How To: Simple Steps For Taking Care Of Naturally Curly, Coily, Kinky Hair

I've had "natural hair" (hair that is naturally kinky, coily, curly and perm/relaxer FREE) for about 5 years now. I've never really found my hair hard to maintain, I found what worked for me and stuck to it. Consistency is key when you're trying to grow your hair long or just keep it on your head and moisturized. I'm a simple person who at times can even be considered lazy, so I like to keep things simple. As simple as possible for a mom of 3 with a 5 year old who has hair down to her behind.

So here are the basics. This is the starting point, you can grow from here.

CLEANSE- Shampoo. You need to use shampoo. It doesn't matter how often you use it but, the bare minimum needs to be once a month. Think of washing your hair as starting over, a clean slate, allowing your hair to breathe and reabsorb nutrients. Like washing your body.

Matter of fact, taking care of your hair is VERY similar to taking care of your skin. Minus washing your hair once a month, you need to wash your body everyday but, I'm sure you know that.

What to look for: Sulfate free? Sulfates are detergents that do their job too well and can over cleanse your hair, resulting in dry hair and an itchy scalp. Unless you've used heavy products and have massive buildup, use shampoos without them.

My shampoo recommendations:
Shampoo Bars
Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat

CONDITION- After your shampoo, next up is to apply a rinse out conditioner. You don't have to use the conditioner that comes with your shampoo, you can use any rinse out conditioner you want. I wouldn't advise you making this yourself, I suggest you purchase a great rinse out conditioner.

What to look for: Silicone free? Silicones make your hair feel nice and silky. The problem? Silicones coat the hair shaft and prevent moisture from getting in. They also have to washed out with sulfate shampoos. Using silicones creates a cycle of dry hair that looks nice but, it constantly breaking. It's an illusion.

What exactly is a silicone? Silicones are ingredients that end in -cone, such as: Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Amodimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone, just to name a few. Those look scary don't they? They have their place in hair care, just not in our weekly wash routines.

What conditioners do I recommend?

Lia Naturals Detangling Conditioner (pH balanced!)

Giovanni (as you can see I love Giovanni products! They worked for me and I stuck with them, consistency is key.)

MOISTURIZE:  Moisturize with what? A leave-in conditioner. This step is important, don't skip it. First, we have to define what moisture is and what ingredients moisturize. Well, there are really only 2 true moisturizers; water and aloe vera juice. These 2, either 1 or the other or BOTH need to be the first ingredients in your leave-in conditioner. 

Leave-in conditioners are a very personal choice, no really, some folks will cut you behind their leave-in conditioner of choice. Just joking but, it is serious business. You have A LOT of options and sometimes it can seem overwhelming (I know you're probably already overwhelmed, sorry about that).

In this area you're really going to have to see what your hair likes. A simple spray of aloe vera juice & water, could be enough for your hair or you may need something more.

What Leave- Ins do I recommend?

• Make your own, here is my recipe for the one I use on my hair: Leave-in conditioner recipe.
• Koils By Nature: I am warning you, this stuff is awesome. 

There are literally 100s to choose from online, so make sure you read reviews and see which ones would work with your hair. If something works then stick with it.

SEAL: Last step! Seal all that moisture in! This step is somewhat optional depending on how often you wash your hair. If you plan on going days before you moisturize your hair again, you need to seal in the moisture to help lock it into your hair or else, your hair will be dry again in no time at all!

What are sealants? Sealants are butters and oils that do not moisturize your hair. They do nourish your hair but, they do not penetrate the hair shaft. They coat the hair and make a barrier between your hair and the elements. Sealants are really a MUST HAVE during winter.

Some great sealants are:
Shea Butter
Mango Butter
Whipped Butters- Lia Naturals Coconut Mango Butter
Coconut Oil- Can actually penetrate the hair shaft!
Argan Oil- LOVE!
Avocado Oil- Can actually penetrate the hair shaft!
and lots more!

You don't have to be heavy handed with sealants, just apply a light coating to your hair right after you apply your leave-in and you're all done.

Okay, so that wasn't so bad was it? Shampoo, Condition, Moisturize and Seal! Again, these are just the basics, there are other elements such as detangling, deep conditioning, pre-pooing (which I don't do), and more. You can do the bare minimum like me or indulge in a 3 hour hair session. The world is your oyster, really.