How to NOT damage my natural hair.....

[luxe.li.]

Being relaxed 98% of my life, I learned how to keep my hair healthy. Whenever I would damage my hair it was a stupid mistake that I knew better than do, but because I'm hard-headed and stubborn I did it anyway, i.e. dye jobs on top of dye jobs on top of relaxer, hot hot curling irons + spritz, and gel gel gel gelling it up in middle school. Besides those issues I had, my hair always grew, and this was when I was only washing my hair 1x a month and barely conditioning or deep conditioning.

Now that I'm natural and I haven't been straightening my hair like usual (school is overwhelming, fashion / graphic major, don't underestimate the design students we work all day and night, its just SAD! LOL) I am curious about ways to NOT damage my hair.

I want to retain as much length as I can and I just don't want to think "well I'm natural now and I'm not applying heat so there is NO way I'm damaging my hair...."

Any advice ladies....?

 

[msa]

There are couple threads about this somewhere and I just searched for them and couldn't find them...anyway...

DO NOT sleep with your hair uncovered. It will get matted and dried out.

DO NOT snap off knots from the ends of your hair. It will cause split ends and it just makes your ends weaker. Leave them alone unless you have some hair shears and then cut right above the knot.

DO NOT forget to moisturize. Whether you rinse with water frequently, cowash a lot, deep condition, or apply moisturizer daily, just make sure your hair is getting some moisture.

DO NOT make your puffs too tight. You will have no edges and you will be furious. As your hair dries, it shrinks, so when doing wet puffs/ponytails/buns be extra careful with your edges.

DO NOT rake through your hair like it's made of teflon rope. IT IS NOT. Your hair is fragile, treat it like silk. Better yet, treat it like a 1000$ Beyonce worthy lacefront.

If I think of more I'll come back...

 

[lilsparkle825]

adding to that "don't sleep with your hair uncovered"...

i switch up what i'm using to cover it so my ends don't get rubbed off.

DO detangle frequently, as in once a week or so. i lost a lot of hair when i was on this ultra low-mani kick.

you don't have to be afraid of straightening, just use a good heat protectant.

 

[luxe.li.]

WOW thanks. Yeah I scarf my hair up, but I am guilty of being so tired and not caring, and then waking in the morning and feeling regret.

Yes I get the knots now....and I have a problem with twirling my hair...that can't be good right?

 

[luxe.li.]

adding to that "don't sleep with your hair uncovered"...

i switch up what i'm using to cover it so my ends don't get rubbed off.

DO detangle frequently, as in once a week or so. i lost a lot of hair when i was on this ultra low-mani kick.

you don't have to be afraid of straightening, just use a good heat protectant.

Acutally I prefer my hair straight due to its length, I just don't have time. Like literally I'm at the school 24 hours straight sometimes before I go home, or I'm up for 30 hours straight....so I'm not afraid to straighten.....the flat iron is my homie...I just don't have that energy to do so anymore. And I'm going back to the gym and I just don't have the time to deal with it. Its easier for me to wash and go, and when I sweat my hair is already curly its not like "oh no my hairs not straight anymore, what to do what to do" LMAO"

 

[msa]

WOW thanks. Yeah I scarf my hair up, but I am guilty of being so tired and not caring, and then waking in the morning and feeling regret.

Yes I get the knots now....and I have a problem with twirling my hair...that can't be good right?

Get a satin or silk pillowcase so that you at least have a back up.

And, I keep bonnets in a few places so that at some point I can put one on. I have a couple in my bathroom, one in my bed, one in the bookcase next to my bed, and one inside my pillowcase. Yes it's a little extra but it works.

As far as knots, I've learned that if I wash and go (shrunken fro) every day then my hair knots as it dries and shrinks up. It really helps if I put castor oil on my ends before leaving the house.

 

[shae101s]

(school is overwhelming, fashion / graphic major, don't underestimate the design students we work all day and night, its just SAD! LOL)

I FULLY AGREE AND UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENT!!! I too am a design student and it's fun but rough!! Good grief!

 

[luxe.li.]

Thank you!! alot of people when I tell them I never sleep, I'm always working and then they ask my major and I tell them Fashion and Graphic, they give me that yeah right look, I'm like yeah right my .....LOL

 

[Pooks]

Here's a thread I found really helpful when I started learning about taking care of my hair:

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=223081

 

[oooop2]

There are couple threads about this somewhere and I just searched for them and couldn't find them...anyway...

DO NOT sleep with your hair uncovered. It will get matted and dried out. I sleep on a satin pillowcase w/ my hair uncovered.

DO NOT snap off knots from the ends of your hair. It will cause split ends and it just makes your ends weaker. Leave them alone unless you have some hair shears and then cut right above the knot. I have a bad habit of doing this. I have been seeing more split ends lately. Now I know why. Thanks for sharing this.

DO NOT forget to moisturize. Whether you rinse with water frequently, cowash a lot, deep condition, or apply moisturizer daily, just make sure your hair is getting some moisture. Couldn't agree more. I spritz my hair 2x/day w/a rosemary-sage mix. I also seal in moisture w/ shea butter-aloe gel mix and castor oil.

DO NOT make your puffs too tight. You will have no edges and you will be furious. As your hair dries, it shrinks, so when doing wet puffs/ponytails/buns be extra careful with your edges. I learned this the hard way, but with scarf headbands. I was applying them too tight and it seriously broke off my hairline. Lesson learned.

DO NOT rake through your hair like it's made of teflon rope. IT IS NOT. Your hair is fragile, treat it like silk. Better yet, treat it like a 1000$ Beyonce worthy lacefront. So true. Before find LHCF and BHM I did this a lot. Lost a ton of hair in the process.

If I think of more I'll come back...

I would also add, place moisturized hair in loose ponytail/twist at night prior to going to bed. Hair will be nice and soft in the morning.

 

[BrandNew]

Subscribing.

 

[TCatt86]

Keep your hair mosturized.

Make sure you seal your ends, Coconut oil is my friend.

Buy a couple of wigs for those bad hair days, you will have them trust and believe.

Don't be afraid to wear your hair in a style you don't initially like.

Heat is not the devil, don't be afraid of it.

Deep Condition often, if you are cowashing often then at least twice a month, if you are only washing once a week then deep condition that day.

 

[shae101s]

Thank you!! alot of people when I tell them I never sleep, I'm always working and then they ask my major and I tell them Fashion and Graphic, they give me that yeah right look, I'm like yeah right my .....LOL

LOL!! I know just what you mean...they think it's like a ball in the park or something...Little do they know the craziness that goes on.


Oh yeh...here are some tips per you question:

Avoid excessive heat,
always do deep condition
moisturize the hair, try to never let it go dry
Give yourself a scalp massage often
wear protective styles often

Don't do anything crazy like tight braids around the edges or a bad color job to the hair etc.

 

[darlingdiva]

Ditto what everyone else said. The wigs will also come in handy in the winter time to protect your hair from the cold.

About keeping your head covered, make sure that you're not tying the scarf too tightly because that can mess with your edges. I now sleep with a satin bonnet and a scarf. I use both because the bonnet isn't enough to keep my rollers from moving. I tie the scarf at the front of my head.

 

[Poohbear]

Check out this QTPie's youtube natural hair videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3W11f-XUuE&feature=PlayList&p=36D6ED8F5C270627&index=2

 

[luxe.li.]

Ditto what everyone else said. The wigs will also come in handy in the winter time to protect your hair from the cold.

About keeping your head covered, make sure that you're not tying the scarf too tightly because that can mess with your edges. I now sleep with a satin bonnet and a scarf. I use both because the bonnet isn't enough to keep my rollers from moving. I tie the scarf at the front of my head.

Thanks. I wear a scarf and beanie to school with my bangs out, and tucked under. I don't do wigs, so that is not an option for me. But thanks for the rest of the advice!!!

 

[Casarela]

I like her videos!!! She gives good tips about shedding.

Check out this QTPie's youtube natural hair videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3W11f-XUuE&feature=PlayList&p=36D6ED8F5C270627&index=2

 

[DozenRoses99]

There are couple threads about this somewhere and I just searched for them and couldn't find them...anyway...

DO NOT sleep with your hair uncovered. It will get matted and dried out.

DO NOT snap off knots from the ends of your hair. It will cause split ends and it just makes your ends weaker. Leave them alone unless you have some hair shears and then cut right above the knot.

DO NOT forget to moisturize. Whether you rinse with water frequently, cowash a lot, deep condition, or apply moisturizer daily, just make sure your hair is getting some moisture.

DO NOT make your puffs too tight. You will have no edges and you will be furious. As your hair dries, it shrinks, so when doing wet puffs/ponytails/buns be extra careful with your edges.

DO NOT rake through your hair like it's made of teflon rope. IT IS NOT. Your hair is fragile, treat it like silk. Better yet, treat it like a 1000$ Beyonce worthy lacefront.

If I think of more I'll come back...

This is great advice!

 

[it_comes_naturally]

There are couple threads about this somewhere and I just searched for them and couldn't find them...anyway...

DO NOT sleep with your hair uncovered. It will get matted and dried out.

DO NOT snap off knots from the ends of your hair. It will cause split ends and it just makes your ends weaker. Leave them alone unless you have some hair shears and then cut right above the knot.

DO NOT forget to moisturize. Whether you rinse with water frequently, cowash a lot, deep condition, or apply moisturizer daily, just make sure your hair is getting some moisture.

DO NOT make your puffs too tight. You will have no edges and you will be furious. As your hair dries, it shrinks, so when doing wet puffs/ponytails/buns be extra careful with your edges.

DO NOT rake through your hair like it's made of teflon rope. IT IS NOT. Your hair is fragile, treat it like silk. Better yet, treat it like a 1000$ Beyonce worthy lacefront.

If I think of more I'll come back...

uh oh...I've been doing this. They are so aggravating.

 

[lilsparkle825]

Thanks. I wear a scarf and beanie to school with my bangs out, and tucked under. I don't do wigs, so that is not an option for me. But thanks for the rest of the advice!!!

that's what i said...and now i have 4.

i'm just sayin. wig + beanie = good hair day ANY DAY! LOL