My Natural Hair Care Routine

I often get asked about my natural hair care routine or regimen. Over the years I have learned how to properly grow and maintain my hair. Trust me I made many mistakes along the way with my natural hair. There is no one technique or routine that works for everyone but hopefully my routine can give you helpful tips and ideas. The steps I outline below are what I used to grow my hair to waist length.

 

Hair Type- Afro textured, coily, fine/medium strands, dense hair, some refer to my hair as 4a/b

Hair Length– around waist length, the sides are closer to midback, as of 2/1/14 I cut my hair to MBL except for the very center

Hair Goals– to maintain healthy hair particularly my ends, grow in areas where I experienced some breakage after being ill

Pictured: wet hair that is shrinking, my hair shrinks up to above my ear in some spots if I allow it to dry without manipulation

Watch My Hair Regimen Video Series Here

My Natural Hair Regimen

This is what I normally do to care for my natural hair but of course I have to adjust it based on the style I’m wearing or issues that may come up with my hair.

1) Pre-shampoo/ prepoo

2) Shampoo every 2 weeks

3)Deep condition after EVERY shampoo

4)Detangle and air dry hair in large braids

5) Style hair– mostly protective styles during the work week, loose styles on the weekend. (now that I am just maintaining length I wear my hair loose more frequently)

6)Keep hair pinned up at night-braided, in ponytail etc.. and use a satin scarf or pillowcase

6)Repeat after 2 weeks

7) I use heat occasionally to semi-straighten my hair out and trim, last year I did this 3 times.

Currently I do henna treatments about every 2 months.  I did NOT do these when I was growing my hair out! It is not necessary.

Click here for a list of my Favorite Natural Hair Care Products

So is that it?

Yup! I think when people ask me about my natural hair routine or regimen they are expecting something super complicated. However I often think that simple works best. I do try new things occasionally and I adjust my routine as my hair changes. I recommend that you do the same. Try different techniques, products, and tools- learn what works best for you and stick with it! Don’t try every new technique you hear about just because it worked for someone else, I have learned this the hard way. Overall I do not like a complex routine because it is not practical for me to keep up with. Natural hair really can be as simple.