Everything You Need to Know About Natural Hair Shrinkage

What is hair shrinkage?

Hair shrinkage is when your hair becomes shorter as it dries. After washing, when your hair is still wet, it is noticeably longer. Hair stretches when wet and shrinks as it dries. This is a characteristic of every hair type and a sign that your hair is healthy. It means your hair has the right level of hydration and elasticity .      

Furthermore, a major reason a curl actually becomes curly is hair shrinkage. Because if your hair didn’t shrink, it wouldn’t have the texture and curl definition your curl has. Shrinkage and naturally curly hair are therefore truly intertwined. Generally speaking, the tighter the curl is wound, the more your hair will shrink. This can amount to shrinkage where your hair is up to 75% shorter when dry than when wet. The extent of hair shrinkage depends partly on your hair type and its porosity .

Do you accept that your hair is shrinking?

So, shrinking hair is a good sign—a sign of healthy, hydrated, and elastic hair. While this is a unique characteristic of hair, many curlies still find it difficult to accept that their hair can shrink significantly. A common piece of advice for dealing with hair shrinkage is often that it’s better to straighten or relax your hair (de-frizzing curly hair with a chemical treatment).

We think that’s a shame. Not only because these kinds of treatments are damaging to your hair, but also because you’re beautiful just the way you are, and it’s okay to embrace your natural hair, and therefore also the ability of your curls to shrink. Treating and accepting your hair in such a natural way doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to make it look as beautiful as possible.

Our advice for caring for naturally wavy, curly, or afro hair: first get to know your hair well by analyzing it and discovering a routine, ingredients, products , and hairstyles that are best suited to your hair. Everything to help you feel confident about your wavy, curly, or afro-textured hair.

Tips: How to deal with shrinking hair

Fortunately, there are many different, harmless ways to deal with excessive hair shrinkage. Below, you’ll find some tips for hairstyles and CG -safe products and ingredients that will help your hair stay that little bit longer as it dries.

• Product choice : Using hair products that are suitable for your hair type and porosity can make a huge difference to the length and texture of your hair.
• Ingredients : Certain ingredients can also provide slightly more length and a better texture. Think of flaxseed , shea butter, and mango butter, for example. Aunt Jackie Don’t Shrink Curling Gel is one such product, containing both flaxseed and shea butter.
• Hairstyles : You can also stretch your hair a bit with certain hairstyles , making your curls appear a little longer. With these hairstyles, you don’t need to use heat or otherwise damage your hair. Just be careful not to break your hair. We’ve listed five hairstyles below.

1. Banding

This is a method for gently stretching your hair. Section your hair, take a section, and wrap elastics around it, all the way from root to tip. Let your hair air dry before removing the elastics. You can then wrap your hair tightly in a silk scarf to further enhance the stretching effect. Note: this method puts a lot of tension on your hair, which can lead to breakage. 

2. Bantu knots

Bantu buns make us think of Rihanna, who, as you can see, looks fantastic on her. This method is a really fun way to style your hair (if you leave the buns as is), but also a great way to stretch your hair.

You can do them on dry or wet hair. Section your hair, take a section, twist it into a bun, and secure it. Let your hair air dry completely. When you take your buns out, you’ll see that you still have a beautiful, lush, curly look, but with a little more stretch than your natural texture.

3. High ponytail or bun

A high ponytail or bun is also a great way to stretch your hair without using heat. Don’t tie your ponytail too tightly, as the tension will make your hair break faster. You can also put your hair in a lower ponytail or bun for slightly less tension and a similar effect.

4. Rollers

Rollers are also a popular method for curlies with very curly hair. The larger the roller, the more your hair stretches. Make sure you’ve thoroughly detangled your hair and wet it thoroughly before rolling. Let your hair air dry and wrap it in a satin scarf once it’s completely dry. Then apply mousse or setting lotion to style your hair.

5. Twist-outs

Twist outs are also a great, non-damaging way to stretch your hair while still maintaining its texture. Wet your hair with a spray bottle, then apply some styling product to a section of hair, divide the section into two separate strands, and twist them together. You can give the ends some extra care by applying some extra product there as well. This will help the twist stay in place without using elastics. This also depends on your hair type and porosity. Continue until you’ve twisted all your hair. Let your hair air dry before removing it from the twists. Then, thoroughly shake out your curls. Instead of twisting your hair, you can also choose to braid it.

Do you have any questions about shrinking your hair? Let us know on Instagram !