tips to grow out natural hair

Your hair is part of your body and that means what you eat will directly affect the health of your hair if it’s not nutritional. Things that need to be consumed in your diet should be rich in iron and protein.In addition,castor oil, jojoba oil and olive oil are excellent when it comes to growing your natural hair out. They help seal and coat your hair for increased moisture retention which helps keep the hair  from breaking off due to dryness.To keep your hair from breaking off try NOT to manipulate it too often. This means cutting down on styling and and increasing the hair maintenance. Make sure you moisturize your hair and seal in that moisture, but more importantly you must protect your ends using protective styles .i.e. buns, two strain twists, and braids.

how to moisturize and seal natural hair

Moisturizing can be done with water alone, or water followed by a water based leave in conditioner. Sealing is done with natural oils, to prevent moisture from leaving the hair. Natural oils are not moisturizers because most natural oils will not penetrate the hair shaft.

Here are a few basic steps to properly moisturize and seal your natural hair.

• Starting with wet hair, part the hair into four sections.
• Apply a small amount of you water based leave in to the first section and work it through
• Take a small amount of your natural oil, and work into the same section that you applied the leave in conditioner to.
• Follow the same process for each individual section, until each section has been thoroughly moisturized and sealed

transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair

 Transitioning means going from relaxed hair to natural hair.This process involves patience, and dedication. This is the time you decide you no longer want to relax your hair. During this period

 proper care must be taken to care for your hair. It may be frustrating sometimes dealing with the two textures  that’s why some go for "the big chop". This is the point where the relaxed hair is completely removed. 

  If "the big chop" is not a option take the time and energy to care for your hair with the right styling options. In order to hide the two textures, you may opt for styles that require very little or no daily grooming like cornrows, braids, extensions, straw-sets or twist-outs. 

Products and tools

• Wide-Tooth Comb

While a rat-tail comb is useful for creating nice, neat parts in your hair, wide-tooth combs are what black hair needs for working through tangles.

• Soft Bristle Brush

No matter the texture of your hair, soft, natural bristles are better for working natural oils and products through it. Try to choose boar bristle brushes over hard plastic or nylon bristles.

• Silk or Satin Hair Cover

For nighttime use a hair cap/bonnet or even a pillowcase in silk or satin will go a long way toward retaining moisture in your hair.

• Elastic Hair Accessories

When you pull your hair back into a ponytail or bun, use elastics that have no metal parts that can catch, pull and break off your hair.

essential steps for achieving healthly natural hair care

The first step to achieving healthy natural hair is maintaining a balanced diet, supplying the body with its requiremented intake of eight glasses of water per day, and taking a multi-vitamin supplement daily, ensuring that body gets everything its needs to be in the most healthy state.

People of African descent's hair comes in many textures, from thick curls , to kinky spiral curls, even wavy bouncy curls

The next step in maintaining healthy natural hair is knowing your hair type. Below are examples of African hair textures.

Type 3c – Springy, spiral curls of about 9mm to 12 mm in diameter (loose)

 

Type 4a – very tight curls with peaks from 5 to 7mm apart (tight)

                                              Type 4b – very tight spiral curls of 7mm or less in diameter (kinky)

Next step is to plan accordingly, meaning use the proper tools and products to maintain your hair in a healthy state.

• A large toothed comb to help comb through the hair with ease
• A rat-tailed comb for parting and combing around the hairline
• A  moisturizing shampoo – afro hair lacks moisture and need to be conditioned regularly, and after each wash. Obtain a good moisturizing shampoo made specifically for African hair types. using a moisturizing shampoo at least twice during each wash (wash once or twice per week) to help retain moisture in your hair
• Apply detangling conditioner. Most conditioners made for African hair are naturally detangling but there are a few that are not, for example deep conditioning conditioners.
• Apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner after using a deep conditioner

Following the steps above will lead to beautiful hair in its natural state.



And now for the don'ts in maintain natural hair



  African hair is naturally the weakest of all hair types, and although relaxing (http://www.ahbai.org/vitale/basicfacts.html)
provides an easier alternative to dealing with the curls, it can also be very damaging. Coloring does not do African hair much good either; it causes damage to the hair, making it dry and frizzy. Additionally, avoid straightening natural kinky hair too often using flat irons or hot tongs.
Using hot tongs once or twice a month is unlikely to cause any damage to the hair, as long as plenty of moisturizing products are used as well. Once straightened in this way, the straight hair could last as long as 10 days. Rather than applying chemicals or heat to the hair, try going for the natural look. Kinky twists and the twisted out looks are particularly effective in dealing with natural African hair.