Style Icon Safiya
Pages and pages of online information have been dedicated to natural hair but, when you break it down, it only takes a few disciplined practices to achieve healthy, strong hair that retains length and moisture. And while it might be tempting to look to new products or ‘the hot new regimen on the natural hair streets’, there are many tried and true approaches that often go overlooked. Here are five natural hair practices that are often overlooked but have amazing results.
Protective Styling
Now this one might surprise you since, everywhere you turn, a natural is talking about protective styling. But, anecdotally, very few take a consistent, disciplined approach to protective styling, despite the fact that it’s a proven booster of length and volume.
Yes, it can be hard to not have access to your hair for extended periods of time, but protective styling is a proven and effective way to retain length on all hair textures and types. If you’re every looking to beef up the length and volume of your natural hair, set aside a few months and try consistent protective styling.
And keep in mind that the intensity of protective styling you need is directly related to how strong your hair is. Stronger/more resilient hair will require shorter protective styling stints and less binding styles. Whereas more fragile hair will require longer periods of protective styling, and styles (like twisted buns and cornrowed updos) that tuck the ends completely. Check out our protective styling do’s and dont’s.
Pre-pooing
The dry, squeaky feeling hair can have after washing is a common concern among naturals. But the solution is simple — pre-pooing with a penetrating oil (like coconut oil). Plus, it can help with pre-wash detangling. Try a quick 20 minute pre-poo before your next detangle and wash. Not only will your hair feel softer after washing, you’ll also see a reduction in breakage and shedding that occurs during detangling and washing.
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