Daily moisture  

Our hair cries out for moisture everyday!
Let's face it, the coily and kinky hair types need more moisture. Having good products is not enough! That's like having a full fridge and fasting!
Here's what you need to do:
  1. Moisturize your hair daily - at least once a day - focusing on the ends of your hair.
  2. Seal in that moisture with an oil applied on top.
  3. Use a satin scarf or bonnet at night to keep the moisture in your hair.
  4. Keep the ends of hair that is past shoulder length off your clothes - these dry and break your hair!

Detangling your hair!

Some people advocate detangling on wet hair in the shower, whilst some prefer doing it on damp hair. Another group detangle on dry hair before shampooing! Find what works best for you and stick to it.
Tools:
  • Use a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush - like the Denman or Tangle Teezer brushes.
  • A cheap detangler is a moisturizing rinse-out conditioner diluted with water.
Tips:
  • Treat your hair like fine silk - with great care.
  • Give yourself plenty of time to detangle your hair.
  • Detangle hair in small sections.
  • NEVER try to comb or detangle DRY hair. Add a moisturizer or detangler first.
  • Start at the tips (ends) of the hair and comb downwards. Then move up a few inches and repeat until you reach the roots.
  • Braid or twist detangled sections of hair before you move on to the next section.

There are also tips to making your hair less prone to tangling during the washing process:
  1. Washing in braids or twists.
  2. Detangling mid-week.
  3. Keeping hair up and neat overnight (braids, twists, buns, ponytails, pincurls, etc.)

Shampooing tips!

Simple things, really!
  1. You can dilute the shampoo with water to make it less stripping of your natural hair oil (sebum).
  2. Start with a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, (pre-poo) with some oil or conditioner.
  3. Then divide your hair into sections or braids.
  4. Wet your hair first, then apply less than a palm-full of shampoo to your scalp. Massage scalp well.
  5. Rinse it down your hair.
  6. A second application only needs half the amount of shampoo.
  7. Apply conditioner to your hair for at least 5 mins before rinsing again.

Deep Conditioning
To deep condition:

  1. Usually you need to leave conditioner in your hair for 20 minutes (with heat) to an hour (without heat).
  2. You can use a hot/warm damp towel or a hood dryer (over a shower cap) to aid the process - opens up the cuticles on the hair shaft and allows conditioner to absorb deeper.
  3. If pre-pooing, don't forget to apply an instant conditioner for 5 minutes after shampooing!

Do this either before or after you wash your hair. If done before, it is called a "pre-poo" = pre-shampoo conditioning treatment.

Night time haircare

  • Your night-time routine can make or break your hair!
  • Healthy hair can be sabotaged by night-time tangles - not to mention how dry your hair feels each morning!
  • The simplest way to start looking after your hair is by wearing a silk or satin scarf and/or bonnet to bed. Alternatively, sleep on a satin pillowcase.
Before bed
1. I recommend putting your hair in either a loose bun, ponytail or braid before bedtime.
2. Add a bit of moisture to your ends before putting on the scarf/bonnet.
3. If you're wearing a low manipulation style like braid-out or twist-outs, a bonnet may do the trick.
4. In the morning, all you have to do is take off the bonnet, apply leave-in to your ends, fluff and go!
Conditioning / Co-washing:
  • This is a step you cannot miss out! Conditioners re-infuse moisture into your dry strands and smooth the cuticle giving softer, smoother hair.
  • Co-washing: Conditioner Only Washing
  • Using a conditioner to clean you hair and scalp in lieu of shampoo has two bonuses:
  1. It has enough surfactants to clean your hair,
  2. It moisturizes your hair!
  • How-to? Wet the hair and apply conditioner, first to scalp and hair ends. Massage scalp for 1-2 mins, then smooth down strands. Rinse and repeat.



Low manipulation styling!

  • These styles allow you to "leave your hair alone". It also lets your hair thicken up - by not breaking from rough handling.
  • This means not combing your hair too often, restyling your hair everyday, or using heat too frequently.
  • Some of these styles are also protective styles.
  • A bun is a protective style (ends hidden) but braid-outs are low-manipulation (ends are out). Believe it or not, you do retain length with these styles!
DISCLAIMER:
The featured techniques and products are what work  for me.  Each head of hair and body is different. I am sharing my honest opinions and my journey to inspire and motivate others who are realising  that " Black women can do GREAT things!" #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlsruntoo #allthingsthroughChrist