So let’s dive into these rules and highlight some of the reasons you should strongly consider incorporating them into your current routines. And for the record, if you want to use some heat on your hair, we won’t stop you!
The Road to Healthy Natural Hair
1. Keep your hands out of your hair.
First and foremost (and also quite a tough one): Keep your hands out of your hair as much as possible! While it can be second nature to touch your curls or even a bit fun to play with those ringlets once in a while, leaving them alone can also offset damaging effects to the ends of your hair. Limit hair touching for styling and wash day only as much as possible.
2. Don’t skip deep-conditioning.
A must! These days, there’s really no excuse not to deep condition: It takes at least five minutes, you can multi-task (and #multimask!), and if you’re all out of your fave product, you’ve probably got some key ingredients in your kitchen pantry (dare we say coconut oil?). No excuses—plus your curls will thank you for the shot of moisture.
3. Nail your nighttime routine.
You’d be surprised at the amount of damage that your hair can be subjected to while you sleep. Along with building a natural hair care routine, develop a nighttime routine as well to preserve both your hairstyle and the overall healthy look and feel of your hair. We suggest sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase, or using a headwrap, to keep the moisture in your hair and prevent unnecessary friction on strands while sleeping.
4. Moisturize daily.
Sorry to sound like a broken record, but we’re all about keeping those strands healthy! Curly hair is typically naturally dry. So it’s vital to add moisture on a daily basis. You can probably get away with doing this process every other day, but the key is to be consistently hydrating your strands.
5. Trim hair every 6-8 weeks.
Besides moisture, the key to a happy curl is a good trim. Don’t be afraid of the scissors, as curls tend to be on their best behavior when free of any damage or split ends. If you get your hair trimmed routinely (every 1-2 months), you’re saving yourself from a bigger chop down the road. And you can’t just blame the hairdresser for being scissor happy; split ends travel upwards, so the longer you wait, the more inches of hair you may need to trim.
6. Use heat wisely.
You’ve probably heard many women with natural hair advise against using heat on hair at all. Let’s face it: Sometimes you want to rock a straight hairstyle just like the next gal, and you should! Whenever you decide to style your hair into a style that involves the use of heat styling tools, just make sure to keep your curls protected with a heat protectant.
7. Alternate your hair care routine by season.
Listen to your hair, as what works in the summer may not always work during the winter. Weather can alter how our texture behaves, so switch up your hair care routine as the seasons change if needed. During colder months, when your hair may tend to feel extra dry, include oil treatments into your hair care routine. Be sure to use natural hair oils, like coconut oil, which penetrate the hair shaft moisturizing from within, and others that coat the shaft, like argan oil, to help lock in moisture. Learn to love your hair, and obey the rules! Which of these tips are you implementing into your natural hair care routine?
