NATURAL HAIR REGIMEN FOR NATURALISTAS WITH LONG HAIR
By Hadassah Agbaps - January 16, 2015
Hi people, what's been on?
I'll be sharing a simple regimen for naturalistas with long hair.
MODEL 3:
You've passed the teeny weeny afro stage, weathered the storm of the in between to midlength stage and now your kinks are approaching bra strap to waist length and beyond!
Everyone thinks you have it easy. With long natural hair you can rock any style, try any colour, rock a big bad fro and lots of things people view as impossible with other lengths. You've reached the nirvana of natural hair, right?
Wrong.
You know the truth.
With longer natural hair comes
- Longer detangling time ( Your hair seems to love the game of Tangle Tag)
- Longer styling time (good work out for the arms, though), so most times you just bun up and go.
- More dryness....the sound of a bowl of cornflakes and the sound your hair makes when you touch it are in perfect harmony!
- Bigger products ( 8 oz and below are just samples!)
If this is you, I hear ya!
At this stage, it's time to concentrate on your midlength and ends. Those babies are old and need a lot of TLC.
Your hair products and your methods will have to change.
Once you were switching up your styles and color like a chameleon, now ....er..not so much.
Once you were excited to check your length retention by heat straightening, now...those babies need a vacay.
It's also time to get a professional trim to get rid of raggedy ends.
It's time to invest in good quality haircare products and combs. No more trying out every and any product you can lay your hands on...your aged hair can only take so much! It's useful to check out product reviews. Look for the words moisturising and strengthening.
Hair products
- Sulfate free shampoo with moisturising properties.
- A big vat of conditioner...I'm talking family, salon quantity sizes cos your hair will be eating this up. The more slip it has, the better.
- A creamy leave in conditioner. The creamier and more moisturising, the better. Infact, this is where you should splurge without guilt.
- A moisturising deep conditioning masque....emphasis on masque.
- A protein treatment.
- Two types of oils....one with strengthening properties and another for sealing. If you find one that does both jobs, better!
- A styler . Most stylers at this stage will be drying to the length of your hair. Creamy stylers are preferable to foam stylers. Gels should be limited to taming edges.
Recommended regimen.
Week 1.
This week should start your washday and it should be on a day when you are free so you don't rush the process and damage your hair. Let's assume your weekend starts on Saturday.
On Friday night, apply your strengthening oil (e.g coconut oil, palm kernel oil) to damp hair. Leave overnight. This will serve as your prepoo step. You can also decide to do an overnight henna treatment.
The next day, layer on your conditioner and detangle from tips to roots. (In my experience, detangling longer natural hair dry with just a conditioner reduces breakage....it's not a rule though...do what works best for you. You've come far enough to know). You can fingerdetangle or use a shower comb. Invest in good quality wide tooth combs...trust me, it makes a difference.
Twist each detangled section. ( I prefer twists to braids because it's easier to take each one out for thorough rinsing and redo).
Apply shampoo to scalp alone, lather and rinse. The run off should cleanse the length of hair without stripping.
Apply deep conditioner to hair alone and leave on for recommended time. Then rinse.
You can also do a final rinse using dilute Apple Cider Vinegar ( 1:3 part water), tea rinse or baking soda rinse.
Blot dry. Apply leave in conditioner, seal with oil and style to stretch. Once dry, style as desired.
Week 2
Moisturise and seal.
Week 3
Cowash, moisturise and seal.
Week 4
Get ready to take down style to prepare for the wash week.
Again, this regimen is more of a guide than a rule. Adjust as much as you can depending on your time schedule and hair type. I usually advocate once a month shampoo and weekly cowash because I believe the less you do to your hair, the less mechanical damage you inflict on it.
The above regimen is designed for naturals who style their hair without extensions. I'll write and extensive post for caring for your natural hair with extensions.
So, here ends my series on Natural Hair Regimens. Next series will be Troubleshooting for natural hair issues.
Feel free to ask questions you'll like have answered in the next post. If you have suggestions to developing a hair regimen that worked for you and your hair, please don't hesitate to share...I really don't know it all o!
I'll be sharing a simple regimen for naturalistas with long hair.
 |
| Different stages, different care |
MODEL 3:
You've passed the teeny weeny afro stage, weathered the storm of the in between to midlength stage and now your kinks are approaching bra strap to waist length and beyond!
Everyone thinks you have it easy. With long natural hair you can rock any style, try any colour, rock a big bad fro and lots of things people view as impossible with other lengths. You've reached the nirvana of natural hair, right?
Wrong.
You know the truth.
With longer natural hair comes
- Longer detangling time ( Your hair seems to love the game of Tangle Tag)
- Longer styling time (good work out for the arms, though), so most times you just bun up and go.
- More dryness....the sound of a bowl of cornflakes and the sound your hair makes when you touch it are in perfect harmony!
- Bigger products ( 8 oz and below are just samples!)
If this is you, I hear ya!
At this stage, it's time to concentrate on your midlength and ends. Those babies are old and need a lot of TLC.
Your hair products and your methods will have to change.
Once you were switching up your styles and color like a chameleon, now ....er..not so much.
Once you were excited to check your length retention by heat straightening, now...those babies need a vacay.
It's also time to get a professional trim to get rid of raggedy ends.
It's time to invest in good quality haircare products and combs. No more trying out every and any product you can lay your hands on...your aged hair can only take so much! It's useful to check out product reviews. Look for the words moisturising and strengthening.
Hair products
- Sulfate free shampoo with moisturising properties.
- A big vat of conditioner...I'm talking family, salon quantity sizes cos your hair will be eating this up. The more slip it has, the better.
- A creamy leave in conditioner. The creamier and more moisturising, the better. Infact, this is where you should splurge without guilt.
- A moisturising deep conditioning masque....emphasis on masque.
- A protein treatment.
- Two types of oils....one with strengthening properties and another for sealing. If you find one that does both jobs, better!
- A styler . Most stylers at this stage will be drying to the length of your hair. Creamy stylers are preferable to foam stylers. Gels should be limited to taming edges.
Recommended regimen.
Week 1.
This week should start your washday and it should be on a day when you are free so you don't rush the process and damage your hair. Let's assume your weekend starts on Saturday.
On Friday night, apply your strengthening oil (e.g coconut oil, palm kernel oil) to damp hair. Leave overnight. This will serve as your prepoo step. You can also decide to do an overnight henna treatment.
The next day, layer on your conditioner and detangle from tips to roots. (In my experience, detangling longer natural hair dry with just a conditioner reduces breakage....it's not a rule though...do what works best for you. You've come far enough to know). You can fingerdetangle or use a shower comb. Invest in good quality wide tooth combs...trust me, it makes a difference.
Twist each detangled section. ( I prefer twists to braids because it's easier to take each one out for thorough rinsing and redo).
Apply shampoo to scalp alone, lather and rinse. The run off should cleanse the length of hair without stripping.
Apply deep conditioner to hair alone and leave on for recommended time. Then rinse.
You can also do a final rinse using dilute Apple Cider Vinegar ( 1:3 part water), tea rinse or baking soda rinse.
Blot dry. Apply leave in conditioner, seal with oil and style to stretch. Once dry, style as desired.
Week 2
Moisturise and seal.
Week 3
Cowash, moisturise and seal.
Week 4
Get ready to take down style to prepare for the wash week.
Again, this regimen is more of a guide than a rule. Adjust as much as you can depending on your time schedule and hair type. I usually advocate once a month shampoo and weekly cowash because I believe the less you do to your hair, the less mechanical damage you inflict on it.
The above regimen is designed for naturals who style their hair without extensions. I'll write and extensive post for caring for your natural hair with extensions.
So, here ends my series on Natural Hair Regimens. Next series will be Troubleshooting for natural hair issues.
Feel free to ask questions you'll like have answered in the next post. If you have suggestions to developing a hair regimen that worked for you and your hair, please don't hesitate to share...I really don't know it all o!
0 comments
Have a question or comment? We would love you to share!!!!