When I get compliments about my natural hair people always say “ I love your curls, you have beautiful hair you must be mixed . ” It always throws me off guard to hear another black women say “ you must have good hair because my hair never gets that curly . ” First off I am not mixed, I am not Dominican, Rican or none of that. I am a black woman that has good hair. Yes, that does exist believe it or not.Â
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Wait so you mean to tell me you are not mixed with anything and you have nice, curly hair?
We do not have ” BAD HAIR ” Black women need to get that perception out of their heads because, in reality, black people have good hair too. The problem is that most black people do not know they have good hair. As a result, most black people fail to learn how to care of their hair.
People made black women feel like our hair was nappy and untamable so a lot of black women over-processed their hair with perms, and chemicals to make their hair more “ appealing and manageable. “
I myself fell victim to the perm epidemic too. One day I decided that I got tired of my hair falling and thinning out and I stopped getting perms. But I thought once I stopped getting perms my hair was going to just curl up and go back it’s natural state !! The products that I used with my perm, was the same products that I continued to use when I was transitioning to go natural. That’s exactly why I wasn’t seeing results.
First thing first understand that you cannot use the same products that you used when your hair was relaxed on your natural hair.
Water is your number one best friend. Apply water to your hair directly and indirectly. be sure to apply water to your hair and be sure to drink a lot of water as well. Make sure the products that you use are natural hair care products that are made from water.  You need products that are sulfate and alcohol-free. Products that include sulfate and alcohol will only dry your hair out, which will lead to breakage. Try using products such as Cantu, Carol’s Daughter, Bella curls, Curls, and Shea Moisture.
Not only do you have to stop using your old products, but you have to get rid of your old hair care methods.
Years ago black women were taught to grease our scalps to keep our hair moist. Of course, we all know that moisture promotes growth. However, no one ever emphasized the importance of adding moisture to our ends. When you’re are natural it is important that you apply oils to your hair. Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Jamaican Castro Oil, Grape Seed, etc are all good oils to apply to your scalp as well as your ends. Your ends are the oldest and sometimes can be the dryest so it’s important to add extra care to your ends. If you fail to take care of your ends, then your hair will start to break off.
Every black woman has different hair textures and hair types.
Now understand that some natural hair care products may not work for you. Keep in mind you still may not get the results you want if the product doesn’t suit your hair well. So you have to make sure you figure out your hair type and your hair porosity to find products that work for your natural hair. Doing this will save you time and money on products that don’t work. If you are unsure of your hair type and porosity then check out this article. NATURAL HAIR TYPES: 4 THINGS TO KNOW BESIDES THE CURL NUMBER & LETTER This article is a guide to help women identify their hair type as well as porosity and other key elements that can help women learn more about how to care for their hair properly.
Leave the heat alone!
You want to make sure you stay away from heat as much as possible. I know when you’re natural your hair doesn’t seem as long as it actually is. Shrinkage is a bitch! Most of the time we want people to see how long our hair is and we feel pressured to straighten it to show off our length. But it will cost you your curls if you keep doing it. Now don’t get me wrong every once in a while if you want to straighten your hair that’s cool. When I mean every once in a while I mean 2-3 times a year MAX!
Heat is the reason why your hair won’t curl.
Understand your hair adapts to your routine. You train your hair to do whatever you want it to do. So if you put heat on your hair often, your hair will adapt to be in a straight state. When you wash your hair it refuses to curl. That same method applies to women who don’t put heat in their hair. When you do a ” wash and go “, a twist out, a rod set, etc. Your hair will adapts to be in a curly state, which is why it is easy for your hair to be worn in its natural state.
Make sure you clip your ends.
I know we all want long hair. But your hair won’t look good if you don’t cut your ends. Long thin hair isn’t cute at all. Your hair is not going to cooperate with you if you holding on to dead hair. Your hair will let you know when you need a trim. When I need a trim my hair tells me by the way my curls look. My curls look less defined. Because I only straighten my hair 2-3 a year I know its not heat damage. So I know its time for a trim. When I trim my hair I trim it while it’s natural form. It’s best to trim your hair when it’s curly and in its natural state. Because you will be able to see the frizz that’s causing your curls to look undefined.
Just a tip when you clip your ends.
Now I know some hairstylists cut their clients hair when it’s dry and after they straighten it. However, I feel that the method is pointless for natural girls.
When you get a hair cut when your hair is straight the purpose of the cut is to make your hair look good for when you wear it straight. If you don’t wear your hair straight often, then it’s possible you can be cutting off extra hair. Some hairstylist tries to cut your hair to be even. Now you know people that have curly hair aren’t concerned with their hair being even. For this reason, it’s best to clip your ends based on the way you wear your hair.
Bonus Tip:
Learn how to clip your own ends. If you get busy and you can’t find someone to clip your ends, then you can clip them yourself. Also, there are not a lot of people specialized in natural hair and like I said before many of them may use the wrong methods when trimming your hair.
Moisture is your hair best friend.
- Now when I say moisture is your best friend I mean that. So I suggest laying low on the shampoo. The shampoo can dry out your hair. You want to stay away from things that take away moisture. I use conditioner because it provides moisture and softness to my hair.
- I also do deep conditions in my hair once a week and hot oil treatments in my hair every two weeks. When washing my hair I part my hair into 4 sections. And apply conditioner in section by section. I use this method when I do deep conditioning and hot oil treatment. I notice my results are better when I do it this way.
- When I do a deep conditioning or hot oil treatment i put my hair in a plastic cap. I sit under a hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes. this method is the best way to achieve moisture. applying heat to your products gives you the most moisture. I highly recommend investing in a hooded dryer.
Protective styles are the best stress reliever.
Natural hair is a lot of work. A protective style is a perfect way to give yourself a break. Your hair can also grow when it’s in a protective style because you aren’t putting as much stress on your hair. However, whenever I have a protective style I make sure I care for my hair underneath. I know people say your hair grows more when you leave it alone. But that’s only to a certain degree. You still have to make sure you are applying oils to your scalp . Especially when you have your hair braided. Also if you are wearing a style where you gel your edges on the daily. Make sure you remove the build-up. Take a wet rag and wipe off old products. Not only will this help you avoid clogging your pores. But it will also help you keep your hair clean.
Understand this is a journey.
it takes time to get in a routine with how to care for your natural hair. stay patient and enjoy the process. If you are nervous or self-conscious about your natural hair journey, then read the article. How To Embrace Natural Hair. You will gain insight that will help you become a confident naturalnista.
Wonderful article, I wish more women of color knew how beautiful their natural hair really is.
Thank you , I agree I wish the same thing! We need to change the narrative.