Spring is a beautiful time of the year. You know what else it is? Totally unpredictable. Between the fluctuating temperatures, rainy days and peak-level humidity, if there’s ever a time of the year when hair accessories come in handy, March-June (21st, to be exact”> would be it!
The key to keeping your naturally curly hair pretty, healthy and manageable is to incorporate a little springtime preparation. The good news is you don’t have to spend a mint on commercial hair products or spend hours at a salon. After you get your routine trim and you have a couple of hair staples in hand, all you need to do is use some of these all-natural springtime hair tips and you’ll be well on your way to the kind of tresses that will be longer and thicker than ever!
Image source: @joyjah
Homemade Leave-In Conditioner
Something else that can keep your hair extra soft while reducing breakage is applying a leave-in conditioner to it, every time you shampoo your hair. There are some cool ones on the market, but why not make some of your own?
A great recipe consists of ½ cup of coconut crème, three teaspoons of (melted”> shea butter, one teaspoon of sweet almond oil and 3-5 drops of neroli oil (it contains cytophylactic properties that help your scalp to produce new cells”>. Mix everything together, pour the contents into a small spray bottle and generously apply it to your hair after washing it and whenever needed following your wash day routine.
Black Seed Oil
When it comes to the health benefits that black seed oil provides, they are truly endless. It’s the kind of oil that reduces the symptoms that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, diabetes, indigestion and heartburn. Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, black seed oil is also an effective way to treat breakouts and the blemishes that they leave behind.
As far as your hair goes, whether you’re looking for something to soothe your dry and itchy scalp or you want the type of product that will promote strong and healthy hair, simply massage one-part black seed oil, one-part olive oil and 5-7 drops of lavender oil directly onto your scalp. It will nourish your scalp, treat any areas where there is hair loss, prevent premature greying and yes, stimulate hair growth too.
Honey
Honey is sweet in every way! It’s loaded with antioxidants, antibacterial properties and phytonutrients—all of these things work together in order to boost energy, soothe sore throats, fight allergies (make sure it’s local honey in this particular case”>, gently exfoliate skin and provide a sound night’s sleep.
What makes honey so great for hair is it is also a humectant. Basically what that means is when April showers come, honey will help to pull the moisture out of the air and into your tresses so that they can avoid being dry and brittle.
You can get the benefits of honey by making a potent DIY hair mask; one that consists of two tablespoons of plain yogurt, two tablespoons of raw honey and one tablespoon of organic coconut oil. Combine all of the ingredients, apply to your clean damp hair, let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse and style as usual.
Or, if you’d prefer to give your hair a honey hot oil treatment, mix one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of olive oil. Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to make it smell even more amazing, zap the oil in the microwave and apply it to clean hair. Put a plastic bag onto your head, let it sit for 20 minutes and rinse and style as usual.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
All of us curly-haired girls know that with unpredictable weather comes the need—at least temptation— to up our product usage. In order to keep your hair from feeling sticky or looking matted, make sure that you clarify your hair, at least every other wash day.
One of the absolute best ways to do this is by combining ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to ½ cup of distilled water and two tablespoons of baking soda. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda both contain properties that will cleanse your hair and restore it to its natural pH balance. They also have a way of making your hair incredibly shiny too.
Mango Butter
Thanks to all of the antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins A and E that are in mango butter, it’s great for your hair and skin. In fact, the only thing that’s missing from this sort of butter is that it doesn’t smell (much”> like mangos. Still, if you want something that will protect your hair from damaging UV rays as it fights dandruff and restore elasticity which is also a huge hair perk!
DIY Curling Pomade
If on the rainy or super humid days, all you want to do is pull your hair back into a ponytail, something that you can do to sleek your sides back or create a few baby hairs without worrying about alcohol drying your hair out in the process is apply some DIY some curling pomade.
It’s pretty easy to make. All you need is five teaspoons of shea butter, three teaspoons of beeswax, one tablespoon of jojoba oil, one tablespoon of grapeseed oil and ¼ teaspoon of rosemary oil (it will add some additional shine to your locks”>. With a double boiler, first put in the beeswax, then add the shea butter and other ingredients. Make sure everything is melted and then pour the pomade into a glass container, let it complete cool and then apply. It feels pretty amazing!
DIY Anti-Frizz Spray
Frizz was mentioned quite a bit in this piece. That’s because it’s a #1 enemy of curly hair! Something else that you can do to stop it in its tracks is to create your own anti-frizz spray. A recipe that I adore consists of ½ cup of water, 1/3 cup 100 percent pure Aloe Vera gel, one tablespoon of white sugar, five drops of lemon essential oil (it keeps hair fresh and musty-free”>, five drops of palma rosa oil (it hydrates dry curls”>.
Let us know which interests you the most, and share your own recipes and ideas in the comments!
