Hydration is Key
Regardless of the season, keeping your natural hair well-hydrated is crucial. During the summer, your hair can lose moisture quickly, leading to frizz and dryness. Fall and winter can result in dry hair because of the influx of indoor heating. This can sap the moisture from your hair.
Investing in a good leave-in conditioner and deep conditioning treatments to maintain the right balance of moisture for your hair, no matter the season.
Adjust Your Shampoo and Conditioner
Different seasons may call for different types of products. In the summer, you might consider using a clarifying shampoo to remove excess oil and product buildup. In the winter, a moisturizing and sulfate free shampoo is a better choice to combat dryness. Similarly, choose conditioners and treatments that suit your climate and individual needs.
Protect Your Hair from Sun and UV Damage
In the summer, prolonged sun exposure can lead to hair damage, just like it can harm your skin. Use hats, scarves, or UV protectant hair products to shield your hair from the sun's harmful rays. UV-protectant sprays can be applied to help prevent color fading and structural damage.
Embrace Protective Styles
Switching to protective styles like braids, twists or updos during extreme weather conditions can help lock in moisture and reduce manipulation.
Regular Trims
Split ends are a common problem that can also be exacerbated by seasonal changes. Regular trims can help prevent split ends and keep your hair looking healthy. Aim to trim your hair every 8-12 weeks to maintain it's vitality.
By following these tips and adapting your routine to the changing weather, you can keep your hair looking refreshed all year-round.
]]>Embrace Moisture-Rich Ingredients:
One of the key factors in maintaining healthy natural hair is moisture. Look for products that contain:
These ingredients can help nourish your curls by leaving them soft, manageable, and less prone to breakage.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Steer clear of products that contain harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens or mineral oils. These ingredients can strip your hair of it's natural oils, leaving it dry and prone to breakage.
Natural Extracts and Botanicals
Look for products that feature natural extracts like aloe, chamomile, or green tea. They can help soothe the scalp, reduce inflammation, and promote hair growth. They are gentle and nourishing, which makes them an excellent choice for your hair care routine.
Protein, Protein, Protein
Your hair can benefit from protein-rich ingredients like keratin or silk amino acids. They can help strengthen your hair and prevent breakage. You can incorporate this into your routine by adding protein treatments to your regimen.
Fragrance-Free or Natural Fragrances
Artificial fragrances can sometimes be irritating to the scalp and hair. Consider choosing products that either don't have added fragrance or are scented with natural essential oils.
Understanding the ingredients in natural hair care products is the key to achieving and maintaining healthy, beautiful hair. Keep in mind that individual hair types and needs may vary, so experimenting with different products and routines can help you figure out what works best.
Happy styling!
]]>
Section One: What is Hair Porosity?
Hair porosity refers to your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture. There are three main porosity types:
Section Two: Determining Your Hair Porosity:
Consider how your hair responds to products. Are they sitting on top of the hair? Or are they going in, but you still feel like it's dry? This can help you determine if you need something lighter or heavier to hydrate your hair effectively.
Section Three: Product Selection for Different Porosity Types:
Now that you've identified your hair porosity, let's explore the best products for them:
Low Porosity Hair:
Normal Porosity Hair:
High Porosity Hair:
Section Four: Hair Care Tips for All Porosity Types:
Regardless of your hair's porosity, there are universal tips to keep your hair healthy.
Understanding your hair's porosity can be a game-changer in achieving your hair goals. After understanding how hair porosity works, you can make more informed decisions on the types of products you choose and your hair will flourish because of it.
]]>Section One: What is Protective Styling:
Protective styling involves choosing hairstyles that minimize the manipulation, friction, and exposure of your hair, particularly the ends, to external elements. This, in turn, helps maintain hair health and reduce breakage.
Section Two: Benefits of Protective Styling:
Section Three: Protective Styles:
Section Four: Caring For Your Hair in Protective Styles:
Section Five: Protective Styling Tips:
By following the tips ad techniques outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to achieving healthy, beautiful hair through the power of protective styling.
]]>Introduction - Silk Press 101:
A silk press is a hairstyling technique that uses a flat iron to straighten and smooth out natural or relaxed. hair. Unlike traditional straightening techniques, a silk press aims to leave your hair looking silky and glossy. It's a great way to achieve a slick, elegant look without using harsh chemicals.
Tools You'll Need:
Preparing Your Hair:
Proper preparation is crucial to make sure your silk press comes out correctly.
Mastering the Silk Press Technique:
Now, let's get into the step-by-step process of silk-pressing:
Maintenance Tips:
Silk presses can seem daunting at first, but with practice and the right tools, you can achieve a beautiful hair style that can turn heads. Remember to be patient and gentle with your hair because heat styling can cause damage if it isn't done correctly. With this beginner's guide, you're well on your way to mastering the art of silk presses. Happy styling!
]]>
Gather Essential Supplies:
To start your natural hair care routine, you'll need a few key items:
Create a Washing Schedule:
Determine how often you need to wash your hair. Some people wash their hair once a week, while others do it less frequently. Overwashing can strip your hair of natural oils, so finding the right balance is key.
Pre-Poo Your Hair:
Consider applying a pre-shampoo treatment with oils or conditioners to help protect your hair from excessive drying during shampooing. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes before washing.
Shampoo and Condition:
Deep Condition Weekly:
Once a week, use a deep conditioner to provide extra moisture and nourishment to your hair. Follow the instructions on the product and use a shower cap to intensify the treatment.
Moisturize and Style:
Protect Your Hair at Night:
Sleep with a satin or silk bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase to reduce friction and prevent frizz while you sleep.
Maintain Regular Trims:
To prevent split ends and maintain healthy hair, schedule regular trims, typically every 2-4 months.
Monitor Your Hair's Health:
Pay attention to your hair's needs and adjust your routine accordingly. If you notice issues like excessive dryness or breakage, make necessary changes to your products or regimen.
Embrace Patience and Experimentation:
Creating the perfect natural hair care routine takes time and experimentation. What works for one person may not work for another. Be patient, and don't be afraid to try different products and techniques to find what suits your hair best.
Remember that consistency is key when building a natural hair care routine. With the right products and techniques, you can enjoy healthy, beautiful, and well-maintained natural curls.
Understanding the Basics:
Hair Care and Preparation:
Choosing the Right Style:
Installation and Maintenance:
Protecting Your Natural Hair:
Wig and Extension Removal:
Experiment and Have Fun:
Don't be afraid to experiment with different wigs and extensions to discover new looks and styles that suit your personality.
Remember that mastering protective styles with wigs and extensions takes practice and patience. Seek professional assistance when needed, and take good care of your natural hair to ensure it remains healthy and strong. With the right techniques and products, you can enjoy various hairstyles while safeguarding your natural hair.
As a woman who has been natural for more than a decade, I have asked myself that question numerous times. Fortunately, as natural hair moves from a mere momentary trend to a widely-recognized lifestyle, there is no shortage of valuable information from vloggers to assist you at various stages of your natural hair journey. From relaxed to natural, and between all of the beautifully awkward transitions from short, medium, and long hair- there is a vlogger who is slaying the style game.
To make the natural hair journey a little bit easier and a lot more fun, the Essence of Beauty team has compiled a list of natural hair vloggers whose tutorials are perfect for short, medium, and long natural hair.
AKA Roxxie | From short to long and back to short again, this beautiful, creative naturalista isn’t just bringing natural hair tips, but she adds beautiful pearls of wisdom to new and established naturals.
Gabrielle Elena | Although she’s no newbie to natural hair, she loves her short hair and opts to keep her natural cropped. Check her out to learn how to enhance curls and fall in love with your hair even at its shortest length.
Esther Nefertiti | This straight-forward queen is rocking the TWA scene and sharing short, time-saving tutorials. Like her hair, her videos are of the shorter variety, yet they’re still packed with personality, a warm smile and an intriguing accent.
Leslie Latrice | This vibrant naturalista brings equal parts energy, information and expertise. Leslie Latrice is a Captain in the U.S. Army and specializes in professional mid-length natural styles. This diverse channel is great for those seeking a wide range of style options for medium-length natural hair.
Courtney Lynn | When your natural hair hits medium length, protective styles become crucial. Courtney Lynn has no hang-ups about wigs, weaves, and extensions, and it is reflected in the health of her natural hair. Her informative videos are the answer for those naturalistas who like to preserve their natural hair and enjoy exploring other styles with the help of wigs and weaves.
TheGlovedNatural | Those wash days hit just a little different when you grow beyond your TWA. Check out this gorgeous naturalista as she slays her full medium length hair. Dive into her channel to learn more about the wide range of styling options for medium length hair. From silk presses to twist-outs and wash-n-gos, TheGlovedNatural has you covered.
NaturalReign | This sister is pretty, pierced, and practical. She offers practical tips and cuts through the myths of growing natural hair, and she does so with a smile and a wonderful sense of humor. Grab a notepad and your favorite detangling cream and head over to her channel as she spills the tea on natural hair growth.
EfikZara | Not only does she have a head full of hair, but EfikaZara also has a head full of natural hair knowledge. With beauty and grace, she confidently gives do’s & don’ts and backs them with science, not just opinion. Her channel is great for anyone who wants to cut through the plethora of misinformation regarding natural hair.
Maryam Hampton | Maryam is truly a natural hair veteran. A true naturalista, Maryam’s channel is packed with informative videos, DIY products and tonics that she has used to grow and manage her long tresses. Subscribe to her channel for natural hair DIYs and reviews on products from rice water to chebe powder.
The Essence of Beauty team believes that reliable resources, great products, and an attitude of self-love and acceptance are key essentials in helping our natural hair reach its fullest potential. We hope that you are able to utilize these short, medium, and long natural hair vloggers as your resources as you navigate your unique natural hair journey, and we invite you to check out the Essence of Beauty online shop for great quality products for your natural hair.
We hope you forever maintain an attitude of self-love and acceptance as you continually explore the Essence of Your Beauty.
]]>
]]>
Protective styles have become an almost ritual for black women, naturals and relaxed alike during the summertime. Whether choosing from box braids, twists, crochets to sew-ins, we often use many of these options when giving our hair the much needed “rest” from high manipulation. As women we also need hair options that can withstand the heat, sweat, pool visits and beach bum days that are ever present in the summer. So what style is the right style for you? Glad you asked! There are a few things we must consider before jumping into a protective style. I call them the ABC’s of protective styling -Adaptable , Budget-friendly, Care awareness.
Can you wear it to work and happy hour? Is it fitting for what activities you’ll be participating in over the summer? If it’s high maintenance, can you provide the upkeep necessary for it to last? One of the worst things in the hair world is to have a banging hairstyle that you can’t keep up or a hairstyle that’s great for the club but horrible for the office. Make sure your hair and your lifestyle are equally yoked.
While protective styles are a must have during the summer, all styles are not priced equally. Don’t go broke on a hairstyle that is meant to be temporary! Do yourself a favor and shop around for the best price and quality combo for the ‘do you’re looking for. Remember, you still have to eat.
All too often we get lost in the thought that we don’t have to do anything to our hair while it is in the protective style. WRONG! The quickest way to lose your hair is to not take care of it while it’s put up. Your hair will still need moisture (if your hair is color treated it may require more moisture than normal), your scalp will still need to be cleaned and properly moisturized and your edges need to be carefully considered while you are living your best summertime life.
Now that we know our ABCs, we can start our sensational summer with a beautifully protected bang! (Pun intended )
]]>