3LRCHALLENGE: Natural Hair Regimen Basics

Hey Guys,

A typical regimen includes at the very basics a step for hair de-tangling, cleansing, and moisturizing. It is however important that we know why these steps are important so we can properly incorporate them into our hair regimen.

De-tangling:

 Curly hair has the tendency to knot on itself and form tangles, and this is where de-tangling comes into play. I avoid de-tangling on dry hair because I find that for me, I get more breakage. This may be the opposite case for you, so try out both methods if you are unsure which your hair prefers. To detangle on wet hair you simply saturate your hair with water, and a conditioner with good slip, and then work your way combing through the hair, starting from the tips to the roots. You can use either a comb, a Denman, tangle teaser or simply your hands. Detangling is important because it gets rid of tangles and allows for easier styling. De-tangling on dry hair involves saturating hair with an oil and them working through the tangles either by hand, or with a comb.

Cleansing:

Cleansing is getting the hair clean, and rid of any dirt and buildup. A clean scalp and hair should always be the starting point for taking care of your hair. The idea behind washing our bodies to keep our skin clean is the same we should apply to keeping our hair and scalp clean. A dirty scalp is a breeding ground for bacteria, it attracts dirt and does not allow for circulation.

My preferred method for cleansing my scalp is by using a shampoo. In the past year, I have grown to appreciate sulfate free shampoos, but I will be the first to say that I have no issues with using a sulfate shampoo if it is available. Some people use cleansers that aim to clean the scalp without leaving it feeling stripped (This does not work for me because my scalp usually doesn’t get cleaned, and it starts to get irritated soon after). Others 'co-wash', which is simply using a conditioner to clean the hair and scalp, as opposed to using a shampoo (look up curly girl routine by Lorraine Massey​)

Moisturizing:

 

Moisture can ONLY be introduced by either adding water, or a water based product to your hair. Hair oil will not moisturize your hair, but only help to seal in any moisture you already added in. A lot of hair butters, and other 'moisturizers' out on the market are usually water based so it does offer some comfort that your hair is getting moisturized. It is always helpful to read the ingredients label to see what's in the product to determine if it is an oil based product or not. Rule of thumb is if water is listed in the first 4 ingredients then it’s usually a water based product. Moisture is important to keep your hair hydrated, and it is important for binding with the protein structure in hair to allow for stable hair structure.

My Co-host for the challenge Tega is also sharing lots of tips and helpful information on her blog so be sure to follow her blog Social Hermit

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Bella Joya