So this thread is going to be all about natural hair aaaaand I'm so excited.

Natural hair is often seen as a pain in the ass. Something difficult to take care of which is the reason most ladies relax their hair, as it makes it easier to maintain.
Some don't even know of another option and the struggles go on and on and on. This include: thin edges, not being able to retain length, not having full hair, breakage etc. In order to make things better, you relax your hair again not knowing that is actually making things WORSE and the endless cycle continues.

Well, over the last few years blacks have been trying to embrace their heritage and have started embracing their natural hair as well!

By embracing your natural hair, believe me your hair is going to get fuller, longer, healthier and shiner.
Motto: Yes black hair can freaking grow

This thread will be all about the natural hair. The different hair types, hair porosity, how to grow your hair faster etc and what relaxer does to the hair and why you should stop


Update: Every weekend


Oh and feel free to share what you use, what works for your hair and your diys. Also feel free to ask any questions on things still unclear. We are a natural hair community


This thread is old. Although, the information are still very much accurate, the updated infos start from page 19

Am natural 2...............and op is dat u @ d last pix

NLchikeeto:
Am natural 2...............and op is dat u @ d last pix

Lol no

She's a lady I follow on instagram

lovelygurl:


Lol no
She's a lady I follow on instagram

Ok.......... her hair is quite long and very full 2

NLchikeeto:


Ok.......... her hair is quite long and very full 2

Yh she also gives tips on natural hair. Her ig is naptural85

Natural hair type


The African hair type is often described as being kinky or nappy. There are 3 types of kinky hair 4a, 4b and 4c

Note: It's possible that you can have a mixture of 2 or all 3 hair types. For example the back might be 4c, the middle 4b and the sides 4a. This is absolutely normal!


4c hair is:

-tightly coiled, so no defined curl pattern
-for coils to be defined, twist or braid
-have a shrinkage to up to 70% or even more
-most fragile hair type therefore low manipulation styles are the best way to handle it (twist out, puffs etc)
-in order to grow it out, wear protective styles like twists, braids, buns etc

How it looks like:

4a hair :

-defined curl pattern
-like a “s” shape when stretched
-wash n’ go styles are great options

I love it!

Mindfulness:
I love it!

Let's see yours.

Mindfulness:
I love it!

4 c here and still learning to get to grips with it. It is so difficult to manipulate that I regularly have fantasies of relaxing it. But I have started on this path, going to see how long I last.

So crotchet braids instead to cover up the nappiness.

shaybebaby:

4 c here and still learning to get to grips with it. It is so difficult to manipulate that I regularly have fantasies of relaxing it. But I have started on this path, going to see how long I last.

So crotchet braids instead to cover up the nappiness.

Do what pleases you.

I don't know if my hair is 4C or A or B, all I know is that it dries out quickly at the frontal part,the middle part while the one at the back is so soft

BabyGirl114:
I don't know if my hair is 4C or A or B, all I know is that it dries out quickly at the frontal part,the middle part while the one at the back is so soft

Oh I forgot to say it's normal to have different hair types. Most people have 2 some have 3. So you might have 4a, 4b and 4c.

How to go natural


Being natural means your hair is free of perms/relaxers. The untouched haur you are born with, the one growing from your scalp, your natural hair.
If your hair are already relaxed and you are thinking of going natural, you have two options

1) The big chop

This is probably the easiest way to go, all you have to do is to cut ALL relaxed hair off. Who knows? The short hair might fit you and your hair is going to grow fast if you know how to treat it properly and what to look out for.

2) Transitioning


If you are not bold enough to do the big chop you can transition. This might be the most frustrating path to choose since you'll be dealing with two hair textures. All you have to do is
-stop using relaxers or any chemical hair treatments
-avoid any heat usage
-do a loooot of protective styles (e.g braids, twists, wigs etc) This do not require daily styling and maintenance, hence less strain/breakage on you hair
-be careful around the line where your natural hair and relaxed hair meet, that's where it's the weakest
-Trim as little and as often as you want to till you are fully natural

Taking care of your natural hair


Taking care of your natural hair requires you involving a lot of time into it. Money isn't necessary a big deal except you are a product junkie. "Taking care of your natural" is going to be divided into three parts: Porosity, washes and styling


Hair porosity

Hair porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. In order for you to know which products to use and how to use it correctly, it's important you know what your hair porosity is.

How to determine your hair porosity:

Float test:
-Take a couple of CLEAN hair strands (also without any product)
-Place it gently inside a bowl/glass full of lauwarm (room temperature) water
-If your hair sinks down immediately then you have high porosity hair
-If it sinks down slowly then you a normal hair porosity
-If it floats on top of the water then your hair is low in porosity

The spray test:
-Spray a little section of your hair with water
-If it sinks in immediately --> high porosity
-If the water sits on your hair on for several minutes before sinking --> normal porosity
-If it doesn't sink in and forms water beads --> low porosity



Slide test:
-Slide your hands up a hair strand (starting from the end towards your scalp )
-If it's feels bumpy --> high porosity
-If it feels smooth--> low porosity

High porosity hair

-It absorbs a lot of moisture, but is unable to retain it
-It tangles easily
-Dries quickly
-Tends to be frizzy

Normal/ Medium porosity hair

-It absorbs and retains the exact amount of moisture your hair needs
-Easy to deal with

Low porosity hair

-It's resistant to moisture because products sit on your hair
-Hair takes a long time to dry
-Very shiny
-prone to build up.
-protein based products tend to make hair stiff and straw like



The next post will be about 'how to take care of your hair according to your hair porosity

lovelygurl:
Taking care of your natural hair


Taking care of your natural hair requires you involving a lot of time into it. Money isn't necessary a big deal except you are a product junkie. "Taking care of your natural" is going to be divided into three parts: Porosity, washes and styling


Hair porosity

Hair porosity refers to how well your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture. In order for you to know which products to use and how to use it correctly, it's important you know what your hair porosity is.

How to determine your hair porosity:

Float test:
-Take a couple of CLEAN hair strands (also without any product)
-Place it gently inside a bowl/glass full of lauwarm (room temperature) water
-If your hair sinks down immediately then you have high porosity hair
-If it sinks down slowly then you a normal hair porosity
-If it floats on top of the water then your hair is low in porosity

The spray test:
-Spray a little section of your hair with water
-If it sinks in immediately --> high porosity
If the water sits on your hair on for several minutes before sinking --> normal porosity
-If it doesn't sink in and forms water beads --> low porosity



Slide test:
-Slide your hands up a hair strand (starting from the end towards your scalp )
-If it's feels bumpy --> high porosity
-If it feels smooth--> low porosity

High porosity hair

-It absorbs a lot of moisture, but is unable to retain it
-It tangles easily
-Dries quickly
-Tends to be frizzy

Normal/ Medium porosity hair

-It absorbs and retains the exact amount of moisture your hair needs
-Easy to deal with

Low porosity hair

-It's resistant to moisture because products sit on your hair
-Hair takes a long time to dry
-Very shiny
-prone to build up.
-protein based products tend to make hair stiff and straw like



The next post will be about 'how to take care of your hair according to your hair porosity

let see your own hair,

Martin124:
let see your own hair,

Awww how adorable you want to see mine?
Come to my house I will show you

lovelygurl:



Awww how adorable you want to see mine?
Come to my house I will show you

nah I don't visit female at home...I can only come when ur father and mother is around...

lovelygurl:



Awww how adorable you want to see mine?
Come to my house I will show you

nah I don't visit female at home...I can only come when ur father and mother is around...

Martin124:
nah I don't visit female at home...I can only come when ur father and mother is around... nah I don't visit female at home...I can only come when ur father and mother is around...

Oh they will be, my brothers too They will be waiting for you with a cane in their hands

lovelygurl:



Oh they will be, my brothers too They will be waiting for you with a cane in their hands

why u nor hold d cane yourself,?I nor want make dem flog me,coz if I take action it become child abuse,,,

This is very informative and helpful. kudos!

Missnande:
This is very informative and helpful. kudos!

Thanks

This thread is meant just for me. I cut my hair last year and it has grown back to a stage i can start "rocking it" but I'm completely lost on what to do with the hair.
I have been wearing wig caps since but my hubby says it will be better i look for ways to style the hair.

The attached pic is a recent one. Its exactly what my hair looks like now.

I will really appreciate tips and advice on products that won't harm my hair but make it curly and beautiful.

Should i lock it?
I'm all for tinting (spraying) to gold if need be. I just want to rock this short hair before it grows.

cynhamscakes:
This thread is meant just for me. I cut my hair last year and it has grown back to a stage i can start "rocking it" but I'm completely lost on what to do with the hair.
I have been wearing wig caps since but my hubby says it will be better i look for ways to style the hair.

The attached pic is a recent one. Its exactly what my hair looks like now.

I will really appreciate tips and advice on products that won't harm my hair but make it curly and beautiful.

Should i lock it?
I'm all for tinting (spraying) to gold if need be. I just want to rock this short hair before it grows.

Awww don't worry I got your back . I wouldn't tint it if I were you because that's is definitely going to harm your hair. You didn't do the big chop to grow healthy hair just to damage the new growth immediately by tinting it. It might end up weakening your hair strands. A risk I wouldn't want to take. Of course it works for some but I don't know how your hair is going to react to it

Your hair porosity is very important in choosing products, or else you might end up buying the wrong products that will not work for your hair. So knowing your hair porosity is definitely going to help.

There's no harm in locing it. In fact it will help your hair grow faster

You can also cut a 'style'. You know something that will bring out the shape of your head

Taking care of your natural hair according to your hair porosity

In order for your hair grow long and healthy
-your scalp has to be clean (if it's not clean, your hair won't be able to grow the way it ought to)

-you have to moisturise properly (dry hair leads to breakage)

-avoid shampoos with silicone and sulfates (Natural hair is extremely dry and this dries out the hair even more, which might lead to breakage)

-don't over wash (yeah your scalp has to be clean but by washing more than necessary, your hair gets too dry )

-Wash just once a week or once every two weeks (depending on how fast build ups form on your scalp)

-pre poo ( you do this by massaging and detangling with an oil of your choice, leaving it for at least for 30 mins, wearing a shower cap before washing-->not necessary but helpful)

-deep condition (apply a deep conditioner to regain moisture after washing. You ALWAYS wash it off --> helpful especially after using a clarifying shampoo)

-use a leave in conditioner (necessary because it helps 'capture' / lock in the moisture. Like the name says LEAVE IN. Do not wash off)

-oil (necessary because it helps lock on moisture)

- WATER IS = MOISTURE! (If you are adding all your 'moisturisers' on dry hair, it's not doing anything for your hair because it's just sitting there. There's no moisture= water, to lock in!)

-No matter what product you buy WATER/Aqua should always be the first ingredient on your list

- Only moisturise when hair is damp (not soaking wet and not dry)

The above applies to low porosity, medium/normal and high porosity hair

lovelygurl:


Awww don't worry I got your back . I wouldn't tint it if I were you because that's is definitely going to harm your hair. You didn't do the big chop to grow healthy hair just to damage the new growth immediately by tinting it. It might end up weakening your hair strands. A risk I wouldn't want to take. Of course it works for some but I don't know how your hair is going to react to it

Your hair porosity is very important in choosing products, or else you might end up buying the wrong products that will not work for your hair. So knowing your hair porosity is definitely going to help.

There's no harm in locing it. In fact it will help your hair grow faster

You can also cut a 'style'. You know something that will bring out the shape of your head

Thanks alot for the response. I just found out it will cost me #8000 to lock my hair. Is it this expensive? How long can i carry it if i lock it and won't mt hair break afterwards?

pls op i want to transit to natural hair. am 10weeks(2months+2weeks) post relax. i want to transit for 6months. what will i use and how to use it to soften my hair? tnx

cynhamscakes:


Thanks alot for the response. I just found out it will cost me #8000 to lock my hair. Is it this expensive? How long can i carry it if i lock it and won't mt hair break afterwards?

It's not cheap to be honest, especially since I think loosening it will be more expensive because that's more difficult. But you can achieve something similar by twisting it. That's something you can in fact do yourself.

After washing ,deep conditioning, moisturise your hair and then twist it. Not when it's dry, do that when it's still damp. If it gets dry while still twisting spray some water, add a leave in conditioner and continue twisting. Use a shower cap to cover it for at least 30 mins so the moisture will be able to soak in. You can undo the twist after it's dry or you can just leave it like that.

It's almost the same thing as locs, just cheaper


Or you finger coil

Which is instead of twisting you twirl you hair around your fingers. It gives you this kind of look

And accessories like hair bands with flowers can give you that 'extra look'