Natural hair care tips are important for every woman to keep her hair looking full and healthy. Growing healthy natural hair does not happen overnight. In fact, studies show that hair grows at an average rate of 1/2-inch per month.
So the journey of growing a healthy natural hair requires patience, dedication, and the right knowledge. Therefore, this article offers useful tips and recommendations of caring for your natural hair to make it longer and healthier.
Natural hair care tips for every woman
1. Maintain a healthy diet
A healthy hair is usually a result of what comes out of the kitchen. Eating a balanced diet is crucial for hair growth. “The blood vessels nourish the cells in the hair bulb, which is the base of the hair follicle, so what you consume is vital,” said Cataanda James, the Senior Technician at the New York Technical Center for L’Oréal USA.
There are many food types that are great for hair growth, from carbohydrates to vitamins. Concentrate on foods that are rich in vitamin K, C, and A as they can richly boost your hair, keeping it longer, healthier and shinier.
2. Stay hydrated
Still on healthy eating, do you know that drinking water can help with your quest for hair growth and care? Having an Afro-natural hair means you have to make water your friend. Water does not only contain minerals and vitamins that can help detoxify your body system, it ensures that your hair is well fed to grow naturally and healthy.
In other words, your hair needs constant moisture and it usually starts from inside out. So stay hydrated to provide your strands with plenty fluids to create and maintain that gorgeous natural hair.
3. Know your hair type
This is actually one of the things you should know if you are on a natural hair journey. The Afro-natural hair comes in four main categories – type 1 (straight), type 2 (wavy), type 3 (curly) and type 4 (coily). The subcategories are now determined by the extent of the wave, curl or coil.
For instance, type 1 hair ranges from fine and soft (1A) to coarse and thick (1C). Type two ranges from slight waves (2A) to waves resembling ringlets (2C). Type 3 features loose curls (3A) to thick corkscrew curls (3C), while type 4 starts from soft curls (4A) to tighter zigzag-like curls (4C).
Knowing your hair type can help you understand how to take care of your hair. It will help you know the products to use, the ones to avoid and how to style your hair to keep from breaking.
4. Massage your scalp
Scalp massages help to increase blood circulation to the hair follicles and increase hair growth levels. The more you massage your scalp, the quicker your hair tends to grow. A great way to implement scalp massaging is when you are washing and styling your hair. Do a gentle massage while you shampoo your hair and adding hair products during styling.
5. Moisturise and condition your hair
Moisture is a vital component of hair care and growth. Specifically, water keeps your hair soft, which is what gives hair its elasticity and the ability to bend and not break under manipulation. When your hair lacks moisture, it becomes dry and tends to break even when you are careful with combing and styling.
Additionally, make deep conditioning sessions a weekly routine. It is not even advisable to wash your hair everyday as that can remove the essential oils, leaving your hair dry and prone to breakage. But you can deep condition your hair to keep it soft and healthy.
6. Use good quality hair products
The products you use for your hair can make a great difference. Using natural hair products such as eggs, honey, bananas, olive oil, etc, is usually the best. But caring for your hair is not one-size-fits-all. This is why you should understand your hair type so you can know how to feed it.
To choose the right product, analyse and scan the ingredient list of any product you wish to purchase. The first five ingredients are usually the main ingredients you should look out for. If they are good for your hair type, go for them. If not, try another product.
The most important thing is that your products should contain natural oils and butters, including almond, coconut, avocado, shea and grapeseed oils. Avoid mineral or petroleum products that tend to coat your hair shaft.
7. Comb your hair gently
Combing a thick natural hair can seem like a daunting task. But there is a way to make the process a soothing experience. Begin by using your fingers to detangle the hair. Never comb your hair when it is patched dry to avoid breakage. Try to wet the hair or at least keep it damp before doing any combing.
When you want to comb, start from the tips to detangle any knots and work your way to the roots. Never start from the roots first. You will just stress yourself unnecessarily and lose some hair as well.
8. Trim your hair regularly
Trimming the tips of your hair does not make your hair grow faster, but it does help it stay healthy. It helps to get rid of damaged, broken, or split ends. Trimming your hair regularly also helps to reduce the likelihood of damage traveling up the hair shaft.
9. Do protective styling
There are so many beautiful hairstyles and it is tempting to try all of them. However, some of these styles can damage your hair, particularly the edges. If you want to maintain a healthy natural hair, go for protective styles.
First, avoid or minimise heat styling with blow dryers, curling irons and pressing combs. Avoid any style that will drag your edges. Opt for looser styles that will not stress your edge or scalp.
10. Love your hair
We are all created differently, so we have to learn to accept ourselves for who we are. Love your hair, regardless of type, texture, density or length. Stop using derogatory words odor your hair just because your neighbour’s are longer and fuller. Understand that your curls are incredible and they fit you.
When you love your hair, you will not do anything that can damage it. Instead you will learn to manage it well, making it beautiful, full and healthy.
