Many women think easier styles to maintain are those that come out of the braiding salon; however, these get up and go styles are not the healthiest and can cause major breakage.
Most women are confused with the definition of natural hair. Natural hair is unprocessed and neutral hair. Hair that is relaxed, colored or texturized is not considered natural. Hair grows a half an inch every month, and real problems occur when the hair breaks off more than it grows.
According to Rhonda Martin, an executive stylist at Natural Motion Beauty Salon in Northwest Washington, D.C., “In order to maintain hair moisture and strength, a deep conditioner twice a month is necessary. It is so easy for the hair to dry out, especially when so many things cause dryness.”
Martin claims that most people do not even know when their hair is dry and brittle, and most importantly, they do not know the cause.
“Dryness to the scalp or hair can be caused by using the wrong conditioner, prescription medications, the sun, nutrition and diet. A lot of women don’t know that,” she said.
Greer Jones, a colleague of Martin, says that a lot of women with natural hair give into chemical straighteners when the hot months roll around because they do not know how to properly take care of their hair.
But what a lot of women do need to know is that healthy, natural hair is not an obstacle. Here are a few tips owner Liz Johnson had to make your natural hair experience a comfortable and easy one:
1. Ponytails are not your friend. If you must wear a ponytail, switch it up. Wear a high ponytail one day and switch to low another day. Wearing a ponytail in the same spot promotes breakage in that area, especially if the ponytail holder is too tight. Never sleep in your ponytail.
2. Do not be alarmed if a few strands come out into the brush. Your hair is supposed to shed 80 to 150 strands a day. Think about this. If you skip a day of combing or brushing your hair, it will shed double the amount.
3. You have to find products that are geared for your type of hair. Buying generic products from a drugstore can be tricky because the product might not have what your hair needs. Universal products are usually those with a hydrator in it. If you are confused, feel free to go into a salon and ask what suggestions they have for your hair.
4. Grease is a NO- NO. Today, it's all about bouncy and flowing hair. Grease and oil weigh the hair down. Use a polisher or shine serum instead. It gives you the shiny, glossy look without making the hair heavy and flat.
5. Moisturize and condition your hair with heat every two weeks. Moisturized hair promotes strength and growth.
6. Put that pressing comb down. That is so the 70’s! It’s all about the ceramic flat iron. Ceramic flat irons are better for the hair because they can never burn the hair out like a pressing comb or curling iron can.
7. Tie your hair up at night with a silk scarf or switch your cotton pillowcases for silk ones. Silk is soft and smooth and can prevent your edges from rubbing out. This is the first step to receding hairlines.
8. When detangling your hair, start the combing from the ends up to the roots. If your hair is especially coarse, Infusium 23, which is a leave-in detangler, will work wonders for you.
9. Keep your hair trimmed. You should get your hair professionally trimmed every month to a month in a half.
10. Try protein for your hair. Using a protein conditioner every month will strengthen the hair, as well as mend split ends.
*Photography by Billy Montgomery
