The hair is said to be the glory of a woman, and that is not far from the truth. It is easier to just fix weave-ons, or just have the hair braided with attachments, but there is a kind of pride from knowing your own hair is healthy and beautiful.

Many ladies are going for the natural look, while some are sticking with their relaxers. It is all good, what matters is that you know how to make your own hair healthy and beautiful.

What every African hair needs is moisture and gentle treatment, what I refer to as tender loving care. How to do that? It’s simple.

EAT RIGHT

The hair is made up of cells, and it grows out from within, so the healthier you it, the healthier your hair. It is as simple as that.

WASH LESS OFTEN

It is good to wash the hair regularly to avoid foul smells and itching from dirt, but the hair should be washed every seven (7) to fourteen (14) days. Washing too often removes the natural oils and leads to dryness which can lead to itchy scalp. Wash your hair with moisturizing shampoo too.

CONDITIONING

Condition the hair after every wash, deep conditioning of the hair is good. Sometimes you can wash your hair with just conditioner, just ensure that you use a moisturizing conditioner. A leave-in conditioner is a good possession for anyone who wants good looking hair.

COMBING

The African hair is prone to tangling, and that makes us comb the hair at every opportunity. It is better to reduce the strain on the hair by sometimes just detangling the hair with wet hands. Too much combing strains the hair. When you comb, a wide-toothed comb is the best option, as they put less strain on the hair roots and follicles. Also don’t comb the hair when it is wet, allow it dry a little first.

RUBBER BANDS

Rubber bands puts a strain on the hair, breaking the hair. Instead of rubber bands, ponytail holders should be used as they slide easily, with little or no hair breakage.

TRIMMING

This may sound like a contradiction for those hoping to have long hair, but it is good to trim your hair once in a while to avoid split ends which leads to breakage. It is recommend that you trim after each retouching, or every three months if you are a naturalist. Trim just the weak tips, and not chopping the hair off.

RETOUCHING

For those of us keeping relaxed hair, the retouching should be done every two (2) to three (3) months, and only the undergrowth should be relaxed. Adding relaxer to a previously relaxed hair only leads to breakage and damage of the hair.

AVOID HEAT STYLING

Heat styling like the use of curling iron or flat iron should be avoid as much as possible. Too much heat destroys the hair. When you use it, ensure it is not too hot.

AVOID TIGHT HAIRSTYLES

Too tight hairstyles puts your hair in a strain, and can cause receding hairlines. If your braids, weave-ons or ponytails are too tight, it is not healthy.

WEAVE ONS

It is better to sew on your weave-ons instead of using glue. The glue can rip out your natural hair on removal and that causes damage to the hair. The weave-on should not stay more that three (3) months with constant care, and not more than six (6) weeks with little or no care. After each weave-on is removed, allow your hair to rest for a few weeks before fixing another.

MOISTURIZE RIGHT

The hair is made up of protein material (keratin), and so can be de-naturalized by strong chemicals and heat. Using natural oils like Shea butter, coconut oil or olive oil is a better option that chemicals like lanolin for moisturizing agent. Moisturizing for relaxed hair should be done twice weekly, and everyday for naturalists.

In conclusion

Every woman can have a hair she is proud of. The hair, like every other thing expected to grow right, needs tender care. When treated right, the hair becomes the shiny crown it is supposed to be.

There are other great ways to care for the hair. What other treatments have you tried or know about? Please share in the comments section below.

http://sobolation.com/super-beauty-tips-strong-and-healthy-hair/

lalasticlala

Changing from using a flat iron to using a hot air brush made a massive difference in the quality of my hair. I used to always straighten my hair with a flat iron but they were just getting dryer, so I got a cut and started using a different tool - A Conair hot air brush to be exact. It's worked wonders. You can find it here http://hairbrushguides.com/hot-air-brushes/