Natural Hair - Do Care!

I love natural hair. I have for years. I would literally spend hours on YouTube salivating lol. For those who don’t know, natural hair is pretty much that – the hair that comes out of your scalp without any chemical alterations e.g. a relaxer. 

As I really enjoy all things hair, I thought it would be good to share a bit of what I’ve picked up along the way. This may be common knowledge for some, but hopefully some people can learn something new.

Moisture

      Natural hair needs to be moisturised often

     Water is the best way to moisture your hair

    Wetting your hair daily is best suited to short natural hair

    With longer hair, you can use a spray bottle to dampen

    Drinking the recommended daily amount ensures water reaches scalp

     Hair creams and oils also moisturise hair

      The most effective are those with water as the first ingredient

       To retain moisture, seal the hair with an oil of your choice

 Protective styling

     To prevent breakage, natural hair should be kept in a style for some time

     You can use styles with extensions such as weaves and braids or styles without extensions like cornrows and twists

     If using extensions, make sure the tracks of the weave or the braids or not done too tightly

    Strenuous pulling on the hair can lead to breakage and hair loss, especially around the edges

      Try to avoid direct heat like blow-drying and straightening

      Heat dries out the hair; making the strands weaker

Maintenance

      Hair should still be washed and moisturised while in a protective style

     

      Protein treatments can be used to strengthen and condition hair

     

       Egg, mayonnaise or protein products can be used between styles

Hot oil treatments can be used to add extra moisture 

 To do a hot oil treatment, apply a generous amount of oil and leave in hair overnight

Create a routine for protein and oil treatments  

     

      Sleeping with a satin bonnet or scarf can prevent dryness

 Split ends should be trimmed as often as needs be 

 Use wide tooth combs or bristle brushes to detangle hair 

 Work your way up from the ends of the hair when detangling

Supplements 

 A good multivitamin is recommended for general health including hair 

 B vitamins are particularly important for hair growth 

 Iron deficiency has been linked with hair loss 

 Check with your GP if you are deficient in any vitamins 

Hopefully, the information has been useful. Although its primarily for natural hair, some tips can be used for relaxed or texturised hair. Happy hair growing :)