So I've been on this natural hair journey for a good 4+ years, and it has been an interesting one. I've written about why I decided to go natural and how I transitioned into being a naturalista. That is a decision I absolutely do not regret in my life. Nothing beats walking in the fullness of who God placed you on this earth to be, including how you wear your hair.
That being said, it hasn't always been easy doing this natural thing. Starting off, my sister and I had no clue how to keep natural hair. My experience with natural hair was limited to childhood when my mum would wash it then blow and comb it out. It was PAINFUL! And near to impossible to put a comb through that hair and I honestly hated it. I had to convince myself as an adult that this wouldn't be the case this time around. So we did our research – reading up online about different natural hair types and how to care for them, as well as watching YouTube videos about how to care for and style your natural hair.
This, and years of experimenting alone has led me to a routine that works so beautifully for my hair and I wanted to share cause some of you have been asking how we manage to keep our hair looking so good. In today's post I will be sharing the products I use on my hair to wash it. And the routine I follow in doing so. In a later post I will share how I moisturize and style my hair as well.
We black Africans are mostly Type 4 hair types. I personally am a 4b/4c. Hair Type 4 is what I'll be referring to in sharing my hair care regime.
I personally am one of those people who believes that the simpler a product is, the better. In fact, organic and natural is what I have found to work best for me. You may not believe that these two simple products are what I use for my weekly-to-bi-weekly wash but I promise you they bring out the best and most natural texture to my hair. I make sure to buy the organic and natural versions. The shampoos and conditioners that we buy in-store are filled with harmful chemicals that dry out your natural hair and take away from it coiling beautifully.
My "shampoo" is bi-carbonate of soda or baking powder. Yep! I get it from any Woolworths or Pick N Pay.
Process: So you take about half a teaspoon of bi-carb and put it in a 250ml cup. Then add water to dissolve it (or you can do 1 part bi-carb to 3 parts water). You can put it into one of those squeeze bottles and mix it up.
Apply this to your wet hair and rub it in comprehensively, leaving it in for about 3 minutes. You then rinse it out with warm water thoroughly to ensure it's all out of your hair and has not remained on the scalp. You'll find it weird at first that there is no foam with this method but it's because there are no harmful chemicals that you find in regular shampoo that are actually added to result in the foaming effect.
Bi-carb is so good for your hair because it naturally strengthens your hair over time. You'll notice that your hair is richer, stronger and more full of life than when using regular shampoo.
My conditioner of choice is apple cider vinegar which I buy from Dischem or Pick N Pay from the Nature's Choice brand. I generally buy the 500ml bottle for R75 which lasts forever or you can buy the 200ml bottle for R20 which lasts a long time as well depending on how often you wash your hair. Either way, it's such an affordable conditioner – value for money. Again, I choose to use this product because it does not contain harmful chemicals and it brings my natural hair to life.
I've clearly had this bottle for the longest time!
Process: You just need to take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it in a 250ml cup. Again you can put this in a separate squeeze bottle to make it easier to apply to your hair. After shampooing with bi-carb, you rub this mixture completely through your hair. Thereafter, take a wide-tooth comb and comb out any knots in your hair – this is the only time that I really put a comb to my hair (and it's optional). The hair is softer when it is wet and detangles much more easily in this state.
After about 3 – 5 minutes you can rinse out the conditioner thoroughly and your hair is squeaky clean!
I wash my hair every week or every other week and it works well for me, so see what works for your hair and your schedule.
It's good to deep condition your hair at least once a month. I've been slacking on this but it's really great for your natural coils. It gives your hair body and a great, healthy shine while repairing any damage from your hair being out or exposed to harmful chemicals. It also nourishes it with the protein needed by your hair and moisturizes it.
What I have used in the past to deep condition my hair is egg yolk combined with something else – usually olive oil. There are several amazing DIY, organic and natural deep condition mixtures that you can try if you just Google them.
Process: Take about 2 egg yolks and beat them. Add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the mixture and mix it some more. You can add water to thin it out a bit, and you can add more eggs and olive oil if your hair is longer – or less if it is shorter.
Once you've got your mixture right (not too thick but not runny either), you massage this "conditioner" into your dry hair from the roots to the tips, making sure it's evenly distributed. You then take a shower cap and cover your hair for at least an hour to as long as overnight. The longer you leave it in, the better it conditions your hair. I find that about an hour and a half works well.
After your appointed time, you then wash out the "deep conditioner" with warm water, and with your normal hair wash regiment thereafter. Make sure you get all that egg out and be prepared for a not-so-great egg smell while you deep condition.
This is what I have found to work for me in terms of washing my hair. You can give it a go and tweak it according to your resources, time and texture of your hair. The key to nurturing a great natural crown is to keep trying. You will fail and find that some things don't work but eventually you'll come across what does work. Don't be afraid to try.
I also have an amazing sister-friend of mine called Thandiwe who has come to understand natural hair and locks well, and can give you a consultation and treatment for your hair if you would rather not do all this on your own. You can call her on the number in the image below to check for the consultation fee and she is in the Johannesburg area. She's running a Feb special so get in touch asap!
Hope this helps you! And watch out for future hair care posts. Please also share what you've tried and what's worked very well for your hair.