Do you miss the natural look of your hair? Or decided to grow your hair out? Whatever the goal, in order to grow natural hair, you need to keep your hair moisturized and treat it regularly. If you've been chemically straightening your hair, decide whether to do most of your hair or cut all of your straightened hair, or braid your hair or adopt another hairstyle to hide the dramatic contrast in hair texture. Even if you only intend to grow natural hair, you should pay attention to how to moisturize and style your hair to prevent breakage and promote healthy hair growth.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Switch to Natural Hair
Step 1. Stop all chemical hair treatments
The first step to switching to natural hair is to stop the chemical treatment or straightening process. This gives your hair a chance to show its natural texture, although hair that has been chemically straightened will remain permanently straight.
Step 2. Cut off most of the hair
The easiest way to switch to natural hair is to cut all sections of hair that have been chemically straightened. This step helps to avoid sudden changes in texture between straightened hair and naturally growing hair. However, cutting most of your hair means sacrificing hair length and you will need to have short hair to remove straightened hair.
- Cutting hair exactly where it is transitioning between natural hair and straightened hair is the safest way of transitioning because hair tends to break if you don't cut it.
- There is no way to undo hair that has been chemically straightened. New hair growing near the roots is the natural texture of the hair, while the rest of the hair will be permanently straight.
Step 3. Use extensions during the transition phase
If you want to grow natural hair, but want to keep your hair long, try extensions or weaves while you wait for your hair to grow. Weaving hair will hide any radical changes in hair texture and give your long hair the look you want. You can remove the woven hair, cut the straightened hair, and continue the process of growing natural hair.
We recommend that you attach the weave by sewing, not gluing, as glued weave tends to tear when removed
Step 4. Style your hair in a style that protects your hair during the transition
To hide the transition between straightened and natural hair, you can style your hair in a braid, cornrow, or other less damaging style until the natural hair reaches a length you are comfortable cutting straightened hair. This hairstyle has the advantage of requiring minimal maintenance while also giving your hair the length you want.
You can also style your hair in natural curls, such as auxiliary knots and using hair rollers. This hairstyle helps hide the fact that the hair is in a transition phase
Method 2 of 4: Washing and Moisturizing Hair
Step 1. Wash your hair with shampoo once a week or every two weeks
Frizzy curly hair is drier and more brittle than other hair types. Washing your hair more than once a week can strip your hair of the oils it needs and leave it prone to breakage. You don't have to worry about your hair looking greasy as long as you wash it once a week or once every two weeks.
- Choose a day that allows you to spend a lot of time washing your hair because this routine will take a long time.
- If you're trying to grow your hair out, try a shampoo that contains biotin, as this vitamin can speed up hair growth.
Step 2. Apply conditioner after shampooing your hair
Don't forget to apply conditioner every time you finish washing your hair with shampoo. Conditioner will restore moisture to the hair and help protect the hair from the risk of breakage. Apply more conditioner to the ends of your hair as this is the oldest and most fragile part of your hair.
Step 3. Co-wash between hair washes
If you are a sports enthusiast or tend to sweat, you may find that you need to wash your hair more than once a week to get rid of sweat and other buildup. Instead of washing your hair with shampoo, try using conditioner. Using conditioner instead of shampoo, rub it into your scalp and all over your hair.
Co-wash is a gentle way to wash hair without drying it out
Step 4. Do deep conditioning once a week
Deep conditioning is essential for maintaining natural hair health, especially if you are switching from straightened hair. Apply an enriched, water-based conditioner while your hair is still wet after shampooing. Divide the hair into sections to make the process easier and apply the enriched conditioner evenly from roots to tips.
- After coating your hair with the enriched conditioner, use a shower cap to wrap your head around for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the shower cap and rinse the conditioner out of the hair, paying special attention to the scalp to be thoroughly clean.
- To make the conditioner work better, you can warm your hair with a heating cap at the salon.
- Use an oil-fortified conditioner or an ingredient that contains butter, such as coconut oil, castor oil or shea butter.
Step 5. Use a no-rinse moisturizer every day
Frizzy curly hair is quite dry and tends to be brittle. So, it is important to use a daily moisturizer in addition to a weekly treatment with a fortified conditioner. Buy a leave-in moisturizer that's lightweight and doesn't leave hair limp, but provides significant moisture. Start your hair care routine in the morning by spraying water on your hair, then apply a leave-in moisturizer according to the directions on the package.
You may need to try several products before finding the one that works best for your hair
Step 6. Protect hair with oil or butter
After applying the leave-in moisturizer, spray your hair with an oil-based spray to lock in the leave-in moisturizer. You can simply rub coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, or your favorite oil or butter into your hair, especially at the ends.
Method 3 of 4: Styling Hair
Step 1. Limit the use of heat
Heat-emitting tools such as flat irons or blow dryers can damage natural hair. So it's best if you limit its use or stop it altogether, especially if you're trying to switch to natural hair. Hair will be very brittle if you haven't cut the straightened section of hair, which is why you want to give your new natural hair a healthy start.
If you must use heat, try to reduce it to 2-3 times a month. Don't forget to spray a heat protectant on your hair first and use the lowest heat setting if possible. Try using a ceramic flat iron or ceramic tourmaline to minimize hair damage
Step 2. Unravel the kinks formed
If you see a tangle of hair, don't wait after a shower to untangle it. Instead, wet the tangled section of hair in the sink or spray it with water, then apply the conditioner and oil directly to the section and gently work it out with your fingers. After that, use a wide-toothed comb to finish it off.
Do not wash hair that is very tangled because the washing process will make the level of tangles worse and the hair will be more difficult to untangle
Step 3. Comb the hair while it is still wet
Combing natural hair dry will increase the risk of breaking. Therefore, you should brush your hair immediately after taking a shower while it has not dried. Apply a small amount of conditioner and moisturizer without rinsing and use a wide-toothed comb to comb through the hair, starting at the ends, working towards the roots.
Step 4. Style your hair in a protective style
Called a protective style because it can hold the hair in place, reduce friction that can damage the hair, and requires minimal handling so as to minimize the risk of hair breakage. Protective styles include braids, cornrows, auxiliary ties, and twists. You can maintain this style for a few weeks to two months before removing it.
Step 5. Gently style your hair
When you put your hair in a bun or braid, or style your hair in a protective style, try not to pull the "edges" of hair, or the hair around the temples and the nape of the neck, too hard. The hair in this area is very fine and more brittle, so it is easy to break and pull out.
You should also take care not to put tension on the scalp as it can cause hair loss
Step 6. Change your hairstyle
It may be tempting to put your hair in a bun or wash your hair every day, or to wear a protective style for more than 2 months, but that's not good for your hair. It is recommended to remove the protective hairstyle or hair weave after 1-2 months and replace it with another hairstyle to avoid pulling the same section of hair. This will minimize the risk of breaking and also give your hair a chance to rest.
Method 4 of 4: Maintaining Healthy Hair
Step 1. Cut hair every 3-5 months
Even if you're trying to grow your hair out, you should trim it every 3-5 months to get rid of split ends and keep your hair healthy.
Step 2. Drink plenty of water
To keep your hair hydrated, keep your body hydrated. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day or other drinks that can hydrate the body, such as juices or sports drinks.
Step 3. Consume foods that contain healthy nutrients for hair
Your diet is also an important aspect for hair health. You should try to eat foods rich in biotin, fatty acids, B vitamins, folic acid, niacin and protein. Suggested foods include salmon and other fatty fish, eggs, beans, avocados, and lentils.
Step 4. Use a silk or satin pillowcase
A lot of damage can occur during the night when the hair rubs against the pillow, absorbing the moisture in the hair and causing the hair to break. The best solution to this problem is to use a silk or satin pillowcase which creates less friction and does not absorb moisture from the hair. You can also wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf at night for the same effect.
Tips
- Growing natural hair takes patience, especially if you are in transition. Try experimenting with different hairstyles until you find the one that suits you the most.
- Hair grows at a rate of about 1.25 cm per month, but frizzy hair is so curly that you may find it slower to grow.
- Coconut oil is also suitable for moisturizing and maintaining soft and healthy hair.
