Achieving your desired hair length can be a fulfilling journey, and with the right approach, you can do it! Here’s a simple guide to help you along the way:

#1 Gentle Hair Care Routine

This by far is the most important step you can take in holding onto the hair that you grow each month.

• Avoid drying products and choose hair care that  keep your hair moisturized and nourished. 
• Wash your hair with lukewarm water, really hot water tends to dry your hair out and avoid over-washing to maintain natural oils. Wash your hair at least every 2-3 weeks. 
• Choose low manipulation or protective styles (without extensions) that allow you to go long periods of time without having to comb, brush or manipulate your hair often.

A few style options that are great for low manipulation:

• Two Strand Twists (great option for coily hair that is fragile and breakage prone)
• Finger Coils
• Twist Outs/Braid Outs
• Two Strand Flat Twists
• Cornrows 
• Crown Braids

#2 Limit Heat and Avoid Chemicals

Heat is okay to use once in while. You can use the blow dryer with a diffuser to help stretch your hair or using heat can help you deep condition.

However, when it comes to high heat, like a silk press avoid doing this frequently, if at all. Over time pressing your hair with high heat will alter the texture of your hair and can cause permanent loss of your curl pattern. When this happens the only solution you will have is to cut off the heat damage or grow your hair to a length you are comfortable with and then cut the hair.

If you must color your hair stick with colors that are not too far off from your real hair color. If you have dark brown hair and go with a light color like blonde expect to experience dryness and breakage if you do not give your hair the best of care.

Coloring, relaxing, and texturizing are all going to cause some damage to your hair strands. People who do not have very delicate fine strands may be able to withstand the breakage that hair chemicals cause and still be able to grow their hair out to long lengths. For those who have a difficult time avoiding breakage, chemicals may make reaching their hair length goals more challenging.

#3 Protect Your Hair At Night

Use a silk pillowcase or a bonnet to reduce friction and prevent breakage while sleeping. Simple big jumbo braids or twists are good options as well because they help to prevent your hair from becoming matted.

If you prefer wash and go styles and your hair is a kinky coily texture; it is highly recommended that you put your hair into large sections of ponytails to help prevent matting and tangles. Use ponytail holders that have soft materials that will not damage and put too much stress on your hair.

#4 Consistency and Patience

Hair growth takes time, typically hair grows around half an inch per month. Some people grow under this rate and some people grow hair at a faster rate. While products make it easier to retain length (or keep the hair that you grow) products on their own do not speed up your rate of growth.

My Personal Anecdotal Experience:

Currently in my own family the two people who have the longest hair are my husband and youngest daughter. My husband has tailbone length locs and that took him 7 years to grow. My daughter has the same length of hair and she is 4. Comparing these two, it seems like my youngest has a faster rate of growth. Which could because perhaps when you are younger you have a more rapid rate of growth, or this could just be her individual growth rate, who knows time well tell! My oldest daughter was able to grow her hair to the middle of her back by age 7 but it wasn't as full and healthy due to a medication that she had to take that unfortunately can cause hair loss; she also did get some heat damage. So please also consider your current state of health and any medications that could conflict with hair growth. I have since cut her hair for a fresh start. I myself was able to grow hair to the middle of my back, but I get bored way too easily and lost that growth by coloring my hair as well as frequent manipulation causing breakage and then I experimented with short hair cuts.

Conclusion:

Long hair doesn't happen overnight. Stay consistent with your care routine and be patient with the process. It takes months to see a difference in your hair using these techniques for length retention. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to achieving your hair length goals while maintaining healthy, vibrant hair. Celebrate each milestone and enjoy the journey!