How to Grow Your Nape Area

I'll never forget when an old college friend made an interesting comment about my nape hair when it was styled in a high puff. One day in conversation, she told me, "The back of your hair is so full and long." A few years later in grad school, a classmate noticed the same thing and asked me to share some tips on how to grow nape hair.

It's easy to neglect the nape area because of its location. The nape is the lowest part of your hair at the back of your neck. Apart from your edges, it's a very fragile area prone to breakage. Many women struggle with little to no nape hair growth or have broken or damaged nape hair. Caring for it is crucial for a well-rounded, healthy hair care regimen. Neglecting it can lead to thinning and breakage, making it difficult to manage.

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Common Reasons for Nape Hair Breakage

There are several reasons for nape breakage. You may identify with one or several:

Manipulation tools: Are you a fan of using brushes or gels to create your desired look? If so, that may be the reason for your nape hair woes. The use of heavy gels and brushes can inadvertently pull at the hair and cause nape breakage when used too frequently or too aggressively.

Tight hairstyles: Although sleek or tight styles may be your preferred and most convenient method to achieving the look you desire, they can cause unnecessary tension because of the pulling of the hair (think ponytails, braids, and other styles that may cause hair pulling). As a result, those styles can make your nape hair more susceptible to breakage. Instead, incorporate looser styles to alleviate tension.

Friction: Another common culprit of nape hair breakage is friction cause by certain hair accessories. or even clothing fabrics. During the colder winter months, we may opt for hats or beanies to keep our heads warm. It’s also normal to reach for turtlenecks in cooler weather. However, excessive use of these fabrics can pull our hair and leave the hair feeling dry and brittle, thus causing breakage or thinning.

How to Care for Nape Hair

Now that we’ve discovered the common reasons for nape hair breakage, let’s discuss ways to care and grow our nape hair. Nape hair is difficult to see unless you’re intentionally looking for it in the mirror. “Out of sight, out of a mind” is a real thing! So, let’s make it a priority to care for it in our hair care routine.

Deep condition: Deep conditioning should be your go-to method when growing your nape hair. When applying conditioner to your strands, never neglect the nape hair. Deep conditioning regularly strengthens the hair follicles from the inside and out and allows for improved hair manageability. This tip is especially important during the colder months when you bring out sweater that can pull, tug, and dry out your nape hair.

Moisturize regularly: Ensure that you are mositurizing your nape hair daily. A simple water-based mixture (whether a leave-in or a do-it-yourself elixir) should be used to help grow the hair.

Incorporate scalp massages. Find time to integrate scalp massages in your hair routine, particularly one focused on the nape area. Head massages help to stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, thus promoting hair growth. You can use whatever oil you have one hand, but you try using an oil that strengthens hair follicles or stimulates hair regrowth. Be sure to massage the nape area consistently for best results.

Choose hair accessories wisely: If you are fond of wearing hats, do so sparingly or at least with satin or silk material directly underneath these fabrics. Also, if you wear satin bonnets, make you they are worn inside out to avoid the elastic pulling at your nape hair. Otherwise, opt for a satin or silk scarf instead. Additionally, sleep on a satin or 100% silk pillowcase at night to ensure your hair retains moisture. Lastly, purchase gentle or “ouchless” hair ties that won’t snag or pull at the hair.

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