MissAlinaRose
New Member
As I was washing and detangling my hair the other day I was so amazed at how far I've come and how easy the maintenance process is now. That's when I began thinking back to everything that I have learned over the few short years of being natural. Here are about 5 things that I have found out about myself that has aided my hair journey:
1. I cannot do 50-11 sections when washing/detangling my hair
When I first went natural I saw videos and read posts about how people washed & detangled in a lot of sections. Even when my hair was shoulder length this took waaaay too much time. The only thing I would ever really do in sections is moisturize to make sure the moisturizer is evenly distributed throughout my hair. But that's about all. My hair doesn't tangle, mat, or anything. If I had to use sections for something, the most I would do is 2 (split my hair in half). But all those little sections are a no for me.
2. Dry Deep Conditioning is the TRUTH for soft/supple hair
I was never an avid deep conditioning person. That was until I tried the "relaxer method." As of late, I've been applying Silk Elements (Olive Oil kind) all over my head, letting it sit while I clean up or move around for awhile, then hopping in the shower. Once I rinse it out, I detangle at the same time.
Ya'll this stuff is so good that my fingers literally glide through my hair. NO JOKE. I really don't have to use a comb either, but sometimes I do just to marvel at how it just slides through. Detangling takes all of 5 minutes. It gets me every time. *oh and it keeps my hair smelling good too*
3. Protective styles have not always been a good thing!
About a week or so ago I did a twist set on someone's transitioning hair. Well right before doing her hair she had washed it right AFTER taking down a sew-in that she wore for 2 months. Her hair was so tangled!!
Retention comes best for most when the hair is tucked away. BUT, extensions (braids, weaves, etc.) left in too long without proper maintenance, a decent comb through, or scalp rinse every now and again could be a breakage disaster. Trust me I've been there before with braids!!
4. Converting styles is my lifesaver
Let's just say I'm rocking a twistout and I want twists again. I am not going to wash my hair and start all over again. No way. I'm going to take two crinkly pieces of my hair, finger comb them a little and twist them back up. This cuts down on time drastically because everything is already sectioned and moisturized. Easy!
(in this pic, the twistout is toward the front and the redone twists can be seen in the back. I am turning that twistout into twists again. And keep in mind my hair is always "done." Even if my twists aren't finished, I can put my hair in a cute style in which you will never know it's unfinished. I can't do that with wet/damp/shrinking hair).
5. The scientific method really works!
This is going to sound corny as all get out, but I have consciously used the scientific method to solve my hair woes. And, I'm willing to bet everyone in here has used it unconsciously.
I have to identify my problem first:
"How can I cut the time I use for my wash and style days in half?"
"What will consistently make my hair soft?"
"What will make my hair smell good the longest time?" or even
"What is the best workout style?"
etc.
Then I come up with some sort of educated guess about what I think would work, followed by some research (seeing what other naturals close to my hair texture are doing), a procedure to test everything out, the results, and lastly a conclusion that I document.
It works every single time.
*Do you have any hair reflections? What have you learned over the years about your hair and it's needs?* (anyone can chime in relaxed/natural/transitioning/etc.)
1. I cannot do 50-11 sections when washing/detangling my hair
When I first went natural I saw videos and read posts about how people washed & detangled in a lot of sections. Even when my hair was shoulder length this took waaaay too much time. The only thing I would ever really do in sections is moisturize to make sure the moisturizer is evenly distributed throughout my hair. But that's about all. My hair doesn't tangle, mat, or anything. If I had to use sections for something, the most I would do is 2 (split my hair in half). But all those little sections are a no for me.
2. Dry Deep Conditioning is the TRUTH for soft/supple hair
I was never an avid deep conditioning person. That was until I tried the "relaxer method." As of late, I've been applying Silk Elements (Olive Oil kind) all over my head, letting it sit while I clean up or move around for awhile, then hopping in the shower. Once I rinse it out, I detangle at the same time.
Ya'll this stuff is so good that my fingers literally glide through my hair. NO JOKE. I really don't have to use a comb either, but sometimes I do just to marvel at how it just slides through. Detangling takes all of 5 minutes. It gets me every time. *oh and it keeps my hair smelling good too*
3. Protective styles have not always been a good thing!
About a week or so ago I did a twist set on someone's transitioning hair. Well right before doing her hair she had washed it right AFTER taking down a sew-in that she wore for 2 months. Her hair was so tangled!!
Retention comes best for most when the hair is tucked away. BUT, extensions (braids, weaves, etc.) left in too long without proper maintenance, a decent comb through, or scalp rinse every now and again could be a breakage disaster. Trust me I've been there before with braids!!
4. Converting styles is my lifesaver
Let's just say I'm rocking a twistout and I want twists again. I am not going to wash my hair and start all over again. No way. I'm going to take two crinkly pieces of my hair, finger comb them a little and twist them back up. This cuts down on time drastically because everything is already sectioned and moisturized. Easy!
(in this pic, the twistout is toward the front and the redone twists can be seen in the back. I am turning that twistout into twists again. And keep in mind my hair is always "done." Even if my twists aren't finished, I can put my hair in a cute style in which you will never know it's unfinished. I can't do that with wet/damp/shrinking hair).
5. The scientific method really works!
This is going to sound corny as all get out, but I have consciously used the scientific method to solve my hair woes. And, I'm willing to bet everyone in here has used it unconsciously.
I have to identify my problem first:
"How can I cut the time I use for my wash and style days in half?"
"What will consistently make my hair soft?"
"What will make my hair smell good the longest time?" or even
"What is the best workout style?"
etc.
Then I come up with some sort of educated guess about what I think would work, followed by some research (seeing what other naturals close to my hair texture are doing), a procedure to test everything out, the results, and lastly a conclusion that I document.
It works every single time.
*Do you have any hair reflections? What have you learned over the years about your hair and it's needs?* (anyone can chime in relaxed/natural/transitioning/etc.)
. It dries my hair out but keeps my scalp squeaky clean when I use diluted shampoo in color applicator bottle.
You're too kind! 
YAAASSSS!!! We are -----><------I feel the same way about the bolded. 
Because the thanks button just wasn't enough. I'm glad typing is starting to die down, but I know it's still alive and well. It doesn't describe your hair, my hair, or anyone else's to a T. We still have to discover what works for our unique heads. 
I love reading what other ladies have discovered about their hair.
I use them as a DC when I'm on vacation since I swim everyday both in the ocean and in chlorinated water but they don't work in any other circumstance surprisingly.
Whaaat?!? I'll have to do some smell testing first.
