Whether you are a loose-waved 2C or a tightly coiled 4C, these hair tips are sure to keeps your luscious locks as healthy as possible. As a “natural,” there are so many products, techniques and tools pushed our way to ensure that we will either try it or deny it, but what actually works? And most of all what are the universal ways to take care of your hair as well as pass the information along to your friend who is having a difficult time trying to figure out what exactly works for their hair type? No matter the question, below we will go through a few tips and tricks to help you get your mane in order to endlessly flourish.
If dry, brittle and breaking hair is the issue, one of the best ways to combat that is with moisture, and lots of it. But maybe you have been moisturizing your hair and it is just not giving you any relief. The answer for this is what many naturalistas consider the holy grail of moisture retention, and that is the L.O.C. method. Yes, that is correct it is called the L.O.C. method, which is when you use a leave in in conditioner, and oil and then a cream to seal in all of that wonderful water that you just washed your hair with. Another useful tip for this method is to perform this after you have freshly washed your hair. Not only is it because your hair will be a clean palate but also because this prevents product build up from any previous gels, oils, creams or moisturizers lefts behind prior to the process. Also, when using the L.O.C. method, less is more and a little bit of product goes a very long way. So unless you prefer your hair to take 3 days to dry, it is suggested that you ease up on the cream and leave-in although, you will smell like an island of fresh fruit!
On the topic of hair washing and cleansing, your shampoo (and conditioner) plays a big role in what you will do with your hair post wash. Staying in the lane of moisturizing, that type of shampoo does just that, moisturizes without stripping the hair too harshly of oils and nutrients. Moisturizing shampoos are great assets when you are about to perform the L.O.C. method followed by a twist out, bantu knot out or braid out. Overall, these shampoos add that extra help when you want your twist out to be extra fluffy or your bantu knot out to be extra popping! On the other end, if you are looking to blow dry or straighten your hair, then a clarifying shampoo is your best bet. These shampoos cleanse and strip the hair of anything that will basically get in the way of your hair staying straight. Do not be afraid of the phrase “stripping your hair” when sometimes our hair needs to be clarified from all of that eco styler and curl enhancing smoothie that we cultivate so much (product junkies unite!). Regardless of which one you choose, also remember that your hair type is just as unique as your are and what may work for one person may not always work for you.
If you have not started using a cotton t-shirt to dry your hair, then you should probably start. This is something that many of us just got the hang of and admittingly, this is amazing when it comes to saving your kinks and curls. This is honestly one of the best kept hair secrets because it has worked wonders on so many hair types. Another big plus for this tip is that it cuts the drying time down tremendously ultimately leaving you with soft, clumped and intact curls. To properly perfect this technique, it is recommended that you scrunch your curls instead of rubbing them together. This aids in the detangling process if you choose to go that route.
When it comes to detangling, finding the right tools can be annoying, pricey and honestly a little painful. Annoying because you may be looking for a denman brush that your beauty supply store does not have, or you may rummage through Target for the same brush that is a few dollars over price. Whatever your dilemma, there are ways around the dreaded detangling session that makes the process a tad bit more tolerable. The first thing to know when detangling is to always make sure that your hair has some moisture. Think about it, it is going to be increasingly difficult to detangle hair that is dry and when you can just get a spray bottle from your local dollar store and fill it with one part water and one part conditioner.
When your hair has some moisture, section your hair and then decide if you are going to go the curly girl method or if you will be using a wide tooth comb. The curly girl method is simply you using your fingers to properly detangle and separate your hair to decrease the chance of breakage from the hair shaft. However, if that does not work for you, work your way up the hair shaft from the tips to the root to get a smooth and detangled finish. Detangling this way will save you not only time but a lot patience that otherwise may have been lost.
Nevertheless, caring for your natural hair does not have to overly pricey or terribly draining. Once you start to work on methods that cater to your natural hair needs it will not be too difficult to continue. To stay afloat the natural hair boat write down your wash days or even take note of what worked and what did not, because in the end this and more is what will keep your natural hair flourishing.