Finding time to maintain and care for natural hair can be a challenge in itself. Gone are the days when you could spend hours on end in the kitchen, preparing complicated hair masks from scratch or even worse, going through countless steps of routine treatments. With so much focus on taking care of your natural mane, it’s easy to get caught up in the “natural hair” hype. But do you really need all those “natural hair products?”
There are 15 easy hacks for maintaining natural hair at home that will allow you to style and maintain your natural hair to perfection. These tips cover everything from styling your natural hair to braiding natural hair to using a wide-tooth comb for detangling. It also provides hacks for getting rid of knots and product suggestions.
#1. Know and Listen to Your Hair
Your scalp produces oils that travel down the length of your hair shaft and give it strength, flexibility, and shine. However, if these oils are stripped away by frequent shampooing and conditioning, it can lead to dryness and breakage.
So listen to your hair, do not wash it every day. Wash it once every 3 days instead. And when you do wash it, use a mild shampoo that won’t strip away too much moisture from your strands.
#2. Read Ingredient Labels Carefully
Natural hair is already prone to dryness, so it’s important to read the ingredients on any product before you use it on your hair. Look for brands that don’t contain sulfates, which can strip away moisture from the scalp and hair shafts.
Instead, look for products with natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil, castor oil, and olive oil, all of which are great moisturizers that will help keep your hair hydrated throughout the week.
#3. Hair Oil for Moisturizing
It’s time to get rid of that bottle of Pantene and start using natural hair oil. Natural oils keep your hair hydrated, shiny, and strong. They also prevent breakage by sealing in moisture.
A good rule of thumb is this: the thicker the oil, the deeper it penetrates into your hair shafts. Apply a few drops to your palm, then run it through your strands from root to tip.
#4. Avoid Direct Heat Styling
Heat styling can cause major damage to your hair, especially if you have color-treated or chemically processed hair. To reduce damage from heat styling, use a thermal protector before blow drying or flat ironing. Also, try to limit heat styling as much as possible.
#5. Deep Condition Regularly
Deep conditioning is the best way to keep your curls looking healthy and moisturized. It’s also an easy way to add extra protein back into your strands after you’ve been coloring or straightening them (which strips out all that good stuff).
To deep condition at home, simply apply a generous amount of conditioner to clean wet hair, cover it with a plastic cap, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing out completely.
You can use a heat cap if you’d like (or don’t have time for waiting around), but be sure not to leave it on too long, or else you’ll fry your strands.
#6. Get in the Habit of Deep Conditioning once a Week
It’s so important to deep condition your hair regularly to keep it moisturized and strong. Deep conditioning masks are often sold in stores, but there are lots of recipes online that you can use as well.
Use a leave-in conditioner. This will help to keep your hair moisturized and soft all day long! Try to find one that has natural ingredients like coconut oil or aloe vera in it.
#7. Use Products that Match your Hair Type
If your hair is dry or curly, use products designed for dry or curly hair; if your hair is fine and straight, use products designed for fine and straight hair, if your hair is thick and frizzy, use products designed for thick and frizz-prone hair; etcetera.
The type of product that works well with one person’s natural texture may not work at all on another person’s.
#8. Water Should Be Your Hair’s Best Friend
Water is the best thing for natural hair. It’s used to cleanse the scalp and remove dirt, oil, and product buildup that can weigh down your strands. You need a moisturizing shampoo to cleanse without drying out your hair.
#9. Scalp Massage
Scalp massages are a great way to stimulate your scalp, which can help with hair growth. They also help get rid of dandruff and promote circulation in the scalp. The best time to do a scalp massage is right before washing your hair.
#10. Do your oil treatments weekly
Oil treatments are a great way to keep your hair moisturized and healthy. They also help seal in moisture, which is important since natural hair tends to be drier than relaxed or permed hair. You can do oil treatments once or twice a week, depending on how often you wash your hair.
#11. Detangling Solution
If you have thick or coarse hair, detangling can be almost impossible when wet or damp. If this happens, try using a leave-in conditioner that contains some type of detangling agent like jojoba oil or aloe vera gel.
Massage it into your scalp and then apply it throughout the rest of your hair until it’s fully absorbed by your strands.
After letting this sit for 5 minutes, rinse it out with warm water and follow up with a deep conditioner that will moisturize and soften even more than just water alone would have done on its own.
You also need a good conditioner or deep conditioner to moisturize as well as seal in moisture.
You can use water alone to rinse out any residue at the end of your wash day or you can use a diluted version of your cleanser if you want more lather. This is especially helpful if you have hard water in your home and want to avoid dryness.
#12. Care for Your Ends
The ends of our hair are often neglected during wash days and styling sessions. It is important to pay extra attention to them because they are the oldest part of your tresses and most likely show signs of damage like shedding or dryness.
When caring for your ends, try using leave-in conditioners or oils as often as possible for added moisture. You can also treat them with deep conditioning treatments once a week to restore their health.
#13. Use Protective Styling Products Wisely and Sparingly
Protective styling can help keep your natural curls intact so they don’t break off prematurely. However, some products are too heavy and may weigh down your hair, especially if you have fine strands.
Only use a little bit of product at a time on your hair and be sure to use an oil-free formula if your curls are prone to frizziness or dryness.
#14. Avoid Shampoos That Contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This chemical helps create lather in shampoos, so it’s often found in products marketed to people with curly or straight hair.
But SLS can be harsh on the scalp and even cause irritation or dryness on your strands. Instead, look for sulfate-free cleansers that are specially formulated for ethnic hair types.
#15. Never Comb Hair When it is Dry
Brushing and combing dry hair can lead to breakage, so always moisturize first before styling your tresses. The conditioner will help detangle the strands and make them easier to manage once they’re wet again.
When you’re done styling, always use a wide-toothed comb to gently remove any tangles or knots before heading out the door.
Final Thoughts
Natural hair is just like anything else in life: routine and maintenance are the keys to its optimal functionality. And that’s why we have compiled these brief but straightforward tips that address some common complaints about natural hair. Think of them as the skills you wish went with your hair, but which you’re going to have to learn on your own.
If you find yourself with difficulty in one area or another, try out some of these hacks and hopefully, we’ll make your experience a little more enjoyable.
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