Caring for your Natural Hair in Fall/Harmattan

Harmattan is here, the trees are getting bare. The dry and cold season is here again.  Many creatures of the earth will go into hibernation, and amongst those magical creatures will include our beautiful head of coils.

FALL/HARMATTAN HAIR CARE

My routine this season has not changed very much from my last winter season in FEBRUARY SECRETS: How to Care for Natural Hair in Winter/Dry Season

My basics are still the same;

SCALP MASSAGE/PRE-POO/HOT OIL TREATMENT

CO-WASH instead of Shampoo

DEEP CONDITION

SEAL

TRIM

PROTECT

 

Discovering Natural further emphasizes these point in her 5 Fall Natural Hair Care Routine MUST HAVE Video

What's slightly different for me this season is that I am incorporating a lot of protective styling. If you follow my instagram you know. Finally! Mushu and I can get a break from each other (Thank you holidays). It's hardly winter but it's already acting the most. One very important routine step to note is to REMEMBER TO TRIM. 

How to know When to Trim Your Afro

I hadn't trimmed Mushu in a minute. These were the signs it showed and I knew it was finally time to grab the scissors;

1. More Fairy Knots and tangles  than usual: Even though I was moisturizing regularly and doing my low maintenance bantu knot out and braids. I was getting a lot more tangles than per usual. 

2. SCANTY SEE THROUGH ENDS

 

3. DRYING FASTER THAN NORMAL: The more damage at your ends, the lesser the ability of your hair to retain moisture. You'd be pouring water into a basket. LITERALLY!

 

4. FAILED HAIRSTYLES: My simple usual hairstyles i used to get curl definition would bottom line result into knots and tangles with little to no definition. Even though I was following my exact same method of styling. This was a result of the coils refusing to clump together because of my damaged ends. 

 

 

Instagram: @nappyese

                                              

5. MORE BREAKAGE AND HAIR IN THE SINK: If basic mechanical efforts like detangling, styling combing is causing more snaps and breaks than usual. THen you know it is time for a trim

 

So when you notice any of these signs above, treat yourself to a trim. REMEMBER: HEALTH OVER LENGTH. Watch the short video below showing you how I trim my 4c hair, including a few of my protective style ideas for the Dry months ahead.

 

Happy Trimming! What protective style look will you be sporting this fall

 

Love&Nappiness

Nappyese

Tips on How to care for your Hair during Harmattan

Hi Naturals

I feel harmattan already. Do you?

We are all aware that harmattan period is usually associated with dryness and cold. Here are few tips on how you can care for your hair;

1. MOISTURISE REGULARLY: Water is your friend. Spray your hair daily with it, apply a leavein and seal with hair butter or oil (thick oils like castor) in order to keep the moisture in for as long as possible. If you use to moisturise only in the morning, you should be thinking about starting a night routine too. Moisture is important during the harmattan period as our hair gets dry easily. You could opt for a daily mist or just mix water, oil and leave-in conditioner in a bottle and spray on the go.

2. DEEP CONDITION HAIR OFTEN: With less moisture, your hair breaks terribly. No one wants that. With the dry weather draining out moisture from our hair, it's advisable to replenish it as often as possible. A moisturising deep masque or conditioner is applicable here.

3. STICK TO PROTECTIVE STYLING: You can put your hair in any protective style of your choice as far as your ends are tucked in. It could be braids, twists, wigs, updos e.t.c. As for me, I would be wigging all through till I get bored. lol

4. AVOID GELS: You definitely should not try using gels. It's a no no. The results are not going to be nice at all. Instead, use moisturising products and do not have strong hold on your hair.

5. DO THE GREENHOUSE METHOD: Spritz your hair with water and oil, wear a plastic or shower cap and leave overnight or for a couple of hours before bed. The heat generated keeps the hair soft and moisturized all day.

That's it. I hope you find this helpful. Please leave your comments below with any more tips you think would be great for haircare during harmattan


Enjoy the rest of the week

Leeznijis

Tips for getting your man to take care of his Natural Hair

Hello Naturalistas,

Source

We would all agree that majority of the men do not pay too much attention to the health of their hair. There are a few of them that are very particular about the grooming of their hair and making sure they don't miss a salon appointment and we give kudos to them. However, this is for you who wants to help your man or the men in your life take better care of their hair.

Their routine is wash the hair when taking a shower - with whatever bath soap you use - dry your hair with your towel and use a hair cream, comb, done. When I first got married, I noticed that my husband's hair was not healthy at all. He had breakage whenever he combed his hair in the morning and it was something he noticed too.

First thing I did, Solve his problem; I had preached on how he needed to take better care of his hair but he still didn't really come on board with the whole thing but when I told him what to do, just to solve his hair shedding problem and he saw it was working, he became open to changes.

Introduces little changes without complication; I started with buying him a shampoo that doubled as a shower gel, that way, he doesn't have to have special "Hair products" to complicate anything. Then I went ahead to helping him understand why he needed to use oils on his hair as against just some random "cream". Little by little, he started using oils and making changes. Don't overwhelm him or complicate things.

Let him have a say over what products he wants; We know you are the expert on natural hair, but don't insist he uses a product that he doesn't like how it smells or how it looks.

Notice the change and compliment it; Yes! They are big on compliments too. When His hair started growing and receding hairline filling up, I made sure to mention it every time there was an opportunity to do so.

With this steps over the last one year, I have gotten my man to take better care of his hair and believe it or not, we now share a spray bottle because he now wants to lock in the moisture. Yay! Remember, at the end of the day it's all about healthy natural hair.

What have you done to get your man to take care of his Natural hair? 

Why You Need Omega Fatty Acids in Your Diet Yesterday!

Hello ladies!

Let's Moisturise: Week 4 Update

Hello People,

How have you been? It's been 3 weeks since we started the challenge and I touched base with the people that indicated interest and the questions I asked were;

What are your challenges?
What is working for you?
Do you have any questions?

Here's what they had to say:

Atilola;

"It's been great for me. Not really challenging because I have been moisturising regularly before joining this challenge.

My only challenge is that I have been in a lot of weavings lately (no attachment), and a lot of the moisture goes directly on my scalp while moisturing the hair. Since there are other things in the spritz (it causes faster build up on my scalp). So I need for fins a way to moisturise the hair well without interfering too much with the scalp. This would have been easier with two strand twists"

Titi: 

"Yes, update. Hmmmmmmm... well I just noticed there is less shedding and I noticed my hair is less dry and frizzy unlike before. My challenge is I sometimes forget to moisturise in the night but I have been consistent with my morning routine"

Ashake:

"So far so good my hair has been thriving(even when I forget to moisturize or sleep with a satin scarf). My routine is still the same except that I now deep condition every week. Detangling has been a lot easier. Peep my twist"

How is the harmattan treating your hair? I am sure almost everyone has gone to do a protective style or not. Please let us know, how moisturising has been this season? Any challenges? What is working for you? 

Baby Lotion as moisturiser for your Natural Hair?

Hello Naturalistas?

How are you and how is the weather treating your natural hair? Moisturising my hair has been a challenge as it dries out too QUICKLY!! Sigh!!

I was speaking to someone over the weekend, she has dreadlock, while we were both lamenting on the harshness of the weather on our hair, she mentioned that she bought baby lotion to you.

*rings alarm*

I kept wondering if I heard correctly but I didn't even bother to ask further. I went to Google to try to check what the world is saying about it and from what I found there are a few things about baby lotion that make people use it.

- Baby lotion is water-based and light weight.
- It makes their hair softer.
- Maintains Curls
- Helps control frizzy hair.

I think I will try it if it is safe - I am desperate for some moisture now. I want to know if there are people out there that use baby lotion for their hair! What is your experience? Or is it something you are willing to try if it is safe?

Quick Way to Moisture Your Child's Dry Natural Hair

By DiscoveringNatural

Ever struggled with your child's natural hair getting constantly dry, here is how I quickly moisturize my daughter's hair. If you need more tips on keeping the hair soft and staying moisturized, click here.



Doing Hot Oil Treatments for Dry Natural Hair

Harmattan season is here, and along with it comes dry and brittle hair. With a consistent hot oil treatment routine, you can avoid the issues of dry and brittle hair.

When doing hot oil treatments, it is important to choose oils that penetrate the hair shaft.  Some of these oils are Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Avocado Oil.  One or more of these oils will be the base of your hot oil treatment concoction. You can decide to mix other oils or just use the ones listed above. Click here to read about different oils and their benefits. When I make my hot oil treatments, I use:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil and Sweet Almond Oil

There are two ways  that you can do a hot oil treatment:

• Heated

When you do the heated method, you can apply the oil to either dry or damp hair.  Saturate the hair with your oil mixture, paying close attention to the ends and the scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer or steamer for 15-30 minutes.

 

• Non-Heated:

When doing a non-heated method, preheat your oil, by placing your oil mixture in a bowl of hot water. Do not directly heat the oil in the microwave or on the stove. Wet your hair with warm water to open the hair cuticles, then apply the oil to your hair, paying close attention to the ends and the scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and a warm towel for about an hour.

When done with the treatment, make sure to shampoo your hair with a non-sulfate shampoo. This will prevent stripping off the oils. You can also co-wash if you choose.

Do you do hot oil treatments? What oils do you use?

How I Manage My Natural Hair During Harmattan

Ladies!

The Harmattan season is upon us and it's not very pretty especially on our hair - both natural and relaxed.

For some reasons, it totally skipped my mind to tuck my hair in a protective style. Then again, I didn't think the Harmattan would be this intense and I also wanted to learn how to manage my hair. It's more or less a totally new experience but in the last few weeks - so far - I think gotten a hand of it. I've been able to tweak my regimen to suit the period.

Some of which include;

1. Moisturize and seal with a heavy butter.
Usually, I don't seal with heavy butters except on wash days but right now, it's a daily thing. I moisturize with my hair spritz and seal with my whipped shea butter. Anything other than that - in my opinion - is pointless. You need something to help retain moisturise for a longer time. And if you think it would lead to build-up, just clarify more frequently.

2. Co-wash more regularly. This is a no brainer really. Sometimes, the hair spritz isn't just enough. I try to co-wash and in the process, leave some conditioner in my hair before moisturizing. That way I can maximise all of the moisture.

3. Oil Rinsing.
I started this even before the harmattan season and I noticed that it really helped retain moisture plus my hair was softer and shinier so, while thinking over techniques to implement, this came out tops.

4. Moisture-intensive deep conditioning. The weather is absorbing all of the moisture, you need to do all it takes to replace it. Right now, I'm deep conditioning my hair mostly with moisture-intensive conditioners - again, to add moisture.
Dry hair = Breakage.

5. Satin Bonnet.
When I'm not going anywhere, I wear my satin bonnet all day. When I'm out, I wear satin scarves. I don't leave my hair out for any reason. Satin bonnets helps retain moisture even during the day.

If everything else fails, protective styling is the next best thing.

How do y'all manage your hair during the Harmattan season?


Love, kinks and knots
eBunite

IG: ebun_oluwole