If you’re new to the world of natural hair, also known as “Afro-textured” hair, welcome! The good news is you don’t need a complicated natural hair routine to maintain healthy natural hair. Embracing your natural curls, coils, or kinks is an exciting journey, but it can feel overwhelming at first.
With so many products, techniques, and tips out there, where do you even begin? Whether you are transitioning or already natural, this guide will walk you through the basics of caring for your natural hair, and help you build a simple yet effective regimen.
Understanding the Characteristics of Natural Hair
Natural hair refers to hair that hasn’t been chemically straightened or relaxed. It comes in many textures and types, but there are a few common characteristics that unite most people with natural hair:
- Curly or Coily Texture: natural hair is often curly or coily, ranging from loose waves to tight coils.
- Varying Levels of Porosity: porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Some types of natural hair struggle to retain moisture, making it more prone to dryness.
- Shrinkage: natural hair tends to shrink when it dries, making it appear shorter than it actually is.
- Prone to Dryness: because of the coiled shape, it’s harder for natural oils from your scalp to travel down the hair shaft, making it more prone to dryness and breakage.
- Versatility: natural hair is incredibly versatile. You can wear it in its natural state, straighten it, or style it in protective styles.
Know Your Hair Type
The first step to building a successful hair regimen is understanding your hair type. Natural hair is often categorised into types based on its curl patterns:
- Type 3 (Curly Hair): defined, springy curls that can range from loose curls (3A) to tighter corkscrew curls (3C).
- Type 4 (Coily/Kinky Hair): tightly coiled hair that forms a zig-zag pattern. 4A has looser coils while 4B and 4C have tighter, more compact coils.
Knowing your hair type and curl pattern will help you choose the right products and techniques to keep your hair healthy and strong.
Identify Your Hair Needs
While your hair type is important, it’s also better understanding of what your hair needs:
- Is your hair dry or brittle? You might need more moisturising products.
- Is your hair prone to breakage? Focus on strengthening treatments and gentle detangling.
- Do you want more length retention? You’ll need to protect your ends and prevent split ends.
- Is your scalp dry or oily? Choose products that cater to your scalp health, as it plays a big role in overall hair health.
By identifying what your hair needs, you can tailor your routine to address specific concerns.
Natural Hair Routine
Creating a simple, consistent natural hair routine is essential for healthy natural hair. Here’s a basic guide to help you get started
1. Cleansing (once a week or every two to three weeks)
Start with a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and product build up without stripping your hair of its natural oils. If you have dry or sensitive scalp, opt for a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing conditioner (co-wash).
Recommended: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo, As I am Coconut CoWash.
2. Conditioning or Deep Conditioning (weekly or biweekly)
Conditioning is crucial for restoring moisture to your hair after cleansing. Deep conditioning treatments provide intense moisture and nourishment, helping to strengthen and hydrate your hair.
Use a deep conditioner with moisturising ingredients like honey, aloe vera, or shea butter. Leave it on for 15 – 30 minutes with heat for best results, then rinse.
Recommended: TGIN Triple Moisture Replenishing Conditioner, Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner, Camille Rose Naturals Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard, The Mane Choice Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening Mask.
3. Moisturising (daily or every few days)
Moisture is key for natural hair, so it’s important to hydrate your curls regularly. After washing, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair moisturiser to damp hair to lock in moisture.
You can follow the LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) for extra hydration. Where you layer a liquid leave-in, followed by an oil, and them a cream leave-in or hair moisturiser to seal in the moisture.
Recommended: Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner, The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage Oil, Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-in Conditioner.
4. Sealing
Sealing your hair with oils or butters helps lock in moisture from your leave-in products. Oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or castor oil work well for sealing hydration. If your hair is on the drier side, heavier butters like shea butter or mango butter can offer extra protection.
5. Styling
Natural hair is versatile, and there are many ways to style it. From wash-and-gos to twist-outs and protective styles. Choose styles that keep your hair moisturised and minimise manipulation., which helps reduce breakage.
Recommended Styling Products: Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker Gel, Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream, Eco Style Olive Oil Styling Gel.
Styling Your Natural Hair
When it comes to styling, the key is to choose low-manipulation or protective styles that reduce the amount of stress on your hair styles like twist-outs, braid-outs, and buns are perfect for daily wear. For extra protection, consider styles like box braids, Senegalese twists, or cornrows.
Styling Tips
- Be gentle when detangling. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers, starting from the ends and working your way up.
- Moisturise your hair before styling to prevent breakage and keep it soft.
- Avoid tight hair styles that put tension on your scalp, which can lead to breakage.
Natural Hair Care Tips
- Be Consistent: stick to your routine and give your hair time to adjust to new products. Consistency is key for long-term hair health.
- Protect Your Hair at Night: sleep in a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to prevent friction that can cause breakage. You can also use a satin pillowcase.
- Trim Your Ends: Regular trims (every 3 – 4 months) help get rid of split ends and keep your hair healthy.
- Stay Hydrated: drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients to support hair growth from the inside out.
- Use Heat Sparingly: excessive heat can damage natural hair. Minimize use of flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers. If you do use heat, always apply a heat protectant.
- Keep It Simple: you don’t need a ton of products. You can even use DIY deep conditioning masks. Find what works and stick with it.
Embracing your natural hair is a beautiful journey of self-discovery and self-love. Stay consistent, listen to what your hair needs, enjoy the process, and celebrate your unique texture.
