I’ve been natural since 2011 and for years I struggled to find the right way to manage my natural hair. I tried many of the growth and moisture hacks on Youtube.
To Maintain Natural hair you need shampoo, conditioner, a styling product, a detangling brush, and hair accessories (scrunchies, hair pins etc). Visiting a salon for trims, hair cuts, and heat styling when desired is important for maintainig natural hair.
Establishing a Routine to Maintain Natural Hair
I NEVER imagined I would wash my hair every 3 to 5 days, but the condition of my hair has improved! I approached natural hair completely wrong for many years I embraced the anti-hair care approach…tuck it away and leave it alone …minimal shampooing, minimal detangling keep everything minimal to avoid damage. Shampoo once a month, comb once a month, protective style …blah blah blah.
Generally, cleansing, conditioning, and styling should take place every 7-10 days. Styles meant to be left in longer should be the exception, not the norm. I’m not a stylist, but I follow a lot of them from silk press artist, to wash and go, stylist, to braiders. I have even seen braiders make it crystal clear that routine cleansing is an essential part of natural hair care.
Everyone’s routine will vary depending on their lifestyle, styling choices, and hair goals. I joined see some curls, a course by the stylits from Black Girl Curls. This is a summary of what I took away from the course and my own personal experience. See Some Curls is a great way to learn foundational natural hair care, if you are interested in wearing your loose natural hair.
Weekly/ Biweekly Maintenance – Cleanse, Condition, and execute Simple styles that last for a week that can be executed at home. ( buns, puffs, twist-outs, french braids, wash and gos)
Quarterly Maintenance – A visit to a salon for a cut/trim and a cute style. Discuss home maintenance and hair goals. Make any adjustments to home routine as necessary
Now it is time for a deeper dive into some of the products tools I use on the regular.
Shampoos for Maintaining Natural Hair
There are three types of broad categories of shampoos moisturizing, all purpose, and clarifying. The differences between all of these are explained in See Some Curls.
I’m currently using a shampoo by Pure O that is recommended by my stylist, however I can only find it online. When I that I can get from Ulta or in a day or two from Amazon, I use AG Balance. AG Balance is an all purpose shampoo.
I clarify my hair about once every six weeks, using Giovanni Tea Tree shampoo. My stylist also clarifies when I see her in the salon, she uses Mailbu undo goo to clarify my hair in the salon.
Conditioners for Maintaining Natural Hair
I use the conditioner recommened by my stylist from Pure O most of the time. I use a conditioner, AG balance, for mid-week cowashing.
Stylers for Maintaining Natural Hair
Wash and Gos
Every wash and go I’ve ever seen done by a stylist on tightly kinky and coily hair has been done using a gel.
I survive in mostly wash and gos. I use three gels to maintain my hair. I use the following
- Uncle Funky Daughter Curly Magic
- Trepadora Papaya Slip
- Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze.
These are what I use because they were recommended by my stylist and I like the results.
Twist Outs Stylers and Maintenance
Foams provide flexible hold and dry faster than gels or styling creams.
For Twist Outs, I use the Doux Mousse Def Styling Foam. Mousse Def is marketed as a one-product styler and I’ve successfully used it as a one-product styler…but I had to deep condition first. When I deep conditioned with WOAH by the Doux, I had success with using Mousse Def as a One Product Styler.
When I use a lighter rinse-out conditioner like AG Boost, I need a light leave-in. I use the Alikay lemongrass leave-in underneath mousse-def w with good results.
Tools for Maintaining Natural Hair
- Aligator Clips
- No Snag Hair Ties
- Microfiber Hair Tubes
- Detanging Brush
- Wide Tooth Comb
Style Choices and Natural Hair Maintenance
Stylist Anthony Dickey recommended one week of wear for every hour in the styling chair…and anything more than four hours is too much. I can’t remember exactly where I heard him say it…but I do remember him saying it.
Wash and Gos, Twist Outs, Braid Outs Rod Sets can be executed in about an hour (excluding drier time)…So those are one-week styles.
Medium cornrows, flat twists styles , blow outs and silk presses are in the under two hour category ….so about two weeks.
Box Braids, Passion Twists, Wigs and Weaves will definitely put you in the 4 or more hours styling category
