My goal is just to have the healthiest hair possible. I don't have a length goal or a "look" goal or a style goal or any other goal besides of course enjoying my hair. I love curly, kinky, coily natural hair. I compare it to the stars, each twist and turn is different and amazing!
I am a new and an old natural. I was natural for a while in my teens before all the natural hair products and hair knowledge, and then I recently big chopped on May 21, 2014.
I have low porosity hair, with coarse (in diameter), wiry strands as described in my favorite typing reference. The LOIS typing system describes my hair as OS. I find the Andre Walker system the least useful of the lot but when pressed I describe myself as 4a. My hair can be stretched or shrunken, coily or curly and everything else in between so it makes it hard for me to really pay attention to Mr Andre ... ooops. For a visual this is an old 3 day wash and go.
My hair philosophy is something like "healthy certainty." Anytime I hear of a tip or fad, my first thought is, is this good for my hair? Not whether "it works" or not, but whether it's a choice I want to take for my hair health and my overall health. I am careful to maintain my protein-moisture balance and my ph balance and avoid over-moisturizing. I'm sure that I might be being overly cautious and I certainly don't knock those who try other things, but at the end of the day I figure I can have healthy hair without taking such chances so why not play it safe(r)? In keeping with playing it safe, I follow the curly girl method for the most part, but I make it a point to learn the "dangers" of each no-no and whether it is really a danger or just a warning to caution. Silicones for example can be okay if they are water soluble or at the least don't build up and you have overall healthy hair. Parabens on the other hand, now that's not a risk I'm willing to take since there is research linking them with cancer and breast cancer specifically.
I also acknowledge the social and political elements behind why our hair has remained hidden for so long and why people still talk about good hair and bad hair and ugly hair and slave hair. We are healing and I am happy to see it! But I am not one of those, "there was never an issue, it's just hair" types of naturals (or non-naturals for that matter). It's important that we all learn to accept and love our tresses and, just as importantly, the tresses of others.
My regimen is a work in progress but there are some key elements. I pre poo whenever I plan to saturate my hair to avoid hygral fatigue. I saturate my hair once or twice per week - I intentionally left the actual process vague because whether I wash, cowash, or just moisturize depends only on what I feel like my hair needs at the time, and whether I am trying any new process. After saturation, I apply a leave in conditioner, occasionally spray with water and aloe vera juice or oils, then seal with a gel (if this sounds like a wash and go that's because it basically is but it's my moisturizing session at the same time!). I detangle with a wide tooth comb once per week and then if I have a second saturation day I finger detangle for that one. I usually detangle during my pre poo as the best place to avoid frizz. Note that my thick strands are not prone to tangles at all and can definitely withstand the wet detangling. You have to know your own hair to know if the things I do would work for you! I do a protein treatment as needed, usually around 6 weeks, making sure to shampoo first and do a moisturizing conditioning treatment afterwards. The other part of my regimen that is key but often understated is observation. I am constantly observing my hair to make sure it doesn't look or feel "off," as in dry, mushy, too tangled, or any other signal that some action is needed. I test a few strands every time I detangle to make sure that they are all shed and not broken. I observe my ends for signs of splitting. Many people ignore the signs until their hair starts breaking and falling out and by then they are confused and desperate and unclear of the cause. I avoid this situation by observation and by not ignoring problems, even when they come with other benefits (not having a Smeagol type goal helps me to be clear headed in my judgement wrt this).
Great, now that the introductions are over we can get down to the business of blogging! I can't wait to share my next awesome post with you! There are many to die for trade secrets coming your way ... next time :).
