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

Why Trimming Is Necessary

Hello everyone!

I've never really been a fan of trimming. Heck, for the first two years of my natural hair journey, I didn't trim my hair. I actually got my first trim this year and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Why the change of heart, you might be wondering. I think it finally dawned on me that I am doing myself. See, I've always been particular about the length of my hair. Particular and not obsessed. There's a difference. So, I really wanted to see the length my hair could go so I did not trim because I thought it meant that my hair would be shorter. What I should have done was to get mini trim so by the the time I went got to the salon, they gave me a major trim without my consent. I didn't realize this until weeks later when I was doing a length check. My hair was actally shorter. I didn't get over it for months.

Now, that I'm over it, I've come to appreciate it.

So why do you need a trim?

Your ends are the oldest part of your hair. Which means the longer your hair get, the older and weaker your ends become. If you are anything like me, you will know how hellish it is to hold on to your weak ends. Deep conditioning and moisturizing become a nightmare so it's best you let go of them.

Also, it unhealthy. Those ends become more prone to split ends, single strand knots and breakage. If you don't cut it off, it increase and join the rest of your healthy ends. So, the earlier the better. Try not to hold on to your ends because of length.

How do I know it's time to trim?

When your ends become ragged and doesn't take products. As much as you try to moisturize and deep condition, it never seems to bulge. CUT IT OFF!!

Ideally, trimming should be part of our regimen so there's no particular method to it. Find what works for you and stick to it. If it's every three months? Fine. Every six months? No problem. Once a year? whatever works for you.

Who should trim for me?

Asmuch as I advise DIY, I think it's better to get a natural hair stylist to trim for you rather than doing it yourself. If you're not a fan of salons, just make sure you wash your hair from home. That way, they won't charge you an arm and leg for washing and trimming.

So, how often do you trim?
Let's hear it!

Love, curls and coils.

Ebun Oluwole