For a woman of color, choosing to keep her hair natural is an extremely personal decision. She may do it for any number of reasons, including religious beliefs and deep-rooted convictions, political reasons or simply a preference for natural look. Either way, a head of shiny, luscious, natural hair is a luxury, but not exactly effortless to maintain. Finding the proper hair care routine can be tricky, but some basic guidelines are adaptable to every natural black hair care routine.
Step 1
Wash hair once a week only. Too much washing will dry it out. Use alcohol-free shampoos to prevent hair from becoming brittle and prone to breakage.
Step 2
Apply conditioner on hair following each shampoo. Conditioners add moisture to hair and moisture is essential to maintaining healthy looking, natural hair.
Step 3
Comb your hair to remove tangles before rinsing out the conditioner. Conditioner gives hair more slippage, making it easier to remove tangles.
Step 4
Apply a leave-in conditioner after each wash, applying from roots to ends. Leave-in conditioners fortify the hair, making it stronger and less vulnerable to breakage.
Step 5
Apply a good moisturizer to the hair and scalp every day, preferably one with natural ingredients.
Step 6
Apply deep conditioner to your hair at least once a month. Deep conditioning allows essential ingredients penetrate through the hair shaft, contributing to the overall health of your hair.
Step 7
Experiment with different styles on your natural hair. Styles such braid-outs and twist-outs are obtainable without the use of heat appliances. Adapt to wearing styles that require as little manipulation of the hair as possible.
Step 8
Sleep on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair with a scarf at night to reduce potential breakage when tossing during sleep.
Tips and Warnings
- Gently squeeze water from hair after rinsing as opposed to wringing it or vigorously rubbing with a towel Massage your hair and scalp consistently. Regular massaging stimulates oil in hair and scalp, preventing dryness. Invest in a good wide-bristled hair brush. Dry hair is a sign of too little moisture in your hair. Limp hair indicates your hair is in need of more protein. Allow hair to air-dry. Eat a well-balanced diet and drink at least eight glass of water a day.
- Do not over condition hair. Over conditioning is detrimental to your hair's health and leaves hair dry and stiff. Avoid using two-in-one shampoo and conditioners. These products may offer convenience but dry out ethnic hair. Avoid petroleum-based products and products containing mineral oil. These products cause blockage of the pores, clumping on the hair, and are not easily absorbed into the scalp. Avoid using small-toothed combs. Combing kinky or curly with these can break your hair. Refrain from using heat appliances on hair as much as possible.
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Deep conditioner
- Leave-in conditioner
- Moisturizer
- Hair brush
- Comb
- Scarf or satin pillowcase
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