The Basics of Natural Hair Care
Start here if you're new to natural hair care.
Why go natural?
I went natural when I grew tired of spending good money on hair products that didn't provide significant or lasting results. After I starting losing my hair, I thoroughly researched natural alternatives and figured I had nothing to lose by trying them. You can read my story here.
Natural hair care can be more effective. Natural hair care can be more effective solution for so-called "problem" hair. If your hair is shedding, thinning or breaking, it may be the result of excessive heat, chemicals and other ingredients commonly found in hair cleansing and styling products. In many cases, such hair loss around the hairline and thinning, natural hair care offers safe, effective and more permanent solutions than chemicals.
Natural hair is more real, and ultimately less work. Many, including those with African hair, have gone natural simply because it's real. In addition, the constant work of trying to change your hair's natural characteristics is an ongoing battle. If your hair grows quickly, you could be washing and and applying styling products more frequently.
Many people are allergic to chemical dyes. Although there was a highly publicized case of a beauty blogger who had an allergic reaction to henna, allergies to henna are rare. (And, it's easy to test prior to use.)
People with immune disorders or environmental illnesses are now encouraged to use organic, plant-based dyes, such as henna, rather than chemicals to color their hair.
Natural hair care is cost effective. If you've ever used expensive shampoos, conditioners and styling products and experienced short-term or negligible results, then you've paid too much. But chances are you have many of the ingredients commonly used in natural hair care already in your home, because they're multipurpose. (Think apple cider vinegar or cold-press virgin olive oil).
Natural hair care is better for the environment.
What is natural hair care?
This is the practice of using truly natural methods and techniques to clean, condition and style your hair without the use of chemicals, and with minimal impact on the environment.
The regime - wash, condition, moisturize and leave your hair alone - is most likely a lot simpler than what you're doing now. This article, The Compound Effect in Healthy Hair Care: Avoiding the Fluff and Sticking to Key Healthy Hair Principles by Audrey Sivasothy, reprinted on CurlyNickki.com is a great primer for natural hair care.
In the strictest sense, natural hair care can mean only using plant-based, organic cleansers, conditioners and styling aids. It also excludes the use of heat implements. (Although I do still enjoy the results of using heat on my own hair once in a while.)
As a hair naturalista, I embrace the idea that everything I need for my hair, my skin and my health grows somewhere on this planet.
What can herbs do for your hair?
Herbs can be used to effectively:
Enhance or smooth your curl or wave pattern
Texturize straight hair
Make your hair smoother
Give your hair the appearance of growing faster by preventing split ends, and reducing shedding and breaking
Support the root system so that hair actually does grows faster
Make your hair thicker in two ways: thicken each individual hair strand, and thicken the density of growth in your scalp
Make your hair stronger (and less prone to breakage)
Eliminate dandruff
Balance an oily scalp
Color your hair
Give you the sexiest head of hair on the block
Precautions
Some herbs and practices do not work well with chemical treatments, such as chemical hair dyes. It's important to read the instructions, test herbs before use, and only use organic naturals from a reputable source.
Getting started with natural hair care
The best way to get started with natural hair care is to make a switch to natural products and these basic practices. Make adjustments as you progress!
Shampoo - Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo for your hair type. I recommend As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner and the Aubrey Organics brand (available at Sprouts, health food stores and online)
Conditioner - Again, switch to a natural conditioner for your hair type.
Be kinder to your hair. Use finger detangling before using a wide tooth comb to gently remove tangles.
Keep your hair moisturized. After conditioning, try using a little argan or marula oil on damp hair to retain moisture and tame your tresses (your hair will also dry faster).
If you're hair is dry or you have African hair, you'll need to seal the moisture in before hair dries completely. Try a little organic coconut oil or jojoba oil, especially on the tips.
Air dry or style your hair. The oils I mentioned above contain some UV and heat protection, but if you're going to blow dry, it's best to use a protectant specifically for heat styling, such as Aveda Brillant Damage Control. (Depending upon your hair type and lifestyle, there are many styling options which I'll post in weeks to follow.)
Dowload these updated Natural Hair Best Practices.
I founded Natural HaiRevolution to help you achieve your best hair - just as I did. I accomplish this mission by wading through the information (and mis-information) about natural hair care, and providing you with fully vetted, natural hair techniques and herbs.