I believe that once you have spent solid time acquiring knowledge about black hair care from various avenues (books, youtube, blogs, articles, friends) and learning about your own hair (which is crucial) that you can then go on to think about formulating your regimen. I refuse to spend hours upon hours putting in energy into my hair for it to grow. The simple fact is, if you know the basics and your hair needs, you're fine. Your hair continuously grows, it's about retaining that length and health. I don't debate the effectiveness of additional growth helps like tea rinses, ayuverdic herbs, growth stimulant practices like using cayenne pepper etc. but I don't incorporate those into my regimen. It's good to have healthy limits.
Unsubscribe from some natural hair blogs and websites that always post articles about new things to try or possible things you are doing wrong. Every hair is different! Don't risk it. Your hair will grow, if you leave it be. Just like your nails grow. The natural hair movement has come a long way, but there is that extra set of information out there to keep you reading their blogs and websites. All of these new solutions, and new treatments to interrupt the natural growing process of your hair. Let's not feed the anxiety of hair growth and lets be confident that the knowledge that we have about OUR OWN hair is enough for it to grow.
Why a simple regimen?
I have heard of many women who refuse to return natural simply because of the fact that it is time consuming, and they won't have time for it. And you need time right? Well, apparently, natural hair isn't for the busy woman. I figured I wanted to have my hair out and still be able to have time for my other schedules, especially as a young, city woman. I want to grow out my hair effortlessly without all the extras. All you need is to not be a product junkie, figure out what works and stick to it. A simple regimen can be easily passed on to your family and friends. It doesn't have to be expensive, either. Once I purchase bottles of my oils, they can last me years. Once I find my staples, I only need to keep buying them.
Pursuing a simple hair regimen shouldn't mean that you lose sight of how delicate our natural tresses are. It still requires that same patience, care, understanding and love. You're just using minimal time/products/techniques/appliances on it.
Minimalism
I have been looking into minimalism recently and I love the concept. I am not extreme in it, but I do enjoy the idea of making the most with the least. Every little counts and small is beautiful. It saves you time, money and energy. I apply this concept to my natural hair journey: my hair can grow, and I don't have to sweat it. Minimalism is a mindset, not a destination. It's good for your health and for the environment. Less packaging means less waste, for example.
Minimalism also comes into your regimen in terms of low manipulation styles and protective styles. Of course we want to have fun with our hair, but we should always make time for low-manipulation hair styles. For example, for the first 3 years of my natural hair journey, I will be doing these styles 95% of the time. I want to retain as much length as possible whilst doing the least.
Why a natural regimen? [Not necessary]
I feel like after all those years of horribly handling my hair and watching it in that unhealthy state, I owe it to my tresses to treat it as healthy as possible. Natural products often yield the best results. In addition to this, I am a natural enthusiast and I want to take good care of my body including my hair. Indeed, I am crafty being who enjoys making homemade stuff, cooking up from scratch and researching things like the antibacterial potency of essential oils. The conventional commercial products on the shelf are often full of damaging chemicals, which is why I am glad that the natural hair movement has had an impact on the hair care industry to rethink their horrible practices. Our hair deserves to be healthy, even if just your moisturiser is natural - that's great.
A natural regimen isn't just about what you put on your hair from the outside, it's also about what you take in on the inside. For example, if you are not consuming enough water daily, it will reflect on your hair. If you aren't eating the right foods, it will reflect on your hair. Pursuing a natural lifestyle (to whatever extent) is simply making the conscious decision to be proactive about your holistic health.
You don't need to have a natural regimen to have a simple regimen. Many long-haired women don't have a natural regimen.
Q&A
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
As you can see, I don't have any set guides or standards. Minimalism is a mindset, not a destination. But a good indicator of a minimalist hair regimen is the size of your product stash.
ISN'T A NATURAL REGIMEN EXPENSIVE? [NOT NECESSARY]
It can be expensive to begin a natural regimen at first, but in the end, you get both quality and quantity. You'll need to invest time to research ingredients, benefits, potency and how to's but it will definitely pay off as you gain valuable knowledge that will last a lifetime. You can't put a price on healthy hair. Also, think about all that money you had spent on going to the hairdressers, buying hair, creams etc. before you returned natural.
Start with little steps. You don't have to transform your entire product shelf at once. Add and take-away, add and take-away until you find what works for you.
BUT ISN'T WHIPPING UP TIME-CONSUMING IN ITSELF?
I think it's possible to have a natural regimen that isn't time-consuming. If you enjoy making things, it will be easier. On the other hand, you can improvise by finding time to make them. For example, my flaxseed gel lasts me 3 weeks and I make it in tiny portions. It only takes about 15 minutes to make. My shea butter takes 30 minutes to make and can last me 6 months. I detox with bentonite every 8-10 weeks. You have to make some time for your hair.
HOW DO I PREVENT MYSELF FROM BECOMING A PRODUCT JUNKIE?
This article has great tips. I also avoid watching any product reviews unless it is a natural product or I've heard great reviews about it everywhere - like Kinky Curly Knot Today detangler. I will only try something new if a friend (with kinky hair) or someone I know recommends it. Of course, the ingredient list has to be positive. If something works well, it works and I will stick to it.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT?
- There are many products on the shelf that are branded as 'natural' but aren't. Some products list the typical ''no sulfates, parabens etc'' but yet will have other unreadable ingredients in the list, like this case. Don't be easily swayed. Always read the ingredient list even if the product is labelled green all around and bear in mind that NATURAL isn't regulated so companies can use that anyhow they like. Organic, on the other hand is regulated.
- If an oil has 100 potential benefits (contains, vitamin A B C D Z etc) how many of those are actually effective or potent? Some articles like to promote optimistic ideals of anything natural whereas the truth is that those properties make-up only a tiny proportion of the oil.
- Not all natural oils that are on the market are pure and real. Make sure that they are not diluted with something else but that they are also virgin, unrefined and cold-pressed and organic (if you wish, I don't mind). These yield the best effect on your hair as they are the purest quality oils. Your coconut oil must smell like coconuts and not plastic.
It is also being advised to not use essential oils during pregnancy.
I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT AFRO HAIR CARE... WHERE DO I START?
I've compiled everything on these pages:
- My Basic Growth Tips page (learn the basics, what tools and products to have)
- Blogs and websites that have informed me (check the side bar at the bottom)
- Must have book: The Science of Black Hair. This book is not about opinions, it gives you the facts. I've learned so much from it.
Have any more questions? Comment down below! :)
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