Taking care of natural hair can be like an extreme sport! Because a lot of us weren’t given the opportunity to learn about our natural hair from birth, we had to learn and get used to it later on in life. As a result, we’ve all made mistakes we wish we could have avoided at different points in our hair journey. So, let’s chat about a few of my “don’ts” when it comes to curly and kinky hair: things I’ve learned to avoid in order to keep my hair thriving.
First up, don’t let your hair get dry too often. I cannot stress this enough. Dry hair gets terrible split ends and breaks. It is the quickest and most effective way to stunt your length retention. You definitely want to ensure you’re moisturizing and deep conditioning often. You also want to figure out your porosity level. Some would say this is even more important than your hair texture or curl pattern when it comes to moisture, because it can help you better understand how to provide what your hair needs and how it will receive nutrients!
Your porosity level determines how your strands absorb and retain moisture. By figuring this out, you can determine what products to use and how to layer them for your hair. My hair is low porosity so I benefit from using heat whenever I deep condition. I also love using Uncle Funky’s Daughter’s Midnite Train Leave-In Conditioner or Thirsty Curls Leave-In Curl Revitalizer, followed by Supercurl Miracle Moisture Creme & Extra Butter Curl Forming Creme in that order. I’ve sung the glory of this combination so many times, especially when it starts getting cold, during the fall and winter.
Secondly, don’t over-manipulate your hair and avoid too much tension on your edges. Be gentle and patient when you detangle and style your hair! Regularly applying tension on your hair leads to hair loss and thinning. I know a lot of us love our high buns and ponytails, but try as much as possible not to make them too tight. Let your edges breathe.
For those of us that love braids, twists, faux locs, or other protective styles of this nature, make sure they aren’t too heavy for your hair so they don’t rip your hair out. Don’t be afraid to tell your stylist to be gentle around your edges, and avoid glues or gels that are too harsh. Curly Magic Curl Stimulator is a great, gentle, strengthening and nourishing gel that gives you good hold and can be used to slick down your hair without damage.
Don’t forget to trim! Trimming is so important for our hair. We need to get rid of those split ends and single strand knots as much as possible. If you let them linger, they only travel up the strand and cause more damage, eventually breaking off the entire strand. Inspect your ends regularly. Personally, I don’t have a trimming schedule, I just trim whenever I feel like my hair needs it but there are many tips out there that can help you establish when it’s time for your hair to receive this treatment.
Don’t let just anyone touch your hair. Be careful with the stylists you choose; not everyone is skilled with styling curly and kinky hair. Make sure you do adequate research before picking a stylist, and that they are knowledgeable about your hair type and have experience. Ask about the products they are using in your hair. If you’re not comfortable with a product or a technique they’re using, say something! It’s your head, you are paying, you have a right.
Last but certainly not least, don’t let anyone tell you about the hair that grows from your head. Your opinion on your hair is what matters. Rock your hair however you feel comfortable and with pride!
What are sone don’ts that you would recommend to other naturalistas?
