Good hair care is important to you, but it can be more important than that. Your natural hair plays an important role in your appearance, self-esteem and sense of well-being. Natural hair care can help you protect and enhance the natural beauty of your hair which ultimately helps you live a happier and healthier life on all levels.
Humans have been using natural ingredients to clean their hair and skin for thousands of years. Over the years, new technologies and chemicals have led us to forget our roots. Many of us are now concerned with what goes on or in our bodies. It is becoming more common than ever before for people to be looking for products that use 100% natural ingredients as opposed to something with 20 chemicals that doesn’t even provide an increase in quality.
The following are the ways to wash and taking care for natural hair:
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Wash 2-3 times a week
Wash your hair every day and you’ll develop folliculitis. Wash every other day and your scalp will dry out and become flaky. Wash twice a week, like the shampoo label suggests, and you’re setting yourself up for an itchy head of lice-infested, limp locks. The only way to get the best of both worlds: waterless shampoo. These non-rinse solutions can be used as little or as often as you need, sparing your head from harsh detergent while preserving its moisture balance.
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Cleanse with a sulfate-free shampoo or cleanser
Oily hair looks great and has a sexiness to it that just screams youthfulness. But the major downside of oily hair is that it often requires daily shampooing. Sulfates are chemicals added to shampoos which create foam to make us think it’s working better and cleansing out all the impurities, but they come at a price: over time these chemicals dry out hair and strip it of proteins, making locks brittle and prone to split ends and breakage.
Using sulfate-based shampoos, cleansers or laundry detergent can lead to skin irritation, dryness and damaged hair. But you don’t have to switch to a big brand, expensive shampoos or skincare products to avoid harsh ingredients. In fact, you can use organic, natural and non-toxic ingredients instead in order to achieve healthier looking hair and skin without breaking the bank.
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Don’t be afraid of co-washing
If you haven’t given co-washing a shot yet, then you definitely should. Co-washing is something we may have never heard of even just a few years ago. But let me tell you what it is: co-washing is when you use a conditioner to wash your hair instead of a shampoo. Yep, that’s all there is to it! It’s just the concept of using a conditioner instead of a shampoo in one’s hair routine.
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Be Mindful of the Water Temperature
Water temperature during the late summer months and early fall is perfect for many types of fish to live in. If you are planning a trip to your favorite spot, be mindful of the water temperature and know what type of fish might be in the area that time of year.
When we think about bathtime, many of us envision bathtubs filled with steaming hot or refreshingly cool water. For most of us, there is also a sweet spot in between. We want just the right temperature – not too hot, not too cold.
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Consider an apple cider vinegar rinse from time to time
Over the many years of cutting hair, I’ve heard about a lot of different home remedies that can help with your hair, skin and scalp. I’m sure you’ve heard some of them too, like doxycycline daily for hair growth and honey, olive oil and lemon juice to remove dandruff. Many of these tips are more myth than fact especially when it comes to dandruff removal.
But there are two things that I have found to work amazingly well – apple cider vinegar and green tea. Both work as antioxidants which promote hair growth. The acidic properties in ACV also allows for a deep cleanse for your scalp which is helpful in reducing excess sebum production.
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Conditioning your hair
A quick way to improve your natural hair is to condition it. Conditioners deliver nutrients to hair that are supplied by shampoos, and they can deliver these nutrients in a way which is ideal for the hair. Conditioning your hair helps to protect against damage and moisturizes it.
There are several reasons why using a quality shampoo is important, but the main reason is to maintain clean, healthy hair. To ensure you are using a shampoo that doesn’t damage your hair, here are a few tips for making sure you are picking the correct product for your needs:
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Always use sulfate-free shampoo
Shampoos have been made sulfate-free, to appease the worries of people allergic to sulfites. But sulfates have a lot of benefits, and it is not great to switch over to sulfate-free shampoo.
Shampoos contain sulfates to make the shampoo lather quickly and to also fight dandruff. However, sulfate-free shampoos are organic and more natural, as they are free of damaging sodium lauryl sulfate. Hence, if you have ever doubted what is the best shampoo for hair loss, you would do well in sticking with a sulfate-free one instead.
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Detangle hair before washing it
Always wash your hair when it is still wet. This will allow the conditioner to penetrate deep inside the hair shaft, effectively detangling hair. Detangling will also prevent your hair from damage during removal of all of the products used during styling.
Hair should be washed twice a month. Some people wash it more often, which is actually bad for the hair because it increases moisture loss and damage. It should always be a lightweight conditioner, never heavy cream or gel. Be gentle while detangling your hair before washing it.
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Protect your curls at night by wearing a satin scarf or sleeping on a satin pillowcase
Many of us spend hundreds of dollars to get great looking curls, but often don’t spend anything to protect them. Curls can be protected at night by wearing a satin scarf in your hair, which keeps it from snagging on something and causing unnecessary stress on the curl. You can also sleep on a satin pillowcase, which will reduce friction on your curls while you sleep.
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Use lukewarm water to wash
There are a number of different ways to get your clothes clean. You could just throw them in the washing machine and select a standard cycle, or you could hand wash them in the tub or sink. While hand washing has its benefits, it’s worthwhile to learn how to use lukewarm water to wash your clothes. It’ll save you money and time.
Lukewarm water is one of the ways you can save water consumption in your home. A typical forty-five-gallon bathtub can be filled and emptied three times with hot water. Yet, it takes more like 25 gallons of lukewarm water to fill it up. That’s a lot of extra water you’re using for no good.
