10 Ways To Make You Natural Hair Softer
10 Ways To Make You Natural Hair Softer. Without a doubt natural hair is the in thing. A big concern among naturals, though is brittle or hard hair It is not easy for our African hair to be soft without the help of chemicals. The following tips can be of help if you are aiming for the natural route.
1. Pick The Right Shampoo
Always use a moisturising shampoo. If you shampoo frequently, always follow up with a conditioner. Otherwise, make it a once-in-a-while affair. Avoid products that contain sulphates as this can strip the hair of moisture, leaving it hard and brittle. Rinse the hair with lukewarm or cool water. The cool water seals the hair follicles, making it smoother.
2. Shampoo Once A Week
Black African hair tends to be naturally dry with minimal oil, which is why it isn’t necessary to use shampoo more than once a week. Shampooing your hair several times a week or even every day strips the oil that the hair needs from the hair shaft so that it becomes drier, frizzier and more prone to breaking.
3. Use A Conditioner
Our African hair tends to be dry, so it’s essential to use conditioner every time you shampoo your hair to restore moisture. When you condition, pay attention especially to the ends of your hair, which are the most brittle, and keep the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before washing it out.
4. Deep Condition Once A Month
In addition to your regular maintenance of your hair, doing a monthly or bimonthly deep conditioning treatment will make a visible difference to your hair, making it more moisturized and less brittle. Use a deep conditioning product according to the label or get it done professionally for the best results.
5. Moisturize and Seal
Once you’ve cleansed and conditioned, continue the process by adding a water-based leave-in conditioner. These no-rinse products will set your hair up for success when used on slightly damp hair right after washing. Seal in that moisture with a natural emollient like an oil or a butter
6. Hydration
One primary way to achieve softer hair is to make sure that you stay properly hydrated. Our hair follicles/scalp feed off of what we take in our bodies which is why it’s so important to drink plenty of water. Sufficient water intake is an important step towards hair that is soft and manageable.
7. Use A Blow Dryer
If you want to straighten your natural hair, let the hair air dry partially, spray your hair with a heat protectant, then use a comb attachment on a blow dryer to gently brush the hair with heat to straighten it.
8. Wear Protective Hairstyles
If you are looking to style your hair as opposed to wearing it down, try styling it in protective and low-maintenance styles that keep your hair in place and require no daily manipulation or styling of the hair.
9. Trim Split Ends
Trim your hair regularly to get rid of split ends, brittle ends, and single strand knots. This will help your hair grow and retain moisture in the long run.
Eat Right
Make sure that your diet contains plenty of fatty acids, B vitamins, folic acid, and protein to promote the health and strength of your hair. Foods containing these nutrients include salmon and other fatty fish, nuts and eggs.