It’s hard getting out of the old habits that we were so accustomed to years ago. This list will help you revamp your regimen to reflect your hair in the state it is in now–natural.
1. You brush your hair dry.
Unless it’s made especially for detangling sessions on soaking wet curls, this is a huge no-no. Brushing dry hair can weaken the shaft, causing friction and promoting breakage and split ends. Use these ONLY when detangling a matted knot:
2. You use drying gel on your edges.
Relaxed hair can usually withstand the drying effects of short-chain alcohols like Ethanol, Ethyl, Isopropyl, or Benzyl. However, these cause natural and curly hair to lose moisture. Look for an edge tamer made with one of these good alcohols, instead. We get that some hairstyles call for smoother edges, so go next time for a water-based tamer made with moisturizing carrier oils to penetrate moisture but still maintain a healthy hold along the hairline.
3. You use products with mineral oil.
This ingredient is found in many products. It clogs pores, preventing hair growth and inducing a dirty, oily scalp–sometimes promoting the chance for bacterial infections, too. When our hair was relaxed, we used this (hair grease”> to protect our scalp from the harmful side effects of a possible chemical burn on our scalp, forehead, and neck. This product is now unnecessary for natural hair. Use a hair cream or moisturizer rich in nut derived oils and butters so you can feel the same effects of what hair grease used to give you on relaxed hair.
- MyHoneyChild Type 4 Hair Cream
- Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Parfait
- Darcy’s Botanicals Eucalyptus Mint Herbal Scalp Conditioning Butter
4. You use bobby pins and rubber bands.
When our hair was chemically straightened, it might have been ok to create intricate updos with metal bobby pins and rubber bands. Naturally textured hair in its unaltered state shouldn’t be subject to the breakage factor when it comes to these styling items, however. When using a bobby pin, face the curved side downward to go with the flow of your curl pattern, and never use it on the very end of your hair. Leave about a half-inch, if possible, unexposed to the pin-down. Rubber bands should be tossed out completely–that long-term friction is damaging to the hair shaft.
5. You tie your hair up into a tight ponytail.
The ends of your hair aren’t the only part to focus our care on. Your edges need love, too–tight ponytails put an unnecessary amount of tension on the root. Doing this too frequently may result in extra hair fall, a thinning hairline, and a compromised curl pattern, over time. Use a Goody Ouchless ponytail holder not only to secure your style, but to blend in with your hair color, too.
6. You use silicones everyday.
If you’ve straightened your hair, using a silicone product is OK for acting as a heat protectant. But everyday use is not good for natural hair. Water-insoluble ingredients in your product can keep water from entering the cortex, causing it to become dehydrated, and over time, completely disrupting our natural curl pattern. If you notice your curl losing elasticity, try one of these to rebuild the strength–free of silicones:
- As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner
- Bee Mine Bee Lovely Moisturizing Daily Conditioner
- MopTop Bamboo Daily Conditioner
7. You apply heat on dry, unconditioned hair.
There’s nothing wrong with us desiring a straight style for a few days. Just keep in mind that hair needs to be well conditioned first. In addition, do a hot oil treatment a day beforehand to re-introduce moisture and oils your hair might lose once it gets straightened with a heat styling tool. Do quick passes–don’t hold the flat iron on one part of your hair for a long time–and don’t let your flat iron exceed 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Try one of these heat protectants with protective silk protein next time you have an itch for straightening or blow drying your hair:
- CHI Silk Infusion
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Shine & Moisture Mist
- Jane Carter Solution Restore Moisture Mist
