Thursday, April 17, 2014

Wash day Basics



      
Yes, it might sound crazy, but you do need to wash your hair a little differently when you have natural hair. Apart from the fact that natural hair needs more moisture, it is also kinkier, and will tangle VERY easily if you don’t take special precautions. Here are some hair basics…
 
Wash Day Rules:
·         Start on your hair when you have plenty of time (about 3 hours or so)
·      Make sure you are well rested. (Don’t start any hair treatments when you are too tired. Being too tired can cause you to make mistakes that might damage your hair. Like being too rough and ripping out hair and skipping important steps like conditioning.
 
Divide & Detangle:
·         Spritz your hair with water.
·         Using a wide tooth comb, gently divide your hair into 4 to 6 sections. This will enable you to be more thorough in caring for each part of your hair and will prevent tangling. Clip each section up out of your way.
·         Detangle: Use a wide tooth comb to detangle the hair. (Your hair has to be detangled before you start to wash. If not, your little knots will be become monster knots.) To detangle, use a wide tooth comb and start working through the curls; start with the ends and work your way up. 
 
Pre Poo: Pre Poo is how to care for your hair before you shampoo. It’s necessary because shampooing can strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture. Pre Pooing is when you condition/soak your hair with oil or conditioner before shampooing.
·         Take a generous helping of conditioner (or oil) and coat your hair, section by section. Let sit for about 15 minutes before you wash out. (It doesn’t have to be covered.)
 
Shampoo: One section at a time, undo each twist and shampoo with any sulfate free, moisturizing shampoo of your choice. Concentrate on your scalp, rinse and twist the section back up.
 
Deep Condition: Never skip this step. Conditioning helps put back all the moisture that the shampoo stripped out while cleansing your hair.
·         One section at a time, untwist your hair and coat each section with your deep conditioner and twist back up.
·         When all your sections are coated, cover your hair up with a plastic cap.
 
Heat or No heat: I am a not heat girl. I think it’s been well over a year since I have used a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron. I have seen (and experienced firsthand) the devastation of heat damage, so I don’t recommend using it if you can help it. But, it’s your hair…so you have two options…
·         Option One: Cover you hair with a show cap and and sit under a dryer for 15 minutes
                                                                                                            Or
·         Option Two: Cover your hair with a shower cap and a towel and let it sit for 45 minutes. The towel helps to promote you own body heat. It works just as good (if not better) than sitting under that hot dryer.
 
Rinse: Rinse all your conditioner out section by section with cool water. Use a cotton t-shirt or soft towel to dry your hair.
 
 


 


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