Ahhh, the maintenance of Black hair…
I have such wonderful memories of laboring all night long with a twist out.
Let me paint the picture for you:
My thick locks are saturated in some store-bought conditioner and fingers pained from the winding and twisting. All just to wake up the next morning with a crick in my neck and a dry, limp afro!
My hair just didn’t want to cooperate!
And then, I had an epiphany: BLACK HAIR SUCKS!
It literally sucks up all the moisture from manufactured conditioners! And it was time for me to change up my hair care routine!
…Oops, you thought I meant Black hair sucks? Awkward!
I absolutely love my hair! It’s my crown; a symbol of my royalty!
But the first year of going natural was rough! I used products on my hair that were either A) ultimately damaging it or B) not doing anything at all, because it didn’t fit the makeup of my hair.
I realized if I wanted my hair to thrive, I needed to do something drastic. I would have to quit my addiction with buying store items and branch out.
The moment I started taking care of my hair with more sustainable, organic products, my twist outs and wash and go results improved! The products were more beneficial for my locks. I started to love being a Naturalista!
And I want to teach you how to love your hair, too…even though it sucks!
Before you do anything, it’s important that you understand the difference between your hair type and hair porosity.
Hair type is the most popular topic regarding natural hair. It’s your curl pattern.
Keep in mind that you may have multiple hair types in different areas of your head.
My hair type is 3C in the back, 4A in the middle and sides, and 4B in the front. I know it sounds a little wacky, but trust me, I make it work!
Hair porosity, although least discussed, is more important when understanding how to manage your hair. It’s your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.
This is important because there will be products that won’t work for you based upon your porosity. And many times your level of porosity is based upon your hair type.
Because my hair has three different types, it’s porosity varies in different areas of my head.
This is the biggest response when I tell people about my deep conditioning ritual. Some of the things I put in my hair may seem bizarre. But, they are super beneficial for the growth and moisturizing of your hair!
These organic products are full of protein and nutrients. I recommend you try them.
When deep conditioning, I take the ingredients and mix them together.
I saturate all parts of my hair with the concoction. Then let my hair sit in a shower cap for 30min- 1hour and wash out completely.
Keep in mind you don’t need to use those products all at once. Try one at a time and see how you feel!
My favorite mix is mayo, one egg, and aloe vera!
DO NOT deep condition every day! The ingredients contain high levels of protein and can reverse hair growth! Deep condition on a bi-weekly schedule.
Sis put down the grease and Vaseline! Essential oils are more potent for the nourishment of your hair.
Just like a garden, your hair needs a little TLC! You may not have a green thumb, but with the right oils, I know your hair will flourish. And if your scalp is the soil, then the oil is the water. Daily moisturizing is a MUST.
There are plenty of other essential oils that will do the trick, but here are the ones I use:
My top favorite oils to mix and hydrate my scalp are Castor, Emu, and Jojoba oils!
When doing hot oil treatments, I take the oil (or mixture of oils) and heat it up. For time’s sake, I use a microwave: 10-15 seconds.
Careful not to burn your scalp! ALWAYS test on the back of your hand before placing in your hair.
When you’re done, cover your head with a shower cap and let it sit for 30 min to 1 hour before washing it out. These treatments can be done on a bi-weekly basis as well.
Being a Naturalista isn’t easy, it takes patience. You must understand that change doesn’t happen overnight! You need to implement this discipline as a lifestyle to see real change.
I still use some store-bought products, like co-washes and leave in conditioners. But, the majority of my hair care is water hydration and DIY products. It saved me lots of money and bad hair days!
So, to all my queens:
You must remember, Black hair will always suck (up the moisture), but with these practices, you’ll love it!
