How to take care of natural hair in kinky twists?
Just to let you know, my hair is SUPER damaged. I recently got kinky twists to help my hair grow and become healthier. I know I should keep it moisturized, tie it up at night with a satin scarf, not stress the edges, and not leave the kinky twists in my hair too long. What I want to know is what NATURAL products should I use that I could buy at a beauty supply store. I want to use as little chemicals and bad stuff (mineral oil, petrolatum) that I can.
Hey sister how are you today? My hair is also natural and I currently got micros last tues.
You should have gotten a deep conditioner, trim (if neccesary) and a protein treatment before getting your twists. Regardless of whether you were preparing your hair on twists u always need DC (deep conditioner) weeky. I want to congratulate you on knowing not to use mineral oil and petroleum jelly you'd be surprised to know how many people don't know that. Don't be offended but im gonna repeat the horrors of mineral oil in my answer to your question for any other african american or curly hair sisters who may read this.
A lot of people will discourage you from washing your hair in twists/braids because heavy shampoos and conditioners cause a build up underneath the braids that can cause hair to smell if not removed and lead to long term knots when removing braids/twists. Please do not listen to this people. It is more wise to have a clean healthy scalp which promotes growth and learn how to wash your hair properly and simply avoid buildup.
I normally cowash and DC weekly but to prevent early erosion of the twists by unnecesary washing I suggest bi weekly washing
dilute the amount in a bottle with 1/2 water. Heavy cremes and conditioners will not wash out from the crevices of each braid and will leave you constantly scratching at your braids and erode that fresh look in between washes.
Avoid conditioners with silicones because they will create a slippage that will loosen the tightness of the braided hair more quickly than expected.
Save your $25.00 mizani and alter ego salon priced deep conditioners until after you remove the braids. They are too thick and heavy for the small individual braids
I use v05 it is between 1.00 to 1.50 at any local drugstore and does not contain silicones. Remember to dilute your conditioner with 1/2 water as well.
First of all, keeping your hair moisturized. This is as simple as wetting it in the shower, or wetting your hands and running them through your hair. DO NOT buy any moisturizer/shampoo/conditioner that has MINERAL OIL or PETROLATUM! care free curl gold and s-curl are popular moisturizers. Do NOT use that Pink lotion! it is full of scalp clogging ingredients and cheap fillers. All it will do is make your hair shine.
If you research the experience of micro braider/twist wearers online many will complain that micros gave them lots of breakage and this is simply because they did not keep their hair properly moisterized. Would you leave a baby in the sahara desert without water? Your hair is your baby and although your hair may look good buried deep within that human hair it will dehydrate and break without proper moisture. Remember hair is 1/4 water. And be aware that the weave added to your hair triples the mass of weight on your hair. The mass itself if stress on the hair as it weighs that little piece of hair in the back that your stylist grasped to 12 inches of weave. Moreover you must remember that your real hair and the weave are competing for the moisture product you add to it because more surface area surrounding the hair is now present Conclusion. KEEP THAT MANE MOISTURIZED! And that 2 inches of new growth after removing your kinky twists will bow and thank you!
This next step is most important. I have been using apple cider vinegar on my hair for years. I used it while my hair was relaxed, natural, and most effectively, when braided
Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).
On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline .
Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and cheap shampoos.
Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.
Don't worry about the slight vinegar smell you will notice after rinsing. It will disappear completely as your hair dries.
Apply the vinegar rinse after diluted conditioning rinses. Vinegar is so so important because it will completly completly COMPLETLY eliminate the buildup which leads to knots and breakage. And because it closes the hair shaft moisture is better retained and breakage of the hair shaft is avoided.
Purchase any type of essential oil. Olive, sunflower, grapeseed, coconut, vegetable oil. This will keep moisture in your hair after rinsing with conditioner and relieve your itching scalp.
If u are using shampoo plz stop here's why
The no-shampoo method is a concept explained in Lorraine Massey's book entitled Curly Girl . There is a section for black hair,
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All u gotta do is, rub a very small amount of olive oil on ur scalp every couple of days, then, once a week clean ur scalp with witch hazel and gauze, tie it up EVERY night, & u'll b good 2 go.
References :
Comment by Jk — March 21, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
Hey sister how are you today? My hair is also natural and I currently got micros last tues.
You should have gotten a deep conditioner, trim (if neccesary) and a protein treatment before getting your twists. Regardless of whether you were preparing your hair on twists u always need DC (deep conditioner) weeky. I want to congratulate you on knowing not to use mineral oil and petroleum jelly you'd be surprised to know how many people don't know that. Don't be offended but im gonna repeat the horrors of mineral oil in my answer to your question for any other african american or curly hair sisters who may read this.
A lot of people will discourage you from washing your hair in twists/braids because heavy shampoos and conditioners cause a build up underneath the braids that can cause hair to smell if not removed and lead to long term knots when removing braids/twists. Please do not listen to this people. It is more wise to have a clean healthy scalp which promotes growth and learn how to wash your hair properly and simply avoid buildup.
I normally cowash and DC weekly but to prevent early erosion of the twists by unnecesary washing I suggest bi weekly washing
dilute the amount in a bottle with 1/2 water. Heavy cremes and conditioners will not wash out from the crevices of each braid and will leave you constantly scratching at your braids and erode that fresh look in between washes.
Avoid conditioners with silicones because they will create a slippage that will loosen the tightness of the braided hair more quickly than expected.
Save your $25.00 mizani and alter ego salon priced deep conditioners until after you remove the braids. They are too thick and heavy for the small individual braids
I use v05 it is between 1.00 to 1.50 at any local drugstore and does not contain silicones. Remember to dilute your conditioner with 1/2 water as well.
First of all, keeping your hair moisturized. This is as simple as wetting it in the shower, or wetting your hands and running them through your hair. DO NOT buy any moisturizer/shampoo/conditioner that has MINERAL OIL or PETROLATUM! care free curl gold and s-curl are popular moisturizers. Do NOT use that Pink lotion! it is full of scalp clogging ingredients and cheap fillers. All it will do is make your hair shine.
If you research the experience of micro braider/twist wearers online many will complain that micros gave them lots of breakage and this is simply because they did not keep their hair properly moisterized. Would you leave a baby in the sahara desert without water? Your hair is your baby and although your hair may look good buried deep within that human hair it will dehydrate and break without proper moisture. Remember hair is 1/4 water. And be aware that the weave added to your hair triples the mass of weight on your hair. The mass itself if stress on the hair as it weighs that little piece of hair in the back that your stylist grasped to 12 inches of weave. Moreover you must remember that your real hair and the weave are competing for the moisture product you add to it because more surface area surrounding the hair is now present Conclusion. KEEP THAT MANE MOISTURIZED! And that 2 inches of new growth after removing your kinky twists will bow and thank you!
This next step is most important. I have been using apple cider vinegar on my hair for years. I used it while my hair was relaxed, natural, and most effectively, when braided
Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).
On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline .
Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and cheap shampoos.
Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.
Don't worry about the slight vinegar smell you will notice after rinsing. It will disappear completely as your hair dries.
Apply the vinegar rinse after diluted conditioning rinses. Vinegar is so so important because it will completly completly COMPLETLY eliminate the buildup which leads to knots and breakage. And because it closes the hair shaft moisture is better retained and breakage of the hair shaft is avoided.
Purchase any type of essential oil. Olive, sunflower, grapeseed, coconut, vegetable oil. This will keep moisture in your hair after rinsing with conditioner and relieve your itching scalp.
If u are using shampoo plz stop here's why
The no-shampoo method is a concept explained in Lorraine Massey's book entitled Curly Girl . There is a section for black hair,
References :
Lots and lots of googling.
Longhaircare.com
Blackmediaforum.com
Curlytalk.com
Nappturality.com
Blackhairplanet.com
And so much more
Comment by Pure Neccesity — March 21, 2009 @ 4:52 pm