Natural Hair Care
By Kathryn Tyler
I know you have
thought about it.
Taunted and drawn
to the waves and
bends near your scalp
called new growth. “ I
wonder what it would
be like if I…” but you
abandon the thought and
run back to the salon, or
cousin or whoever and get
styling options, washing your hair more often, and with
your fix of that smooth, white powder, I mean cream;
Big Chop Cons
that enjoying more outdoors activities regardless of the
the ‘Creamy Crack.’ Don’t get me wrong, I’m no anti-
• Having really short hair all of sudden may
weather. With your natural hair there are many elegant
perm Nazi, but I do believe that relaxers are not the only
negatively impact your self-image.
styles to experiment with, such as two-strand twists,
way black women can wear their hair. It might be hard
• There are very few styling options until your hair
large French braids, and gorgeous buns displaying your
in the beginning to say goodbye to your relaxed hair
grows longer.
wavy texture in the front. The styles don’t end there.
and hello to your beautiful natural hair, but it’s worth
There’s afros, ponytails, flat twists, braid-outs and
it and you can do, it you can kick the habit! Check into
What To Expect
whatever else you create.
chemical rehab!
You could say that there are phases that one goes through
Your natural hair can get rained on and you don’t need
Some of you have been relaxing your hair all of your
when first being introduced to their natural hair. Some
to be bothered because hair needs moisture and you are
adult life and have not seen your natural texture since
of these may be negative but most of them are positive.
not trying to maintain an unnatural texture.
childhood. Some of you may be relapsers (like I was)
Knowing what to expect can dramatically reduce anxiety
and need encouragement. Either way it is understandable
and hopefully this information will prevent relapsing into
one could have questions, concerns and even doubts.
another relaxer.
Self-Discovery
The purpose of this article is to provide the mental
Lastly one of the most phenomenal things you can
ammunition necessary to embrace your hair with
Obsession
expect, if you seek it, is self-discovery. Many times
confidence. I will cover ways to begin, things to expect,
One of the first things you may encounter is an obsession
women learn how to care for their own hair without
tools necessary and resources to provide you with info
with your hair. Magazines, websites, books, friends,
a stylist when going natural. Your confidence in your
further down the line. Let’s begin.
anything you can get your hands to learn more will become
self will grow because you discover that you can do
your best friend. To aid in this obsession I have included
it. After many years of someone else caring for your
Ways To Do It
resources to explore at the end of the article.
hair it is possible to feel helpless or uninvolved with
it, but once you do become involved it is absolutely
In going natural the first thing you need to do is remove
Frustration
empowering. You can take care of your own hair and
the relaxed hair. It boils down to two options: growing
Next is frustration. Some days you will be so happy that
grow it long if that is what you desire. You can make
out some natural hair and cutting out the relaxed
you made the decision to go natural, but other days you
yourself beautiful with your own God-given hair. Even
hair gradually (this is called transitioning) or more
will wake up and wish you were just parting your wrap
if you go to a stylist, you can further appreciate that it
dramatically you can chop off all the relaxed hair all at
instead of combing out an afro. Frustration is more likely
is ultimately you that is control of your hair. A stylist
once (which is what I ended up doing). With everything
to occur for those that are transitioning, simply because of
can help with professional services such as coloring or
there are pros and cons.
the difficulty of having two textures to deal with. There
cutting but you can decide when you want to go and if
your hair is ready for such a service. The responsibility
Let’s explore the pros and cons of transitioning.
are things you can do to cope with having two textures and
the comb-out process.
and power is in your hands.
Transitioning Pros
Never comb your hair when it is dry. Two textures at once is
• There is no dramatic change in self-image, such
hard enough but combing while dry only increases the stress
as not having hair.
on the fine border between the relaxed and unrelaxed hair.
The Tools
• Because it is a gradual change you can get
If you think you are mentally ready to say goodbye to
familiar with the natural hair and have time to Use a good oil-based hair lotion or moisturizer. When you
your relaxed hair and that you can handle the obsession,
adjust to the new texture comb your hair you want it to be easy with no tugging. Hair
frustration and self-discovery that goes with going
• If you transition long enough, you can begin with lotion makes it easier to comb and helps to reduce tangles.
natural than you need to have certain tools to grow and
a good length of natural hair that will allow more
styling options and make the transition with not
Always comb from the ends up. When combing begin
maintain your hair. The items I am listing are equally
much notice to bystanders.
detangling at the ends and gradually work your way up
important, basic tools that should be a part of your hair
rather than raking the comb from root to end; this prevents
arsenal.
Transitioning Cons
unnecessary pulling. And finally,
1. A wide-toothed, wide-spaced comb. This is
• It can be very difficult to handle two different Have a routine. In my own personal experience I found important because it will remove tangles without
textures on one head; the meeting point of the I was much calmer in the morning if I had a routine. At too much stress on the hair. I use a shampoo
two textures is a prime spot for breakage. night I would wet my hair a little, add my moisturizer and comb for combing and a more normal sized
• Since it is difficult to deal with the two textures comb out my hair from tip to scalp using my wide toothed comb for parting.
and the majority of your length is relaxed hair, it comb. I would then braid it in two inverted cornrows and
2. A spray bottle. These are available at beauty
will be very tempting to get a touch-up and thus it tie it up with a non-cotton scarf. In the morning I would
supply stores and in the health and beauty aisle
taking a long time before you are 100% natural. either wear my cornrows or take them down and enjoy my
in the grocery store. As I’ve said, you never
manageable hair! Your routine may be slightly different
Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of chopping
want to comb your hair while it is dry, ever. So
but the important thing is that you have one that includes
it off all at once.
fill the bottle with water and spray it in your hair
moisturizing and detangling.
whenever you comb or style. You can even add
Big Chop Pros Even if you get frustrated, do not give up. Remember how
the contents of a vitamin E capsule or olive oil
• You are 100% natural instantly satisfying it will be to comb thru your lustrous, thick, Rudy
to make it richer.
• You have very easy hair styling for the first few Huxtable mane.
3. A spray leave-in conditioner. I used Infusium
months
23 or Wet n’ Wavy leave-in spray and even
• It’s easier to avoid the temptation of getting a Freedom
Sta-sof-fro. The idea with this is similar to that
relaxer. While you may get frustrated sometimes you can also
of the spray bottle. You want to keep your hair
expect to enjoy a great deal of freedom. That is freedom in moisturized everyday. This is key to keeping your
8  NAPTURAL ROOTS  VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2
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