Achieving and maintaining healthy hair
The steps to healthy hair
People often think that they are unhappy with their hair because of the texture, style or length, but what they fail to realize is that these factors are not the reason for their discontent. The real cause of the problem is unhealthy hair. Regardless of your texture, style and length you can have fabulous hair if you take good care of it and maintain a healthy state of being. Having healthy hair is all about investing your time and knowing what to do and what not to do. The days of envying everybody else’s hair are over. Say hello to your very own lust-worthy natural hair! Here are some useful tips to get you onto that glorious path.
Avoid using any chemically damaging products.
Your natural hair has a certain structure and chemicals such as relaxers, perms and straighteners break down that structure. By eliminating the use of these products you are giving your hair the freedom to just be itself.
Reduce use of heat on hair
The heat your hair is able to withstand is between 300-350 degrees. More often than not our flat irons and blow dryers are set at a much higher temperature and as a result, our hair suffers. If you are using these tools once a week, reduce your use to once every two weeks. If you flat iron once a month try to do it once every two months instead etc. Always remember that is vital to use heat protection when applying heat to your hair.
Wash your hair regularly, but not too often.
You do not need to wash your hair every day or every second day for that matter. Washing your hair too much can be the cause of dryness and a rougher feeling texture. Opt for co-washing (conditioner wash) in between your shampoo cleanses for the week and be sure to use a sulfate free shampoo when you do. Cleansing your hair two times a week should get the job done.
Detangling
Detangling is the key to keeping your hair knot free. When knots are formed in our hair we tend to pull them apart or use an ordinary scissors to cut them out and this results in hair breakage. To avoid knots ALWAYS detangle your hair on wash day or whenever you see the need for it.
Top tips:
1. Never detangle your hair when it is dry.
2. Apply a detangling product or conditioner before you get started.
3. Section your hair to make the process more manageable.
4. Your ten fingers are perfect for the job. Work them through your hair section by section.
5. If you need a more thorough tool for detangling use a wide toothed comb or a denman brush.
Deep condition/hair mask once a week.
To give your hair an extra boost, apply a deep conditioner or hair mask once a week. Your hair is guaranteed to soak up all the nourishing moisture and oils and appear visibly different afterward. To get the most out of your treatment, lock in the moisture and create natural heat by wearing a shower cap after application. The shower cap acts like a greenhouse and the heat stored inside allows your product to work in a thriving environment. Leave your treatment on for 20-30 minutes and rinse it off with cool or lukewarm water.
Make sure hair is always moisturized.
Healthy hair is always moisturized. Use water as your base moisturizer and follow it up with a leave in conditioner, cream, custard, lotion or butter for added moisture. Distribute your product evenly throughout your hair, from root to tip, making sure that you have covered your full set of hair. If you have very thirsty hair or you experience dry patches during the course of the day, use a spritzer bottle containing Aloe Vera juice or water. This is a very handy trick and all you have to do is spritz the contents onto your hair.
Protective styling
Wearing your hair loose and exposed to the elements everyday will end up damaging it. Protective styling is perfect for maintaining healthy hair because your ends are tucked away safely and the chances of you having to manipulate your hair are less. When protective styling, remember that it is all about your hair being protected from too much touching and manipulation. The most common and easy to do protective styles are buns, braids and up-do’s. To hold your style for the maximum amount of time, sleep with a satin bonnet or scarf on to keep your hair in place and to prevent your cotton pillow from absorbing your hairs moisture. Incorporate your favorite protective styles into your weekly hair regimen and look forward to the long term benefits!
Trim
Do not avoid a trim in fear of losing your length. Your hair is always growing and if you do not give it a trim when you see split and uneven ends, you will not see the growth. The correct trim actually enables your hair to grow and makes it a lot healthier than it was when you had dried, damaged ends. Be careful not to jump onto the trimming bandwagon by cutting your hair more than necessary. Get familiar with your hair and work out how often it needs a trim.
Top tips
1. Visit a salon or somebody who knows how to cut hair.
2. If you cannot afford a trim, do your research and educate yourself on the correct method, technique, and scissors.
3. Take off only what is necessary. Speak to your stylist and explain exactly what it is you want.
Achieving healthy hair does not happen overnight, but it does require you to make a start. Try to create a hair regimen containing these tips and commit yourself to doing it on a weekly basis. Your hair has the ability to make you feel confident and bold so choose those feelings by maintaining healthy, strong hair. Use any one of these tips first and start today!