17 People Shared Their Tips For Taking Care Of Natural Hair And Wow, I've Learned So Much
Wash✍️in✍️sections✍️.
We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community for haircare tips for Black natural hair and they delivered. Here are the best responses.
Note: These tips and tricks might not work for everyone.
1. Avoid overusing heat.
"There is no such thing as ‘heat training.’ That’s just heat damage, while texturizer is still just a chemical perm.”
—Melanie Williams, Facebook
2. You don't need to lay your edges every single day.
"Embrace the frizz. Overly laying edges causes no edges."
—Melanie Williams, Facebook
3. Wash, detangle, and moisturize your hair in sections for an easier wash day.
"I like to wash in sections because that way I know that all of my hair is getting washed and conditioned completely. I also like to detangle and moisturize the same way."
4. Sometimes it's worth splurging on haircare products instead of getting what's cheaper.
"Sometimes, saving up some money to get something for your hair is a good investment! Depending on your hair type, a hair mask will always do well with hair that is begging for moisture. Also, play around a little with products! Your hair will change, so having that playing field will help you make the best decision."
5. Braid your hair at night in a few braids to avoid extreme tangling.
"Or pin it up. I use Carefree Curl Moisturizer on mine. Otherwise, it tangles badly."
—Jessie Honeywood, Facebook
6. Put leave-in conditioner in your hair before detangling.
"It’s so much easier because of the slip the conditioner gives, and it hurts so much less!"
7. Deep-condition your hair regularly.
"'Regularly' means different things to different people. I deep-condition my hair once a week, every week. I have some friends who do so once every two weeks. Whatever works best for you and your hair is fine. But make sure to incorporate deep-conditioning sessions regularly into your hair routine."
8. Don't forget to grease your scalp.
"No matter what type of oil you use, it’s so important to keep your scalp healthy. After all: A healthy plant has healthy roots.”
9. Water is one of the best ingredients to use for your hair.
"Don’t use super hot water because it dries out your hair. If you have low porosity hair, know that water is your best friend."
10. Don't wash your hair every single day.
"I wash my very long hair twice a week, using dry shampoo in between, and my hair is great! Washing hair every day or even every two days can dry out your hair and make it prone to heat damage (the hair dryer!)."
11. Use a T-shirt to dry your hair instead of a towel.
"Less frizz. Period."
12. Keep your hair in protective styles so you aren't messing with it as much.
"Protective styling saves you SO MUCH TIME. Just make sure that you're not completely neglecting your hair. Oil your scalp and moisturize when your hair feels dry."
13. Learn how to do low-manipulation styles to help with hair growth.
"Low-manipulation styles work wonders if you are trying to grow out your natural hair. I've been natural since 2016, after my first big chop, and did a big chop in 2017 and 2019 as well. After my 2019 big chop, I had 50% more growth after only nine months vs one year of growth (16'–17') and two years of growth (17'–19'). I used to style my hair every day and wash it a few times a week. Now I choose a style and leave it for a few days at the very least (no heat, no weave, no sticky gels) or up to two weeks. I now only wash it when it 'needs' to be washed rather than picking a specific time frame.”
14. Getting your hair trimmed is super important.
"Regular trims (for my 4C hair; every three to four months) are a must."
—Melanie Williams, Facebook
15. Taking small steps can make a big difference in your hair growth and health.
"Comb from ends to root, massage your scalp daily, and sleep with a satin scarf/pillowcase."
—Vania Clarke, Facebook
16. Invest in a good hair mask.
"If you're a natural hair queen who likes to dye it, this is doubly true for you after you've finished washing out the color."
17. Finally, stop using coconut oil.
—Kumiko Ishikawa, Facebook
There are so many other useful tips out there so if you have one that wasn't listed, let us know what it is in the comments below! Make sure you head here for more of our Black History month coverage!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.