The Truth @bout Natural Hair With Anu: Re-Growing Temple Hair

November 15th, 2011 - By Alexis Garrett Stodghill

Naomi Campbell Hair Loss

This week on The Truth @bout Natural Hair With Anu, Ms. Prestonia helps a reader learn how to help the thinning areas around her temples grow after years of stress on that area. Here’s what our resident natural hair care expert has to say.

Hello Ms Anu Prestonia,

I am a 33-year old female who just decided to go natural over the past 9 months. I remember as early as 9 years old, getting a jerri curl and then a few years later I started to relax my hair. I haven’t stopped chemically processing since I was a child. Needless to say, my hair and scalp have definitely paid a huge price. Since I did the big chop in July, I am learning a whole new side of my hair; but I am also learning just how damaged it is and that is difficult and frustrating.

My relaxed hair would grow no longer than my collar bones and I spent 8 years in the army. Those years of being in Iraq and the putting on and taking off of the head gear (including wool berets) slowly started to thin my temples out. At my worst, I had to cut my hair so that I could slick the hair down and hopefully cover the balding. It has been three years since I have been out the army and my hair is still bald at the temples.

Right now, I am very patient with the grow out process of my transitioning hair, but I am very impatient with the thinning and bald spots. I wash, condition, and keep my hair as moisturized as possible. I just started using Mega Tek and JBCO products in hopes of speeding up the growth process of the temples. I always loosely wrap my hair at night and do all the things I believe I should be doing. I would like to move beyond the baldness so I can focus on the rest of my transitioning hair, since that is the most embarrassing for me. Do you have any tips for women who are having a difficult time growing the thinned/bald temple areas? Am I going the wrong route by using those products I mentioned? Thank you!

Sincerely,
Clueless but slowly learning

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  • http://www.facebook.com/latoya.stokes3 Latoya P Stokes

    It works

  • http://www.facebook.com/latoya.stokes3 Latoya P Stokes

    I found a way, but you got to catch it early

  • kiki

    btw i’m natural and have been for 12yrs and now that it’s “hip” to be natural i’m actually considering going back to a relaxer.

  • kiki

    just because someone’s hair is relaxed doesn’t mean it is not healthy.. and just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy. I think the key issue is to take care of your hair regardless of if it’s relaxed or natural. And if you don’t know then go online and research. the internet has a wealther of information. I really don’t like acting like going natural is the only way to go for healthy hair. The reality going natural just isn’t right for everyone. I’ve seen someone women who are natural and i wanted to give them a tub of relaxer seriously. Just like i’ve seen some women with relaxer that I wanted to say cut it all off and start fresh. key i believe is taking care of your hair and ur body.

  • DSW

    Nioxin makes a full line of products that helps with thin hair of all textures. Also, ALTERNA makes a Caviar line of products that will help with the moisture. Make sure your shampoo does not have sulfates which is hard on the hair.

  • Thatsright48

    This is what happens when you can’t appreciate the hair God gave you and you covet the hair of another race of women.  Pathetic. 

    • LaLaLaMeansILoveYou

      I think that a lot of us are “victims” of having relaxers in our hair at young ages, and by the time we were old enough to do our own hair, we were so used to the silky straight texture that we just continued with the damaging cycle into adulthood, it just became a way of life.

      Until I went natural a couple of years ago, I don’t think I’d went longer than 6-8 weeks without reapplying a relaxer in my head since my early teens. Not blaming my mother because I DID have a head FULL of long bushy hair when I was younger, and relaxing my hair certainly made it a lot easier for her to be able to do it.

      The beauty of it is that now that there is SO much information out there about taking care of natural hair, and it’s becoming a lot more “acceptable” so to speak for black woman to wear their natural hair, we don’t have to make the same mistakes with our own daughters. A lot of us are trying to heal and repair DECADES of damage done to our hair by relaxers/colors/weaves/etc., well we can educate and give our children a sense of natural beauty from the start, so that they don’t have to find themselves trying to play catch-up when they are older.

      • Thatsright48

        You are right when you say that the relaxer use started with a lot of us at a young age and the cycle just continued.  However, the damage that I see on Naomi’s scalp seemed to be done from wearing a weave and all the pulling, glue, etc caused this damage.  What I don’t understand is when weave wearers FIRST see damage that they don’t stop and get a hairstyle that won’t pull their own hair out.  I know there are some black women out there who are trying to educate their children and give them a sense of natural beauty from the start, but there are a whole lot who aren’t and they buy weaves for their teen girls.  I was recently at a high school basketball game and it was sad to see the number of black teen girls with weaves.  The cycle continues unfortunately. 

  • Cora

    Coconut oil stops hair from breaking.

  • Mollyteena

    Where can I get some Jamaican Black Castor Oil from?

    • Jess

      most herbal or organic stores have it in it’s pure form. i mix 3 T’s with about 3 drops of Tea Tree and 2 T’s Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, or Olive Oil. i massage my scalp real good right after deep conditioning.

  • Kia Cherrae

    WWow when is Naomi gonna get the natural hair memo and stop allowing the weaves to eat away at her hair?

  • christine

    I stopped using shampoo when I went natural. Apple cider vinegar and a deep condition with steam once a week is what I do now. YouTube has been a huge source of information since I went natural.  

  • http://twitter.com/divalocity Vonmiwi Culvera

    If the hair follicles are destroyed the hair is never going to grow back.

  • IllyPhilly

    Serious question : How does that happen? Weave? Braids? OMG, I’ve NEVER seen that up close or at all and I’ve been through a lot of hoods east and west. Is that just a celeb thing?

    • Teflon Mom

      I think they call it traction alopcia.  Pulled back hairstyles, weaves and braids are usually the culprits.  The hair around your temples and nape is usually more fragile than the hair growing on your crown.  Weave hair is heavy and it pulls on it.  Or some women like to leave the edges out for a more natural look and heat/process the edges more than the crown.  Or (like me) the person may be addicted to pulling the hair back in a ponytail.  It only takes about 2 weeks of consistent ponies before I see thinning.

  • Huh

    I wonder what her diet is like. Her water intake and what not.

  • http://www.samsonhairrestoration.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53 hair restoration san diego

    How long can it take to grow it back?

    • sweettea

      Might not ever grow back. Thats why you see the dermatologist to find out for sure

  • thedoggonetruth

    Biotin might be good  to take, or a vitamin for hair, skin and nails. They would improve the overall health of her hair.  Good Luck!

    • LaLaLaMeansILoveYou

      My beautician (who is a true professional IMO) told me the same thing about Biotin…I take it every day and my hair has been growing very nicely. Of course vitamins/supplements are no substitution for good overall nutrition and healthy eating (I’m sure most of us already know that but I just had to throw it in there). She also said to make sure you get the 5000 mcg (the super-potency ones) and not the 1000 as the 1000 won’t do much for your hair.

      • thedoggonetruth

        I take 5000 mcg 3 times a day for my hair and I also take a vitamin for hair, skin and nails. And you’re right, you must eat healthy and drink plenty of water. With patience you will see results in the condition and growth of your hair. I wish everyone good luck on their personal healthy hair journey.

        ________________________________

  • TEEEEH

    Would you want someone to catch you with your pants down, and then post your photo with a title saying ” Frequent Urination problems”? ..Exactly, that’s why being “caught off guard” has alot to do with this photo!

  • TEEEEH

    A good illustration?? BAhahahaha yeah right! Ok you may not be “making fun” of Naomi in this article(smirk) but the article about Bad hair day had Naomi in it again, and there was reference to her edges and tracks…HMmmmm ….just saying!!