Let’s talk about something that is a little controversial in the natural hair community: heat manipulation! The impression I get from watching several Naturalistas on YT, the verdict on flat ironing is very divided– some naturals use heat with much success some forbid and abhor it, and others remain undecided. I think I’m of the undecided/ neutral variety. It’s very hard for me to say what someone should or shouldn’t do with their hair because I believe in experimentation, especially if you’re newly natural and you’re just learning about all the wonderful things your hair can do.
I want to try it but I know that even just taking a really good straightener to my hair won’t be as effective as other methods even if I stretch it beforehand.
My cousin told me she washes, blow drys, and then straightens.
Washing my hair is so fun because it’s such a “rare” event. I washed for the first time in three weeks (that’s how long it takes for my hair to feel like it wants to be washed. My scalp is not fond of washes).
I use a Moroccan Argan oil shampoo sulfate-free as well as the conditioner. After my shower and wash I let my wet hair dry until its damp. I towel dry to a certain point, put a milky cream leave-in (Cantu Shea Butter) and then let my hair air dry. When my hair is less damp I put it in large twists before bed.
If I’m doing a wash and go, I towel dry more vigorously and massage a leave-in into my baby fro. I use a pick to make it appear more even too.
:)
Some tips:
Use one oil or cream after washing your hair. You don’t want to clog your pores RIGHT after you just washed it.
When shampooing, focus on your scalp. When conditioning, focus on your hair strands and the ends
I recently stopped using combs altogether. I only use a wide-toothed comb to part my hair if I’m styling it a certain way or I use a pick to fluff my twist out into an afro. Now I just finger de-tangle.
It’s not some super-specific method that is deserving of a Youtube video. When I’m stretching my hair or putting it in twists I just detangle using my fingers. Nothing to it.
I also have a habit of running my fingers through my hair and catching those small knots and stuff, which I’m not sure is good.
However, I feel like not combing my hair at all is doing me better. I don’t know. Even when my hair was wet I didn’t like combing it and I have 4c hair so I think it appreciates my no-comb approach.
All my hair twisted up. Untwisted the front in a bang, wrapped a scarf around my head and pinned down the ones in back. Not going to wear an afro until Tuesday or so.
From my understanding, we go natural for a number of reasons - to defy current beauty standards, to begin the journey to love our true selves, to openly and unabashedly love the hair that grows out of our head - long or short, kinky or curly.
But I feel like the natural hair community has this obsession with length. Genetically, not all of us can even grow long hair - and this happens for a lot of people of all races not just black naturals. Some hair can grow longer, some hair stays short but grows thicker and fuller and some hair does grow long but then stops at a certain length.
However the message we push on natural sites and youtube videos is ‘Growth! Growth! Growth!’ in terms of length, and I feel as if, subconsciously, it’s just another way of us trying to conform to a eurocentric beauty standard.
Your hair does not have to be long to beautiful or daring. Your afro is just as valid if its a TWA or a halo around your head.
I’m going to a water park tomorrow and I needed to know what the hell to do with my hair. Chlorine water can be damaging (of course) to our curly little locks. So here are some tips I found while I was puttering about the internet if you’re a natural girl and you like going swimming.
Before You Get In The Water
Don’t put product in your hair! A lot of people’s reactions were to put on conditioner and saturate their hair with product in order to coat each strand and make sure water couldn’t get in. All that does is make the pool a cloudy mess, and you’ll come up for air with oils running down your face - not cute.
Lightly wet your hair with tap water. Your hair will soak up the water in the pool. But you can lessen soakage by pre-wetting your hair at home with safe and mostly chemical free tap water! Just enough so that your hair is damp.
Protective Hairstyling! It doesn’t have to be braids with extensions. I’m talking about just putting your hair in cornrows or twists so that you reduce surface area.
Swim Cap For those of us who can afford one (and don’t think they look dorky) wear a swim cap. This is the best protection in the water. They can be cute.
After Swimming
Wash your hair immediately after swimming. If you swim every day or often, I wouldn’t recommend shampooing as that further dries your hair out (especially if you’re like me and you don’t use a sulfate-free shampoo). Just conditioner should restore moisture.
Leave-In Conditioner. This should be part of your regimen anyway, but add a nice moisturizing leave-in to restore your coils to their natural state. Pay close attention the moisturizing of your scalp.