’s good to have a back-up brush in case you misplace one or one falls apart. Having two ensures that you won't be stranded without the proper brush.

Goody makes Ouchless brushes for all hair types, from normal to thick hair, medium hair, fine hair, or hair that is relaxed or has extensions.

Before I found the Ouchless brush, I had tried several hair brushes, but none can compare to the Ouchless hair brush. The bristles on the brush are spaced apart, so it doesn't snag or pull your hair. This is a great hair brush because it’s very gentle on your hair. The overall design eliminates hair breakage. They are made with Comfort-Tip bristles and a retractable cushion for gentle styling that resists hair snags. The special bristles are gentle on the hair and massage the scalp.

3.      Satin Sleep Cap

Available at Walgreens, Sally Beauty Supply, and  www.amazon.com.

I recommend buying three sleep caps unless you are super organized and there is zero chance of you misplacing one. The hair cap is super important; it protects your hair.

4.    Avon Advance Techniques Intense Repair Hair Mask

Available at your local Avon lady or www.avon.com.

This hair mask is indescribable. It feeds my hair, making it fuller and softer. Putting this in my hair and sitting under the dryer for 10 minutes makes a dramatic difference.

5.    Ouchless Hair Bands

Ouchless hair bands do not have a metal clasp, and typically do not pull at your hair. DO NOT put rubber bands in your hair ever ever ever. They pull on the hair and are just very harsh.

6.    Scalp Massager

An octopus-shaped thingamajig that is used to massage the head & scalp. Stimulates the acupressure points on your head. Increases blood circulation to your scalp. Best of all, it provides deep relaxation and helps reduce stress. Most head massagers are made from copper, which acts as a conductor, tapping into your electrical fields. Available at www.www.amazon.com and most health food stores. Beware that when using the scalp massager, your hair can get tangled. So be very careful.

7.    Scalp Massager Brush/ Shampoo Massage Brush

These types of brushes gently massage and stimulate your scalp.


GENERAL HAIR CARE

Whether your beautician is a professional, your mom, yourself, or your best friend, take a step back and evaluate how the person who does your hair treats hair. If they are accustomed to using hot irons/combs, curling irons, blow dryers, etc, DO NOT let them do these things to your hair!

During my hair growth journey, my hair was NEVER:

Braided
Hot-combed
Blow-died (only short spurts of hot air along my hair line from the blow-FRYER after getting a perm to make my hair fall back) combed (ONLY brushed)
Jheri curled (haha)
Weaved
Etc

During your hair growth journey, the following hairstyles are allowed:

Slightly loose ponytail/bun (NO tight buns or ponytails)
Crab clutched
Worn loose/out
Twists (although I have never had my hair twisted, it is a style I believe is not going to pull on the scalp or be harsh on the hair.)

It is my belief that these hairstyles offer the least stress to your hair and scalp, allowing for the wildest hair growth.

I see nothing wrong with wearing a wig. You are not putting any products on your hair or having anything pulling on your hair, so there should not be a problem. I have no experience with wigs, but from what I observe one would simply put a wig cap on and then a wig on top of it. Just make sure that when you are home, you take the wig off and let your hair breathe in the sleep cap.

Morning Ritual

After waking up, remove your sleep cap and gently part your hair down the center of your scalp using your fingers. Apply a teaspoon of MTG directly onto your scalp and feel it seep onto your scalp and run all over. Have a paper towel ready to catch any MTG oil that may run down your face or neck. Place the sleep cap back on your head and keep it on as you go about your morning activities, e.g. washing your face, making breakfast, etc. I recommend keeping the sleep cap on unless you go out or someone you care about sees you. The sleep cap is the best environment for your hair to be in.

After grooming (i.e. washing your face, brushing teeth, applying makeup, etc), slip off your sleep cap and gently brush your hair, starting at the root and slowly working down to the ends. Brush as sparingly as possible, gently, massaging the scalp with the Ouchless brush. The brush should set the style that you want that day. If you MUST part your hair, do so as gently as possible with a wide-toothed comb, but NO COMBING!

Night Ritual

Before bed, gently part your hair at the center of your scalp using your fingers, apply a teaspoon of MTG directly onto your scalp and run all over. Wait 30 seconds, then gently brush your hair with the Ouchless brush. Starting at the root, gently slide down. Brush sparingly; don’t be excessive (even though I know that brush feels good on your scalp!), slowly and gently massaging your scalp. Gently gathering your hair (NO elastic. Let your hair breathe and be free.), place the sleep cap on your head and pull down under your ears to ensure that it won’t come off during the night. 

Hair Care Throughout The Day

Brush your hair as often as you like throughout the day. Carry your Ouchless brush in your purse. This brush feels incredible on your scalp. Treat your scalp to a gentle massage with the brush. Always treat your hair gently & delicately, brushing slowly & carefully. If you find a knot, do not yank. Work the knot out gently. Picture your hair as delicate & valuable. Every strand matters.

While watching television, massage your scalp with the head massager slowly and carefully, because it is very tricky, and if used too fast can actually tangle your hair at the roots. This is very difficult and painful to untangle.

Perms

Yes. I know that perms are HARSH. They are not a must, but since I have been getting perms throughout my hair growth journey. I don't know how to advise on anything else. Of course, you can edit this to natural hair if you like, if your hair is naturally straight or wavy, then by no means do you need a perm!

Every 6 weeks I would go to my Dominican beautician and get a perm. I used Olive Oil perm, regular strength. Sometimes she would try to use Naati brand perm on my hair, and I did not like it. Generally my scalp would get burned with that perm.

My beautician would apply the perm to my hair, and then rinse it out, shampooing it multiple times. Afterwards, once in a while I would get a 'treatment' for my hair. The treatment was some type of concoction the salon had mixed up, or sometimes it would just be from a bottle or glass vial, whatever it is. Sometimes hair needs treatment. In the beginning, my hair was so damaged, it was painful to look at I would get a treatment every time I went to the salon, but as the condition of my hair improved I gradually got treatments less and less (they were $5. Expensive for me because I was a single mom). I would get a treatment on my hair and she would place a plastic cap on my head and I'd sit under the dryers for 10 min, letting the hair treatment do its work.

Afterwards, she would rinse my hair out, Add some product and then put rollers in it. I would sit under the dryer for 40-60 minutes until my hair was dry. Then she would take out the rollers, add some more product - like serum, grease to my scalp, etc - and I would allow her to blow dry only the front roots of my hair so that my hair would fall back. (I DO NOT think that blow dryers are OK- they are directly on your hair. I also think that hot-air dryers are bad, but they are the lesser evil in my mind.) My beautician would brush & comb my hair, styling it, and finally add an oil sheen from a spray can.

I would walk out of the beauty salon, go right home and immediately part my hair in the center using my fingers, and add a few drops of MTG, letting it run over my scalp. This would give my hair a different look. It would look a little flatter, oilier, and dryer because of the MTG, but it would not look too bad. (Go to my website and check out my pics. I have MTG on my scalp in 100% of the pics.)

At first MTG didn’t make much difference in the look of my hair, but as days went on my hair would look flatter and flatter, not the light and fluffy look one usually has after a visit to the salon.

It is very important to have MTG on your scalp at all times. Sometimes you may want to hold off putting the MTG in your hair after a visit to the salon so that you can enjoy that fresh feeling of just having been to the salon, but just remember the goal. Someday, you will get to stop using MTG completely once you have reached your desired length!

I would get a perm every 5 to 6 weeks, and wash-n-sets up to twice a month. Every time I would get my hair done, I would go home and put the MTG on my scalp.

I liked to carry a container of Advanced Techniques Hair Mask with me when I go to the salon. After the beautician washed my hair I would ask her to put a dollop of the hair mask in my hair and work it in. Then she would put a plastic cap on my hair and I would sit under the dryers for 10 minutes. This made a dramatic difference to the look & feel of my hair. It was way more moisturized, better than any hair treatment I have ever tried.

Using MTG consistently, my hair grew approximately 3-5 inches per month, and the quality dramatically improved. Looking at my hair now, you would never be able to guess that only a year ago, it was ear-length and severally damaged, brittle and dry.

Sometimes I would get lazy and not put on MTG daily, or use a sleep cap, etc. But I noticed that when I did do everything right, my hair grew at a crazy rate, so much so that I always looked like I needed a touch-up on my perm, the growth was that CRAZY.