Thinking of going natural, but don't know where to start? You're going to want to check out this guide to textured hair care for beginners.
Have you been using relaxers for a long time (like Nickie Nou)? Or have you been heat styling for years? Whatever method you’ve been using to tame your textured hair, you want to improve the look, health, and growth. The best way to do this is by going natural. But where do you start? All the tutorials, products, and advice out there can be so overwhelming.
No worries, Sis. We got you.
Here’s your…
Guide to Textured Hair Care for Beginners
Each head of hair is as unique as the diva who wears it. That’s why there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to hair care. This guide, however, is a solid starting point in your journey to discovering the care routine that works best for your textured hair. Let’s get into it…
Washing - Moisture infusion and retention is key.
If you only remember one thing about textured hair care let it be this - moisturizing hair regularly keeps it healthy and strong.
Things like heat styling, shampooing, dying, relaxing, etc can strip our hair of moisture. This is why it’s important to develop and maintain a hair care routine that infuses moisture and hydration.
Here are some things you can do to keep your hair hydrated:
- Co-washing: This is short for “conditioner washing.” When you co-wash, you replace your shampoo with a conditioner. Our Give Me the Slip Blast Hydration Conditioner contains organic aloe juice blended with peppermint mint leaf extract and other ingredients that infuse moisture and leave your scalp feeling clean.
- Sulfate-free and moisturizing shampoo: When you co-wash, it can cause build up on your scalp. If this happens, use a shampoo that won’t strip your hair. Our Coconut Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo is made with rich essential ingredients to purify your hair while delivering intense moisture to each strand.
Deep conditioning - Do it consistently.
Did we mention that moisture is key? The reason textured hair gets so dry is that the oil our scalp produces has a difficult time making it down all of the twists and turns to moisturize the strands. Deep conditioning with our Pumpkin Mint Deep Treatment Masque will nourish your hair with natural oils and extracts for maximum moisture infusion.
Some of us can get away with deep conditioning 2 to 4 times per month, and some of us need to do it once a week. Your deep conditioning routine could take some trial-and-error to perfect, but it needs to be happening regularly to keep your hair healthy, moisturized, and shiny.
Wear a plastic shower cap (or even a plastic bag) while deep conditioning. The heat produced by your own scalp will help lock in that oh-so-good moisture.
Detangling - Use the proper technique and do it carefully.
Using the right technique while detangling your hair will help you keep it strong and healthy.
Here’s how you do it… Section your hair into 4 using clips or elastics that will not damage your hair. Go section-by-section doing the following:
- Saturate with conditioner or oil. If you are dry detangling, make sure to coat your strands in oil before detangling. If you use a watery conditioner, you can just move on to the detangling. If you are using a thicker conditioner or heavy oil, you can use a spray bottle with water to moisten the conditioned/oiled hair to properly coat the strands.
- Use your fingers to gently detangle from the ends to the roots.
- If you run into a particularly tricky knot, use your spray bottle to wet it and gently work out the knot.
- If you want to detangle further, use a wide tooth comb or Diva Must-Have Brush to gently detangle from ends to roots.
Style - Prep well and pick one that lasts.
Protective hairstyles are great for maintaining moisture and preventing breakage because you don’t have to restyle your hair every day.
These are some popular protective hairstyles you can do to help strengthen and grow your locks:
- Braids
- Twists
- Locs
- Wash-n-go
For braids, twists, and locs to be truly protective, they have to meet the following criteria:
- They are made with care. There is no excessive combing, pulling, or brushing while they are being done.
- They aren’t too tight. If they hurt or pull at your scalp a lot, then they need to be carefully undone. Styles that feel comfortable are protective.
And when protective styles are taken out, they must be taken out of the hair the same way they were put in to avoid damaging the strands.
Make sure to prepare your hair before a protective style by:
- Washing
- Deep conditioning
- LOC (leave-in, oil, and cream) for high porosity hair, or LCO (leave-in, cream, and oil) for low porosity hair. Not sure what kind of porosity your hair is? Click here to learn all about it.
- A trim (if needed)
- Stretching without heat. Specifically, with braids, twists, banding, curlformers, etc.
For tips on caring for your protective hair style, click here.
Preserve - Keep your style and prevent dryness and breakage.
Prepare for bed by putting your hair into a loose bun toward the top of your head. If one bun stretches out your curls, then try smaller loose buns around your head.
An alternative to buns is twists. Create twists by taking two large chunks of hair and twisting them together. Go all around your head making twists until all your strands are all secured.
Once your hair is styled for bed, put on a satin or silk bonnet, or use a silk or satin pillowcase. Compared to cotton, satin or silk helps prevent hair from drying out, and produces less friction from movement that can break or damage hair. The satin and silk also helps keep protective styles safe and looking fabulous.
You Got This!
Diva, now you know the basics of going natural and how to care for your textured hair. But before you embark on this natural hair care journey, know this: you are not alone. There is a whole community of naturalista hair divas, and heat- and chemical- styled divas who keep their hair healthy and beautiful with Curls Dynasty. Click here to follow us on Instagram, and join other Dynasty of Divas just like you!