Shampoos, oils, conditioners… all you need to maintain natural hair

Nowadays, everyone wants to keep natural hair but not many know how to go about the process called transitioning.

Here are some guidelines, tips and products that can help you on your natural hair journey.

Shampoo

There are different types of shampoos and the type you chose to use for natural hair matters a lot.

Clarifying shampoo

This is basically to deep clean your hair from dirt, oil, chemical and product build-up. It is typically recommended to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo once a month.

Chelating shampoo

Almost everyone uses tap water to wash but for those with natural hair, the mineral deposits in tap water can cause dryness because they coat the hair, thereby preventing moisture from getting in.

This is where chelating shampoo comes in. It sucks out all the impurities, hard water scum, and scalp residues to energise your hair.

Dry shampoo

This shampoo does not remove dirt as much as the others but its main job is to remove excess oil from the hair. It helps people who straighten their hair often.

Conditioners

Whether you like it or not, this is something you cannot run away from whether your hair is natural or not.

Deep conditioner

It helps to maintain the elasticity of the hair and restore moisture. It also restores and maintains the strength of the hair strand.

Balancing conditioner

For hair to remain healthy, it needs a balanced diet of oils, proteins and nutrients. Too much of these can damage the hair.

The job of the balancing conditioner is to help restore the balance, add softness and moisture as well as repair weakness in the hair.

Protein-rich conditioner

The hair is made up of a protein called keratin. Each time it is washed, we lose a certain amount of protein, therefore, pre-treating or deep conditioning before washing helps to prevent breakage. You should ensure that you buy products that are rich in protein. Such products usually have words like “repairing”, “reconstruction”, “strengthening” and “rebuilding” on them.

Edge control

This helps in smoothening out the hair and laying the edges.

Shea butter

This has a lot of benefits. It helps to soften the hair, seal moisture and it is very good for scalp therapy because it does not clog the pores.

Natural Oils

These are some of the natural oils to take care of natural hair.

Avocado oil

This oil protects the scalp and ensures healthy cell growth. It is one of the best products you can use on your hair as it helps to deep condition the hair, soften it and make it shine.

Olive oil

The type that is best for natural hair is the extra virgin olive oil because it is very lightweight. It is very good for sensitive hair and it prevents dandruff. You can also mix it with coconut oil for better effect.

Coconut oil

It helps to decrease protein loss and prevents hair loss. It has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.

Water

It’s the most natural moisturiser. Spraying your hair with water lightly helps a lot. Drinking water also helps to moisturise your hair from the inside.

Natural hair tips

• Make sure you protect your hair when you sleep by tying it; preferably with a silk scarf.
• Use a microfibre towel to dry your hair because it absorbs the excess moisture while a regular bath towel disrupts the cuticle layer of the hair.
• Make sure you use organic products. The most important thing is that you find out what works for you.