Tip #1: Get a Natural Hair Care Routine
Tip #2: Deep Condition Your Hair
Tip #3: Use Leave-in Conditioners
Tip #4: Oil Your Hair
Tip #5: Do Not Use Too Many Different Products
Tip #6: Get Regular Trims
Tip #7: Detangle Carefully
Tip #8: Do Not Add Too Much Heat
Tip #9: Protect Hair at Night
Tip #10: Have a Healthy Diet and Drink Water
Do What’s Best For You

You should wear your hair like a crown! Kings and queens wear their crowns with confidence and authority so our hair should be treated with the same respect. I have had natural hair for the past 22 years and have gathered some tips that have worked for me and many others. I will share my tips on how to take care of natural hair so that you can feel confident in starting or continuing your natural hair journey.

Starting a natural hair care journey and just being natural in general can be a lot to handle but once you have figured out what works best for you, you may find your journey to be a bit easier. Ever since I was little, I have been completely natural meaning my hair has not been altered by chemicals or heat styling. To try and help soften and keep my coily hair healthy I would try many store-bought and homemade products. I have researched many different hair methods and some have stuck with me and will continue to be a part of my hair journey.

Tip #1: Get a Natural Hair Care Routine

First things first, to take care of your natural hair properly, you need to have a routine. Growing up, I never worried about doing my own hair because my mom kept up with it for me. My mom would have to set aside a whole day just to do my hair. I never truly understood wash days until I went to college and had to figure out how to keep up with my hair myself. As I started doing my own hair, I figured out that having a good hair routine was necessary. I would typically try to wash my hair every two weeks. Other individuals wash their hair either every week or every other week. My hair is very dry but I get build-up (dandruff or grease) so I personally cannot go past two weeks without a wash. A good routine should also include whatever shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, oil, etc. that you choose to use on your hair during your wash day. During my wash routine, I use a mild shampoo, then I deep condition after washing out the shampoo, then I use a leave-in conditioner and oil my hair before styling.

Tip #2: Deep Condition Your Hair

My second tip is to DEEP CONDITION YOUR HAIR SIS! Deep conditioning is important because it helps to hydrate hair and encourages smooth textures. It also helps to prevent heat damage. Black hair can be very dry/ lacking moisture so it is important that deep conditioning is a part of your natural hair care routine to combat such dryness. You can buy a deep conditioner from your local beauty supply store, or big-box store, or you can even make your own. I do both. The DIY deep conditioner I currently make can be found here. After washing my hair, I separate my hair into about four sections and apply the deep conditioner of my choice. I let the deep conditioner sit in my hair for about 40 minutes to an hour under a shower cap. Some people only leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes which is also fine (I’m just extra and like to soak it all in). I also apply a little heat from my dryer after I put on my shower cap because the heat increases the amount of absorption which is good for thick hair. Now, let’s get into leave-in conditioners.

Tip #3: Use Leave-in Conditioners

My third tip is using leave-in conditioners. A leave-in conditioner is one that stays in your hair as opposed to a deep conditioner which gets washed out of your hair after a period of time. A leave-in conditioner can provide that extra moisture needed for dry or damaged hair. After I wash out my deep conditioner, I section my hair again and begin to apply the leave-in conditioner. Sometimes I dry my hair right after putting in the leave-in and other times I just style my damp hair. I am currently using the Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner for Type 4 Hair.

Tip #4: Oil Your Hair

My fourth tip is oiling your hair. Since we’re comparing our hair to crowns then our hair should be shining like one. Oiling your hair daily or weekly helps to reduce the drying of hair, reduces frizz, and adds shine. It has also been said that oiling your hair regularly can prevent damaged hair caused by pollution and the chemicals in shampoo. I have a dryer scalp so I tend to oil my scalp every other day. Currently, I am using Cocoa Nibs + Honey Ultimate Strength Serum.

Tip #5: Do Not Use Too Many Different Products

My fifth tip is not to use too many different products in your hair at the same time. Using several different products at the same time can cause buildup which wouldn’t allow the products you actually need to absorb in your hair. This can lead to dry and irritated scalp. To be honest. I do not use brand bundles. By this I mean I do not currently use the same brand that makes shampoo, conditioner, leave-in, and oil all in one bundle. I do use different brands but I stick to those same products and wait a couple of wash cycles before I switch it up.

Tip #6: Get Regular Trims

My sixth tip is to get regular trims. When I was growing up, I used to think trimming was cutting my hair really short so I was against it but it was only doing more harm than good. Trimming your hair regularly gets rid of damaged hair or split ends. If you wait to get those trims, breakage can travel up your hair shaft and damage more of your hair and eventually leading your hair to completely break off. It sounds weird to cut your hair in order for it to grow more but it’s true and should be a part of your natural hair care routine. A good number for trims is about 10-12 weeks. 

Tip #7: Detangle Carefully

My seventh tip is to detangle your hair carefully. You should not be pulling your hair while combing or brushing through it ESPECIALLY when your hair is dry. Black, natural hair can be on the dry side so it is better to take your time to prevent damage. When you pull on your hair too much it can cause breakage or split ends. When your hair is dry or wet, I suggest using a detangling brush or a wide-tooth comb. 

Tip #8: Do Not Add Too Much Heat

When you are taking care of your natural hair I would also suggest not adding too much heat to your hair. By heat, I mean over straightening and blow-drying your hair. Adding too much heat can cause heat damage which can lead to a reduction of your natural curl pattern.  If you do decide to blow dry or straighten your hair, I would suggest using a heat protectant.

Tip #9: Protect Hair at Night

My ninth tip is something that some may look over but it is important when taking care of natural hair. It is protecting your hair at night. Protect your crown at all costs! You can do this by wearing a satin bonnet or scarf when sleeping or sleeping on a satin pillowcase. Protecting your hair at night can help you retain moisture while you’re asleep and minimizes the friction you can get if you just slept with that protection.

Tip #10: Have a Healthy Diet and Drink Water

My last tip in taking care of your natural hair is maintaining a healthy diet and drinking your water. Believe it or not, nourishing yourself will nourish your hair so keep up with eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water.

Do What’s Best For You

All of these tips and suggestions are what I use when taking care of my own natural hair and following these have made my journey very successful. Although I follow these tips and many others may as well it is important for you to experiment with different methods to see what works best for you. Knowing how to take care of your natural hair can be the first step in giving you the confidence that you should already have about your hair. Our hair is magic; It defies gravity and grows in a way that demands respect. I can understand the difficulties in managing it sometimes but your hair is a crown and should be treated as such.