Natural Hair 101: Hair Secrets Exposed! Get The Best Hair Ever With These Easy Tips (Start Growing Your Hair Long Today)

Last Updated on September 11, 2022 by The Blessed Queens

Natural hair, today we are talking all about it. You are going to learn what are the best methods out there to try. It’s time you grow some hair out! Let’s get starting!

Natural Hair 101: Hair Secrets Exposed! Get The Best Hair Ever With These Easy Tips (Start Growing Your Hair Long Today)

For newcomers to natural hair, it can be intricate, perplexing, and downright daunting. Women are disoriented when it comes to products, styling, and tools, and have no idea what they should do while starting their new natural hair adventure.

You’ve come to the correct place if you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to help you transition to natural hair and achieve the growth you’ve always desired.

What’s so amazing about natural hair care these days? More and more solutions that target the most prevalent difficulties with this hair type, primarily a predisposition toward dryness and the need for constant hydration, gentle washing, and detangling, are becoming widely available. This means that everyone has more alternatives and possibilities to get the treatment their texture requires.

To embark on a successful natural hair journey, you must first comprehend what the word “natural hair” actually entails.

When you don’t know where to begin, caring for afro hair might be difficult. We debunk the stereotypes that afro hair is unprofessional, unsightly, and difficult to manage. We think all afro hair is gorgeous!

You can cherish and enjoy your hair with the correct hair care methods and afro hair products. You can avoid common afro hair issues like breakage, dandruff, hair loss, and itchy scalp by taking care of your curls.

What Is Natural Hair?

Natural hair is hair that hasn’t been chemically straightened with a relaxer (also known as a perm) and hasn’t been relaxed. You wear your hair in its natural state when you have natural hair.

You’ll often hear ladies in the black community (or the natural hair community) discussing going natural.

Going natural is a term used to describe the shift of black people (particularly African American women) from relaxed to natural hair. When going natural, some women prefer to cut their hair, which is known as a large chop.

Over time, an increasing number of women have begun to wear their hair in its natural state. Today, the developing trend is known as the “natural hair movement” (or the afro hair culture by those often disconnected from the movement).

It’s critical to recognize the distinction between natural and chemical-free hair. Chemicals are frequently thought to be dangerous on the surface, although this is not always the case.

The majority of substances you come into contact with on a daily basis are absolutely safe and harmless. Water, or H2O, is an example of a safe chemical.

Transitioning to Natural Hair

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve taken the decision to commit to natural hair. Transitioning can be exceedingly frustrating, to the point where some women give up and quit. We’ve all been there, so don’t give up!

While the natural hair and curls seem great on Instagram, there are a few things you should know before going on this adventure. I want you to be completely ready.

Regardless of how many products you use, your hair will most likely not look like that of your favorite blogger, Youtuber, or Instagram star. We all have various textures due to the fact that we were all born with them. Accept it and learn to appreciate your hair for what it is, rather than what you think it should be.

Weather and rain will still be a concern for you.

Particularly if your items contain a lot of glycerin! At its core, glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws moisture to itself. Glycerin has a powerful ability to attract moisture to the hair, but it also has the opposite effect.

It’s all about finding the right balance. On highly humid days, your hair may be drawn to too much moisture, causing it to swell and frizz. The contrary occurs on low humidity days (cold, dry days) when the surrounding air is dryer than your hair. To balance the moisture in the atmosphere, moisture is extracted from the hair and returned to the air. Choose your products carefully!

The time spent taking care of your hair will increase…BIG TIME.

I’m not going to lie to you: this isn’t going to be easy. It takes a lot of effort to maintain natural hair. Prepare to spend a little more time giving your strands some TLC if you’re transitioning or considering going natural.

Curly hair is naturally drier because the natural oils produced by your body have to work a little harder to get down the twists and turns of your hair shaft – from the scalp to the ends. As a result, you will and should devote more effort to moisturizing your hair on a daily basis.

Your best friend will and should be leave-in conditioner! In addition to battling dryness, I had no clue how much time I would devote to detangling my hair properly, researching and purchasing products, and trying out various styles.

Failing to plan, is a plan to fail.

The last and most significant thing you should know before going natural is the need of planning. When I originally went natural, I assumed I’d be able to jump in the shower, wash my hair, and be on my way. Not in the least.

When it did not materialize, I was presented with a hard reality.

Don’t be deceived by the name “wash & go,” and don’t give up if your hair isn’t capable of doing so. If you want to rock that look, make sure to plan ahead. Failure to plan, like many other things in life, is a plan to fail.

Do you want a stunning twist-out for a special occasion? Twist your hair and let it air dry completely for the finest results.

Styling Options While Transitioning

Low-heat styles, like as roller sets, perm rods, or flexi-rods, and updos that protect your ends, will last longer and require less daily manipulation.

Heavy manipulation can cause breakage, which is probable during transitioning because your strands are weaker where your relaxer finishes and natural texture begins. The line of demarcation is the name given to this location.

It is preferable to have less everyday manipulation.

While transitioning to natural hair, protective styles are also a terrific option. Braids, wigs, and classic sew-in solutions are all beneficial in that they allow you to take a break from your hair. If you want to support continued healthy hair growth, pay careful attention to your scalp while wearing any protective style.

How to Start a Natural Hair Journey

Natural black hair (African American hair) is commonly referred to as nappy hair, which necessitates the use of a relaxer (i.e., having the hair straightened with chemicals).

We’ve heard of women being discriminated against in the workplace because of their natural hairstyles (on textured hair), which some companies consider unprofessional.

Dreadlocks, box braids, bantu knots, afro puffs, wash-and-go styles, and the popular twist-out are examples of “unprofessional” hairstyles popular among black women.

Others have been turned down for jobs or promotions due to their natural hairstyle. Many couples have had relationship problems as a result of their natural hair.

The first step in taking care of your afro hair is to establish a simple regimen that fits into your schedule. If you stick to a regular pattern, you’ll be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t. It’s difficult to recognize what has to be fixed if something goes wrong or if you test a new product if you don’t have a routine.

For many people, the idea of developing a hair care routine is daunting. Hair gurus on YouTube claim that you should wash your hair every week for an entire day and spend 8 hours or more styling it during the week. Go ahead and do that if that’s what you want to do, but it’s not required! In actuality, having a simple, consistent regimen that fits into your daily life is considerably easier. If your hair health and development routine works for you, you’ll be more likely to stick to it and experience benefits.

Don’t know where to begin? Cleanse, Moisturize, Style, Repeat is the method we propose.

Cleanse

It’s critical to maintain a clean and healthy scalp. You should cleanse your scalp on a daily basis, just as you should wash and moisturize your face. Hair growth begins in the follicle, and new hairs emerge from the scalp’s microscopic pores. When the pores are clogged, it’s difficult for new hair to grow in, resulting in painful lumps and ingrown hairs. It’s critical to keep your scalp clean because it can encourage fungal infections, dandruff, stunted hair development, and other issues.

We recommend bathing your scalp with a gentle sulphate-free shampoo every 7-10 days.

To remove debris and increase blood flow to the scalp, massage the shampoo into your scalp in a moderate circular motion. Hair development is aided by a clean and stimulated scalp.

Moisturise

It’s time for the most vital phase of your afro hair routine: moisturizing, once your hair is clean and nearly dry. Just as you wouldn’t wash or dress without properly moisturising your skin, it’s critical to keep your hair moisturized.

The basic goal of an Afro hair routine is to keep hair clean, moisturized, and easy to style and maintain while avoiding harmful habits. A program will assist you in achieving healthy afro hair that is longer and stronger than you ever imagined.

A lack of moisture is the primary cause of afro hair breaking. The curse of afro hair is dryness. Dry hair is prone to breaking, and because afro hair is prone to dryness, it is also prone to breakage. It’s crucial to keep your hair moisturized by trapping in moisture.

So, how do you keep moisture in? The LOC technique (layering on products) is something we recommend:

Styling

Afro hair care benefits from protective styling and low manipulation looks. Check out our style page for basic afro hairstyles that will take you from the office to date night.

Any style in which the ends of your hair are tucked away is referred to be a protective style. Braids, twists, and weaves are examples of protective hairstyles. Keep the style in for no more than 6-8 weeks with these styles, and keep your hair clean and moisturized throughout. Everything you need to maintain your hair in tip-top shape is included in our protective style set.

Low manipulation hairstyles are those that require little care and don’t require you to touch your hair!

Because you don’t have to manage your hair much during the week, wearing buns or a roll, twist, and pin style keeps knots and tangles at bay. Wrapping your hair at night for these looks will keep it looking wonderful all week.

Working with your hair’s natural curls is recommended while styling. Those who claim afro hair is unmanageable are frequently attempting to straighten it, which goes against its natural structure.

If you want a straight look, consider traditional African threading techniques to stretch and straighten your hair without using heat or chemicals. This is a fantastic technique to give your hair a fresh style while keeping it healthy.

Repeat

After your hair is washed, dried, and styled, you can change up your look throughout the week to suit your mood. While the basis of the regimen remains the same, you can vary the styles you wear each week, such as switching from a low-maintenance bun to micro braids to a twist out after each wash day. The most important thing is to stick to your schedule and make only minimal modifications at a time.

Let’s talk about breakage, dandruff, and other frequent difficulties now that we’ve covered how to create an effective afro hair routine.

Natural Hair Texture & Porosity

TEXTURE: The width of each individual strand of hair is referred to as texture. Hair textures are divided into three categories: fine, medium, and thick. Thick hair is frequently referred to as coarse, especially among women who fall into the 4C group. Fine textures are more prone to fracture since they are more delicate.

DENSITY: Density refers to the total number of individual hair strands. The number of strands per square inch is a simple way to think about it. Because the hair is more compressed per square inch, extremely dense hair can easily accomplish enormous voluminous styles.

POROSITY: The ability of your hair to absorb moisture is referred to as porosity. This is, in my opinion, one of the most important things to understand about your natural hair.

ELASTICITY: Elasticity is a measurement of your hair’s “stretchiness.” Your hair most likely has low elasticity if it is difficult to stretch when wet and does not return to its natural form after pulling.

Because hair is so delicate, low flexibility will result in more breakage. Elasticity cannot exist when moisture and protein levels are out of equilibrium, according to research.

Problems with Afro Hair and Why They Occur

We’ve received thousands of letters, texts, and phone calls from ladies with afro hair in the decade since we published the initial Afrocenchix website. Many of the questions concerned breakage, dandruff, hair loss, and itchy scalps: these common afro hair issues are easier to address if you understand how they develop. Let’s take a look at each one separately and then look for simple answers.

Breakage

Afro hair, like other varieties, grows at a rate of roughly 6 inches per year, but it frequently breaks off as it develops, earning it the reputation of being short and frail.

The fact that afro hair is prone to breakage contributes to the belief that it does not grow. Every curl and coil has the ability to break afro hair. Because of the curly nature of afro hair, sebum produced by the scalp is unable to reach the hair’s ends, leaving them dry, brittle, and susceptible to snapping.

Dryness and friction from harsh handling, cotton pillows, and wooly hats and scarves are all common causes of breakage. Heat, such as that produced by straighteners and blow dryers, weakens the hair and causes it to break. Chemicals can also cause weak, brittle hair that breaks easily, with relaxers and bleach-based hair colors being the most common culprits for afro hair.

Dandruff

Dandruff and severe flakes can be caused by using harsh hair products. An overgrowth of microbial fungus is another common reason, which can lead to significant dandruff if not treated and controlled. Dandruff can also be caused by a buildup of sebum produced by your scalp, which is exacerbated when paired with shed skin. Sebum, skin flakes, and product remnants build up on the scalp if hair isn’t washed frequently, making it subject to dandruff. Simply having a dry scalp is another major cause of dandruff.

Loss of hair

Tight braids or extensions (also known as traction alopecia), as well as damage from rigorous handling and the use of chemicals like relaxers, are all common causes of hair loss (traumatic alopecia). Hair loss and breakage can be caused by using the improper tools. For example, harsh bristle brushes or combs with dozens of small teeth will rip out your hair and damage the hair that remains.

Long-term afro hair maltreatment can result in irreversible hair loss and bald patches. Stress can also be a factor in hair loss, and it is one of the most common causes.

Many women also notice that their hair starts to fall out in clumps 3-4 months after giving birth. Although this may be frightening, it is nothing to be concerned about. Normally, we shed 100 hairs every day, but hair strands remain in their growth phase and do not fall out during pregnancy. Once your kid reaches around 3 months, the 100 hairs a day that would have been shed over the 9 months of pregnancy tend to fall out all at once. This may appear alarming, but it is quite normal and will subside after a few weeks.

Scalp Itching

Sensitivity to hair products, particularly shampoos containing SLS (sodium laryl sulphate) and parfum, is the most common cause of itchy scalp (artificial fragrance).

Sodium laryl sulphate is a low-cost surfactant that was developed to clean machines during the Industrial Revolution. SLS is a popular choice for large cosmetics companies because of its low cost and ability to produce a lot of foam. Because it is a known irritant that causes skin to turn red, SLS is frequently employed as a control material in allergy tests. We advise against it in favor of plant-based alternatives.

Irregular afro hair washing and the direct application of heavy oils like castor oil to the scalp can also clog pores and cause product accumulation or an overproduction of sebum, causing discomfort.

How to Deal with Afro Hair Issues

Breakage

The easiest strategy to avoid breaking is to keep your hair moisturized and tucked away in protective styles or low manipulation styles on a daily basis.

When Afro hair is damaged by hard treatment, chemical use, or heat style, it is more prone to breakage. Treating your hair like silk and keeping it free of frequent problems is the greatest approach to avoid breaking. The following are the essential steps:

Detangle with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.
Avoid relaxers and hair colors that contain bleach.
Blow dryers and hair straighteners should be avoided.
Sleeping under a satin hat or on a silk pillowcase is also beneficial. For two reasons, sleeping on a cotton pillow case leads to breaking. For starters, cotton drains moisture from hair (which is why socks are made of cotton), leaving it dry and prone to breaking. Second, because cotton is a rough fabric, friction is created between your hair and the pillowcase as you move around in your sleep, and afro hair easily breaks off if not covered up.

Dandruff

Get rid of the causes of dandruff and take care of your scalp to avoid dandruff. Wash your hair every 7-10 days and use an SLS-free, fragrance-free shampoo like Swish. It’s also a good idea to use a natural lightweight oil like Soothe to keep your scalp moisturized.

Loss of hair

Hair loss can be avoided by avoiding tight braids or extensions, as well as relaxers. Any braids should be at least the size of a standard pencil and preferably larger.

Self-care is also recommended to keep stress at bay and avoid the typical cause of bald patches and thinning afro hair.

Scalp Itching

Itching can be avoided by washing your afro hair every 7-10 days and not allowing products to build up. We also advise against wearing haircuts that are too tight. Your scalp will be happy and healthy if you keep it moisturized with a specialised scalp oil like Soothe.

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals, you’re ready to establish a regimen, avoid typical afro hair problems, and address present difficulties! Not sure where to begin when it comes to developing a healthy hair routine? Take a look at this.

Healthy Hair Growth Requires Healthy Eating

Healthy hair begins on the inside, thus one of the most important ideas in this book is to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods including salmon, tuna, darkly leafy green vegetables, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a source of the body’s natural lubricants for the scalp, which promotes healthy hair growth. Omega-3s are thought to promote hair development during the Anagen phase and minimize hair loss during the Exogen period of shedding.

Of fact, a shortage of omega-3 fatty acids has consequences that extend beyond the hair. They are also required to sustain overall wellness and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Another option is to take fish oil supplements, multivitamins, or hair supplements on a daily basis. Do you enjoy green smoothies? In your recipe, add a teaspoon of chia or flax seeds. You won’t even be able to taste them, which makes them easier to incorporate into your everyday diet.

Other factors that may cause hair loss include:

• Stress\sMedications/Treatments
• Planned Parenthood
• A diet that is unhealthy and unbalanced
• Hormonal Alterations
• Deprivation of sleep

There you have it, Natural Hair 101!

What has helped you maintain, grow and cultivate your natural hair?

What to read next? I’ve got you, girl!

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