Our hair grows on average a half an inch a month, or six inches a year, barring any health disparities, so to say that we must have patience when it comes to hair growth is an understatement.
When I was on the transitioning journey - for the third time- I would just drool over photos of women sporting their natural hair and couldn't bare the wait until my hair was chemical free. I remember taking down my transition styles each month with anticipation, excited to see if by some miracle my new growth had grown over its usual 1/2 inch.
I was super excited when I came across Mane 'n Tail - now this wasn't the Mane 'n Tail they have on the store shelves today made for humans - this was the original straight from the farm bottle with directions telling me I could use it to condition and clean my hooves as well. I'll tell you I went through who knows how many bottles of that shampoo. But in the end I had the same results 1/2 inch of growth a month.
Nowadays, Mane 'n Tail has an entire line of products made for human hair and I have come across many testimonies stating how it actually helps people's hair to grow. Over the years of my natural hair journey I have also stumbled upon all other types of hair growth remedies or treatments.
With one quick search on the internet, you will come across various posts from at home growth remedies such as using garlic and onion juice on your scalp which are purported to work due to their high sulfur levels, to using a mixture of Cayenne pepper and castor oil or even vodka to grow your tresses.
Cayenne pepper has actually been used as a home remedy to grow hair for centuries. It is said to help improve blood circulation. The most bizarre remedy I have come across is the use of a bull semen conditioning treatment to grow hair, which to me sounds like an extreme act of desperation!
Now, while the at home remedies such as onions, garlic and cayenne pepper may not have any foreseen side effects, I would like to alert those seeking growth remedies to be cautious about using topical ointments such as Monistat 7 - yes the vaginal cream - and supplements. Be sure to consult a doctor before taking prenatal pills and/or biotin.
Also be cautions about using Monistat 7 or Minoxidil aka Rogaine. Although there are several YouTube videos that show great results with Monistat 7. There are also possible side effects such as Migraine headaches, tenderness/burning and extreme shedding once you stop using it.
There are also a great deal of testimonies of how the use of Minoxidil results in hair growth, but just as many more that state once people stop using it, just as with Monistat7, they experience hair loss. Side effects also include dizziness, irregular heart beat and chest pain.
Now as a side note those of us who have sought out and maybe even tried hair growth remedies are not alone, and actually hair growth remedies are nothing new. In fact, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used hair growth remedies, with ingredients ranging from pigeon droppings to animal fat. But all in all, to be on the safe side a healthy diet, exercise and patience are the best remedies for side effect-free healthy hair growth.
Sources
Live Strong.com - Natural Ways to Promote Hair Growth
http://www.livestrong.com/article/265370-natural-ways-to-promote-hair-growth/
UK Medix.com - Hair Loss Remedies
http://www.ukmedix.com/hair-loss/crazy_hair_loss_remedies4317.cfm
WebMd - Minoxidil
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-3503- Minoxidil+Top.aspx?drugid=3503&drugname=Minoxidil+Top
