The weather doesn’t seem to be able to make up its mind. It seems only necessary to drop some natural hair care tips for the transition from winter to spring, especially when it come curly hair:
Bonnets will be your best friend. Being that days can be freezing cold and then windy and then all of sudden sunny (sometimes all on the same day), your hair needs to be protected from the elements outside. Some nifty tricks could be wearing a beanie, bobble or toboggan hat over a bonnet. The material of the hat is usually too harsh for your hair, so a satin bonnet would help keep moisture in your hair.
Moisture is key! Water is first when it comes to moisture (everyday if you can help it). Seal it in with an oil of your choice (lighter oil for loose curl patterns and heavier oil for tighter curl patterns) and for maximum protection, seal with a butter or cream (mainly for tighter curl patterns). If your hair is in a stretched out style and you do not want your hair to shrink back up, then spray a little water in your hand and work it into your roots. Any butters or creams you add always focus it on the ends of your hair away from your roots.
Bag it up! In extreme cases, when your hair doesn’t have any bounce and feels like straw, you’re going to need reinforcements. Disposable plastic heat caps will create moisture for your hair kind of like a greenhouse for plants. Just spray your hair with water until it’s damp not dripping wet and work in an oil of your choice for added moisture.
Protective styling is where it’s at. Anything like the mini-twist style, when the ends of your hair are covered and grouped together, it’s a protective style. This allows time for your hair to “rest”, so that moisture isn’t always being sucked out of your hair. Protective styles will aid in length retention and allow for fewer dead ends.
Eva Andrews shows off her curly hair. She chooses to wear her hair in tight curls. Photo by Eva Andrews.
Cleanse for cleansing’s sake! Yes, moisture is key, but if there is too much buildup, then your hair won’t receive an ounce of that moisture. Cleansing can be considered a co-wash (cleansing with a conditioner), shampoo wash (not too much), and even an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse. Whatever your preference is, just cleanse your hair in order to start fresh so your hair can receive optimal moisture from the products you use. Massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers and not your nails while cleansing your hair for the best results.
Results may vary from person to person based on hair type and other factors. Stay Curly!
Natural hair care input from Nikyra James, Dominique Daniels and Andy Liberte.
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