This latest (and hopefully last) storm of the season has made me eager for spring peeking just around the corner. If you're like me, tired of the cold and still lamenting the damage the harsh weather has caused to your beauty routine, below are some neat photos of snow-covered natural hair that might lift your spirits. Don't they remind you of majestic mountains tops and delectable desserts?
If this list doesn't make you feel slightly better, well, read to the end for a few tips on how to revive your coif for spring.
Whether you like frolicking in the snow like a natural-haired Elsa, or you're more likely to have your head buried in a plastic cap and hoodie, keeping your coils moisturized and protected during the colder months is a necessity. The cold is especially rough on Afro-textured hair and can cause dryness and breakage. To keep those split-ends at a minimum, here are a couple of my favorite tips to bring the moisture and softness back to your hair.
Invest in a satin-lined beanie.
Most winter hats aren't made for kinks, so they don't combat frizz or breakage and they can snag your hair. If you're adamant about protecting your strands, here are some options for beanies that are lined with satin.
Remember to treat yo hair (to some hot oils)!
Here's a great concoction that includes a few oils that are most beneficial for natural hair:
1. Mix equal parts coconut oil, jojoba oil, vitamin e oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. I use about 1 tablespoon of each oil, but your quantities depend on how much hair you have. If you've got a teeny weeny afro, a teaspoon of each oil might do the trick.
2. Heat in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds, making certain that the mixture isn't too hot (we don't want you burning your scalp).
3. Coat your hair with the oil and put a disposable plastic cap over it for about an hour. If you get lazy or if it's too late, you can always leave the mixture in overnight, though proceed with caution as the oils could soil your pillows if you toss and turn at night.
4. You can go an extra step and sit under a hooded dryer, or use a heat therapy wrap (I use this one) if you have any of those items. Heat opens up the follicles, allowing the oils to penetrate and condition your hair.
5. Wash your hair!
Deep Condition
I tend to get dry scalp during cold months, and my hair also loves protein one week, but hates it the next. My favorite home-made deep conditioning treatment that accounts for all those issues is a banana and colloidal oatmeal hair mask.
1. Blend 2 bananas, making sure to strain the mixture through a fine strainer. Trust me, you don't want to spend hours washing out chunks of banana from your hair.
Note: Bananas help control dandruff and softens the hair.
2. Bring a cup of water to a boil, slowly adding about a 1/2 cup of colloidal oatmeal to the water. It's a good idea to also strain this mixture.
Note: Oatmeal soothes dry scalp.
3. Combined the pureed bananas and oatmeal.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of honey.
Note: honey is a humectant that attracts moisture to the hair.
Make sure that this is done on freshly washed hair.
Refresh those curls
My current favorite and simplest way to refresh my curls is spritzing with aloe vera gel, sealing the ends with coconut oil, making a few large twists and then pinning the twists in an updo.
Try it and tell me what you think!
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