Did you know that a fetus will have developed all their hair follicles by the time they are 22 weeks old?  That would be about five million follicles.  That's mind boggling right?  Our body does not produce any additional follicles as we develop.  That is why it is crucial to take good care of your follicles because they are the means by which hair grows.  

As we grow, our natural hair goes through three phases of growth.  Anagen, Catagen and Telogen.  Anagen is the active phase of growth.  It ranges from 2-6 years and during this time, about 1 cm of hair grows every 28 days.  Anagen can consist of a short growth phase and a long growth phase.  The length of your growth phase will determine how long your hair will grow.  Catagen is the transitional phase during which the hair follicle prepares to rest.  Telogen is the resting phase and lasts for about 100 days.  In this phase the follicle completely rests and the hair does not grow.  It is also during this phase that hair sheds.  About 25-100 hair strands can be shed per day.  

So, how can you keep your hair growing longer based on your hair growth phase?  

• Keep you hair well moisturized by using products that contain humectants which attract and bind moisture to your hair.  Try the Naturaz Rehydrating Mist & Detangler.
• Preserve moisture in your hair by using a protective sleeping cap when going to bed, wearing a protective style or wrapping your hair in a stylish scarf and not always exposing your hair to the elements.  
• Attract moisture to your hair by ensuring that your environment contains enough moisture.  If you live in a dry hot or cold place, purchase a hygrometer to measure the humidity levels in your home.  If low, invest in a good humidifier to add moisture to the environment around you.  It is very helpful for your hair and skin.  
• Eat foods high in healing oils like vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids.  Some sources from which you can obtain these oils are fish oil, avocados and chia seeds.  
• Eat foods high in selenium.  A great source for this mineral is brazil nuts.  Eat 2-3 nuts per day or as often as you can.  These nuts are very high in selenium so you cannot ingest too many of them daily otherwise you would build up high levels of selenium in your body which can become toxic. 
• Check your health.  I had anemia once and that was affecting the health of my natural hair.  If your inside is not doing great, then it will affect you on the outside.  When I started taking iron supplements and added foods high in iron to my diet like spinach, my hair improved and stopped shedding. 
• Pay attention to your environment and life events that are creating stress.  We all have tell tale signs that communicate to us that out bodies are not at ease.  One telling sign is the health of our skin and hair.  If your hair is shedding excessively, also evaluate your stress levels.  Have you had a major loss in the family?  Are you having problems at work? In your domestic environment?  Are you a care giver and are getting burnt out?  Figure out some ways to relieve the stress and take care of your mental health and well being. 
• Avoid harsh grooming techniques that can damage your hair and follicles, for example constantly using high heat or using chemicals in your hair. 

Enjoying a full head of healthy hair requires that we keep our lives in balance and our bodies healthy.  Great products complement great health and that is reflected in your skin and hair.  

Read more about how food and diet can keep your hair healthy.  Eat Your Way To Healthy Hair!