How I Grew My Natural Hair to Waist Length: My Real Routine + Farmasi Favorites
For years, I admired women with beautiful, waist-length natural hair. I used to scroll through total forums and TikTok (make) videos in awe of those long, healthy curls, wondering if my own hair type could ever reach that length. Like many Black women, my natural hair journey started with a mix of curiosity, frustration, and hope. I wanted to learn the best way to take good care of my hair without damaging it or feeling overwhelmed by product buildup and endless routines.
Today, I can proudly say that I’ve almost grown my own hair to waist-length—without wigs, relaxers, or hot tools. My secret? Consistency, moisture, patience, and the right products (hello, Farmasi!). If you’re ready for a fresh start and serious length retention, keep reading—I’m breaking down exactly what worked for me and what can work for you, too.
1. Understanding Your Hair Type & Texture
Before you start your natural hair growth journey, the first crucial step is understanding your hair type and hair porosity. Knowing your texture helps you choose the right shampoo, deep conditioners, and leave-in products that your hair truly needs.
My hair is Type 4C, also known as “C hair”—tightly coiled, fine strands that shrink dramatically when wet. This hair type is gorgeous but needs lots of hydration and gentle care to prevent breakage.
Good news: Every hair type can reach waist-length hair—it just requires a routine tailored to your unique curls.
If your curls are looser (3A-3C), you’ll focus more on lightweight creams and gels. If you have coily or kinky hair (4A-4C), creamy formulas with shea butter, olive oil, and argan oil are your best friends. Understanding your hair’s porosity(how well it retains moisture) is also key.
Low-porosity hair: Use lightweight, water-based products and apply heat during deep conditioning to open the cuticle.
High-porosity hair: Use heavier butters and oils to seal in moisture.
When I finally learned my hair porosity and stopped copying everyone’s routine from social media, my hair started thriving.
2. The Right Shampoo & Wash Day Routine
Let’s talk about wash day—because it’s where healthy hair growth truly begins. I wash my hair every 7-10 days using a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates strip away natural oils and dry out the hair shaft, so switching to a gentle cleanser was a game-changer for me.
My Farmasi Wash Day Favorites
Farmasi Reviving Argan Oil Shampoo – Perfect for removing buildup without leaving my hair feeling stripped. The argan oil smooths the cuticle and leaves my curls soft and manageable.
Farmasi Paprika & Horsetail Conditioner – Strengthens fragile strands and adds shine.
During wash day, I focus on my scalp. Clean follicles mean better growth. I gently massage my scalp for 3–5 minutes with my fingertips (no nails!) to boost blood circulation and stimulate the hair follicles.
After shampooing, I detangle with my fingers or a wide-tooth comb on wet hair coated in conditioner. Finger detanglingreduces breakage and protects those precious ends of your hair.
3. Deep Conditioning: The Secret to Length Retention
Deep conditioning is not optional—it’s a non-negotiable step in growing longer hair. It helps replenish moisture, repair damage, and strengthen your strands from the inside out.
I deep condition every wash day using rich, creamy formulas and sometimes enhance them with natural ingredients like olive oil or peppermint oil for extra nourishment.
My Deep Conditioning Combo:
Farmasi Argan Oil Hair Mask – A creamy formula that melts into my curls, leaving them hydrated and strong.
A few drops of olive oil or peppermint oil – to stimulate the scalp and add shine.
Apply your deep conditioner from root to tip, focusing on the ends (they’re the oldest and most fragile part of your hair). Then, cover your head with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer or steamer for 20–30 minutes.
This step helps the product penetrate your hair cuticle deeply, leaving you with soft, elastic curls. Over time, this single habit is what helped me retain length from shoulder length to bra strap length, and finally to waist-length hair.
4. Moisture + Leave-In Conditioner = Magic
Hydration is everything. Dry hair leads to split ends, hair breakage, and frizz—especially for curly or kinky textures. After deep conditioning, I always use a leave-in conditioner on damp hair to lock in moisture.
My Go-To:
Farmasi Reviving Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner – It’s lightweight but powerful, and keeps my curls soft for days.
Next, I seal that moisture with natural oils or butters like:
Shea butter (for sealing)
Olive oil or argan oil (for shine and softness)
The LOC method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) or LCO method (Leave-in, Cream, Oil) are both effective depending on your hair porosity. Experiment and find what works best for your texture.
5. Protective Styling (Without the Damage)
One of the best things I ever did for my natural hair was embracing protective styles. These styles minimize manipulation and help retain moisture, which promotes healthy hair growth.
Protective styling doesn’t have to mean tight braids or heavy extensions. I prefer low-manipulation styles like twist-outs, braid-outs, flat twists, and buns. They protect my ends, look elegant, and don’t cause tension on my scalp.
If you love box braids or cornrows, just make sure your edges aren’t pulled too tightly, and always moisturize your scalp during the style.
Pro Tip: Sleep with a satin scarf or satin pillowcase to protect your curls overnight. Cotton absorbs moisture and causes friction, which leads to breakage. This small step alone prevents so much damage.
6. Weekly Scalp Massages & Oils
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Regular scalp massages are a good idea if you want to boost growth naturally. They help increase blood flow to your hair follicles, encouraging thicker, longer hair.
My weekly ritual:
Warm a mix of Farmasi Argan Oil, olive oil, and peppermint oil.
Massage it into my scalp for 5–10 minutes.
Cover my hair with a warm towel for deep absorption.
You’ll notice your hair texture feeling softer, shinier, and more moisturized over time.
7. Protein Treatments for Strength
While moisture is key, your hair also needs protein for strength. If your strands feel mushy or break easily, it’s a sign you need a protein treatment.
Protein helps rebuild the hair shaft, preventing breakage and split ends. I do a treatment every 4–6 weeks, alternating with my moisturizing deep conditioners.
Look for products with keratin, hydrolyzed protein, or amino acids—they repair and strengthen without making your hair stiff.
8. Avoiding Heat Damage
One of the biggest setbacks in my journey was heat damage. I loved the sleek look of a flat iron back in high school, but after a few months, my curls lost their bounce.
Now, I rarely use hot tools or blow driers, and if I do, I always apply a heat protectant first—like Farmasi Shield Heat Protection Spray.
Excessive heat weakens the hair cuticle, causes dryness, and leads to single-strand knots and bald spots. The only way to truly avoid this is to minimize heat use and embrace your natural curl pattern.
If you want stretched styles, try African threading, banding, or braid-outs for a heat-free alternative.
9. Rice Water & Natural Remedies
The rice water trend you’ve seen on social media actually has roots in ancient beauty rituals. It’s rich in amino acids and vitamins that strengthen the hair and improve elasticity.
I have used rice water once a month as a rinse before conditioning. It helps with hair loss, breakage, and gives my curls an incredible shine. Personally, I stopped using it because it was too much protein on my hair. Too much protein can make your hair stiff, so balance it with moisturizing treatments.
Now I prefer to use aloe vera or a hair mask to help my hair.
10. Trimming & Length Retention
Let’s clear this up: trimming your hair does not make it grow faster—but it prevents split ends from traveling up the hair shaft, which helps retain length.
I trim every 8–12 weeks, depending on how my ends feel. The goal is to maintain healthy, even ends so your hair continues to flourish.
This is the only way I’ve been able to keep my waist-length hair strong and full.
11. Low Manipulation + Consistency = Growth
You can’t rush the process. On average, hair grows roughly ½ inch per month, but length retention is what truly matters. Avoid constant styling, combing, or changing your routine every week.
I learned to trust my process. Some months, it seemed like my hair wasn’t growing—but when I looked back through my photo album, the progress was clear.
It’s the little things—protective styling, moisturizing daily, sleeping on satin, and using the right products—that make the biggest difference.
12. My Typical Wash-Day to Wash-Day Routine
Here’s a look at my real-life regimen that helped me grow waist-length hair:
1. Wash Day (Weekly)
Pre-poo with olive oil or Farmasi Argan Oil.
Shampoo with Farmasi Reviving Argan Oil Shampoo.
Deep condition with Farmasi Argan Oil Hair Mask + heat.
Detangle with fingers and rinse with cool water.
Apply Farmasi Leave-In Conditioner, seal with shea butter.
Style into twists or braid-out.
2. Midweek Refresh
Light mist of water + leave-in conditioner mix.
Massage scalp with peppermint oil.
Re-twist or pineapple curls overnight with a satin scarf.
3. Monthly Treatment
Clarify scalp with apple cider vinegar rinse if needed.
Do a rice water rinse.
Follow up with deep conditioner and protein treatment.
4. Night Routine
Sleep on satin pillowcase.
Re-moisturize ends as needed with creamy butter.
This routine keeps my curls defined, moisturized, and free of product buildup.
13. Dealing with Setbacks
No hair journey is perfect. I’ve had times where I experienced hair breakage, shedding, and even a few bald spots after a stressful season. What helped me bounce back was being patient and consistent.
Remember, natural hair growth is cyclical—it goes through stages of hair growth (anagen, catagen, telogen). Some shedding is normal. The key is maintaining healthy habits even when results aren’t immediate.
If you’ve had heat-damaged hair or are transitioning from relaxed hair, start with low-manipulation styles, regular trims, and deep conditioning on a regular basis.
14. The Farmasi Hair Regimen That Changed Everything
When I switched to Farmasi natural products, my hair finally responded the way I’d always hoped. The formulas are clean, affordable, and effective—perfect for anyone trying to grow their natural hair without harsh chemicals.
Here’s my Farmasi Hair Growth Combo:
Farmasi Reviving Argan Oil Shampoo – Sulfate-free, gentle cleanser for natural hair.
Farmasi Argan Oil Conditioner – Moisturizing and smoothing.
Farmasi Argan Oil Hair Mask – Deep conditioning treatment for softness and strength.
Farmasi Leave-In Conditioner – For daily hydration and detangling.
Farmasi Shield Heat Protectant Spray – For those occasional heat-styling days.
Farmasi Argan Oil Elixir – For shine and sealing moisture into ends.
These products keep my curls bouncy, moisturized, and free of buildup. They also help reduce split ends and improve hair texture over time.
15. Mindset + Lifestyle = Healthy Hair
Long hair is about more than just products. It’s a mindset and a lifestyle. I started drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables, taking collagen supplements, and managing my stress levels.
Good hair starts from within. Your diet, sleep, and emotional health all affect your hair growth journey.
I also remind myself that every head of hair is unique—so comparing your growth to someone else’s is never helpful. Celebrate your own milestones—whether you’re at shoulder length, bra strap length, or beyond.
16. My Final Thoughts: It’s Worth It
Growing waist-length natural hair takes hard work, patience, and consistency—but it’s absolutely achievable. Whether you’re rocking twist-outs, protective styles, or braid-outs, the key is staying gentle with your hair and consistent with your routine.
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this:
“You don’t need perfect hair. You just need to love the hair you have—and take care of it consistently.”
So, if you’re starting your natural hair growth journey, you’re in the right place. Take baby steps, find products that work for your hair type, and remember—the best way to grow your hair is to focus on health, not just length.
Trust me, the results will come.
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