Many of us grew up getting our hair pressed or chemically relaxed. These methods allowed the hair to become more manageable during the hair care and styling process. But do remember your mother sitting down with you and having the talk? No, I’m not talking about the birds and the bees but the importance of having a healthy hair care regimen?
I know my mother didn’t! Her #1 goal was to straighten those kinks so my hair could be smooth and shiny. But ladies I’ve got you covered because the more I learn about black hair care, the more I’ll share with you and hopefully your natural hair journey will be a little easier.
On with the info…….
I discovered that black hair care regimens can be broken into 3 categories. I came across this information reading “The Science of Black Hair” by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.
1. Recessive Maintenance Regimen
Love Black America Web? Get more! Join the Black America Web Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
The recessive maintenance regimen is not one that we necessarily choose but it’s a routine that you subconsciously adopt without realizing the harm you may be doing to your hair. With the recessive maintenance regimen hair loses length, thickness, and health over time which means more damage and less hair growth by doing the following:
– Poor product selection and use
– Going extended periods of time before cleaning the hair
– Color abuse
– Roughly handling the hair
This type of regimen can take a toll on the hair over a period of time.
2. Basic Maintenance Regimen
This type of regimen just happens without notice. With the basic maintenance regimen the hair remains unchanged with no growth or loss over time. Most hair care regimens begin as a basic routine but can become recessive over time due to lack of hair care knowledge. Signs of a basic maintenance regimen:
– Overuse of protein products
– Substituting greases and oils as a moisturizer
– Lack of hair trimmings
– Using heat more than once a week
This type of hair care routine could be the reason why your hair doesn’t grow past shoulder length.
3. Healthy Hair Care Regimen
Having a healthy hair care regimen can greatly improve the health and length of your hair. With this type of regimen the hair grows and thrives visibly over time with less damage. Here are a few basic principles of a healthy hair care regimen:
– Having a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water
– Taking the time to create a hair care regimen
– Selecting the right products for your hair
– Protecting your hair from heat damage
What’s your hair care regimen? Leave a comment and let me know.
Nicole Patrick, founder of thenaturalcole.com is an online hair care resource for women of color with natural hair. To learn more visit thenaturalcole.com or contact her at cole@thenaturalcole.com.
