Growing Long Hair with the Capillary Schedule

I was unable to see my hairdresser last year due to the lockdown and decided to take the time stuck at home as an opportunity to grow out the choppy layers I'd given myself towards the end of 2019. I searched for a way to grow my hair as fast as possible in hopes of hanging onto some length after each trim, and while scavenging the web for advice I stumbled upon the capillary schedule.

The capillary schedule is a hair routine that is popular in Brazil and Italy, and it helps you balance the three main components of hair growth: Hydration, Nutrition, and Reconstruction. If you follow Brazilian instagram influencers you already know that those women have such beautiful, long, thick and healthy hair, and most of them follow what's called "The Rapunzel Project" or "The Capillary Schedule".

The reason the capillary schedule works so well is because it balances three main components, which are essential to super healthy hair and hair growth. However, the amount of each of these components that you need is different for each person and is dependent on your hair type, hair porosity, and how healthy or damaged your hair currently is when beginning this schedule.

There is a simple way you can test your hair's porosity at home. You just need two things: a glass of water (use a clear glass) and a strand of hair. It is recommended that you try this after washing the product and build-up from your strands to get the most accurate reading. Start by combing your hair to release strands that are shedding, and then take those strands and drop them into your glass of water. Hair that is low porosity will float. Hair that is 'normal' porosity will float and then begin to sink slowly. Hair that is high porosity will sink immediately.

Now that you know your hair porosity we can discuss the components that make up the capillary schedule.

Hydration Component: Hydration masks help to replenish water into the hair as well as hydration and moisture. This helps to boost elasticity in the hair and prevent breakage. The key ingredients you want to look for whether it's in a store bought mask or a DIY mask are honey, agave, vegetable glycerin. These are really great at pulling moisture from the air and helping bond the moisture to your hair. Ingredients with fruits and sugars are also very good for locking in moisture. So, anything like banana, coconut water, aloe vera gel, and liquid pro vitamin B5 are great for this.

Nutrition Component: oils, fatty acids, and butters. This component is truly just your basic oil treatment so you can use any oil that you like: olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or any other oil you want. Shea butter and mango butter also fall into this nutrition component. I personally love oiling my hair but its important to find a balance.

Reconstruction Component: Keratin, oat protein, rice protein. This is the easiest to purchase because making a DIY reconstruction mask is a bit more difficult to do than the other masks.

So, now that you know the components that make up the capillary schedule, it's time to create your own routine. The schedule is entirely dependent on your hair type and this is why I've found it works so well. The easiest way to begin is by starting out with the basic routine that they put out as your starter routine, and stick with the starter routine for the whole month. (Each cycle is for one month.)

Normal, Medium- Low Porosity Hair:

Week 1: Hydration

Week 2: Hydration

Week 3: Nutrition

Week 4: Reconstruction

Damaged, High Porosity Hair:

Week 1: Hydration | Hydration | Nutrition

Week 2: Hydration | Hydration | Reconstruction

Week 3: Hydration | Hydration | Nutrition

Week 4: Hydration | Hydration | Reconstruction

(For high damaged hair you would be doing multiple masks per week)

There are tons of DIYs that you can find on youtube simply by searching "DIY Hydration mask", "DIY Nutrition mask", or "DIY Reconstruction mask", and to be honest I enjoyed doing DIY masks while in quarantine last year. I experienced incredible hair growth while doing DIYs and if you have the time to do it during your week I highly recommend it.

Since most of us are now out of lockdowns and having to return to work in person it has become difficult for me stick with DIY hair masks. I was able to find hair masks on Amazon, which I've been using for the past 2 months, and they have worked great for my hair type: Hair Mask

Any of the Skala products work great, and it's easy to look them up on Pinterest to determine which one falls into the Hydration, Nutrition, and Reconstruction component.

Whether you hair goal is to have long luscious locks or simply to keep your hair as strong and healthy as possible I hope this hair routine helps you get the results you're working towards!