Natural hairvolution corner: 2012

I found these tips on the hair blog http://naturalicioushair.com

I hope this information helps. I will be posting more tips as we progress and more pics of my hairstyles!

To keep your natural hair in tip top shape, you have to have a natural hair care regimen that encourages the hair to be healthy. Since everyone’s curls and coils are different, natural hair care regimens will vary. These 10 natural hair care tips are general rules that every natural should follow. They include ways to encourage hair growth, why you should deep condition and what a satin pillow case means for natural black hair.

Natural Hair Care Tip 1. Moisturize.

On this website, you find several articles that encourage you to avoid damage, breakage and dry hair by moisturizing your natural hair. Natural black hair actually produces three times the amount of sebum (our natural hair oil) as other hair types, and yet our hair still needs moisture. That is because this sebum has trouble traveling down the twists and turns in our hair.

Water is the best, as well as the cheapest, moisturizer. Many naturals insist on using shea butter, a natural hair softener. Find what works best for your hair. Just be sure to moisturize regularly, even daily.

Natural Hair Care Tip 2. Condition and deep condition.

Conditioning natural hair is a way to infuse moisture into your strands. If you no poo, you know that conditioner serves as substitute shampoo. Whether you no poo or not, you should condition your hair once every week. You should deep condition either once per month or once every other week, depending on your hair’s dryness.

You can over-condition your natural black hair. You will know you did it when the hair starts feeling fragile and brittle, rather than soft and pliable. Don’t let that scare you away from this important natural hair care tip. Conditioner, specifically deep conditioner, is your friend.

Natural Hair Care Tip 3. Detangle soaking wet or damp hair in sections.

Do not try to force a comb through your fragile natural hair when it’s dry. That is simply asking for breakage. Water increases natural black hair’s pliability and provides the slippage you need to encourage a comb to glide through your coils and curls.

Especially effective is detangling your hair covered in conditioner. This gives you the added benefit of working the product through your hair thoroughly so that each and every strand can benefit from conditioner’s softening power. When you divide the hair in 8 to 12 manageable sections, you will have an easier time detangling.

Natural Hair Care Tip 4. Protect your natural hair at night.

Sleep on a satin pillow case or wrap your hair in a satin scarf or bonnet. Cotton, the fabric most pillowcases are made of, tends to suck all of the moisture out of your hair. We know that moisture is very important for natural black hair. So, we want to keep that moisture in our hair by sleeping on satin.

As an added bonus, a satin bonnet or scarf helps to keep a hair style looking neat. Your hair style will last longer if you sleep with a satin bonnet or scarf.

Natural Hair Care Tip 5. Stay away from direct heat.

Direct heat is heat that is applied directly to your hair’s strands. It comes in the forms of curling irons, flat irons, blow dryers and pressing combs. The rapid heating within the hair shaft depletes and removes moisture in your hair shaft. Splitting, cracking and peeling of the hair shaft are common side effects to straightening natural hair with direct heat. Just one session of too much heat on the hair can straighten it permanently.

If you choose to use direct heat, do so sparingly. Always deep condition prior to using direct heat. Also, protect your natural black hair with a setting lotion.

Natural Hair Care Tip 6. Know your product ingredients.

Many of the products marketed to black women contain harmful, drying ingredients. A few include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, mineral oil and alcohol.

On the other hand, some natural hair ingredients are specifically beneficial to black natural hair. Shea butter, jojoba oil, aloe vera and essential oils moisturize natural hair and make it healthier.

Natural Hair Care Tip 7. Less manipulation means more hair growth.

When you discover your beautiful curls and coils, it can be difficult to keep your hands out of your hair. But when you put your hands in your hair, your hands will absorb the moisture and products you put in your natural hair.

Protective styles, such as twists and braids, keep your ends safe and encourage hair growth. The less you mess with it, the more hair growth you will experience. That’s why women can grow very long locks. No combing and very little manipulation occur with locks. Natural hair grows just like every other hair texture. Be patient and try to focus on having healthy hair.

Natural Hair Care Tip 8. Trim regularly.

If you are trying to grow long natural hair, you might not want to hear that trimming natural hair should be part of your hair care regimen. However, your ends are the oldest part of your hair, and they need the most attention. Think of it this way. You can either trim every 6 to 8 weeks and prevent split ends and breakage, OR you can not trim your hair and watch those split ends form. After several months, you will need a good hair cut. You will lose most, if not all, of your hair growth.

Trimming helps your natural hair be healthy as well as makes it look much nicer. Styling and detangling are much easier on trimmed ends. Lots of knots and tangles are a sign that you need a trim.

Of course, locked hair is a different story since those ends are sealed up. But this type of natural black hair can use the occasional trim, as needed.

Natural Hair Care Tip 9. Try different hair styles.

Many people don’t go natural because they think that natural hair has limited styling options. That is not true. Natural black hair is probably the most versatile form of hair.

You can wear an afro, cornrows, twists, Bantu knots, braids, palm rolls, twist-outs, braid-outs, Bantu knot-outs, wash and wear, roller set and even straighten it. You can do these natural hair styles on their own as well as do a countless number of combinations. Add cute accessories, like headbands, flowers and hair jewelry, and you could have a different look every week!

Natural Hair Care Tip 10. Be gentle.

Even though natural black hair might look strong, it is very fragile and deserves tender care. When you care for your natural hair, you have to treat it like a fine piece of silk. Every curve in a coil is a possible breaking point. No matter what you’re doing to your hair – combing, conditioning, trimming, styling – you have to be gentle. Your natural hair will thank you for being gentle.