Monday, December 12, 2011

Natural Hair Care: Fall/Winter Regimen


It’s that time of year again and here in Florida the weather is so unpredictable but usually around this time of year it gets outrageous! At 630a it’s 45 degrees and then by the end of the day it’s a cool 71. The dry air can cause your coils to become dry and brittle, therefore it is essential to protect and prevent damage to your hair during these seasons with heavier products. Butters like Shea, Mango, Cocoa or Shealoe are great. Oils can range from light such as coconut to heavy such as castor oil, so consider switching them up or try some combinations during the cooler weather.
Cold weather can cause dry, itchy skin and scalp from a lack of moisture which can lead to dry, limp hair. So stay hydrated (inside and out), stash your summer products, and be sure to deep condition and to do protein treatments as needed. Cover your curls with hats or scarfs and wear them in protective styles as much as possible, also try to find shampoo that’s specific to your hair type and rich in ceramides but try to avoid washing your curls too often this can also lead to dry brittle hair.
While doing my research for this post I found that the heating systems used indoors during the cold months are also damaging to our curls. The systems can cause our curls to lose moisture and make them dull; some have found that using a humidifier can work well in overcoming this issue because it introduces moisture into the atmosphere. You can also try leaving a pot of steaming water on the stove for the same effect. Split ends become more noticeable during the fall and winter months, and the best way to treat them is limiting how much you handle your hair, use of heating devices and harsh chemicals. Heat can damage the structure of your hair and causes the loss of ceramides which is essential to bounding hair cells, reducing split ends and repairing hair fibers. Try to avoid excessive heat even in the shower and when washing your curls use warm/cool water.
Here is a sample of my Fall/Winter Regimen--
·         Wash as needed with shampoo (once or twice a month)
·         Stretch
·         No combs or brushes—FINGERS ONLY!
·         Twists 95%
·         Oil every day
·         Moisturize every 3 days
·         Protective styling
·         Satin bonnet, scarf, pillowcase EVERY NIGHT no exceptions!!

Detailed regimen- -
1.       Apply oil to my hair (finger detangle during this process), then  Lustrasilk or Queen Helene’s conditioner without a plastic cap for 1 to 2 hours
2.       Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, allow water to fully saturate hair
3.       Divide hair into sections (2 to 4)
4.       Shampoo hair one section at a time, rinsing thoroughly
5.       Apply a conditioner that has great “slip”, which is Hello Hydration usually for me, to both sides
6.       Allow the water to run over my entire head to help with the distribution of the conditioner. Rinse thoroughly AGAIN!
7.       Wrap hair in a cotton t-shirt, apply coconut oil and twist

2 comments:

  1. Keep up the good work, Your blog is looking so good! About Brushing hair, everyone should brush their hair with a natural bristle brush right before they wash it, that stimulates the blood (blood circulation which gets the blood to flowing in your scalp. It's good for hair growth.(I'm a Stylist) By the way I love Flordia!!!!!

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the comment.

    I am only posting what works for me. EVERYone should do what works for them.


    Thanks

    ReplyDelete