Love your hair. What hair were you born with? The hair that
grows out of your head is unique to you. Your hair is a part of you and you
should not hate it or consider it to be bad hair. People will tell you your
natural African hair should look a certain way. Appreciate it, take it as it is
and keep it as healthy as you can.
I have been transitioning out of a perm. I had enough after
my course hair was repeatedly over processed: my scalp was damaged, my hair was
falling off. It’s been well over a year since my last perm. The physical
transitioning is not hard; it’s the mental transitioning that is difficult. You
really have to learn to love your hair for what it is to overcome the
criticism. Gabby Douglas, first woman of color of any nationality to win the gold
medal in the individual all-around gymnastics, was told on twitter that
"She needs to get a perm" and “She needs a full head relaxer." Ignore
such comments that will set you back.
It took me a while to get comfortable with my hair. All you
really need to handle your African hair is to stay healthy, wash 2 to 1 times a
week with a mild shampoo, moisturize with natural oil and a leave in
conditioner, style gently and protect when sleeping or in the sun for long
periods. It might take a while to find the products and tools that work best
for your hair, but since African hair has some similarities this tips are
helpful.
Lifestyle
First thing you should do is live a healthier lifestyle.
Your diet can go a long way toward
improving your hair. Focus on eating fruits and vegetables and lean proteins,
which can help strengthen your hair.
Drink at least eight glasses a day to stay properly hydrated. Taking a
multivitamin is also a good idea to ensure that you cover any shortfalls in
your diet.
Washing
Shampooing strips away the oils from your hair so shampoo
once every 3 to 7 days. If you engage in daily activities that cause you to
sweat, it is recommended that you rinse your hair out with water but leave out
the shampoo.
Always use a mild moisturizing shampoo with a low PH level.
Don't use a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, use a separate shampoo and
conditioner. Check the ingredients of your shampoo to make sure there is no isopropyl
alcohol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol (PG), sodium lauryl sulfate
(SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), fragrance, imidazolidinyl urea and dmdm
hydantoin.
When washing your hair rub only in one direction to avoid
tangling. Ensure the water is warm; hot water can dry and/or irritate the
scalp. Massage the conditioner into your hair and leave for 15 minutes. Don't
rub your hair dry with a towel; instead blot the water out of your hair.
Rubbing will cause your hair to tangle and you'll risk breakage.
Use a leave in conditioner, it will hydrate and protect your
hair. Oil your scalp after shampooing. With your hair still moist, massage the
oil into your scalp and brush out to the ends of your hair. Massaging your
scalp on a regular basis will stimulate oil production, which will help reduce
the dryness of your hair.
Styling
Use a wide-tooth comb or pick to detangle hair, a rat-tail
comb for parting hair into sections and a brush with soft or medium bristles to
smooth your hair. Look for natural
emollients like coconut oil, apricot oil, almond oil, olive oil,
lavender oil, avocado oil, shea
butter, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil to keep your hair soft and supple. These
should be 100% oil and can easily be found among cooking oil. Do not use
moisturizers like mineral oil (baby oil) and petroleum (Vaseline), which can
block pores and make your hair look dull.
It’s easier to comb if your hair is slightly moist so the
comb can slide easier across your hair. If your hair is very wet, wait until it
dries more; unfortunately hair is most fragile when it is wet. Always start at
the ends of your hair and work your way up to the scalp. Never tag or pull. If
you encounter a tough knot or tangle, use your fingers to loosen it and then
continue combing. Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it.
Using a brush to detangle your hair will stretch your hair and may cause your
hair to break off. Brushing will distribute the oil at the root of your hair
and scalp to the rest of your hair.
Spraying hair with a mixture of one part oil and six parts
water will make daily styling easier. This can also be carried in your purse in
case you need to comb your hair.
Do not use "hot" items on your hair such as blow
dryers, flat irons, and hot combs. If you chose to use these items, limit their
use and use really low heat.
Deep conditioning
You may choose to do a hot oil treatment once a month. Hot-oil treatments help the moisture
penetrate further into the scalp and hair, making it healthier and stronger.
Massage the moisturizer in, which should help stimulate hair growth, and then
wrap your Afro in a warm towel.
Protection
Hair can get caught on cotton pillow cases and break when
you are sleeping, especially if you toss and turn a lot when you sleep. Use a
satin or silk pillowcase so that your hair slides across the pillowcase without
getting caught. You could also wear a silk or satin scarf over your hair before
your sleep to prevent breakage.
Cover your hair when out in full sun for extended periods of
time.
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