Caring for your natural hair is easy once you have a good natural hair regimen.
Your regimen sets the tone for the health of your hair. And as such, it needs to be good, no great, perfect. The routine will be perfect if you are utilizing the proper techniques and products that will fit into your lifestyle.
STEP 1 – CLEANSE – A healthy scalp is a start for healthy hair.
If your scalp is not in a healthy condition, neither will the rest of your hair be. Your scalp goes through a lot as products are being applied to, sebum is being produced, and different elements of the environment are attaching itself to it. All of these can block the scalp’s follicles and prevent it from breathing. As well as, allow for bacteria and dirt to fester on the scalp and harbour your growth process and sebum production. And as such, you should be cleansing your scalp every week. Cleansing with a sulphate-free shampoo allows your scalp to be thoroughly cleansed without removing the “natural sebum from your scalp”. Hence, your hair will not be dry as it is being cleansed which can lead to more damage.
STEP 2 – CONDITION –
Natural hair tends to tangle especially when it is in its dry state. The curls naturally clump together so if it is dry and clumps together it will cause friction, frizz and breakage. Hence, you should detangle your hair when it is wet with conditioner. When your hair is wet with conditioner, the curls will clump together. In addition, it contains “Cetearyl alcohol” which is what adds the “kip” to the conditioner that we all know and love. The slip softens your hair so that it become -pliable, easier to manage, and easier to detangle.
STEP 3 – DEEP CONDITION – Deep condition your hair weekly with fortifying ingredients.
Your deep conditioners should be considered as hair treatments for your tresses. After a week of styling, applying moisturizer, laying your edges with gels, and much more, your hair has been through a lot. Therefore, you need to replenish, rehydrate, and strengthen the hair for the upcoming week ahead. Ensure that you use a deep conditioner that suits your hair needs whether it needs moisture, strength, or repair. As well as, the ingredients are mostly organic which will transform the health of your hair.
STEP 4 – MOISTURIZE – Moisturise your parched natural hair strands using the LOC/LCO method.
This is the best moisturization technique for your natural hair because it moisturizes and “seals”. Sealing is the most important step because once the moisture is sealed in, it cannot leave. You would apply (L)liquid, (O)il, and (C)ream to your hair in the order of the acronym chosen. This allows your hair to stay moisturized for a long time so the health of your hair (and your hairstyles) is maintained. The liquid is the hydration that is applied using water, water-based moisturiser or even aloe vera juice. Then, the oil will sit un top of the liquid to keep it trapped (or sealed) into your hair shaft. And finally, the cream whether it is shea or cocoa butter to seal everything in.
STEP 5 – STYLE – And finally, we style.
There are a lot of stylers to choose form within the market but there are two top categories which as cream and gel stylers. Cream stylers are more for your textured looks. If you want a fluffy twist/braid out, or flexi/perm rod set, then cream styles are your best option. They give you less definition than a gel. However, it will not leave your hair too crunchy to hold. As well as, you can use gel stylers. Gel stylers will give you the maximum definition. It usually highlights and enhances your natural curl pattern as the curls clump together for wash and go’s. For other styles such as (braid/twist out), it will take the pattern of the style that you are trying to achieve. And more importantly, it will give you long-lasting hold.
by Ashley Northover member of the lookatherhair.com team
