This is especially for all my Newbie Naturals!

So many of us have been there. You’ve just chopped off your hair and you’re now 100% natural…what’s next? First of all, keep calm and don’t panic! Here’s a summary of my top three habits I recommend to adopt once you’ve gone natural:

Moisturizing

Remember our hair is naturally dry. Not to mention, it’s curly, bendy, and coily which often results in the natural oils produced in our scalp unreachable in the overall hair shaft. When our hair is dry, it’s also brittle so that’s when our hair is most likely to break. Breakage doesn’t allow the hair to retain length. One technique that I found helpful is the LOC method. Many naturals (especially myself) vow by it. Here is a further explanation of my daily ritual.

• Liquid – Apply water. This is the best type of moisture your hair will ever receive. When using a leave-in conditioner, make sure water is the first ingredient.
• Oil – Apply your preferred oils to seal water moisture. Natural oils may include olive, coconut, or avocado are safe choices, plus they’re easily accessible from your local supermarket.
• Cream – Apply your preferred cream (or butter) of choice. Your cream should be heavier than the oil. Shea butter is an ideal option.

Changing

Treat your natural hair differently than you did relaxed hair. It’s important to understand that relaxed hair is not the same as natural hair. Realize you probably need to do a complete 180. Eliminate old practices when your hair was relaxed. Do not expect them to work on completely different textures of hair. Whether it’s products or tools, it’s best to do research and re-educate yourself on how to care for your natural hair. The sooner you’re able to accomplish this, the more effortless your natural hair journey will be.

Wrapping

Your nightly ritual should include preparing and wrapping your hair with a satin or silk bonnet or headscarf. This habit should be just like brushing your teeth. Scarves made of cotton will soak up moisture and dry out your hair. It’s also a good idea to twist or braid your hair to help prevent tangles or matting during the night. If wearing a scarf or bonnet is not to your liking, you could always sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. Trust me, your hair will love you the following day.

The most important advice I can offer is to listen to your hair. I realize this may sound a bit… mysterious but it’s honest advice about my own hair journey. At first, it didn’t click with me but it’s really this simple: if your hair is dry, moisturize it. If your hair reacts distressful to a particular product, immediately stop using that product. Before long, you’ll be a prodigy of your newfound glamorous curls.