BRE’S HAIR WASHING ROUTINE + 10 HAIRCARE/GROWTH TIPS!
Hey y’all! 🌞 I’m starting with these three chunky braids. (👆🏾) My hair is dry, crusty from gel and knotted————-> all signs that it needs some love and care a.k.a washing and styling. 🧖🏾♀️🔄👩🏾🦱
For now, I wash and detangle my hair using Pantene’s Moisture Boost Shampoo and Suave’s Moisturizing Curl Conditioner. I’m not afraid to combine different brands because it works for my hair. These (👆🏾) are pictures of my hair after rinsing both products out. The gray teeshirt draped over my shoulder is used to dry my hair.
For extra moisture, I deep conditioned using Aunt Jackie’s Coco Repair Coconut Créme Deep Conditioner. I let the deep conditioner do its thing for 25 minutes before rinsing it out. There’s (👆🏾) a picture of my hair with the deep conditioner in it.
👆🏾 Here’s my hair after rinsing the deep conditioner out! (I’m not apologizing for being drenched ‘cause this is wash day reality baby. (😂)
After thoroughly rinsing the deep conditioner out, I did two strand twists using Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Custard. Imperfect parts don’t bother me, so I just grab a medium patch of hair, apply a generous amount of curl custard and start twisting. The twists shrink a few inches as my hair dries. I wear them until I’m ready to restyle or wash my hair again. __________________________________________
10 HAIR CARE TIPS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HAIR GROWTH!!
This post began with my hair washing routine, so my first tip is don’t wash your hair too often because it can cause dryness and breakage. I wash my hair every three weeks to a month. (Of course, some of us have to wash our hair sooner because of scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, product buildup, et cetera. Still you shouldn’t be washing your hair EVERYDAY unless you’re tryna see it go missing.)
Detangle your hair WHILE WET with your fingers or a wide toothed Afro comb. Start from the ends and gently make your way towards the roots because it minimizes hair loss/pulling.
Keep your hair moisturized. Water is the number 1 moisturizer of Afro hair. There are multiple options to lock in moisture like butters, creams, grease, et cetera. I oil my hair with Jamaican black castor oil or tea tree oil or peppermint oil, et cetera. Sometimes I combine different oils. I do use grease, it’s always been good to my hair since I was a child when my mama or other family members would have me drowning in grease from my forehead to my lower neck. 😂
A vital part of retaining length is little manipulation meaning keeping hands (even your own) out of your hair. My go to hairstyles for length retention are twists and braids. I typically wear twists or braids for three weeks, wash it, then I rock my Afro, bun, puff or any other hairstyle for about three days, and return to twists or braids. The dope thing about twists and braids is that you can be VERY creative with them. The patterns/designs are infinite and you can always add some flava with accessories like beads, shells, hair clips, et cetera.
Always avoid heat for as long as possible! I blow dry my hair every coupl’a months. (I’m slowly resorting to air drying being my only drying method). If you are going to use a blow dryer, flat iron or any other heat source, be sure to use heat protectant after prepping your hair with a good wash before.
Trim your split/knotted ends when needed! I trim once, no more than twice a year.
Make sure to tie/cover your hair with a satin scarf or bonnet every night or whenever you’re sleeping/napping. I sleep/nap with a satin hair scarf, bonnet and pillow. (Yes, ALL THREE FOR EXTRA SECURITY, lol.) 🤣
NEVER, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever use those hair bands that have the metal clasp on them because (if your hair is anything like mine or thicker/more coily) they will snatch some strands.
PLEASE EMBRACE SHRINKAGE. YES, we all wanna show off our length sometimes, but shrinkage is a sign of health. STAWP treating shrinkage like a burdening disease before I have to go “SKURRRR” and pull up on you! 🏎 (j/k about pulling up! 😂)
Our inner health influences our outer health! Drink water. Eat those delicious vegetables and fruits! Take needed vitamins! Be well rested, too! (I’m slacking on the well-rested part, but I’m gonna do better. We’re all doing better y’all because that’s just the right thing to do. 🙌🏾 )
Remember our hair is beautiful, versatile and suitable for ALL environments/careers/workplaces! (That’s regardless of the fact that media/racists white people/anti-black people try to tell us otherwise.)
Our hair, like our skin, is not a crime nor anything to hate or be ashamed of! Embrace, love and appreciate the beautiful hair and precious brown skin that you were born and blessed with! I do and you can, too!
@irrelevant-b @kouhaiofcolor @s0ulful-girl @s-affira @celestialcelaeno because y’all have asked for tips or complimented my hair! To the person who anonymously asked about my hair, I hope this post finds you, too!