Before my hair journey, I always suffered with damaged short hair in my nape region. Actually, at one point, all the hair in my nape region completely B R O K E  O F F!! I remember my stylist cutting my hair into various styles to accommodate/hide the breakage at my nape *sigh*. It was rough!

Fortunately, over the years I've learned that because my nape hair is coarser in texture (type 4c) than the rest of my hair (type 4b) this area REQUIRES a specific amount of care as opposed to the rest of my har. Along with my tips below, I know that my hair needs to be washed and deep conditioned at least once a week in order to flourish - period! However, discovering the true difference in texture and the needs this particular area demands, truly allowed me to adjust my routine/regimen accordingly for optimal health and length retention of my nape.



Here are 7 tips I Swear By for Healthy Nape Growth & Length Retention:

APPLY PRODUCT THERE 1ST

Whether you are moisturizing and sealing or deep conditioning, make a mental note in your head to always apply product to this section first!  I tend to apply my moisturizers and deep conditioners to my hairline and nape first and then work the product all throughout my hair in small sections. It's imperative that this region gets all the love it requires via the products you use on a weekly/biweekly/monthly basis. Keeping this area hydrated and strengthened through the moisturizing and deep conditioning process, increases elasticity and strength preventing excessive dryness. Dryness will cause breakage so be sure to keep this area moist yet strong!

AVOID HARSH FABRICS

This is key, especially during the fall and winter months due to the sweaters, scarves and jackets we may wear. It's important to keep the hair up and off of the shoulders. During these cold months, I like to keep my hair off my shoulders in a high or low bun. I try to keep in mind the clothing that I purchase/wear so that it doesn't limit my styling abilities. If I do wear my hair down, I make sure I'm wearing a blouse that way there will be no friction between my hair and my shirt. Also, if you are using towels in your routine - please STOP. Just like the harsh fabrics noted above, towels will cause dryness and tangles at the nape. Constant direct manipulation and friction in this area can cause unnecessary breakage. This is why I love using t-shirts to dry my hair. T-shirts are super gentle and effective at removing the excess water from your hair.

KEEP IT MOIST - AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

If you notice that your nape is excessively dry - frequently - you should opt to apply product to this area first and keep it moisturized often. If it's dry, moisturize it! This applies whether you are wearing a protective style or not! It's so easy to neglect this area because it's not in our direct view. Anything that is not in plain sight tends to get neglected - which is not what we want. Neglect can lead to unwanted damage and breakage. It's crucial that this area remains hydrated. Too, as it tends to be coarser in texture, it craves moisture much more than the rest of your hair. So, address its needs accordingly. If you find that your moisturizer is not working effectively for your hair/nape, it may be a sign that you need something new or you need to layer it with thicker oils/butters i.e. LOC/LCO method.  A trick I like to do when selecting moisturizers is that I always test the product on my nape, FIRST. If it moisturizers my nape effectively, chances are, it will moisturize the rest of my hair perfectly. Works like a charm!

MASSAGE IT

Massaging your nape on a daily or weekly basis is a great way to increase blood circulation and stimulation for increased hair growth. Try warming up a few tablespoons of your favourite carrier oils. dip your fingers into the oil and massage your scalp focusing on the nape area. Gently massage the oil in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes. Occasionally after wash day, I like to oil my scalp with JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) and massage it in for about 5 minutes. My scalp and nape are always happy for the extra TLC!

AVOID TIGHT STYLES AND HEAVY MANIPULATION

Heavy manipulation is one of the main causes for breakage. Many ladies get caught up in the "look" of a certain style and forget about the health of their hair. For me, safe and effective protective styling is key and imperative for the overall health of my hair. Most days, you will find my hair in a loose low bun - done! Nothing fancy or over the top! It's effective and protective. Tight braids, weaves, and wigs wreck havoc on our nape region if we aren’t careful. Avoid the unnecessary stress on your nape and give this area a much needed break!

RELAX THE NAPE LAST

I learned this trick very early on in my hair journey - never apply relaxer to the nape first! I remember my stylist applying my touch-ups to my nape in the first few moments of my relaxer session. This region is very fragile and should be handled with care. Remember! Wherever you apply the relaxer first, tends to process the longest and if you're not careful, it can lead to over processed hair. Over processed hair is weak lacking elasticity and moisture. This will lead to dryness and breakage. Since my sister relaxes the back of my hair for me, we have an understanding that the nape and edges are always last during each and every one of my relaxer sessions.

AVOID DIRECT HEAT

If your nape is damaged, dry and breaking - adding direct heat in the mix is just a recipe for disaster! Leave your nape hair alone and just let it be. No, seriously! Direct heat has a tendency to make the hair drier. Therefore, applying direct heat on hair that is suffering from damage, can only make matters worse. Opt to air dry, do a roller set or flexi-rods, braid out etc. This will give your nape hair a chance to revive itself and get back on track. Personally, I love air drying! Air drying has given my hair a break and over the years restored the health, strength and thickness of my nape hair. Oh, if you're not a fan of air drying, try blow drying on cool air to help speed up the drying process for a smooth finish!

Let me know what tips have helped you grow your nape!

XOXO