Natural Hair Care Basics Shouldn’t Be Complicated – Part 1

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Whether you are just starting your natural hair care journey or you have been a natural for years, knowing and implementing the basics can promote healthier hair.  In the beginning of my journey, I did not even know where to start to try to care for my natural hair.  As I began to sort through the mountains of information out there, I found myself trying to do every single hair treatment I found on the internet or YouTube.  This took my focus away from finding a natural hair care basics routine that worked for me.  So, I have decided to share my natural hair care basics in the hope that it will help those just starting a journey or provide a refresher to you have been journeying for a while.

NATURAL HAIR CARE BASICS: PRELIMINARIES

Before we get into the meat of my basics, I want to cover briefly some tips you should keep in mind regardless of what hair regimen you follow:

• Refrain from hair abuse. Consult Stop Your Abuse by Breaking These 5 Natural Hair Bad Habits to acquaint or reacquaint yourself with this topic.

• Set aside plenty of time to complete your regimen. Detangling or styling in a hurry can prevent you being as gentle with your hair as you should.  Moreover, skimping on treatment processing time can rob your hair of the moisture and nutrients it craves.

• If you plan to use do-it-yourself (DIY) products, prepare them in advance. I hate reaching for a product to find I must stop to mix more before I can go to the next step.

• Make sure your fingernails and cuticles are well-manicured. The last thing you want is to be ripping out your hair because you don’t file down a rough nail. 

• Avoid drying your hair with regular cotton towels. These snag your hair and can absorb too much water (i.e. moisture) from your hair.  Use an old t-shirt or microfiber towels like the AuroTrends Microfiber Hair Towel Turban Large Wrap Turban Cap. 

• Avoid becoming a product junkie! Too many products can get overwhelming for your mind and physical space very fast.  Accept a warning from a girl who has experienced it. 

Staple Products

I still try new products regularly.  However, I commit to buying something new as a replacement for something already in my must-have product list.  Unless the new product adversely affects my hair (too drying, texture change, scalp irritation, etc.), I commit to using it until it is gone.  Then, I make the decision on whether to buy it again.  At one time or another, all my products were a tryout to me, but I have stuck with some basics that seem to always get me through:

• Nature Nate’s 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey for use in my DIY pre-poos

• Nature’s Way Organic Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Juice to mix with water for my hair spritzes

• Home Health Castor Oil, Cold Pressed And Processed to use as my sealing oil (this is the only product I have used for this purpose throughout my natural journey)

• Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – to mix with water for my clarifying rinse

Now, we have the basic preliminaries out the way and can start off with Steps 1 & 2 of my Natural Hair Care Basics.  Enjoy!

NATURAL HAIR CARE BASICS STEP 1: PRE-SHAMPOO or “PRE-POO”

Any curly or coily hair texture will have a more difficult time retaining moisture when compared to straight or wavy textures.  This is mainly due to sebum (the natural oil produced by your scalp) not easily being able to travel and seal the length of the hair shaft.  Think about it . . . It’s much easier to navigate a straight road at any speed than it is to drive a windy, curvy road at the same speed. 

The whole purpose of shampooing is to clean and remove oil buildup, debris, dirt, etc. from the scalp and hair.  Many shampoos strip the hair of moisture during the cleansing process.  For hair with moisture retention challenges, shampooing can be harsh and damaging. 

To counteract the effects of shampooing, many naturals perform what is known a pre-shampoo or “pre-poo” treatment.  Pre-poos come in all different forms and complexities.  However, they all share a common purpose . . . To prepare the hair before cleansing. 

Some pre-poos focus on adding extra moisture to the hair.  Honey is a natural humectant, so adding Nature Nate’s 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey to my pre-poos helps attract and retain that extra moisture. 

Some pre-poos focus on a specific treatment to deal with scalp or hair issues.  Usually, my pre-poos are a combination of the two.  I may rotate the specific treatments and even vary the length of my pre-poo processing time, but I never skip this step in my weekly hair regimen.

For in-depth information on pre-poo benefits & do-it-yourself (DIY) recipes, you can access my previous post, Experiment with Pre-poo Using This Awesome Ingredients List. 

NATURAL HAIR CARE BASICS STEP 2:  CLEANSE & CLARIFY

Next comes the cleansing (shampooing) and clarifying.  First, let’s address the elephant in the room.  There is no “right” length of time you should adhere to between shampoos.  It really depends on you and your hair.

The range of shampooing/clarifying timings I see in naturals is anywhere from every 2-3 days up to a month.  The time frame is often driven by hairstyles, amount of hair products used, moisture retention ability, and personal preference.  Those seeking maximum moisture may cleanse multiple times in a week.  Others using light products or wearing straight styles may choose to go a few weeks between washings.  It’s all comes down to what is best for the health of your hair.   

As with pre-poo treatments, the types & brands of products used to shampoo varies.  Some naturals only wash with conditioner (co-washing).  Others use only sulfate-free shampoos.  Individuals may utilize dry shampooing methods or make their own shampoos to cleanse hair.  Of course, there is always the traditional shampoo containing sulfates.  Again, you as a natural must make a choice on what will work best for you. 

A Few Words on Clarifying

Now, let’s spend a few moments discussing clarifiers.  Clarifying is simply a deeper cleanse on the hair to remove any excess buildup, impurities, kill bacteria, etc.  As you may have guessed, numerous products can be used to clarify the hair.  Naturals may choose to purchase a clarifying shampoo, taking care of the shampoo & clarification in one step.  Additionally, apple cider vinegar, bentonite clay, & baking soda are all popular clarifiers for hair. 

Clarifying has become a permanent part of my regimen because I feel it promotes my best scalp health.  I love the Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar.  My hair responds well to clarifying with this product, so I continue with it.  While shampooing on the schedule best for your hair is a must, clarifying is an optional step for many naturals.  It is something I encourage every natural to at least try before making the decision to include or exclude as part of a weekly routine.

With regards to my regimen, I try to schedule weekly shampoos & clarifying.  This works best for me given my time constraints and hair needs.   There have been times (maybe twice) when I have gone three weeks between washes.  My hair & scalp at 3 weeks was not a pretty sight.  As such, going two weeks between washing is at the outer edge of my comfort level.  

For more detailed information on my weekly cleansing and clarifying routine, take a look at my The Essential Guide to Cleansing Natural Hair & The ABCs of Clarifying Natural Hair posts.      

Enjoying what you are reading so far?  Then don’t miss the continuation of natural hair care basics in a future post.

WRAPPING IT UP

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