I don’t know about you, but having natural hair can be a very extensive process when trying to maintain it. Growing up with naturally very curly and thick hair, my mother would always tell me and my sister that doing our hair hurt her arms and tired her out, but she did it because she loved us. I didn’t realize what she meant until I got older and was left to do my hair all by myself. It would take me about an hour and fifteen minutes to straighten my long, thick, curly hair.
However, when I was in high school it was worth it, because it made me feel pretty and saved me time in the morning. Little did I know I was making a huge decision that would affect me later on in my life. I thought in order for me to be beautiful I would have to straighten my curls like the other girls. That was all a lie because all that did was mess up my self-esteem and my hair.
If you straighten your hair too much it can cause heat damage, which can essentially break your hair off due to the lack of strength and moisture your hair contains. In addition, overly washing your hair can dry and scalp it out. Overly moisturizing your hair and/or scalp can weigh your hair down and clog your pores as well, and lastly, styling you hair in tight hairstyles can break your hair and can cause baldness. If you do any of these things and/or your hair is damaged or not as healthy as you want it to be, here are some things you can do!
I’ve been an athlete all my life and all the sweat can make my hair a bit more dirty than other people, however, don’t make the bad choice of washing your hair almost every day. Try to use a dry shampoo if your hair becomes greasy and itchy, to help absorb any excess moisture. In addition, make sure you wash your hair about one to maybe two times a week to keep a lot of natural moisture in your hair and scalp. Next, make sure you are moisturizing your scalp and hair with light weight oils and hair creams that lock in moisture and won’t clog your pores. One of my favorite oils to use is avocado oil, and I definitely love a good hair milk to help define and hydrate my curls. Also, you should always trim your hair every 2-3 months to cut away dead hair and/or split ends that occur naturally from products you may use and the environment.
A lot of people don’t know this, but your brush could also be damaging your hair because it pulls on follicles and is ripping your hair, especially if your brush your hair while its wet. It is better to use your fingers or a wide tooth comb, so it doesn’t pull on your hair, but still untangles it. Also, to maintain your natural hair, try to use deep conditioners or do a homemade or store-bought hair mask to strengthen, nourish and moisturize your hair. My favorite hair masks are Dr. Miracles Strong Deep Conditioner, Ors HAIRepair Banana and Bamboo Nourishing Conditioner, and Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack. If my hair is in rough shape due to harsh weather, I mix all three masks and leave it in my hair overnight. Lastly, try to stay clear of bleaching and using high amounts of heat on your hair.