Breakage is one of the top concerns for women going natural. The line of demarcation
which exist at the point where your previously processed hair meets your
new growth, is usually the place where breakage is most likely to occur because
it’s a very fragile spot. To avoid as much breakage as possible, a deliberate protein
treatment is a must. Weekly or biweekly deep conditioning and protective styling
will help keep breakage in check.
NO, Transitioning is the process of going natural while holding on to the relaxed
ends which will be cut off over time. By going natural, you do not want to apply
any chemicals that will alter your hair texture and natural curl pattern. Texturizers
will definitely alter your hair texture by loosening out your curl pattern to about
30- 50%. If your goal is to be free of texture-altering chemicals, then avoid
texturizers as your hair grows out.
Hair grows at the rate of one-quarter to one-half inch each month, depending on
your genetic makeup. Other factors like hormones, medications, diet, stress can
affect our hair growth. Rather than obsessing about growing your hair long, shift
your focus to grooming and maintaining a healthy hair.
There are 3 basic hair textures: fine, medium and coarse hair textures. Use a
thread to experiment. If your hair strand is slimmer than the thread, then you
have a fine hair. If it’s (hair strand) the same size, then you have a medium
texture, if it’s wider than the thread, then you have a coarse hair texture.
Applying products with high slippage level and wearing your hair in stretched styles
are some of the ways to prevent your hair from tangling. kinky hair is very fragile,
and every curl represents a delicate point along the hair shaft. Therefore, applying
the various stretching techniques and using products that makes detangling easy
is recommended.
Natural hair curls over itself, forms knots and tangles easily, this is due to the
structure of the natural hair. When combing, it breaks easily from the knotted
point.
There are several ways to achieve this, but it must be in accordance to your hair
texture and type. Most importantly you need patience and commitment. Steps
below will have you at your goal in no time:
- What you put inside you is what you’re going to get on the outside. So drink
enough water and eat right.
- Don’t become a product junkie. Really get to know your texture and type and
what works for you.
- Use wide toothed combs and your fingers to detangle.
- Let your hair air dry so it can retain as much moisture as possible. If you must
use a towel, gently blot the hair to remove excess moisture. Avoid rigorous towel
drying which can induce hair breakage.
- Shampoo your hair once in one or two weeks with natural shampoos that are
sulfate and paraben free.
- Use warm water during shampooing to remove dirt, product buildup and for easy
penetration of conditioners. Rinse off conditioners with cold water to gently close
the cuticle and lock in moisture into the hair strand.
- Natural hair thrives in moisture; moisturize your hair daily to prevent dryness.
- When hair is not in protective style, braid your hair up at night in something like
bantu knots, two-strand twists or a pineapple, to protect from breakage
Invest in a satin/ silk head bonnet or scarf to protect your hair while you sleep.
Type 4 hair i.e Kinky Curly: these exhibit tightly curled coils with a distinct curl
pattern and experiences high level of shrinkage.
Having natural hair means you have not applied any chemical that can change your
natural curl pattern. To have natural hair, you must stop applying chemical relaxers
on your hair.
Hair porosity is the ability of the hair to absorb and retain moisture. It’s important
to know about your hair porosity as it determines the type of treatment your hair
needs and how you should handle your hair per time.