We come across so many articles on things that are ‘good’ for natural hair, how about taking a look at things that are not good – things that natural hair hates? Here are the tops on my list.
Fine Toothed Combs and Bristle Brushes – Using fine tooth combs and bristle brushes on natural hair will definitely break it off. Although some choose to use fine tooth combs for parting, be sure to have plenty of wide tooth ones handy and still remember to start at the ends and work your way up to detangle, preferably while hair is wet with conditioner to give it slip. If you choose to use a brush to detangle, use one with smooth nylon pins, many naturals use the Denman D4.
Cotton/Wool- Avoid sleeping on cotton pillow cases, and using cotton scarves or head wraps which snag and break off hair. Use silk or satin instead. If you can’t resist that cute cotton scarf, hat, or head wrap, don’t worry, just wear them over a thin silk or satin scarf or cap. Also, in the winter, do the same for your wool and heavy cotton hats. Those with long hair also be conscious of your hair rubbing against cotton and wool collars and use a silk or satin scarf as a barrier.
Hot Heat- This may be obvious when it comes to heat styling with electric and stove top straightening devices, but many forget about the damaging effects of the sun. Protect your hair from the sun, spritz, and refresh with simple water/eo mixtures and seal with oil. Did you know that shea butter and olive oil offer natural UV protection as well? Water babies should also remember to always rinse after getting out of the chlorine filled pool.
Impatience and Heavy Hands- If you want to maintain healthy hair and retain length, when it comes to taking care of natural hair, you must be patient and gentle. Schedule time to pamper your hair, so you wont have to rush when styling. This way, you will avoid yanking and pulling. And, of course, always use a gentle hand. A gentle hand is an ally of healthy natural hair, try detangling with your hands first before using a comb or brush.
Harsh Preservatives and Synthetics- Read the ingredient list before purchasing products for your hair. My pet peeve when it comes to ingredients is the pore clogging, moisture blocking mineral oil (aka petrolatum, liquid paraffin, paraffin wax). I can’t pick up a product off the beauty supply shelves that doesn’t have mineral oil or one of it’s aliases as the very first ingredient.
Other ingredients to avoid are sulfates (i.e. Sodium Laureth Sulfate, SLS, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLES) which are hash detergents, cones (i.e. Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, etc) which deposit plastic coating on the hair shaft and are also moisture blockers. Parabens are used as preservatives, but may mutate and cause free radicals when exposed to UV rays.
Alcohol based products- Avoid using alcohol based styling gel which is drying. Alcohol added to products also stimulates the penetration of parabens into the skin. Natural ingredients are the best alternatives.
For more information on chemicals check out: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
Tags: harmful chemicals, maintenance, natural hair
