Wash Your Hair In Sections Plus 15 Other Hair Tips That Changed The Game For Me

Reverse ✍🏾 wash ✍🏾

Hi, I'm Lavínia! Like many naturals, my hair journey has consisted of research, trial and errors, and lots of learning and unlearning. After four years since my big chop, I can finally say that I've mastered taking care of my hair!

Instagram: @santvsl

So here is a breakdown of the most important hair care tips that have helped me grow healthy hair.

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1. Water is your best friend.

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Water is the best source of hydration and is crucial for your scalp's health. Throughout my journey, I've noticed that whenever my hair has felt dry or looked lifeless, it just needed to be washed and hydrated for it to bounce back!

2. Reverse-washing will change your life.

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Conditioning your hair first, de-shedding, and detangling before shampooing will honestly change the game for you. I started doing this in 2017, and it has minimised how long I spend on washing my hair, making the process much easier. It has also helped in reducing dryness, tangles, shedding, and unnecessary breakage. The benefits are endless, so try it!

3. Working in small sections makes your hair more manageable.

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Washing and styling your hair in small sections is so practical, especially if you have thicker or fuller hair, because it gives you better access to your scalp. I began sectioning as my hair grew, and I've noticed that it became much easier to work with.

4. Properly detangling your hair will help prevent breakage.

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Combing your hair too harshly can cause tension and breakage, so be gentle! I always make sure that I apply the products to my hair before I detangle it, and I start from my ends and slowly work my way up to my roots. 

5. Deep conditioning regularly will help you maintain healthy hair.

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Implementing deep conditioning sessions into your routine promotes elasticity and helps to keep your hair moisturised. Also, remember that YOU decide what "regularly" means. I deep condition at least once a month, especially after wearing a protective style.

6. Keeping your hair moisturised at all times will aid length retention.

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Natural hair is more prone to dryness and breakage, so it's very crucial to keep it moisturised. A great way to do this is by applying your leave-in conditioner in the shower while your hair is still damp. I experience way less tangles and my styling process is much quicker now!

7. Protecting your hair at night will prevent friction.

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A satin bonnet or scarf should be your go-to for overnight protection. Not only does it protect your edges, but it also helps to retain moisture and your hairstyles will last longer! 

8. Twisting your hair will help to minimise breakage.

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Twists are my go-to for low manipulation styles. Sleeping with twists or braids at night helps to keep my hair knot-free and moisturised, and they're so easy to do! 

9. Minimising the use of heat will help to reduce damage.

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Heat damage is probably every naturalista's biggest fear, so to avoid damage, avoid heat – it's that simple! If you really want to straighten your hair once in a while, then just make sure that you use a heat-protectant. 

10. The right products will make your natural hair care so much easier.

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The "right" products vary from person to person, but knowing your hair type, hair porosity, and hair density will tell you about your hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture, which ultimately will guide you towards the right products for you. I personally love Camille Rose's styling products and Shea Moisture's deep conditioners. 

11. Washing and styling your hair can be time-consuming.

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Twist-outs, braid-outs, and wash-and-go's specifically tend to be very time-consuming. I wash my hair and sit down for hours sectioning, applying my styling products, detangling, defining, drying my hair, and then I go straight to bed. Wash day takes so long that I often have to cancel all my social plans for the day. *Sigh* 

12. But having a proper hair care routine helps you grow healthy hair!

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An inadequate hair regime can lead to unhealthy hair and can cause growth to cease. Ensuring your hair is hydrated, moisturised, and protected at all times is the foundation of a solid hair routine, which will positively impact your hair's health.

I hydrate my hair by washing it, deep conditioning regularly, and making sure my scalp is clean. I also moisturise using products specifically targeted for my high porosity hair, and I protect my hair by doing faux locs often.

13. Your hair is going to shrink, so don't fight it.

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Natural hair presents itself in a shrunken state – it's normal! Over the years I've come to terms with my shrinkage and frizz, and I've realised that I'm allowed to let my hair do it's own thing. 

14. Trim your hair only when it NEEDS it.

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I want to clarify that I do believe in trims, but the idea that you need to trim your hair four times a year can be misleading. I don't think that you need to trim your hair that often if you're taking the appropriate steps to prevent damage and to maintain the healthiness of your hair. If your goal is length retention, then trimming your healthy ends when you don't need to, just leads to unnecessary length reduction. 

15. Learning which protective hairstyles work for you is so important.

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If your goal is length retention, then protective hairstyles can help preserve the length of your hair because you're less likely to manipulate it. There are so many different hairstyles ideas that you can try – I personally think locs and knotless braids are so cute!

16. And finally, stop comparing!

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Looking at other people's hair journeys can be inspirational, but it can also be discouraging at times, especially if you compare theirs to your own – so don't do it! The beauty of natural hair is that it comes in different thicknesses, lengths, volumes, shapes, and curl patterns. Accepting this, and believing that all these differences are beautiful, is the key!

There is so much to know about natural hair care, and there are so many useful tips out there. Check out my natural hair journey and follow my Tiktok for more hair tips!

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Are there any tips that I've missed? Let me know in the comments below which ones have worked for you!