You’ve watched countless natural hair videos on YouTube, went out and bought every product recommended and followed a strict haircare regime—yet your hair still hasn’t flourished. The flaw isn’t with your natural hair, it’s with your habits. The things you do to your hair may be doing more damage than good. Here are some terrible habits that could be hurting your tresses and stunting its growth.
Improper Detangling
We’re all familiar with the ‘snap’ and ‘pop’ sounds that come with impatient and forceful detangling. While detangling is one of the most frustrating tasks when it comes to natural hair care, don’t take out this frustration on your delicate strands. Instead, work slowly and work in small sections.
Another common detangling mistake is not lubricating the hair. Curly and coily hairs tend to stick together and knot. In order to help remove these knots without causing damage, it is important to use an oil or product with enough slip, or a product that is slippery.
To add, using the proper detangling tool is crucial. Some prefer to finger detangle while others opt for a tangle teezer or wide tooth comb. Regardless of the tool or method you use, patience is key.
Prolonging Your Trim
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Cutting your hair sucks, especially if you are trying to grow it out. However, leaving dead and damaged ends uncut will only cause the entire hair strand to weaken. Therefore, it is important to stay on schedule with your trims even when your ends don’t look damaged. Additionally, when you notice that your hair tangles more particularly at the ends, it may be time for a trim. It is recommended that you get a trim every 3-4 months. Don’t run from the shears!
Using the Wrong Oil to Seal Your Ends
All oils are not created equal. When sealing your ends, it is important to use oils that don’t penetrate the hair shaft but sit on top of it. To explain the purpose of sealing oils are to hold in hydration. Some of our favorite sealing oils include castor, jojoba, and grapeseed oil. Oils like coconut, babassu, avocado, and olive oil are great for moisturizing and using along with your leave-in conditioner; however, they don’t do a good job at sealing in the moisture. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a sealing oil after you’ve applied a moisturizing oil or leave-in conditioner.
Using the Wrong Shampoo
Most shampoos on the market contain sulfates which strip the hair of its natural oils and dries out the hair cuticle. If your hair is dry and extra frizzy, check the label on your shampoo. When choosing a shampoo, stick to those that are made for your hair type. Ours especially perfect for those with curly and coily strands and are made to moisturize and cleanse your hair without stripping it. Check out our Resilience Mango & Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo.
Not Deep Conditioning Enough
Deep conditioning is one of the most important steps in your wash routine. Why? It supplies your hair cuticle with the moisture it needs to thrive and grow. It is recommended that you deep condition your hair at least once a week. Our Moisture Treatment Masque with Argan Oil quenches parched strands and makes your hair easier to manage.
