A Brief Guide To Natural Hair Care

By Lena Stephenson


Hair is an important accessory for many women; no wonder most of them spend so much time and money on keeping it in the right shape. Maintaining natural hair is the tricky part as it calls for even more attention and love. In fact, to get it right, you must first start by understanding it and working with it and not against it. Natural hair care is difficult, but once you get it, its worth all the effort.

Going natural is a process. You must begin by understanding your hair; its length, texture, porosity and shrinkage. Do not compare yours to anyones as there is no right or wrong. Whether long or short, there is still a chance it will look good if you know what to do. When you understand it well enough, you will tailor your care routine to suit specific needs.

So, you definitely need a care routine that is as simple as washing, conditioning and moisturizing. Keeping your natural dry is a sure way to cause tangling and breakage. Washing and conditioning should be on a regular basis. At least once a week is recommended for most individuals, although, people are different. Be keen on the shampoo used, it should not contain sulfates as they strip oils from the scalp.

Conditioning goes hand in hand with the washing. After washing, most proteins found in hair are lost and conditioners serve to replenish them. Consequently, the hair becomes stronger and is able to retain moisture better. To ensure more water is retained, use moisturizers to lock it in. Water based moisturizers with humectants are the best since mineral oil or petroleum ones are sealants.

Sealants are not bad; they also help in locking the moisture in the follicles. The best sealants are oils and butter and should also be part of the care routine. Coconut oil is many peoples favorite sealant which works best when used before the wash. Jojoba oil is similar in composition to sebum and is, therefore, also widely used. Shea butter, glycerin, aloe and olive oil are also widely used.

When starting the natural journey, it is common to get confused about what products to use. For some, all natural products straight from the garden are the solution. For some others, synthetic products in the shops are the best. However, all these are myths; the best product is the one that your follicles respond best to. So try all of them until you find the one.

You do not have to spend so much buying products. Some of them are right under your nose, for instance, in the kitchen you will find apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, coconut milk and avocado. These products are the same ones in the shops. Also, before using any product remember to check that the pH is between 3.5 and 7. If not sure, use a test strip to measure.

There is really no single technique or product that will work for you. You will have to experiment with different techniques and products to find the one that works best. However, at the very minimal ensure that it is always moisturized to prevent breakage and tangle.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment