What Is Hair Shrinkage Explained Simply

Hair Shrinkage: The Story

It is your long curly hair you wash your hair it is long soft and bouncy but as it dries it seems to shrink a couple of inches You may ask yourself Where did my length go It is shrinkage it is a natural way of textured hair when it is in the presence and absence of moisture it makes the hair look shorter than it should be It is no tragedy and it is not a bad thing it is just the way textured hair acts in the presence and absence of moisture.

The hair shrinkage is simply your hair showing off its elasticity Straight hair lies flat but curls and coils are not well organized Each of the curls and twists gives your hair its personality When water touches your strands the hydrogen bonds within it change and as your hair dry up they form in tighter curls That is shrinkage in action Evidence that your hair is alive healthy and full of bounce.

The Science Underlying Shrinkage

Keratin proteins that are bonded by hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds make up your hair. When you wet your hair the hydrogen bonds loosen to allow your curls to stretch As the water evaporates the hydrogen bonds loosen and cause your strands to return to their natural curl pattern.

All of this is the effect of high humidity and high temperature. The humidity in the air dampens your hair and your hair takes on the temperature of the air, which is why your hair is shrinking, that means you are healthy!

The Question of whether to know whether you have shrinking hair

The effect of shrinkage varies in all people Some can shorten a few inches, others half their length can be drawn The best way to gauge it is to do a stretch test, to pull a curl of your hair when it is dry and see how far it goes in comparison to when it is wet That is the extent of shrinkage.

Curls type 2C or 3A may not shrink more than 20-30 percent whereas (type 4B or 4C) hair can shrink to 70-80 percent That is due to the fact that tighter coils have more turns per inch So when your twists are shorter than your straight braid out do not fret That is just your natural curl pattern doing its work.

Is Hair Shrinkage Good or Bad

It may be that Shrinkage is a love hate thing On one hand it is a sign of good healthy hair Dermatologist Dr Shani Francis that specializes in hair science says that shrinkage is a sign of elasticity and moisture retention both of which are signs of healthy strands On the other hand it can be annoying to have to show off your length or even monitor your growth.

Shrinkage does not imply that your hair is short it simply means it is curly Think of it as a spring that shortens when moist There are safe methods to stretch your curls to give your hair that fluffy volume appearance Still if you want to occasionally change style you can just as safely go about it

What Leads to Excessive Shrinkage

A small amount of shrinkage is normal Yet when your hair starts to shrink excessively or feels dry then look inside other causes Humidity is one of the major causes of the shrinkage Water in the air attaches itself to your hair cuticles resulting in unevenly formed curls or stiffness of your curls Another cause is product buildup When old product coats your hair it cannot absorb moisture in an even manner and this may cause unevenly shaped curls or even be stiff and rough

The dryness also contributes When the hair is not moist the inner part of your hair contracts in an attempt to protect itself The outcome Shrinkage that appears thick and jaggedy When your hair is brittle when it shrinks the time has come to take care of it.

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How to Reduce Hair Shrinkage

You can never prevent shrinkage, nor can you desire to, but can reduce it at any rate as required.

One of them is heat stretching Turn on a blow dryer with a heat protectant and lightly stretch your hair using this tensioning technique, pulling your hair taut as it dries on each side of your head not too much heat is bad, and it will ruin your curls in the long run

Heat-free techniques include banding, and braid outs Banding consists of wrapping soft bands around strands of wet hair all the way through to the end to the tip As it is drying, the hair will be in a more elongated shape Braid outs and twist outs can also help to provide the same purpose of stretching the curls without losing the degree of definition.

The other trick is the LOC or LCO technique that is liquid leave in oil and cream or cream then oil This will help lock moisture in each strand that will keep your curls hydrated longer and will not dry out too much.

Optimal Products to manage shrinkage

The correct products are everything. Pay attention to moisture-based curl friendly products that contain your strands moist and styled.

Experiment with a leave in conditioner such as SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Restore Leave In Conditioner This one has the ability to make your hair look like it is locked in place The Mielle Pomegranate and Honey Oil Blend is not heavy.

To get curves that are longer than your regular curls, grab some elongating stylers Camille Rose Curl Maker or Aunt Jackies Dont Shrink Gel will help define curls but in a way that makes them heavier Perfect to keep the shrinkage down to a minimum and keep the bounce.

Common Mistakes People Make

All it takes is a few easy practices that aggravate the shrinkage or harm your hair as time goes on.

Excess heat is one of them Because people may think that heat is the quickest method of hair stretching regular heat work will loosen your curl patterns and your tools should not be heated too high

Leaving out deep conditioning is another massive one. Your hair will lack moisture without a weekly treatment of some kind TGIN Honey Miracle Mask or Pattern Intensive Conditioner can be used to help rejuvenate the moisture and prevent over-tightening.

And do not forget product buildup. When layers of oils and stylers trap up, hair gets tight and flat cleanse it once or twice a month with a light shampoo such as Kinky Curly Come Clean so your curls can be re-set.

Accepting Shrinkage rather than Fighting It

Shrinkage is beautiful. You do not always have to attempt to straighten your curly hair. You can do fluffy wash and gos twist outs or afro puffs that show off the natural volume of your hair.

Others even cut their hair into forms that are compatible with shrinkage such as tapered afros or layered curly cuts. They do not oppose shrinkage; rather they are used to it. Once you start working with it instead of against it you will see that your hair is fuller, healthier and more like yourself.

Hair Health Connection and Hair Shrinkage

Shrinkage narrates the health of your hairs. Dermatologists such as Dr Kari Williams frequently observe that once hair no longer shrinks it could be an indicator of loss of elasticity of your hair either due to excessive heat or overworking.

When your curls revert it is because your hair has good internal connections. When your hair remains straight and flat then the connections may have been torn that way, so when you can see your curls revert after hair washing it is quite a thing to rejoice in. It means your hair is well structured.

Professional Counseling and Training

Scholars and research findings agree that shrinkage = elasticity = healthy hair natural hair that contracts after the strain exerted on it has well-developed hydrogen bonding that prevents it to break As Trichologists hair scientists affirm moisture is the key to their flexibility Hydrated hair can like to shrink and still bounce back

According to Dr Shani Francis, it is best to keep the balance between moisture and protein. The reason is that, once your hair sinks so much, it needs protein. The reason is that once your hair becomes tight and dry, it needs more moisture.

Hair Shrinkage and Hair Breakage

Shrinkage may appear similar to damage but these two are totally dissimilar Shrinkage causes your hair to appear shorter breakage causes your hair to actually become shorter.

Breaking all hair will leave you with one side longer than the other and the end rough when you stretch it and it breaks or when you stretch it and it is dry This is a sign of breakage but when it springs back that is a sign of a healthy shrinkage.

To repair breakage without reducing curl pattern concentrate on gentle handling protective styles and keeping the hair moist Use satin pillowcases do not use rough towel drying and cut split ends every couple of months

ine to Manage Shrinkage

The following is one such routine to ensure that you maintain your curls without shrinking, yet remain healthy and happy.

Wash Day Routine

Begin with a sulfate-free shampoo or co wash that will be used to wash your head. Deep condition at least 20 minutes Wear a heat cap to enhance absorption.

Wash and then pour your leave in conditioner oil and curl cream LOC or LCO technique.

Style with braids twists or banding in case you want to be long.

Allow it to dry or blow dry your hair down in loose high ponytail and wrap it with a satin scarf or bonnet This helps to keep your hair straight and eliminates overnight shrinkage In the morning sprinkle some water on your hair and also apply a leave in spray

Nighttime Routine

 In the dark tie up your curls, gathe.

Practical Rout

True Memories and Accounts

Natural hair influencers such as Naptural85 and CurlyProverbz frequently discuss the concept of embracing shrinkage as a natural event in their hair experience Many of them used to think of it as a weakness in their hair, but with time they came to the understanding that it was a sign that their hair was healthy and well-moisturized.

One woman has said that her hair began to shrink again the first time in years after breaking her heart and that it was at this time she realized that her curls were returning back to life Once you change your mindset it will no longer be frustrating it will be empowering.

Shrinking Hair: Frequently Asked Question

1 What in simple terms is the shrinkage of hair

It is when your curls close even your curly hair drying shorter than it should be. It is the natural consequence of the moisture gone in curly or coily hair.

2 Does shrinkage indicate that my hair was damaged

No Shrinkage is generally an indicator of good. It indicates that your hair is elastic and healthy When your hair no longer shrinks that may be an indicator of damage.

3 Is it shrinkage or breakage that I know of?

Shrinkage appears as hair appearing shorter yet full and even Breakage appears as uneven ends that are thin or rough Ends that are healthy shrink in a uniform manner and appear back to their original length when stretched.

4 Does it mean that the hair is healthy because it shrinks?

Yes Dermatologists and trichologists affirm that shrinkage depicts elasticity and moisture balance two secrets to sound hair.

5 What should be the normal amount of shrinkage of type 4C hair?

Tight coils such as 4C hair may shrink up to 75-80 percent entirely normally. That is, 10 inches of hair may appear only 2 to 3 inches dry.

6 What are the products that can be used to reduce shrinkage naturally?

Applying moisture sealing leave-in oils and elongating curl creams SheaMoisture Mielle and Aunt Jackies are good candidates.

7 Can permanent reduction of shrinkage be achieved?

No and that is a good thing Shrinkage is a part of your curl pattern which can be decreased temporarily by using stretching techniques but should not be completely eliminated.

8 How to blow-dry hair without breaking it

Low heat or no heat techniques such as banding, braiding or twisting It is always necessary to add moisture and seal prior to stretching to avoid breakage.

9 Why is my hair more shrunken when I wash it

Since water temporarily frees up your hairs hydrogen bonds to allow the curls to tighten as they dry That is not at all unusual

10 Does shrinkage of hair influence growth monitoring?

It may cause difficulty in realizing that it is growing but your hair is growing. Put stretched styles or measure stretched strands to gauge growth correctly.

Final Thoughts

Shrinkage is not your enemy It is just your hairs way to show you that it is healthy hydrated and alive When you realize that it is a natural aspect of your texture that you should be proud of All the same that you can stretch it when you want length or embrace it when you want volume