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It’s that time of year again when the temperatures start to dip and the air becomes dry. None of that is very good for rocking twist out or blow out styles. Cold, dry weather damages hair cuticles and leaves the hair shaft unable to retain moisture. Dry brittle hair, of course, is more susceptible to tangles and breakage. Protective styling is the key to strengthening your hair cuticles and enabling your hair to withstand the cold so that you can retain your length. I've discussed it before in the blog post here but I want to continue talking specifically about protective styling practices you absolutely want to incorporate into your hair care and maintenance regimen.
Before You Shampoo, Pre-Poo
Shampoo that contains sulfates—and shampooing too often—and can strip away all of the hair’s natural oils. Combine that with the effects of winter and your hair can really suffer. A way to protect the hair before shampooing is doing a pre-poo.
A pre-poo involves applying an oil with light to medium consistency like my Gro Hair Gro Bamboo and Coconut Milk Growth Oil to the hair before shampooing. Using too heavy of an oil for this process will get in the way of properly cleaning your hair. You may also use a conditioner to pre-poo. Pre-pooing helps the hair retain its natural oils and fortifies the cuticles before undergoing a shampoo. When shampooing, pre-pooed hair also detangles more easily.
To pre-poo your hair, simply separate the hair into sections. Apply your choice of oil or conditioner (like my Intense Moisture Bamboo and Coconut Milk Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner or Shea Coco Condition) evenly through each section of hair. Place a plastic cap over your hair and sit under a hair dryer for 15-20 minutes. Then shampoo and go through your normal conditioning process.
Rock a Head Wrap or Slay with a Goddess Braid
Head wraps are a great option for avoiding hair manipulation and/or sneaking in some moisture-retentive conditioning even while staying selfie-ready. Plus, if you have shorter natural hair that cannot be placed in a braided or twisted style just yet, the head wrap is a great way to change up your look.
Like everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way to sport a head wrap. First, try to always wear a satin scarf. Satin is a fabric that is less likely to snag your hair, cause friction to your hair or absorb moisture from your hair. If you must wear a wrap made of silk or cotton, please wear a satin bonnet or cap underneath the head wrap.
Second, before donning your head wrap in the winter, always apply a moisturizer or leave-in conditioner such as my Intense Moisture Bamboo and Coconut Milk Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner or Shea Coco Condition. You can learn eight gorgeous ways to wear your head wrap to perfection at the link here. You’ll also find five more quick and lovely ways to style a wrap at the link here.
Wearing natural hair is so amazing because there is no end to the kinds of creative and beautiful styles you can sport like the goddess braid tutorial you can find at the link here. This particular style only takes minutes to achieve and can be worn casually, for a special occasion or to quickly protect ends under a hat or head wrap.
For any care, maintenance or styling questions, please feel free to email me at asktaliah@naturalhair.org.
