Caring For Your Natural Hair
A LOVING TOUCH.
Our bodies deserve all the love and care and our hair is part of it. One of the many ways we can show love to our hair is by giving it a mask that will add moisture and shine, reduce breakage and give it an overall healthy look. Before we get to apply the mask, there are some steps we have to do to ensure that we get the most out of it.
- Preparation.
Pre-shampooing is a step most people skip on their wash days. This is the process of applying a protective layer on your hair to ensure that it isn’t stripped of all its natural oils. There are many products you can use, a good one being oils. If you are allergic to oils like coconut, don’t worry. You can use aloe vera gel or a conditioner as your pre-shampoo. There are also some store-bought products like African Pride and Mane’s choice. Simply apply it onto your hair, put on a shower cap and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Or better yet, leave it overnight. I know it is time-consuming but trust me, the results will be worth it. Wash it off and move onto the next step.
- Let’s get cleaning.
What defines a great wash day to you? I know that sometimes it can be a step we’d want to skip but once we achieve a bomb look, the regrets slowly flow down the drain. One of the ways to ensure that you maximize on it is using products that your hair will love. Sulphates and parabens are among the few ingredients you should avoid as they do more harm than good. A trick I’ve used over the years, that cannot be emphasized enough, is never buying a product that contains an ingredient you cannot pronounce. The chances are, you have no idea what it is and what it can do to you. Products exempted from this are prescribed items by a professional. Among the few products that I have to come to love are Shea Moisture and Function of Beauty. The Function of Beauty is a personal favourite as you can choose what goes into your products depending on your hair’s needs. It is custom made to your hair texture and the fun part is, you can choose what colour it comes in. Ensuring that you have the right products is the first step of achieving amazing results from your wash day.
- Deep conditioning.
This is a very crucial step. It not only adds great slip, but it also adds a great load of moisture leaving your hair curlier and healthier. For the best results, you should leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour or better yet, overnight. This gives your hair time to absorb the ingredients into your hair shaft. To hasten the process, you can apply heat by using a hair steamer. This adds an extra boost of moisture, and with the best sealing procedure, you can have moisture last up to a week!
- Add on the proteins
This is a step that you don’t have to do every single wash day as it can be time-consuming and drying to your hair if overdone. Our hair is made up of protein, therefore protein treatments aid in reconstructing and strengthening of the hair strands. They are necessary for healthy hair growth and should be applied when necessary. Anything done in excess has negative effects: protein treatments in excess can do more damage than good. A few signs to watch out for that indicate that you need the treatment are: hair breakage, especially when combing through the hair; if your hair is excessively dry; if it has lost its natural elasticity(i.e. your hair doesn’t curl back when you stretch it out); and if your hair feels softer than it naturally is. If you have these signs, then it’s time for a protein treatment.
- Extra TLC
Your hair needs a good treat every once in a while. This is where masks come in. A good mask every once in a while should be a good treat. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 tablespoon fenugreek powder
1 tablespoon hibiscus powder
2 tablespoons of honey
1 overripe avocado
1 overripe banana
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon neem
6-12 drops of peppermint or rosemary essential (feel free to use any of your choices)
1 tablespoon of an oil of your choice (for my ladies who are allergic to coconut oil, jojoba and grapeseed are a great alternative)
A cheesecloth
A blender
A bowl
- Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend for 3-5 minutes or until a smooth consistency.
- Strain the mixture in the cheesecloth onto a bowl.
- Apply it onto your hair and let it sit for 30-minutes to an hour
- Rinse it out and style as desired.
Why these ingredients?
- Honey
This an emollient that helps to add shine to dull hair and a humectant, which enables it to bind with water naturally moisturizing the hair and adding lustre.
- Fenugreek
Also known as methi, this is a rich source of protein and iron, both of which are essential for hair growth.
- Hibiscus
It prevents hair loss, treats dandruff, prevent split ends, thickens and adds hair volume, and helps in preventing frizz, dryness and breakage.
- Neem
It not only treats and conditions the scalp, but it also helps in reducing frizz and promote healthy hair growth.
- Cinnamon
Has an amazing smell and promotes blood circulation to the scalp which provides the necessary nutrients needed for healthy hair growth.
- Aloe vera.
Prevents hair loss, soothes the scalp and reduces dandruff.
- Avocado.
It is packed with vitamins like A, D, E and B-6 which are essential in hair strengthening and protection. It also acts as a light source of protein in the treatment.
- Banana.
An overripe banana is rich in potassium which strengthens and fixes damaged hair without necessarily wearing it down.
Additional notes.
After an amazing moisturizing wash day, it’s important to seal in the moisture. This can be done by two methods, LOC or LCO method. L for liquid or leave-in, O for oil and C for cream. Feel free to use either of the methods as they both do the same role. You can use your favourite leave-in, oils and butter/ creams to achieve this.
A great investment to have are silk bonnets, scrunchies and pillowcases. These helps in preventing hair loss as you toss and turn at night. Silk has a slippery feeling that doesn’t tangle your hair or cause unnecessary breakage.
Stay hydrated. It not only helps with great skin but it also helps with healthy hair too. Staying hydrated from the inside is great for your general health. It’s a win-win.
There are amazing ayuverdic herbs, which when consumed help in promoting hair growth. A pro-tip is to put some in your breakfast shake which helps with neutralizing the taste. Another way of consuming them is by making tea with them, a great example being hibiscus. There are some hibiscus tea bags on the market and when added with a sweetener and hot water, it’s quite delicious.
Drink Aloe vera juice. I know it sounds disgusting but it works, not only for your hair but also for your body’s wellbeing. A great way of taking it without experiencing the full effect of the sour flavour is to take one that’s flavoured or mixing it with a juice. My favourites are bits and peaches and berry nectar, both supplied by Forever Living. It is a great company and their products are based on the aloe vera plant. They also have a shampoo and conditioner that contain the plant itself. How great is that?
Take your vitamins. Some vitamins contain great nutrients that help in promoting hair growth like biotin.
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