Embarking on a natural hair journey can be quite challenging whether you start out with the drastic big chop or the dragged out transition hair journey. This can be so excruciating especially when you have no idea on how to care for untreated 4c hair and no one to reach out for guidance. Below I provide a few guidelines that can be helpful to a newbie naturalista.
Know your hair
It is important to know that your hair is different the next person even if you have the same hair texture or even come from the same family. Therefore, what works for one person`s hair might not work for you.
Keep your scalp clean
Your scalp is your foundation therefore it should be kept clean at all times. Being a newbie can have you trying out a lot of different hair products which can clog your pores hence hindering growth. You can also achieve this by using a sulfate free shampoo atleast once a week.
Be gentle
Given the fact that the nature of our hair is thick, kinky and coarse, your initial thought would to just yank it and work through it as quickly as possible but that right there is the problem because this state only makes our hair easily prone to breakage therefore it needs that extra TLC. Therefore always take your time and be careful with your hair during the detangling and styling process.
Work in sections
Dividing your hair into smaller sections should be your new bestfriend since it reduces breakage, enables better detangling and product application as well as facilitate hairstyling.
Detangle when hair is wet
Dry hair will easily break therefore a conditioner or a spraybottle with water and a wide tooth comb will come in handy. It is also very important to always detangle your hair so as to avoid single strand knots that might result into breakage. Remember to be patient because this can really be time consuming hence it is better to take on this challenge when you have enough time and you are not in a hurry to rush off to an errand.
Moisturise
This is every naturalista`s holygrail because natural hair loves moisture. Dry hair will easily break (and we are out here trying to save those inches as much as possible)Water is definitely your best choice when it comes to this and don´t forget to seal it all in with an oil of your choice.
Deep condition
This will help to maximize your hair`s potential to enable you to get healthy, strong and bouncy locs.
Minimise heat usage
Opting for air drying instead of the usual blowdrying can do a great deal for your hair. Try and cut down on the amount of heat you use on your hair in form of blowdryer, curling irons and straightener to avoid that heat damage because it will only set back your healthy hair journey .
Low manipulation / protect your edges
You can choose to wear your hair in a protective style to avoid over manupilating it but ensure that the hairstyle is not too tight and that it doesn`t put a strain on your edges since they are thinner and more delicate than the rest of your hair.
Bedtime
Protect your hair by wrapping it in a silk/satin scarf before going to bed or by sleeping on a silk/satin pillow case.
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