The 3 Biggest Enemies of Natural Hair

Sometimes it seems as if the universe is conspiring to cut our natural hair journeys short.  There are so many land mines littered on the field of strength and length, making our already difficult missions even more tenuous. Here are 3 major culprits:


Frequent Heat - Heat damage is common among naturals who like to go for the straight look with flat ironing and blow drying.  You can tell if your hair is heat damaged if it doesn't revert back to it's normal texture when wet, it has a dull and dry appearance, and you suffer from excessive split ends and breakage.  Heat can be applied safely,  but great measures must be taken to assure minimal damage.  You can use a thermal protector in the form of a spray, lotion or conditioner.  You must also use temperature regulated appliances, as hair burns around 450 degrees.  Please avoid accelerants, (like most oils), as they quickly raise the temperature of your hair when heat is applied. Your best bet is to not use heat at all . If you must, however, keep it to no more than once a month.

Dryness - There are a plethora of reasons why one might be suffering with dry strands....poor moisture retention, high porosity, damaged hair, lack of knowledge for proper moisture application, no sealing, poor product selection, lack of regimen...the list goes on.  Dryness is bad, of course, because it leads to breakage.  It is important to learn as much as you can about your own hair - porosity especially- so you can select the moisturizing products that work best for you.  It is also critical to use a water-based moisturizer, and to layer an oil of your choice over it to seal in that moisture.  If your hair breaks, you won't retain length, thus rendering your hair growth mission an epic #FAIL.

Constant Manipulation  - Our kinky strands like to be left alone.  That's no secret, and that's no lie.  Have you ever had box braids or twists before?  Do you notice how much your hair has grown when you take them down?  It's seems pretty astonishing, right?  Almost unbelievable.  This growth occurs because your hair is tucked neatly away, not being harassed by rough collars, whipping winds, busy hands, bristly brushes, and incessant combing. That's why protective styling is such a great way to retain length.  When your hair is not being bothered, it has nothing to do but grow! -YB