Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
I’ve listed below some easy ways to train your hair to go back so you can get the perfect slick back look.
I’m sure a lot of you scroll through the Instagram accounts of celebrities and look at their multiple pictures.
Maybe even get really envious of their perfectly cut hair and exquisite hairstyles and wonder, what makes their hair so perfect and yours, not so much?
Well, maybe it is up to you, to train your hair the way you want it to grow, and then you’ll have the freedom to style it according to your mood that day, probably.
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What does it mean for you to train your hair to go back?
Before I get into the details of the ways to train your hair to go back, let me tell you what this actually means.
Can hair actually be “trained” to grow in a certain way? Well, the answer is – yes! You can do so, but it takes time and effort to fulfill your perfect hair requirements.
Slicking your hair back makes it easier to style and that’s why most people love to have it that way these days.
It is essential to know about how hair grows and the patterns of hair growth in individuals. Do we all have the same hair growth pattern?
Well, just how people do not have the same hair types or hair textures, similarly not everyone has the same hair growth patterns and hair growth directions.
So it means that the hair that grows from the hair follicle underneath your scalp will grow in a certain direction and will continue to, until changed manually over time and this procedure is called “training” your hair.
That being said, the time taken to achieve the results of training your hair to go back, will all vary individually.
The hair type you have and your natural direction of hair growth all plays an important role in showing effective results of the hair training.
So be patient and don’t be easily disappointed if yours isn’t as quick as your friend’s.
Here’s what you need to know about hair growth patterns
Hair growth patterns simply mean how your hair grows out naturally from the hair follicles underneath your scalp.
Every strand of hair grows out in a certain direction, but there are some times when only certain isolated portions of the hair get affected by a certain hair growth pattern.
And that leads to people having cowlicks (a portion of hair growing in the opposite direction as compared to the rest of your hair growth) or a widow’s peak (the V-shaped point in your hairline), which will make your hair difficult to style.
How to train your hair to go back 2021
Get yourself the right haircut
For the hair to lay flat and go backward, you need to have some sort of a base to work with right?
And that’s where a good haircut comes into play.
So telling the hairstylist your requirements before you get the haircut is important, in case you have decided to train your hair to go back.
Be mindful of your hair length
So since I mentioned that getting the right haircut is essential, you guys must for sure be wondering what is the “right” haircut then?
Well, for you to be able to train your hair to go back and make the process easier for yourself, remember to watch the length.
Do not make it too short because longer hair is easier to work with, especially for those with cowlicks.
Here’s a tip: If you aren’t used to growing out your hair too long and prefer it shorter, then you could get a cut in such a way that you only leave the hair around the cowlick to be longer and maybe make the sides and back shorter. In that way, the main portion at the top of your head, which you will need to train to go back, will be easier to work with.
Take action while your hair is damp
I’m sure most of you are aware that it is important not to touch your hair when it is wet after a shower.
The pores open up and the hair follicles are weak and more prone to breakage, causing the hair to fall.
So yes, do not work with your hair while it is fully wet, but work with it (of course being extra gentle), only when it is damp.
You could towel dry it or blow dry it on low settings. This brings me to my next point.
Blow drying with low heat settings
So excessive heat can immediately damage the hair shaft and in the long run, it will make your hair dry, damaged, and frizzy.
Therefore, lower the heat settings of the blow dryer and do not bring it too close to your hair base.
Keeping a reasonable distance of around 5 to 6 inches and targeting the base of the hair strand, combing it backwards, can make the hair stay in that position for longer periods of time.
Here’s a tip: You can spray your hair with a heat-protective hair spray to help reduce the heat damage to your hair.
Combing your back backwards on a daily basis
While you are in the shower and you’ve just shampooed or conditioned your hair, very gently use a wide toothed comb to comb out your hair backward.
Doing this on a regular basis will help hasten the process of training your hair to go back over time.
Caution: Like I mentioned earlier, your hair is at its weakest when wet, so be very gentle and make sure to strictly use only a wide-toothed comb while combing it back in the shower.
Use a good quality hair wax or pomade
Well, well, hair styling products always come to our rescue, don’t they? If you’re new to the word pomade, let me tell you what it is.
So, pomade is a soft, gel or wax-like substance that is used to style the hair and set it in place.
It helps hold the hair in that same place for long hours, as the pomade or hair wax hardens as soon as it comes in contact with the hair’s natural oils.
But, for pomades or hair waxes to work best, you will require working with slightly damp hair and slightly longer hair to hold it in place.
Here’s a tip: Using just a small amount of pomade or hair wax is sufficient. Do not overdo it, as it will make your hair look greasy.
Use the right hair accessories
Here’s one most of you already know about I’m sure and have probably already tried it out. Yes, hair accessories!
You got loads of them in the market. From hair ties, to hair clips, hair bands, spandex caps, durags, to hair baseball caps, to hair nets, they are easily available and easy to use.
Here’s a tip: Keeping it snug to hold your hair into place is of course important, but do not make it too tight, thinking it will hasten the hair training back process. It will not! Excessive pressure on the hair roots can damage the hair over time. So keeping these hair accessories on for a limited time should be sufficient.
Style your hair with serum, for the finishing look
A small dollop of hair serum can give your styled hair a glossy look.
All you would need to do is rub your hands together and with a little bit of serum between your palms, apply it over your hair.
It will help keep the flyaway hair strands and frizz in place and make it easier to train your hair to go back.
How to train different types of hair types to go back
Hair comes in different types and yes, some of you may say that you find it hard to get the style you want because your hair is difficult to work with.
Well, here are a few tips that can help you work with your hair type:
For thick hair types:
For people with thick hair, training your hair to go back may be a little hard, but it is possible for sure.
It may just take a little more time and effort. So you could try using tighter fitting caps and hairnets, while using a boar bristle hair brush to comb out your hair into the desired position, should help.
For curly hair types:
For people with curly hair, training your hair to go back may be a little tricky, but we have that covered.
All you need to do is use a dense boar bristle brush while your hair is still damp and it can help reduce the hair from frizzing out.
If you wish to make your curls look more prominent, then use a wide-spaced out bristled brush to comb your hair back.
For straight hair types:
For those with straight hair, you’re in luck’s way, as straight hair is relatively easier to train to go back. It doesn’t need as much of an effort as compared to thicker and curly hair types.
All you need to do is comb it back daily and using the low heat setting of a blow-dryer from time to time, while combing your hair back can help do the trick.
Consider using spandex caps whenever possible, for the best effects for straight hair types.
FAQs on How To Train Your Hair To Go A Certain Way
Can you train your hair to go a certain way?
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “trainable hair.” Hair behaves a certain way because it is designed that way by nature. You cannot change its texture, color, or curl pattern except through treatments like relaxers or straighteners which may damage your hair and cause scalp conditions over time.
However, you can change the direction of your part and make hair in certain direction. This can be accomplished by constantly manipulating your hair follicles to create new hairs that lean a certain direction.
How long does it take to fully train your hair?
The answer to this varies from person to person. But on an average it can take about 2-3 months for an individual to make their hair go from one direction to another.
Hey you guys, your wait has ended because you now know that your hair can actually be “trained” to go back.
And this means you are one step closer to getting the hairstyle that you’ve always wanted!
So go ahead, start the process and more importantly, I’d say, trust the process!
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