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Joanna M. African Author
Joanna M.
Hair
11 / 2020

My PROVEN Tips to Grow Natural Hair Fast & Healthy – 4C African Hair

how to grow natural hair fast

Here's how black women can grow natural hair fast, healthy & long in 3 months

A warm welcome back to the Jostylin blog. I hope you are all well. Today, I would like to first discuss the topic of how to grow natural hair fast. Yes, Afro hair can grow long!! I know it seems a little confident of me to be so blatant but the proof is in the pudding. So, in this article I will reveal a few of my natural black hair growth secrets, as well as address, frequently asked questions not only about growing natural hair but also on how to grow natural hair fast and healthy. I will also address questions on: How do I grow natural black hair in 3 months? ‘ and ‘How to grow 4C hair to waist length or past shoulder length?’ as these are some popular hair growth questions I often get.

This article is more or less an advanced guide to growing natural hair. Everything you need to know about washing and moisturizing natural as well as creating the best weekly natural hair growth regimen will be here. It is quite a long article, so, my advice is to pin it to your bookmarks and take notes. You can also watch the Youtube video version below.

How I Grew My Natural 4C Hair Fast

I have 4B/C hair which I have been growing over the last 10 years (you can see images of my natural hair texture below). I strongly believe that the reason my natural hair grew so long was because of my minimal manipulation hair care technique with washing weekly, braiding, and moisturizing. I didn’t mess around with my hair, I simply left it in braids throughout the day, I also washed it in braids and it grew.

The video below explains more. Also, check out the following articles I have written, which can be bookmarked on your browser: ‘how to grow natural hair past shoulder length‘, and how to grow natural hair faster and thicker.

I have also come to understand over the years, that what influences natural Afro hair growth and hair loss is the health of the hair follicle. Hair follicles need nutrients to grow strong, healthy hair strands. When the body doesn’t get enough nutrients, non-essential parts like hair and nails are the first parts of the body to be affected. It is, therefore, important to get a healthy, balanced diet or take a hair growth supplement to grow natural African and black hair types.

Below are a few tips on how to grow natural 4C Black African hair fast and healthy and tips to keep natural Afro hair healthy. I have also included my daily hair care routine for those who have been asking and how to make the best natural hair products for 4C hair.

Image below is my natural hair texture when wet (left) and when blow dried (right)

how to grow natural hair fast

How To Grow Natural Hair Fast: Tip 1 – Understand The Structure of African Black Hair

It is important to understand the structure of Afro hair, in order to understand the best practices to help grow and manage it. You simply cannot grow long natural hair without understanding how your hair structure functions and why it frizzes or curl.

It is commonly believed that the hair shaft of most 4b/c Afro hair types are flat with a more twisted structure and a thinner diameter compared with other hair types.

In addition to this, the curly nature of African hair makes it difficult for the oils from the root of the hair, to travel up to the ends of the hair. For these reasons, Afro hair is more prone to dryness than other hair types, making it more vulnerable to breakage.

how to grow natural hair fast

how to grow natural hair fast

How To Grow Natural Hair Fast: Tip 2 – Adopt A Daily Natural Hair Regimen to Grow Natural Hair Fast, Long & Healthy in 3 Months

In addition to using the best natural hair products for Afro hair, I recommend following a strict 4c natural hair growth regimen. Below is the Jostylin daily care routine for hair growth and healthy Afro hair.

Braid your natural hair often:

This reduces the exposure of hair, hence less damage is done to your hair. There are different styles of braids to go for such as Marley braids or box braids. Whatever style you choose, make sure the braids are not too heavy on your natural hair which can cause further breakage. When adding artificial hair to your braids, the key to healthy braiding is to add more of your natural hair into one braid and less of the artificial hair. This way, the weight of the artificial hair will not pull out your natural hair.

Trim your hair when needed:

It’s no secret that damaged hair tends to slow down the natural growth process of your hair. The ends of the hair are usually damaged, dry, and consist of split ends. These unfavorable qualities could work themselves down to the shaft. When you start noticing that your natural hair is getting constantly dry, it may be time for a serious trim to get rid of damaged ends.

Be sure to trim your hair once a month or whenever sees fit, which is an effective way to keep split ends at bay. You can also get your hair trimmed by a professional stylist as they tend to use better scissors (or you can just buy the scissor yourself ;-)) This may appear counterproductive to your growth plan but turns out beneficial in the long run since it prevents further damage.

Wash your hair weekly:

I can’t stress the importance of weekly washing enough. You do not necessarily need to wash with a shampoo weekly but you must let your hair touch the water. My regimen consists of washing with water or conditioner weekly and washing with shampoo bi-weekly. For more information on washing natural hair, you can read the article called ‘ How To Wash Natural Hair.

Wrap your hair with a satin bonnet at night:

To avoid constant dryness of hair caused by overexposure to harsh environmental factors, make sure you wrap your natural hair. This aids with moisture retention and since you cannot do this all the time during the day, you can always wear a scarf during the night. A satin or silk scarf is recommended as they do not absorb oil like other fabrics.

Sleep with a satin pillowcase:

To avoid oil getting sucked out of your hair while you sleep, use a silk or satin pillowcase.

Avoid frequent use of rubber bands:

Tying black African hair back with rubber bands often causes breakage of hair. Opt for a softer hairband made from satin or silky fabrics. This way, you ensure your hair is healthy and prevent breakage in your natural hair.

Have Regular deep Conditioner protein treatments:

Black African hair is very much susceptible to breakage, so keep your Type 4 hair well moisturized. Add to your hair growth regime a weekly homemade protein treatment for natural hair growth.

The main composition of the hair is a protein known as keratin. When chemical processing of hair is done, the protein bonds are broken down. This weakens the hair and if this protein is not replaced, the hair will break. Deep conditioning protein treatments help to fill in the strands of your hair where damage has occurred. This will help prevent black African hair from breaking. You can even make your own homemade protein treatment using egg whites and mayonnaise.

How To Grow Natural Hair Fast: Tip 3 – Always Remember: You CAN Grow Long Hair

Many women of African descent have this misconception that their hair doesn’t grow and therefore, there is no need to put time into nurturing it. This, of course, leads to them neglecting their hair with improper care techniques, or by covering it up with wigs and hair extensions. However, everybody’s hair grows; although, at different speeds, it certainly grows. With proper care and maintenance, you can even speed up your growth. Being patient and understanding that your hair is growing, whilst using minimal manipulation techniques, are major contributing factors for long healthy hair growth.

How To Grow Healthy Natural Hair: Tip 4 – Use Herbs Such As Cassia Obovata & Chebe Powder To Grow Natural Hair Long & Fast | 4B & 4C Hair

chebe powder to grow natural hair fast

Cassia Obovata for hair growth is well known as one of the best herbs for growing natural hair, along with Fenugreek, Rosemary, and Nettle. Cassia works to grow and strengthen natural hair. This is because Cassia nourishes the hair from the inside, not just by coating the hair. What's more, when combined with liquid Vitamin B Complex, it is very likely that you may see at least one-centimeter hair growth a week.

Chewe’ or ‘Chebe’ is a plant that goes by the scientific name of Croton Zambesicus (Also known as Lavender Croton). This shrub is grown all over Africa, primarily in West Africa, mainly Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, and Burkina Faso. It is used by women in Chad to thicken and strengthen natural hair by coating the hair strands. To learn more about Chebe powder, visit the article titled: Chebe Powder for Hair Growth.

You can also read more about using ayurvedic herbs and powders for natural hair in the article titled: Ayurvedic Herbs & Powders for Natural Hair.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 5 – Eat A Balanced Diet to Grow Natural Black Hair Fast & Healthy in 3 Months

how to grow natural hair fast

The best tips for natural hair growth are of little use if only a small amount of the required nutrients arrives at the hair root. The ultimate goal should be a balanced and healthy diet to maintain healthy and strong hair growth. Food that helps with the growth of your natural hair should be consumed more. Eating foods that are hair friendly will help in adding length to your hair.

A nutritional deficiency can cause hair to be dry, brittle, and can also lead to disturbed melanin production, thus prematurely grayed hair. You should, therefore, opt for foods with the following vitamins, minerals, and proteins:

  • Vitamin E protects the cells of the hair follicles against damaging influences and promotes the circulation of the hair root. The growth is promoted by improved food intake and strengthened the hair. This vitamin is contained in sunflower, olive, and safflower oils, avocado, blackcurrant, paprika, herring, salmon, rye, chickpeas, sesame, and almonds.
  • Vitamin A (retinol) is responsible for strong hair growth and is abundant in carrots, head and corn salad, kale, spinach, chickpeas, apricots, mango, and honeydew melon. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is important for the transport of important iron to the hair root and is found in almost all fruits and vegetables, especially in citrus fruits and cabbage varieties.
  • Vitamin B3 (niacin) can only have a positive effect on cell renewal when absorbed internally. It is available in apricots, bananas, tomatoes, rye, barley, buckwheat, sesame, peanuts, meat, herring, and salmon.
  • Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) stands for good blood flow to the scalp and optimal absorption of the existing nutrients. You will find vitamin B5 in sunflower seeds, shiitake mushrooms, yeast, rye, millet, and avocados.
  • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is responsible for about 100 reactions in enzymes and also plays a role in the absence of hair color. Since it is water-soluble, it cannot be stored in the body for long. Smoking, alcohol, medication, or a high-protein diet can lead to a vitamin B6 deficiency. Contains this vitamin in calf’s liver, potatoes, bananas, lentils, and spinach.
  • Vitamin B7 (biotin, also called vitamin H) strengthens the hair root and contributes to hair loss. It occurs, for example, in meat, egg yolks, milk, oats, yeast, cucumbers, and almonds.
  • Vitamin B9 (folic acid) is responsible for the division and regeneration of cells and thus also involved in the hair renewal process. You can take it with kidney beans, spinach, lentils, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, papaya, mango, oranges, bananas, yeast, rye, chickpeas, and sesame.
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins help to nourish the scalp and help get Afro hair growing long and strong. For healthy natural hair follicles, opt for foods that are rich in omega 3-fatty acid and protein such as salmon and avocado. These can also be found in pumpkins and avocados.
  • Copper promotes the absorption of iron, improves the hair structure, and prevents thin and brittle hair. It is found mainly in offal, rye, sesame, nuts, lentils, peas, and beans. Iron stands for growth in the hair roots. You can find this trace element in liver, yeast, quinoa, amaranth, rye, chickpeas, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and tomatoes.
  • Zinc is also an essential trace element and promotes, among other things, hair growth, supports the formation of new hair cells, protects the hair root from inflammation, and is responsible for a healthy scalp. You should not miss cheese, lentils, mushrooms, walnuts, pecans, rye, chickpeas, and tomatoes on your plate.
  • Protein (protein) is found in every cell and is the basis for the hair component keratin. The best sources of protein are potatoes, cereals, soy, eggs, cheese, meat and fish. Here are some more tips on plant protein sources. Yogurt, spinach, and eggs provide proteins necessary for enriching hair strands. Taking a lot of water helps to keep one well hydrated.
  • Vitamin C is vital for stronger hair and a deficiency in Vitamin C causes hair breakage. A deficiency of vitamin C could cause Afro hair breakage. To avoid this, eat blueberries. Blueberries are a great source of Vitamin C, so we advise consuming more of them. Greek yogurts and eggs are great sources of protein that are well known to enhance hair strands on 4c hair.

For more information on vitamins, you can visit the article: Best Vitamins to Grow Black Hair and Best Foods to Grow Black Hair.

How To Grow Natural Black Hair Tip 6: Choose The Right Natural Hair Care Products for Your Hair Type

With the above information in mind, it is important to choose specially formulated natural hair care products to grow Afro hair. This means that the oils used in such products should be able to provide maximum penetration and moisture to the shafts of your hair. You should aim to use the best shampoo for natural hair growth, as well as the best leave in conditioner for natural hair growth.

Hair porosity simply refers to how well your hair is able to absorb moisture. If you have low porosity hair, your hair has a hard time absorbing moisture due to its tightly closed cuticles. For more information on hair prorosity, read the article: Natural hair Porosity Test. Most of us naturalistas with 4B and 4C hair tend to have low porosity hair.

Understanding the porosity of your hair is the best tip to choosing the best black hair growth products that can meet most of your expectations in terms of care. However, remember that there are many other factors that influence hair growth and how your hair behaves over time. Not every product is suitable for every hair type. The care of dry curly hair looks different than the care of greasy hair. This means that an effective natural hair care requires a proper adaptation of our chosen black hair care products to the actual condition of the hair

As most hair care products on the market contain lighter oils with a lesser Oleic acid content, they do not provide the required amount of oils or moisture needed to grow and maintain African hair. Afro hair requires a good amount of Oleic acid regardless of your hair porosity. In fact, it is common for most of us with Type 4 hair to have low porosity hair.

Whether you have low or high porosity hair, the key to using oils on your hair is by having the right blend – balancing oleic acid and essential fatty acids is often the key to your individual needs.

To find out the best hair regimen for low porosity Type 4 hair read the article called: Natural hair regimen for low porosity hair.

Moringa oil, in particular, has an impressive Oleic acid content of 72%, which makes it one of the best oils for Afro hair. Castor oil, although with a low Oleic acid content, is made up with a high concentration of Ricinoleic acid, which is extremely beneficial to high porosity Afro hair.

I currently use my Jostylin range of Afro hair care products which is perfect for the management and upkeep of 4C natural hair. They contain essential oils and herbs such as Castor oil, Moringa oil & Rosemary oil. To find out if the Jostylin products will work best for your hair type, you can check out my article on the best natural hair products for black hair growth.

How To Grow Natural African Hair Tip 7: Take Vitamins to Grow Natural Hair Fast, Healthy & Long in 3 Months

natural hair growth vitamins

Many consider Biotin as the best vitamin to grow natural hair fast. Biotin aids the renewal of cells in the hair, allowing hair to grow faster and longer.

Even though I do agree that Biotin helps with hair growth, my advice is to first concentrate on eating a healthy and balanced diet. If you must take vitamins, opt for a multivitamin that contains Biotin. The reason I am saying this is because taking too much of one kind of vitamin can deplete other important vitamins or minerals in your body. Your body must always remain in balance. how to grow natural hair fast

I personally take Pharmaton vitamins which is the best I have ever taken. Note that: I am in NO way affiliated with the brand. The reason I am recommending this brand is that it is a liquid vitamin supplement that works instantly. You will feel it within two days of consistent use. Liquid vitamins tend to be less heavy on the kidneys.

For more information on using vitamins for natural hair growth, click here to read my opinion on the best vitamins for natural hair growth.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 8 – Use Best Leave in Conditioners to Grow Natural Hair Fast, Healthy & Long

leave in conditioners for natural hair growth

It is important to keep your natural hair moisturized at all times. This is a must if you want to grow your hair to great lengths. As the end of your hair is more prone to damage, it is a good idea to concentrate more on this area.

Apply a specialist leave in conditioner for natural 4B/C hair after you wash hair. Your preferred hair conditioners should be Sulphate free and should contain the right oils to help keep afro hair moisturized.

You can also make your own leave in conditioner. This way you get to experiment with different ingredients, which helps you learn what works for your hair. Check out my article on Homemade leave in conditioner for natural hair growth.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 9 - Adopt Protective Natural Hair Styles to Grow Natural Hair Fast

Taking proper care of hair moisture is paramount, especially if you live in a country where the weather changes from day to day.

The best way you can ensure your hair is protected is to wear it in a protective style such as braids or twists. This will ensure that the right amount of moisture will stay locked in your hair, to keep your afro hair healthy, moisturised and frizz-free.

Protective styles are great, as they can also be worn out if you want to let your hair down and have fun later at night.

For more information on maintaining a healthy hair routine, visit the article called: How to Keep Natural Hair Healthy Strong & Growing.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 10 – Use Deep Conditioners & Leave in Conditioners to Grow Natural Hair Fast

deep conditioners for natural hair growth

Throughout my 10 years of being natural, I have tried many homemade recipes to not only promote growth but for added strength and shine. Growing my Afro hair to its current tailbone length was not always a breeze. It took lots of experimenting to better understand the best ingredients to add to a deep conditioner. Although Hemp oil was my number one staple, I mostly experimented with egg whites, yogurt and coconut oil.

When I finally figured what ingredients my natural hair was better suited to, I was then able to create not only a deep conditioner but an everyday leave-in conditioner for my natural African hair. Click here for more information on making deep conditioner for natural hair growth.

Every two weeks, I advise using a deep conditioner on your hair. Leave for over 20 minutes before rinsing properly with water. You can create your own deep conditioner using natural yogurts, whisked eggs, and Olive oil. Mayonnaise is also a great hair conditioner, as strange as that might sounds, it is true. You can apply it to your hair and leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing and shampooing. If you want to keep your hair very soft and manageable, deep condition it at least every 2 weeks.

You can also check out my article on olive oil deep conditioner for natural hair. The formulations listed should help prevent breakage and keep your hair in healthy conditioner. Also try our homemade coconut milk deep conditioner for natural hair.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 11 – Have A Regular Hot Oil Treatment to Grow Natural Hair Fast & Healthy | 4B & 4C Hair / Black African Hair / Afro Curly Hair

grow natural black hair fast

If your hair is breaking or damaged we advise to use a hot oil treatment for fast natural hair growth. I recommend trying the Moringa and Honey oil treatment, which can help in the long run to grow your natural hair fast.

Applying hot oil treatment on Black African hair is a great way to protect the ends of hair. The ends of your hair receive the least oil, so they are usually the most damaged and dried out part of the hair. They are more prone to getting damaged which is why you should take extra measures to protect them. Click to read more about Hot oil treatments for natural hair growth. Also, read more about frizz control on natural hair.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 12 – Use Oils to Grow Natural Afro Hair Fast & Healthy

how to grow natural hair fast

Since it takes time for the scalps natural oils to make its way from the root of your hair to the ends, you can supply the additional oil your natural hair needs using high-quality organic oils.

Depending on your hair porosity, some oils will work better than others. Castor oil, one of the best oils to grow natural hair fast, comes from the castor plant, Ricinus communis, which commonly grows in tropical regions. Castor oil carries ricinoleic acid and omega- 6 essential fatty acids, which accelerate blood circulation to the scalp, hence increasing hair growth. It works on nourishing the scalp and strengthening the roots with the help of essential nutrients.

Rosemary oil is often celebrated as a miracle hair growth oil. It’s generally thought that the naturally active ingredients in rosemary can help block some of the causes of baldness. There is increasing scientific evidence that rosemary oil can help boost natural hair growth.

I have written a couple of articles on the best oils and herbs to grow natural hair and the best essential oils for natural hair growth for more help on which essential oils can grow your hair faster and healthier, whilst preventing breakage.

You can also read my articles on using Castor oil for Natural Hair Growth & Coconut Oil to Grow Natural Hair.

How To Grow Natural Hair: Tip 13 – Prevent Hair Damage to Grow Natural Black Hair Fast, Healthy & Longer

grow natural black hair fast

Do not bleach Afro hair: The strong chemicals used in making hair dyes are not friendly to your hair. They are a major cause of damage to black African hair. Frequent use of hair dye can damage hair severely and can slow hair growth. If you must dye natural hair, make it as infrequent as possible, two to three times a year should be maximum.

Try to be stress-free: Stress can affect natural hair growth negatively, so try to live a life that is stress-free. If you want to prevent stress and grow natural hair fast, engage in things that give you a peaceful mind and avoid those things that stress you.

Avoid tight braids and heavy hair extensions: These stress your natural hair leading to hair breakage from the root. Braids are a popular style! Tighter braids may look more attractive to many but they are not kind to natural hair growth. They can also cause the breakage of natural hair close to the hair follicles. I advise to go for light & loosely fit braids for speedy growth of your hair. Opt to add more of your natural hair in a single braid instead of more artificial hair.

Do not texturise hair: The chemicals in hair relaxer can prove to be very strong for your hair. While transitioning to natural, if your hair is breaking too much, opt for the big chop rather than texturizing. Although texturisers are less harsh than perms, they are still chemicals that alter the hair structure. This will eventually cause breakage.

How To Grow Natural Black Hair: Tip 14 – Use The Best Oils for Natural Hair Growth – To Prevent Dryness on Black Hair | 4B & 4C Hair / Black African Hair / Afro Curly Hair

grow natural black hair fast

Although dry, damaged hair can be a cause of distress, it is in most cases, not something to lose sleep over. The good news is that, if properly taken care of, your hair can grow back stronger and healthier.

Sadly, let’s be real and admit that the already damaged part of your hair is irreversible and would be better off chopped off.

However, if you are not yet ready for a big chop, why not try a hot oil treatment for natural hair?, This can help give the damaged hair the extra body and shine it deserves.

How To Grow Natural Black Hair: Tip 15 – Tips to Prevent Hair Loss & Encourage Hair Growth in Afro Hair

grow natural black hair fast

Haircare begins at home! There are no magic treatments that will make your natural hair grow faster or longer overnight. It is up to you to use the correct technique and natural hair care maintenance plan to grow natural hair longer. If damage has already been done,

If damage has already been done to your natural hair, treatments that encourage hair regrowth and improve the condition of your natural hair may also be needed.

With the right technique along with specially formulated products to grow and maintain Afro hair, it’s likely you will be able to grow your black African hair past shoulder length – but this doesn’t happen overnight.

There are medical hair loss treatments that can stabilize progressive hair loss, and there are treatments which work to re-grow natural hair that has been lost. These treatments are available in specialist hair clinics.

Most likely, breakage is the main culprit for hair loss in most women with Afro hair and possibly also causing your hair to thin. The key to getting it to grow again is to stop the damage that’s causing the breakage. Reduce the pulling of your hair, by wearing looser braids and brushing your hair more gently. Find out more about what causes hair loss and how to cure hair loss on African hair.

To read more on hair loss, check out the article called, African American hair Loss treatment.

In addition, I have written about issues pertaining to hair transplants for those who are experiencing significant hair loss that won't grow back. You can read about it in my articles Best hair transplant surgeons for African American hair and Afro hair transplant Turkey.

Other Secrets to Growing Black Hair Long | 4B & 4C Hair / Black African Hair / Afro Curly Hair

What other factors can influence long black African hair growth? Not so much of a secret, but the secrets to growing black hair long include the following:

  • Use an SLS Free Shampoo: As shampooing hair strips off the hair's natural oils, it is advisable to only use an SLS free shampoo. Only wash your hair when necessary and adopt the water only regime once a week, whilst shampooing every two weeks.
  • Decrease the amount of heat treatment: Since it damages the hair structure and causes hair dryness. If you must use heat, use only a blow dryer like I do, on low heat or cold air.
  • Avoid flat iron heat on natural Afro hair: High temperature is unhealthy for your hair. It makes hair very dry and prone to breakage. The heat from curling irons and flat iron can go as high as 200 degrees Celsius, which is very damaging to hair. Air drying or blow-drying of hair on medium to low heat should be your preferred drying option. Try using an ionic blow dryer as this helps to keep hair in a better condition.
  • Finger detangle your natural hair: Fingers = less breakage
  • Detangling: Detangle from the tips to the roots and not the other way round.
  • Choose hair tools that work smoothly with your 4c hair texture: So avoid buying brushes meant for straight hair as they will only cause damage. Afro hair tools are more gentle and do not pull the hair. This ensures that less hair is lost to the accessories. A boar-bristled brush or comb is recommended for brushing your hair to reduce hair breakage while brushing hair.
  • Go gentle on your hair: Afro hair can be difficult to comb and manage due to its curly nature, so detangling of hair should be done frugally and gently. To reduce hair breakage while brushing hair, start from the top and work your way to the root slowly. Handle the ends of your hair gently since they are weakest.

Other Factors That Influence Natural Hair Growth

Without doubt, a lack of proper nutrition is the main reason why some of us natural experience breakage or delayed hair growth. Improving our healthy eating habits will ensure you are giving your hair the nutrition it needs for growth and healthy upkeep. Some other factors that influence hair growth include:

  • Are you transitioning?
  • Your hair's level of hydration and moisture absorption.
  • Is your hair dyed or chemically treated?
  • Is your hair too greasy, dry, or damaged?
  • How curly is your hair?
  • What is your hair texture?
  • What is your hair porosity?

Best Hair Products to Promote Growth in Black Hair

For help on which essential oils can grow your hair faster and healthier, whilst preventing breakage, I have written some articles on:

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