How to create a natural hair care regimen part 2

Dear readers, if you haven’t already read part one of this post check it out first. We left off the last post talking about moisturizing and the importance of it. I am now going to jump right in to sealing. Sealing is what you do after moisturizing to keep the moisture in the hair strands. Every time you moisturize your hair you want to seal it with an oil to keep your hair moisturized throughout the day. For thicker or coarser hair, Shea butter or Jamaican black castor oil may be effective sealants, while jojoba oil or avocado oil may be better for finer hair.

Detangling is another important step in your natural hair care regimen. By detangling often, hair loss will be reduced as will dryness and breakage. When detangling, make sure to be delicate and gentle to avoid damaging your hair. Using a wide tooth comb is recommended for detangling. When detangling, start from the ends and then work your way up as this will reduce breakage. Detangle hair damp rather than when its soaking wet or dry as these states are when the hair is weak and brittle.

Once you’ve gotten to the protective styling part of your regimen you can read this post here for more general info on protective styling. Protective styling is a very personal choice but the key is to implement a low-manipulation style like buns, twists, and braids. I highly recommend braids as a protective style as it is a no-manipulation protective style after the initial application. In order to maintain the health of your hair, make sure to cover it at night with a silk scarf.

A protein treatment every 4-8 weeks is also necessary to keep hair strands strong and less susceptible to breakage. Also a trim every 3 months should be enforced to cut off split ends and avoid damage up along the hair shaft.

The main point to take away from this post is the need for not just a structured regimen, but consistency. You will have the best results if you stick to your regimen. By building a regimen that has a weekly or biweekly structure, you will be able to sustain the momentum more naturally. Keeping your regimen as simple as possible will keep you from getting discouraged or giving up. Remember, it takes 21 days to create a new habit. Incorporate low maintenance styling and do as many elements as you can (ex: wash, deep condition, and detangle) on the same day. If you need to, set alarms and schedule in time in your phone calendar to dedicate to your natural hair care regimen. If you’re still struggling to stay consistent I recommend watching youtube videos of others length checks, and healthy hair journeys to get you motivated to go and take care of your own hair.