Tips for keeping all hair types healthy

With winter around the corner, people with curly and kinky hair can instantly feel their hair change. Their strands can become dry and brittle, the curls may have less shine, and the regimen or routine that favors hair in the heat may no longer work. But, there are plenty of styles and ways to take care of “natural hair” in the colder months of the year.

Natural hair is African-American hair that does not have any relaxer or perm in it. There are a variety of types of natural hair, ranging from loose curls to tight coils.  In order to keep natural hair healthy it needs to be moisturized, which is difficult in the winter when the air is so dry. But, there are different ways to moisturize hair based on hair type.

People with loose curls should use light oils and conditioners to maintain moisture, so their hair is not weighed down with too much product. Going in with a leave-in conditioner after washing the hair will add immediate moisture, but it needs to be sealed, or held, with an oil. A light oil that will not be too greasy or heavy for curls is coconut oil. It retains moisture, and it makes the hair shine despite the harsh winter air.

Adding moisture to kinky hair is different. In most cases, the more products used, the better.  There is a method called the L.O.C. method, which stands for Liquid, Oil and Cream. After washing the hair, apply a liquid such as water for moisture, a heavy oil like castor oil or olive oil because it will penetrate thick and kinky strands, then any cream of choice for shine and curl definition.

Another method for keeping natural hair healthy in the winter is protective styles. Protective styles include braids, twists, cornrows, sew-ins and more.

Protective styles are a good tool in the winter because they give the hair a break. A lot of times, hair is unhealthy and damage because of over manipulation. Having a style in for as little as a week can give hair the break it needs from being combed and messed with everyday.

Another way to protect the hair during winter is wrapping it at night. ‘Wrapping’ hair simply means taking a silk bonnet or scarf around the head to protect the hair and edges by creating a barrier between cotton pillowcases and hair. When cotton rubs against kinky and curly hair, it creates a friction that breaks off hair. With the combination of breakage at night and dryness from winter winds during the day, the hair loss becomes great.

The most basic and well-known way to keep natural hair healthy is with twist outs. As natural hair gained popularity in the last 8 years, girls began twisting and braiding their hair nightly and undoing it in the morning, and wearing the curls that were formed from those braids and twists.

This method is so efficient because when the hair is twisted at night, it won’t tangle and matt together. The twists can also be left in for a few days, making it a protective style.

With these methods of moisturizing hair and protecting it from the cold, unhealthy hair is not an option. Winter can be easier for black girls with natural hair knowing that they have options on how to keep their hair pretty while simultaneously keeping it healthy.