8 Common Natural Hair Mistakes

8 Natural Hair Mistakes

 

As much information as there is at our fingertips these days for how to care for and style natural hair, we can still find ourselves doing things that don’t necessarily promote hair health. We all have #hairgoals but have you wondered if you’re making any mistakes that would compromise reaching those goals? Here are 8 Common Natural Hair Mistakes:

Not Following the Product Directions

I’ll be the first one to admit that in the same way Daenerys is the breaker of chains I am a frequent breaker of ‘rules’ and directions but sometimes as far as products go, directions are made for optimum product performance. When we choose not to follow the directions sometimes we don’t get the results we desire and then we blame the product for not working. As naturals, we’re often heavy handed with a product for a number of reasons but some products tell you to use a dime size amount for a reason.There are some products that perform significantly different on dry hair vs damp hair vs wet hair. In the natural community there’s still a deep mistrust of companies but consider that sometimes they’re right. Know that products are formulated and undergo multiple rounds research and testing that frames the directions on the label. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment. It simply means that sometimes success is as simple as doing as you’re told.

 

Detangling Dry Hair

Sis, say it ain’t so. Please tell me this isn’t you. Not only does detangling dry hair tend to be painful, it’s an excellent way to promote mechanical damage or breakage. In case that wasn’t clear, that’s NOT a good thing. Curly/kinky hair is prone to dryness because those very same curls and kinks make our scalp’s natural oil (sebum) more difficult to travel down the hair shaft. In addition to that, our hair tends to curl onto itself (and with neighboring strands) causing tangles. Because of this, the easiest and most efficient way to detangle our hair is to add moisture, which will help those curls and tangles to “slip” away from each other with less resistance. If you’ve been in or around the natural hair community for any bit of time you’ve probably heard the term “slip” used commonly. Now you (hopefully) understand why we want products with as much slip as possible for detangling. Whether you finger detangle or use a comb (wide toothed) or brush, make sure your hair isn’t completely dry!

 

RELATED: 5 Conditioners That Melt Tangles Away

 

Using Too Much/Not Enough Product

 

People hate to hear that a lot of natural hair care is trial and error but it’s the truth. Some of that guesswork can be alleviated by understanding your hair (i.e. its density, porosity, thickness) because if your strands are fine, thick butters and creams are going to be too heavy, whereas coarser strands will need heavier formulations or more product. It may sound like a minor consideration but trust it can make all the difference in your final style. Using too much product will leave your hair feeling heavy and greasy, while not using enough product can leave your hair with little to no definition and under moisturized. Be sure to always consider your specific hair characteristics, the current condition of your hair (is it dry? already has product?), and type of product you’re using to help decide how much to use. It’s always better to start with a little because you can always add more if necessary but nearly impossible to go backward (without washing).

 

Exclusively Co-Washing

I know this will likely be an unpopular opinion but I think of exclusively co-washing as similar to trying to bathe with lotion. Hear me out. The popularity of the natural hair movement brought with it an understandable mistrust of hair stylists and hair product manufacturers. Conditioners are formulated to condition, or to add moisture, not to cleanse. Yes, many conditioners contain some of the same ‘cleansing agents’ as shampoos but that doesn’t mean they cleanse or cleanse effectively. Think of product formulations like a recipe for baking a cake, ratios matter. It isn’t enough to say there’s baking soda in a cake, there has to be enough of it relative to the other ingredients if you want the cake to rise. Before you dismiss this, I’m not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and neither should you. I do believe there’s a time and a place for co-washing, just like there’s a time and a place for shampoo. Remember that balance is key, anything in excess is detrimental, including conditioner. What naturals generally hate about shampoo is that many leave the hair feeling stripped. Fair enough. What too many of us refuse to accept is that shampoo is just like any other product, they aren’t one size fits all. You have to find a shampoo that works for your hair. If you wouldn’t attempt to cleanse your skin with lotion why would you attempt to exclusively cleanse your scalp and hair with conditioner?



 

 

Hair Typing

I’ve been pretty vocal over the last few years about my disdain for hair typing. To keep it brief, these hair typing systems are arbitrary at best and provide little to no value for actually understanding your hair and what it needs. How we care for our hair and what products we use on it should be driven by variables such as density, porosity, and thickness. This is why you can see hair that looks like yours but end up frustrated because it behaves differently. I feel pretty comfortable stating that most if not all of us have several “hair types” throughout our heads and therefore it’d wouldn’t make much sense to select products/techniques for our whole head based on singular hair types. The elephant in this conversation is that texture discrimination is still a thing and plenty of women still covet certain hair types over others. Telling yourself and the world you have “3B” hair when it’s really more like “4C,” only does you and your hair a major disservice. The reality is, there’s nothing you or any product you buy can do to make “4C” curls and kinks look and behave like “3B” hair. I believe if we spent more time understanding who our hair is fundamentally instead of trying to give it a letter and a number, we could better cater to its needs and get the results we want. But what do I know?

 

 

RELATED: Why Hair Typing is Bullsh*t

 

 

Over Manipulation

Avoiding over manipulation can be challenging because who doesn’t love a well-defined twist/braid out? We love second and third-day hair because it’s generally bigger (and with natural hair bigger is better), but it can be a struggle to strike a balance between getting volume and keeping definition–especially if pineappling doesn’t work for you. All of that said, constant manipulation is no bueno for us, less is more. What exactly does this mean? Chill on retwisting or rebraiding your hair every night, keep the pulling and tugging to a minimum, never detangle dry, scale back the hand in hair syndrome, and say no to combing curly with fine-toothed tools. To put it simply, over manipulation can lead to mechanical damage, i.e. breakage. Breakage is counterproductive to retention and growth so if length is a part of your #hairgoals then keep your manipulation to a minimum.

 





 

Quitting Too Soon

My general rule for hair products and techniques is to try things at least three times. Yes, three. In terms of products, how well they work (or not) depends on a variety of things such as how much you used, the state of your hair when used, what products they were used with, etc. Just by virtue of these variables alone, you owe it to yourself to try a product a few times before you declare you hate it or that it doesn’t work on your hair. As an example, I’ve had completely different results with products used on damp hair versus soaking wet hair but I had to try it more than once to figure that out and decide which method I preferred. As far as techniques, that whole cliche, ‘practice makes perfect’ is the absolute truth. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your hair styling skills. It’s true, skills come more naturally to some of us than others but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a learning curve. I cornrow really well but it took me a lot of practice to get it right and even more practice to make it look professional and neat the way I wanted. What I always recommend to people who want to learn how to do hair is to simply practice on yourself or get a babydoll and practice with it. This is also the age of Youtube and tutorials, which I didn’t have the luxury of when I taught myself, so it’s literally easier than ever. It’s easy to get frustrated and feel discouraged but give yourself space and time to be a beginner and learn. Try techniques different ways so you can figure out what works best for you and your hair.

RELATED: 17 Gift Ideas for Naturals

Care From Inside

This is perhaps the largest oversight because we connect so much of our hair’s health and behavior to what we do to it on the outside instead of how we nourish it from the inside. The condition of our hair is so much more than the products we use and how we style it. Ultimately hair grows from the scalp which is directly affected by how we take care of our bodies from the inside. This means maintaining a healthy diet, a good balance of vitamins and nutrients, and a healthy body i.e. sweating which promotes growth. So consider the moments where your hair is damaged and not responding to good hair care habits, that there may be a deeper issue remedied only by a doctor such as a dermatologist or a trichologist. By the way, trichology is the study of human hair structure, function, and disease. Drink your water, eat your greens, sweat a couple times a week, and mind your business–your hair will thank you!

 

Are you a frequent offender? What natural hair mistakes do you commit the most? Let me know in the comments!

 

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83 Comments

      1. Hello! I have 4c dry hair and I co wash more than shampoo. I recently found out I need to do a protein treatment and a deep conditioner. If I I shampoo my hair should I do the protein treatment or the conditioning treatment or both? I hope this makes sense!

        1. hey Kendra! apologize for the super late reply. You should create a schedule to incorporate both protein treatments and conditioning treatments. They are both important. It’ll be best to the specific needs of your hair. But in general I would say protein treatment every 4-6 weeks and conditioning/moisture treatment every other we. If you are like me, I deep condition every time I wash. My hair loves the moisture. Hope this helps!

      2. Hello, thank you for your expertise!!!

        A Stylist brushed my dry, fine, kinky coily , high porosity, hair with no chemicals and broke my entire head of hair off from the roots. I keep my ends trimmed by a professional. When I part my hair in any direction I see short pieces everywhere. My diet is mostly plant based. I would so appreciate any advice you could give me to restore my hair back to its original healthy condition. Thank you!!!

        1. Hey Sheila! I am far from an expert and definitely not a professional. I would consult a dr and/or stylist for recos honestly. To get back to a healthy state, you likely will need a combination of inner care (perhaps more water, vitamins, exercise, etc) and external care (styling, products, etc). Best of luck to you!

  1. These are all definitely mistakes that I’ve fallen victim to! I have super tiny coils that often curl onto themselves, so I HATE detangling my hair and have attempted more than once to do it dry knowing this is the absolute worst time to do it! I once found a cowash that worked so well that that’s all I was doing! When I first started my natural journey, I would wet and retwist my hair every single night!! Alas, we live and we learn. It definitely would have been good to know some of these things upfront! Great post

      1. Ok im batural and i thiught i was a 4c coily kinky..my hair is so soft twisting was working now it doesn’t..i need something desperately to use and just wear a small curly moisturized afro..please help me??????

        1. Hey!! First thing I would recommend is to not worry about your hair “type”, it’s not really valuable information in regards to taking care of your hair. Secondly, if you find that twisting your hair is no longer working I’d recommend trying some different styling products and I would also ask when’s the last time you’ve had a trim? Sometimes that helps too!

    1. I thought you were suppose to wet and retwist your hair every night because you aren’t suppose to leave your hair loose at night. Please help

      1. No, definitely not. The less you’re manipulating your hair, the better. You can definitely leave your hair loose at night. Protect your ends with a bonnet and/or satin pillow case while sleeping. I can generally get 2-3 days out of a twist out without retwisting at a minimum depending on how much definition I want. Fluff in the morning with your hands or lightly mist with water and fluff, or shower with your hair uncovered and let the steam do its magic.

  2. I am natural but I keep my hair in crochet styles because I also have alopecia. I would love to wear my hair natural but am scared people will see the thinning edges. Is the crochet styles harming more than helping?

    1. Hey Evelyne! Thanks for commenting. I totally understand your apprehension to wear your natural hair out. Crochet and other protective styles are great but they can cause stress on the hair/edges, especially if they are not installed properly or worn too long. I would recommend that you visit a dermatologist and perhaps also a trichologist (specialist for hair and scalp) to determine whether or not these protective styles are exacerbating your alopecia. As for your edges, rubbing Jamaican Black Castor Oil on them daily helps a lot!

  3. Hello I enjoyed reading your helpful posts and seems like I have definitely tried a bit of everything that does not seem to be working and how I came to my disaster was I wore a protective style a little too longgggg and it thinned my hair out badly ? so I didn’t know any other option but to cut my hair all off again. Now it’s a struggle to get my hair to look ? like anything other than a nappy fro. It’s very upsetting to me because I don’t feel as pretty anymore without my hair but I am still trying to find something that truly works for me and hopefully from studying your posts I will get lucky soon. Thanks a lot

    1. Hi Sarina, thank you for reading and commenting. Protective styling can be tricky because although they can provide a lot of benefits, they can also be very damaging if left in too long or installed improperly. I’m sorry you experienced damaged but it happens to the best of us. Most importantly, you’ve already cut your hair so leave the damage where you left your hair–in the past and on the floor! Embrace it. Think about all the time you’ll save because you’ve got a great new cut. Cuts mean new beginnings, you have the chance to usher in some new healthy hair! Drastic hair changes can take some time to get used to but you have to own it. You’re still you. Try wearing some new/bigger jewelry or maybe a new lipstick, all tend to pop a little be more with shorter haircuts. The best thing is that hair grows back, before you know it you’ll be back and better than where you were. Wishing you all the best!

  4. Hello, I have bad dandruff and I don’t wash my hair with the medicated/zinc shampoos because it dries my hair out bad. Would you possibly know what I can buy to make my own homemade shampoo for dandruff? I also have horrible sweet tooth sometimes and a bad carbs diet, which I need to work on but I do love water. And my last question is What can I put in my hair to lock in the moisture? It seems as though I am moisturizing my hair every morning using the L.O.C hair method (cantou’s leave in conditioner, taaliah waajid oil and curly curl cream). I would usually moisturize my hair with water and a good hair lotion but since its Fall season and winter soon I don’t want to risk my health by going outdoor with a wet head. What to do?

    1. Hey! I’m not sure about making a homemade shampoo but try finding one with tee tree or peppermint oil. Another thing you can do is try an ACV (Apple Cider Vinger) rinse/scrub prior to washing with your normal shampoo. I’ve done that before when I’ve had an irritated scalp and I find that it helps a lot. As far as your moisture challenges, I’d recommend making it a point to deep condition regularly and continue to use the LOC method. I know you mentioned you’re using that method already but maybe you need to switch your product for better results. You shouldn’t need to moisturize your hair everyday and you don’t want to HAVE to be manipulating your hair that much.

    2. I’ve got the same issue but what I found that works for me is after using the medicated shampoo (sebcur t and yes it smells digusting) , I would then follow it up with a good moisturizing conditioner or masque and a really good leave in conditioner also. Try visiting your DR and asks to a prescription for Elocom lotion( clear medicated liquid you would use on you scalp every night), works wonders. You should also switch up your shampoo every few months because your scalp will get use to the shampoo and stop working. A tea tree shampoo works good too or you use your favourite dandruff shampoo and add tea tree oil to it. Now my flare ups have decrease dramatically

      1. Thanks for chiming in with that great advice Janelle! I do the same, wash once with a tea tree shampoo for my scalp, followed by a moisturizing shampoo, then deep condition. Def works wonders for scalp relief.

  5. I have little patience for my hair. I had locs for 3 years then got bored. Now I’m trying to grow out my twa after a big chop but can’t seem loosen my curls. My hair is tight curly 3C but dry unless I put gel which I hate cause it makes my hair hard and flakey. I need help cause I actually bought a wig to wear until my hair grows longer.

    1. Why are you looking to loosen your curls? They’re fine as they are. Curly hair is prone to dryness but gel is not going to help solve that issue. I’m prone to dryness (curly and color treated) so whenever I use gel I always use a moisturizing creme first, THEN add the gel. That’ll help you lock in moisture and should help with the gel caste. Otherwise, you can break the gel caste by simply ‘scrunching’ your hair once it’s dry.

  6. Hi I choose color over perm..ive been using wave rods in the top. I was already doing a pixie when I started to transition..is this ok

      1. Hi, my hair is deceiving, it looks thick,nappy and dry, i don’t know what to use everything i use makes it hard and shrink, it comes to my shoulder when i comb it out, i need something that’s not water based. I love wearing my hair but it looks horrible after about an hour help please.

        1. Hey Mary! It sounds like you have one amazing head of hair! First off, shrinkage is a sign of HEALTHY hair. It means you have great elasticity. I know shrinkage is annoying, but again, learn to embrace it. It means your hair is healthy. Also, do NOT do NOT avoid water based products. They will help you add and retain moisture to your hair. How are you styling your hair? Maybe you’re using styles your hair doesn’t like? Or it’s possible the products that you’re using with those styles aren’t the best for longevity. For example, braid outs don’t work super well for my hair–the definition is gone quickly like you described. But twist-outs hold definition really well on my hair so i generally stick to those unless I am wanting another look. I hope this helps. Answer back with any additional questions you have! Hope to hear from you soon!

      1. Loving the comments. I have been natural for about 7 years. I had thyroid cancer and take a strong medication which I believe has thinned my hair. I never wear a twist out. Always wear my hair in a
        bun but am now willing to cut my hair off. Thanks for all the positive feedback.

        1. Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I hope your cancer journey is behind you. Being willing to cut your hair off is such a brave and bold step. I wish you all the best!

    1. Hi, so am I, (no relaxer since 6/16) and honestly, I wish I would have transitioned waaay before now. I love my natural hair, and hate the way the relaxed ends look because it takes away from the beauty of my curls. (Will not big chop tho! Lol) ?

  7. Hi. I’ve been natural for 1 month now. I did the “big chop” after just 3 months of transitioning so my hair is short and I LOVE IT! My morning routine: deep conditioner (Giovanni) (I don’t rinse out), leave in conditioner (Giovanni), coconut oil, Jamaican black castor oil, curl definer and gel. I love the results. My curls really pop and I love how my dry hair feels and looks moisturized but am I doing too much with this routine?

    1. If you’re loving your results and how your hair feels I think you should continue with it. Only you can decide if it’s too much. If it starts to take too much time see if you can combine steps or try stretching the style for a day or two before restyling.

  8. This was an excellent read! I have been transitioning since June 2016 and like McDonalds would say, ” I’m lovin it!” I just don’t like my relaxed ends. I used to suffer with terrible tangles from desert dryness Lol! but I learned thru some Youtubers to start deep conditioning, and I will say I have great results and a lot less damage and breakage like before.

    1. Thank you so much! Transitioning can be tough but trim regularly and use stretched styles (like roller sets) to blend the two textures. You can also use perm rods to help cheat with blending the textures. I am a serious deep conditioner, lol I’ve actually written about it a lot, it’s essential for healthy natural hair in my opinion. Check me out on Youtube!!

  9. Lol, well we’ll crown you
    “Queen Conditioneen”
    Let me ask, do you know of a good, but budget- friendly DC? I do use and like Organics Mayonnaise, but feel I need something a little more… conditioning. ?
    Keep doing what you do, it’s appreciated.

    1. Haha, I like that! I’m not sure what you consider budget-friendly, but I really like the Soapbox coconut conditioner – it’s technically not a DC but I’ve used it as one and it works great! I also like Silicon Mix. While we all love a great budget-friendly products, I will say sometimes you get what you pay for…meaning some of these more expensive products are worth every penny…just use them less often. I have two other blog posts up about conditioning/deep conditioning, you should def check them out. Thanks again love!

  10. Oh my goodness, this has been SO helpful (and useful), reading your post and all the Qs&As. I decided to transition from a pixie cut relaxer end of June (this year). So short hair for me has always been my go to style. I am loving the freedom I’m experiencing with my natural fro. However, learning about how to care for my twa without being overwhelmed by so many of the products that are available for ‘fro hair. I concur re cowashing – I do like to shampoo from to time to wash out residue of styling products built up in the hair.
    I do however like to use a teeny bit of oil daily to moisturise my hair. I’m almost 6months in from transitioning. I trim every two weeks especially to cut the strands of leftover relaxer hair. As far as products are concerned, it will be constant trial and testing – see which products my hair loves best. Thank you so much for the education and post. So appreciated. ?

    1. So glad you found it helpful! That’s pretty much exactly how I transitioned (unintentionally), had a pixie cut and was ready to grow it out but I did it through repeated protective styling. Definitely, continue to shampoo, it’s so necessary. It sounds like you’re doing great with your transition. Figuring out what products your hair likes is trial and error like you said, but I also think it can be a lot of fun depending on how you approach it. Thanks for stopping by AND leaving a comment 😛 Happy Holidays!

  11. I enjoyed reading your article and comments. I have been natural for about a year. I have been keeping it short and found it easy to just get up and go, but now I’ve decided to let it grow. I’ve done tailored cuts but don’t think it will work as I want to get the length. I also go swimming 3 times a week. I don’t want to get fed up and go back to a relaxing or just keeping it short. Help any suggestions ?

    1. Thank you so much! I wish I had an answer for you but I’m still trying to figure out the swimming thing. I was taking classes twice a week for a few months but most of the time I had braids in. I’d rinse those out in the shower and ‘cowash’ them. Oddly enough, having my hair out I found a lot easier. I’d drench it in conditioner or oil prior to swimming in twists so that my hair doesn’t absorb a bunch of chlorine. Then after swimming I’d rinse and cowash. Like I said, I’m still figuring out how to best deal with hair and swimming on the styling end so sorry I don’t have a more solid answer.

  12. My hair is very coily and dry. How often should I shampoo it? Also what’s your thoughts on prepooing?(applying oil to the hair the day before shampooing)

    1. Welcome to the club! I think how often you shampoo should be driven by how your scalp and hair is feeling. Is your scalp itchy or flacking? Is your hair weighed with product? Too greasy? That’s generally when I shampoo, not necessarily on a set schedule. Additionally, try not to wash your hair with hot water and when shampooing, concentrate the shampoo on your scalp rather than all along your hair. As far as prepooing goes, I don’t hate it but if I’m honest, it doesn’t make a ton of sense. Add a bunch of oil to soften the hair only to shampoo it out in hopes that the shampoo doesn’t work too well and only cleanse any some of the moisture? Not sold. I’m not saying don’t do it. But I kinda feel like it’s a waste of product and time on some levels. That said, try it a few times and compare the difference of how your hair feels! Decide for yourself. Lastly, since moisture is an issue for you, I highly recommend that you deep condition with EVERY wash. Thanks for stopping by 😛

  13. Hi!
    really loved your article, I found it useful. I have had natural hair for a while, I have been wearing wigs, weaves etc. The front and middle of my hair have been thinning for while, I tried various products to thicken my hair. Nevertheless I decided to cut it short 4/5 weeks ago.
    I can still see the difference between the front and back of my hair, the front is thin while the back is full.
    Is there anything you can recommend to try and thicken our the front?
    Thanks

    1. Thank you! I would recommend laying off the wigs and weaves for a while, they may be stressing out your hair and causing it to thin assuming you’re using them repeatedly.Give it time! I applaud you for cutting it when you recognized an issue, not because you had to but that you were willing to let it go to improve the health of your hair. Also, it’s said that Jamaican Black Castor Oil massages help with growth and thickness. Other than that I’d recommend being consistent with good hair care practices (moisture, etc), patient, water/nutrition, and lay off the protective styling for a while.

  14. Thank you for pointing the obvious in determining hair type!!! Yes. Work with a product that works for your hair. Stay with the proven. “ If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!!!”

  15. I am a cancer survivor and thanks to God I am her and my hair is back.

    My hair is thin and fine now, it used to be thick and strong. It is more silver and black. The problem is I have a hard time finding products that won’t turn my hair yellow. The ingredients cannot contain any cplor. Can you recommend a natural hair cair product that I can try?

    Thank you

    1. Congratulations on beating cancer, you’re a warrior! I know the medication is known to change one’s hair. Unfortunately I’m not well versed in that area so I can’t recommend products that won’t turn your hair yellow. You may need to seek out some companies that create products with few/pure ingredients or for sensitive hair and scalp. Sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance to you.

  16. Great synopsis! Straight to the point and easy to understand. Yep, my hair thanked me personally when I stopped detangling dry – LOL. I cringe thinking about how I used to comb and let braiders comb through my dry hair after removing braids…!!!!! I’m a fitness enthusiast so great to know that sweating contributes to growth cause I do a plenty of sweating! I have to counter the dryness factor from the sweat with frequent moisturizing, weekly washing, and deep conditioning too. Employing tips like the ones you offer does pay off. Living witness – have had more success over the last year with my hair than the other 9 that I was natural!

    1. Thank you! And yes definitely cringy to think about old habits but the good part is they’re old when we know better we do better. I’m so glad you mentioned counteracting the sweat because while it helps stimulate the scalp it can also dry out our hair so we have to put that moisture back in to keep things balanced.

  17. Hi, I just came across this article for the first time and love it!.. I had keratin put in after had natural low style and it was easy to manage, but for 18 months now I have been trying to be natural (no keratin or relaxer) but the keratin won’t leave my hair!!!. even after cutting ends monthly!!. so I blow dry and flat iron to make it look ‘uniformed’.. I do need my curly back without those straight ends!.. any suggestions would be appreciated.. thank you..

    1. Hmm, something similar happened to my sister. I know you’re supposed to be able to wash out keratin over a period of time but based on your comment and what I saw with my sister’s situation it appears that may not always be the case. Or keratin overload perhaps? She eventually got fed up and cut it out. It sucks but that may be the best solution especially if it’s at the point that you’re feeling the need to blow dry and flat iron to blend the textures. If I were you I’d give it one last try and go on a hardcore treatment schedule for like 2 months and see if that helps –i.e. deep condition FAITHFULLY every single time you wash. No more heat. Don’t damage your healthy hair trying to keep up with the hair with the keratin treatment. If that doesn’t work, cut it! Find a style you like, cut it, and move on. Leave the keratin in the past and consider it a lesson learned.

      1. I’m 70 yeara young. Don’t have lots of $ to spend at beauty shops anymore. So, I read info., on how to do my hair. I have been “natural” for years. Wore a short , “Buzz cut” for years (barber shop was cheaper). But, I’ve let my hair grow and do my own two strand twists. I do ok, but, my ends are split and the auburn color is still about 2″ on the bottom. Can I cut color off myself? I want my gray to shine now. I don’t want to color my hair anymore. It’s not dry. I moisturize, moisurize, moisturize. Thank you for any help you can share.

        1. you sure can do it yourself if you feel comfy to do so. I personally would rather pay someone for any cutting so it’s done properly but if you’d rather do it yourself I’d recommend watching a few youtube videos first

    1. Are you drinking enough water? Proper hydration starts from the INSIDE. I recommend starting by at least drinking half of your body weight in ounces. So if you weigh 100 lbs, drink at least 50oz of water daily. Next, assess the products you’re using on your hair. Does your hair feel moisturized after using them? Are you deep conditioning regularly? Really listen to your hair. Wash with warm water to open your cuticles and rinse out conditioner with cool water to close the cuticle and seal in moisture. In terms of styling, make sure you’re using a leave in conditioner and one that is actually leaving your hair feeling moisturized. IDK the texture of your hair but consider trying the LOC or LCO methods to impart and trap more moisture into your hair. Check your product ingredients and ensure you’re using products that have water in the first 5 ingredients. Do these things and be CONSISTENT and your hair will respond.

  18. I used Castroil on my scalp and my scalp is so sore now. It itches so bad now. what should I do to make my scalp heal? Thanks for your help

    1. I wouldn’t recommend using castor oil on your scalp, it’s so thick! Clarify your scalp really good with a good clarifying shampoo. If you can find one with tea tree oil or peppermint, that would really help. Good luck!

  19. Well, if I don’t retwist my hair nightly it could in on itself so badly that I can’t do anything the next day. My hair is giving me the blues since I started this in March. I LOVE MY HAIR! I’m that girl that the family call nappy head as a child. That is one of the reasons I so love my natural hair to this day. What am I to do nightly to prevent this super intense coiling and have hair that’s presentable daily?

    1. If not retwisting nightly doesn’t work for you, try retwisting in larger sections loosely. That way you keep your hair somewhat stretched, don’t disturb the curl too much, and save time. Is your hair retaining enough moisture? I want to say you should be able to go one or two nights without HAVING to retwist but hard to say without actually seeing/feeling your hair. If moisture retention is an issue for you that could be your actual problem. Try those out and see what works.

  20. Hi there my name is Cynthia I just wanted to let you know I just checked you you out today I like it. I’m wondering what your take on the rice and black tea rinse I tried the black tea but it was so drying to my hair I admit a good deep condition would help I’m sure, but I did it once and have not gone back. what has happened is it’s been drying my hair out my hair is very fine I have what you would call the coil type ringlets in my hair and I’m trying to figure out what deep conditioning would work for me cuz I am not deep conditioning I admit I don’t and I’m looking for help I’m trying very hard to understand my hair. I wear it naturally most of the time, and then there’s times I flat iron it, so I’m looking for help on how to manage and get length ,you know I can’t seem to get any hair to grow!

    1. Hi Cynthia! Thanks so much for checking me out. I’ve actually tried the rice rinse a couple times and I must say I have noticed a positive difference. I haven’t tried the black tea rinse yet so I can’t speak on that. What I will say is if you tried it and found that your hair doesn’t like it, that’s ok! Acknowledge it and move on it something else. As far as deep conditioning goes, it’s no secret that I am a total stan. It’s an absolute must for healthy hair in my opinion. Unfortunately I don’t have fine hair like you so I can’t really recommend a deep conditioner for you specifically. You have to just try different products until you find what works. Then commit to doing it. Product can’t work if you’re not using it and doing so consistently. ESPECIALLY if you’re applying heat to your hair, you HAVE to moisturize properly. Also, I encourage you to change your thinking. Your hair IS growing, but you aren’t retaining that growth. Focusing on keeping the hair you have rather than getting it to grow more or faster if that makes sense and that comes down to how you take care of it and you.

  21. Hi, I am now 13months in from my transition from relaxed to natural. I don’t really like to focus too much on what hair “type” I have. From my research in the past I know I fall into the 4c type Afro kinky hair group. However, as my hair is steadily growing I’ve noticed I have 3types of hair – fine and soft at the front, medium kinky in the middle, back and sides it’s extremely thick and coarse. So my question to you is, given the different types of hair on my one head have you heard of this and what leave in conditioner would you recommend? I’ve tried cantu (in the tub), on the fence with this product. I love Aussie Mega moist conditioner (it’s the best); I wish they had a leave in conditioner version. I’ve also tried KeraCare leave in conditioner (as I loved using it when I relaxed my hair), jessies leave in conditioner and Shea Moisture. I am willing to try more – just need suggestions. Also I colour my hair to hide the greys? so my hair can get dry if it’s lacking moisture.
    Thank you in advance and keep up the great work and advice you provide. You’re helping so many of us sistahs with tresses guidance???

    P.s
    I agree with your last post about shampooing over cowashing- I am all for cleansing my hair with a paraben, alcohol, chemical free shampoo

    1. Hey!! Congrats on your transition. I’m so not a fan of the hair typing systems. It’s good that you’ve recognized the differences in your hair throughout your head. The best thing I can recommend is trial and error. It’s not the answer we want to hear but it’s the truth. You just have to try different products and brands and see how your hair responds. SN, this is another reason I think hair typing is crap. Most of us don’t have uniform hair all over our heads, how much sense would it make to have to buy and use different products for all the different “hair types”? It makes no sense!

      That said I can share some of my faves. I’m with you on the Aussie moist, definitely a cheapie fave of mine. Miss Jessies rapid recovery, mane choice DC’s are great, TGIN honey mask, Soapbox coconut conditioner, DevaCurl decadence conditioner to name a few. And absolutely coloring can affect your moisture retention so it’s even more important. I’m a moisture warrior! HAHA.

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, I really appreciate it and am glad you’re finding my posts helpful.

      IDK why the NHC is demonizing shampoo, it really makes no sense. There are a million on the market, find one your hair likes. Clean ya damn hair and scalp, that aint what conditioner is for lol.

  22. Hi, I’ve just run across your site and live it. It’s far better than another one I’ve been following. Veryyyyy informative.
    I’ve been natural over 10 years plus. I’ve always received comments on my hair while wearing a short tapered cut., not needing much for my fine but thin curls to pop.
    Well, I decided I was tired of it being short, was seeing all the different ponytails I could use.
    As it grew out, it’s like the texture changed, it felt like straw. My temples began thinning it was shedding and very dull looking and dry.
    Well I got fed up and cut it all off to nothing for a new start.
    I’m going on two months now. I’ve been wearing wigs. But just can’t seem to get that healthy shine. The texture is different in 3 areas, front/top very thin.
    I’ve tried several things mentioned in you posts. HELP, sorry such a long comment.

    1. Hey there, thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. You may be putting too much tension on your hair esp since you mentioned that your strands are fine, theyll be more sensitive to the tension. I’ve noticed some thinning in the temple area as well and after doing some research have learned that (age depending, around 30+) it can be due in part to low zinc levels. Consider taking a womens multivitamin etc in addition to easing off the tight ponytails and slicked back styles and believe it or not the wigs. Give your hair some time to breathe. Thanks for your comment!

  23. I thank you for your posts. I am 72 years old and my hair is natural and thin. I did a big chop a few months ago for about the fifth time. My hair is thin on the top. I don’t even know what a deep conditioner is. I try to keep my hair moist but I am afraid of catching a cold. I think because of my age that there is nothing I can do, am I correct?

    1. Hi Janice,

      I think it would be best to consult a professional. A stylist you trust and also a dermatologist to start!

  24. Thank you for this article, it was definitely very informative.
    To answer your question, I definitely over manipulate. I’m currently wearing coils, but on a regular day I would flat twist/braid/2-strand twist every night. But as I’m writing this, I realize it defeats the whole purpose of my attempt to avoid detangling my hair, 🤦🏾

    1. Hi Monique! It’s definitely a journey and we learn as we go. Sometimes when I want to preserve definition on a twist out or braid out is to do large and loose twists. I try not to retwist (for real) inside of like 3 days…and at that time I will take the opportunity to moisturize as well.

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