If I Were to Grow My Hair to Waist Length Again, Here’s Exactly What I Would Do

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Curlfriend, here's the first thing I need you to know about growing your natural hair to waist length: Your hair grows from your scalp, but what happens to your ends determines how much of that length you get to keep. I've grown mine from a big chop to waist length twice, and it wasn't from doing anything complicated. I stayed consistent with wash day, treated my hair gently, and gave those ends some extra love. Here's exactly how I did it.

Hi Curlfriend!

I’m Tree, the owner and founder of Tree Naturals. If you’re new here, welcome! I formulate all of our natural hair goodies to help you grow and maintain healthy, luscious curls. My journey started from pure frustration. I had just big-chopped, and I had no idea how to care for my curls. My first look at my real hair had me shook! 😳 My mom gave me my first relaxer at just six years old, so natural hair was completely new to me.

Fast forward, I found myself staring at dry, frizzy hair that I didn’t recognize. I turned to YouTube, learned from the community, and decided to document my own natural hair journey. That led to my first-ever product: a hair growth butter (which we still sell today!). I made my first sale from a Tupperware container, and the rest is history. Tree Naturals is now a six-figure company with a complete hair care system, and I couldn’t be prouder. 😊

Throwback to years ago, filming a low-quality YouTube video, showing off my “hair growth butter” in that infamous Tupperware jar. Little did I know, those first inquiries would lead to my very first order. Talk about humble beginnings! My heart is so full. 🤎

But let’s get into how I actually grew my hair to waist length TWICE on two separate journeys, with my growth butter as one part of the routine. I even maintained blonde color (which, as you know, is the hardest color to keep healthy!).

How I Grew My Natural Hair from Big Chop to Waist Length in 3 Years

Step 1: Get a Trim to Start Fresh ✂️

The first thing I did was go to a salon for a professional trim. I know, I know! It feels counterproductive when you’re trying to grow your hair, but trust me, getting rid of split ends is key to length retention.

Curlfriend, Let's Talk About Your Ends

Your ends are the oldest part of your hair. Think about everything they've been through: every wash day, detangling session, twist-out, braid-out, and rub against your clothes. Those little ends need the most protection and the gentlest touch. You can have new growth coming in at the scalp, but if your ends keep breaking off, you won't see the length you're working for. That's why I paid just as much attention to length retention as I did to growth.

Here's how I cared for mine: I took my time detangling from the ends up, kept them moisturized, and used a little Natasha's Growth Butter to seal in that moisture. I also wore low-tension protective styles and protected my hair with satin at night. When my ends were split, I trimmed what needed trimming. A butter can help protect your hair, but it can't permanently repair a split end. The key was being consistent with those little habits, Curlfriend.

Step 2: Develop a Consistent Hair Routine & Stick to It 💆🏽‍♀️

Here comes the fun part - at least for me anyways: the planning! I'm old school so I love a good writing pen and a new notebook. I wrote down my entire plan and tried my best to time it up with my life responsibilities. I wanted to ensure I had ample time to care for my hair and was not "rushing through the process."

Consistency is everything! Here’s the exact routine I followed:

• Washed my hair every 7-10 days with the Shampoo & Conditioner Bars.

• Deep condition every wash day with our Bamboo & Water Lotus Deep Conditioner.

• Detangle gently in the shower. Take your time! Use lots of conditioner, start with finger detangling, then use a detangling brush from the ends up.

• Moisturize daily with our Rice Flower & Shea Leave-In Conditioner.

• Seal your ends daily with Natasha’s Growth Butter.

• Oil your scalp daily with our Hair Growth Oil to nourish the scalp and support healthy hair growth. A small amount on your ends can also help reduce breakage and support length retention.

  

   

• Wear protective styles like two-strand twists, plaits, or flat twists and pin the ends if your hair is longer. 

• Avoid buns & ponytails to prevent tension damage and that dreadful line of demarcation - oh trust me it's not just for transitioners! You can develop a line of breakage in your crown, edges and nape. 

• Avoid heat to prevent damage and your curls possibly not reverting. I know there are "straight naturals" nowadays who are seeing great results, but staying away from heat really worked for me until my hair was healthy and strong. 

• Sleep with a satin bonnet (our Luxe Satin Bonnet is a game changer!).

Step 3: Pre-Treat & Detox for a Healthy Scalp 🧖🏽‍♀️

If my hair felt extra dry or tangled, I did a homemade pre-poo treatment once a month:

• Mist hair with water 💦

• Warm coconut oil 🥥 

• Coat hair in oil & add a bit of honey 🍯

• Sit under a dryer for 15 minutes, then rinse

Bonus tip: Every 1 to 2 months, I used the Tree Naturals Earth Mask when I wanted an extra wash-day reset. I let the mask set, then rinsed it promptly once it hardened. It was one part of my routine. It wasn't a shortcut to faster hair growth.

Step 4: Add a Protein Treatment Every 3 Months 

Since I have color-treated hair, I did a quarterly protein treatment to strengthen my curls and prevent breakage. If you’re not sure if you need protein, here’s a simple rule:

• If your curls feel overly soft, limp, or stretchy, check recent damage, product buildup and your routine before deciding whether a protein treatment fits.

• If your hair feels dry, brittle, or stiff, start by checking how you are cleansing and conditioning; more protein is not always the answer.

No matter what, never skip deep conditioning after a protein treatment. Your hair will thank you!

Step 5: Protect Your Hair 24/7 (Even at Home!)

I always made sure my hair wasn’t rubbing against surfaces. This makes a huge difference in length retention!

• Wore a satin bonnet ALL day when at home 😆

• Never laid on the couch without covering my hair

• Wore only satin-lined hats in the winter

I am in looove with our Satin Luxe Bonnet! It's so comfortable, doesn't come off at night and really helps with moisture retention while you sleep. 

I also limited my wash & gos to special occasions because keeping my ends tucked and protected helped me retain so much length.

Step 6: Eat for Hair Growth & Stay Active 🥗🧘🏽‍♀️

Your diet plays a HUGE role in hair growth! I focused on:

• Protein-rich foods: Lean meats, lots of salmon, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds

• Dark leafy greens: Lots of spinach, kale, collards

• Hydration: Lots of water & herbal teas 🍵. Lately I've been hooked on matcha

• Supplements: A quality daily multivitamin

• Exercise: Moving my body 5 days a week helped with circulation & scalp health!

Step 7: Have Patience & Stay Consistent! ⏳

Some months I had breakage, other months I had crazy growth. The key was to give myself grace and stay consistent. The only way you won’t see results is if you give up!

Waist-Length Natural Hair: Three Questions Curlfriends Ask

How long does it take to grow natural hair from a big chop to waist length?

My first journey took about three years, Curlfriend. That was my timeline, not a promise for everybody. Starting length, hair growth patterns and how much breakage you experience can all change how long it takes. I focused on keeping the length I grew instead of racing a calendar.

Can 4C natural hair grow to waist length?

Yes, tightly coiled hair can grow long, too! Shrinkage can make your hair look shorter than its actual stretched length. Be gentle while detangling, keep up with conditioning, protect your ends, and skip styles that pull or hurt. Your length and timeline will still be your own.

What helped me keep my ends from breaking?

Conditioner and patience on wash day, detangling from the ends upward, leave-in moisture when my hair needed it, a little of Natasha’s Growth Butter on my ends, and low-tension styles. I also protected my hair with satin at night. A trim can remove split ends so they do not keep snagging, but trimming itself does not make hair grow faster.

Need Even More Hair Growth Tips? I Got You!

Over the years, I’ve learned so much about growing natural hair: what works, what doesn’t, and the little things that make a huge difference. That’s why I put together my Ultimate Hair Growth Guide so you don’t have to figure it all out the hard way like I did!

📖 Inside, I’m sharing:
✅ My exact hair care routine for growing long, healthy curls
✅ The biggest mistakes that slow down growth (and how to avoid them!)
✅ Proven tips for keeping moisture locked in & length retention
✅ Bonus secrets on scalp health, nutrition, and protective styling

I want you to have everything you need to succeed on this journey. Download the Hair Growth Guide now and let’s grow these curls together! 💕 VIEW THE PAID HAIR GROWTH GUIDE

Want the Exact Products I Used for This Routine? 💁🏽‍♀️

To make it super easy, we created the Product Junkie Kit (PJ Kit). It includes everything I used to grow my hair! Grab yours today and start your waist-length journey:

SHOP THE PJ KIT NOW

💬 Are you currently on a hair growth journey? Drop a comment and let’s support each other! Let’s grow these curls together! 💕