There are so many possibilities with kinky hair, but the wrong advice can often leave the owner of beautiful curly hair destitute and desperate for advice. Here, a few ground rules to get you ready for beautiful hair.
DO keep your scalp moisturised. This is especially important if you are using chemical treatments to enhance your hair. Chemicals can leave your scalp dry and sore, leaving it open to issues like hair loss, dandruff and scalp sores due to dehydration. Choose a moisturising product that does not leave build up and that is free of silicone and sand plastics. Natural products are widely available at the moment and these prove to be a better choice for sensitive scalps.
DO use the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Ethnic hair comes in all forms much like Caucasian hair and you need to treat your specific needs with the correct products. Not all products are made equal and the wrong ones can create new problems if you don’t take care. If you have really coarse hair that does not get shampooed often then incorporate a deep cleansing shampoo into your treatment range.
DO trim your hair regularly. Lots of women are under the impression that ethnic hair does not have to be cut. Like all hair types, if you do not trim your ends on a regular basis, they start to break off and your hair won’t grow if this problem persists. Find a stylist that is familiar with your desire to keep your hair as long as it can possibly grow and stick to them. Travelling from hair stylist to hair stylist if you are an ethnic hair client can be a very dangerous thing because people tend to experiment and take very little care if it’s not a regular client whose needs they understand.
DON’T use ammonia if you’re using relaxers or straighteners. The two chemicals become corrosive and will cause immediate breakage and then long term hair loss. It may stunt your hair growth for a while too so best stay away from mixing the two.
DON’T bleach your hair beyond two shades lighter if you wish to keep your hair in a healthy condition. Being blonde is great but it has its price and the price can be very expensive when you suffer from breakage.
DO give you hair and your scalp a break in between extensions, braids or weaving. The tension on your scalp can cause permanent damage to your scalp and cause to follicle to become inactive for a short period of time once the hair has started to fall out. Traction alopecia is a major issue with having hair extensions done and this is the leading cause of women losing hair along the hair lines that eventually do not grow back. If this has happened to you, take a good vitamin high in biotin and zinc to repair the scalp and skin from the inside. This will increase your follicle’s strength so that when the hair grows back, it will grow back into a healthy hair environment.
DO shampoo your hair at least once a week. There is a myth that if you do not shampoo ethnic hair it will stay stronger. The build-up that you’re creating on your scalp blocks the pores and does not allow the good oils to get to the rest of your hair. A cleanse once a week helps to stimulate the cells and allow for good healthy hair to grow because the scalp environment is healthier.
Looking for more hair advice? Follow our easy guide to relaxing your locks and check out these 11 hair dramas that could happen to anyone.
