I transitioned in May 2014 for 6 months, during that time, I felt anxious.
How ‘ugly’ will my natural hair look? how would I manage it? what products would I use? what is my hair type? how would I style my hair? what people are going to say? Is my boss going to comment?..these were the questions that crossed my mind as I transitioned.
When I stopped relaxing my hair I did not see myself as ‘transitioning’ I saw it as- me giving my hair a break from chemicals as an attempt to save my receding hairline.I was working in an e-commerce company where “Google could be my friend” at lunchtimes [wink, wink] that’s when I found out Transitioning is internet natural hair speak for growing out your relaxed ends.
I planned to grow out my hair for a year but I got tired of my hair being in limbo. One-third of my hair was natural and healthy, the other two-thirds was weak, breaking, over-processed and with split ends. Eeuuuccchhh…I couldn’t stand looking at the difference in texture on my hair strands. Also, all that weaving and the braiding I was doing was breaking and weakening my hair further.
The transition felt like an easy way to go natural. It gave me time to grow into the mentality of having natural hair. I had also done a lot of research/reading on natural hair. I knew what products to get, to try out and I really needed a change by the time i trimmed my ends I was excited at going natural and couldn’t wait to try out products.
Nowadays it’s also a lot easier to transition because there are a lot of products to try out, there are also natural hair stylists, local natural hair bloggers, friends and products that will support you as you transition.
As my natural hair grew, it started getting drier -and it didn’t take much research to find out why. I had been skipping one important process that successful naturalistas incorporate on a weekly basis i.e. deep conditioning. If you are suffering from dry and brittle then start regular deep conditioning.
What is Deep Conditioning?
Deep conditioning is the process of applying the product on to the hair to either moisturize it or strengthen it (protein treatment).
Why deep condition?
What keeps your hair from breaking is elasticity and strong bonds. Moisture makes your hair more elastic. Protein fortifies the strand of the hair by temporarily adding building blocks. By deep conditioning regularly, my hair was now able to withstand any manipulation-no snapping or breaking off. Frizziness and poor curl definition was also as a result of dry hair.
Moisture versus Protein
There is a need to balance protein and moisture. If your hair has too much protein it will be stiff and hard. If it is over moisturized it is soft, mushy and prone to breakage. So I had to find a perfect balance. How did I do this…I pay attention to how it feels after deep conditioning. You can start by applying protein treatments every four weeks and having weekly moisturizing treatments in between.
Best Steps to Deep Condition
Set up all the products and tools
Put your product in a hot water bath to warm it up
Section hair in 4 sections or more.
Apply to each section enough conditioner to cover and saturate. Start from the ends and work towards the roots.
Put on a plastic cap and apply heat to increase penetration of the treatment. If you don’t have a heating cap you can use a dryer, blow dryer, steam-you can stand in a hot shower.
Wait for 30 minutes.
Rinse with cool water.
How to find the perfect hair conditioner
There are many types of deep conditioners on the market. They vary in price range and quality. When looking for a good conditioner :
Check ingredients. If it claims to be a moisturizing conditioner, the first ingredient should be water. Other awesome ingredients are pantothenol, honey and aloe vera. A good protein conditioner should have protein-based ingredients –keratin, placenta, wheat, collagen
Check for consistent creaminess-If your hair is thick like mine it will love creamy moisturizing treatment. I also detangle when my hair is saturated with conditioner.
Apply oils as a deep conditioner because they are able to penetrate the hair follicles i.e. olive, avocado, coconut and trap moisture.
However, the cheapest and the best way to give your hair important nutrients is through DIY deep conditioning. Play with oils and what’s in your kitchen to create a DIY deep conditioner.
Here are a few deep Conditioner brands that you can find locally that I have loved using. They are available at many local beauty shops in Nairobi:
Avoid over-conditioning i.e. don’t leave conditioner on your hair for too long. Some people like to leave conditioner in their hair overnight. This will leave your hair supersoft-it will be prone to breakage.
When it comes to deep conditioning what’s important is how you deep condition and the ingredients you use. It is a learning process to find out what works for you. If you aren’t happy with the results of a deep conditioning treatment, change the product but make sure you are following a regular deep conditioning process.
For Natural Hair Growth, eat healthily source:healthywellness.com
No amount of product on your hair can make up for poor dietary choices.
This is because 91% of your hair is made up of protein and these building blocks of hair, skin and nails can only be gotten from within through the food we eat. If we eat the wrong foods it will not just reflect in our skin but also in our hair. Sebum the natural oil conditioner that keeps your scalp healthy is produced from what we eat.
Without eating the right foods, our hair cannot grow and worse still, without a healthy balanced diet, our hair can fall off, never to be replaced….if we don’t eat right.
Whether you are relaxed, in transition or natural , make sure you are getting the right nutrition:
Dark Green vegetables produce natural oil, sebum which is your natural hair and skin moisturizer.
Beans to promote hair growth . They have iron, zinc, biotin
Nuts that contain selenium. They will leaves hair shiny.
Chicken. Itis high in protein. This will prevent your hair from getting brittle.
Eggs are also rich in protein, biotin, vitamin B12 and promotes hair growth.
Carrots and Sweet potatoes. Theyare rich in beta-carotene that converts to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is what keeps your scalp healthy.
Nutrients that will result in thick, luscious curls are:
Essential fatty acids that increase nutritional absorption at the hair follicle. They are also essential for hair cell growth and they prevent hair loss. Foods with essential fatty acides are avocado, cod liver oil, eggs.
Collagen. It surrounds the hair follicles and prevents dry brittle hair and dandruff. In time collagen breaks down and needs to be replaced. Eating foods rich in vitamin C will replace the lost collagen on your hair. Foods packed with Vitamin C are Pawpaw, tomatoes, peas, dark green vegetables, green bell peppers.
Biotin, a part of the Vitamin B complex, it encourages hair growth, scalp health. Foods such as eggs, nuts, peanut butter, milk, meat are rich in Biotin.
Iron, the most common micro nutrient deficiency in women, contributes to the elastin in your hair. If you don’t have enough your hair will break off. Eat foods such as eggs, liver, red meat, tuna to avoid depleting your stores of iron.
Magnesium. It isnecessary for hair growth. Eat leafy green vegetables, yoghurt, dark chocolate and fish to replenish magnesium levels.
Vitamin B Complex. Biotin (Vitamin B7),Thiamin(B1), Riboflavin(B2), Niacin (B3) provide proper nourishment for the hair follicles. Pantothenic acid (B5) gives elasticity and shine
Pyridoxine (B6) prevents dandruff
The good news is that there are alot of foods available that are rich in Vitamin B complex: lentils, legumes, cabbage, eggs, avocados, yoghurt, sweet potatoes, broccoli
Silica. It aids in collagen manufacture. Foods rich in silica are-bananas, beer, whole grain bread, corn flakes, mineral water.
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). Is a naturally occurring form of sulfur that plays a strong role in hair growth. It’s required for healthy collagen and keratin building of the hair.
Vitamin E. This micro nutrient nourishes damaged hair by aiding the body’s ability to manufacture keratin in the hair strand.
Zinc promotes cell reproduction, tissue growth and repair. It also prevents hair loss and strengthens hair.
Vitamin D, also known as, the sunshine vitamin results an important role in the hair growth. Spend time in the sun, eat tuna, egg yolk and cod liver oil to replenish this nutrient.
Selenium will strengthen your hair strands. Foods rich in selenium are tuna, salmon, chicken and eggs.
Other dietary factors that can affect the health of your hair are:
Water On a daily basis we lose water through sweat, skin evaporation and detoxification. Keep drinking water to remain hydrated. Water also regulates your circulatory system, feeding your hair follicles essential nutrients for healthy thick luscious hair. Drinking enough water (8-10 glasses) will also help you get rid of dandruff and reduce hair thinning.
Crash diets and rapid weight loss will result in hair loss. Try to eat healthily and exercise to lose weight and maintain healthy hair growth.
Drinking alcohol dehydrates your hair scalp and prevents nutrients from reaching the base of the hair follicles.
Smoking thins your hair, restricts blood vessels and hampers blood circulation. It also contributes to premature graying of hair.
Medicines also play a strong role in your hair growth-drugs for hypertension, birth control, anabolic steroids slows down hair growth and thins hair.
Junk food has little or no nutrients. Eating large amounts of junk food will lead to nutritional deficiencies and hence hair loss. They also contain toxins that your body will work overtime in trying to remove from your body.
Genetics, age and hormones will always play a part in hair growth but at least you can control one natural hair factor-what you eat. Stick to a well-balanced diet to achieve your hair goals.
So are you ready to start on your natural hair journey?Do you want to transition to natural hair but you don’t know where to start?
I started pre-poo six months after I big chopped. This is because my hair grew and it started getting drier and frizzier.
Since that time I’ve never stopped pre-pooing. This is because it works. After pre-pooing and shampooing, my hair is soft and shiny. I also love applying excessive amount of pre-poo and running my fingers through my hair and detangling the strands. When you detangle your hair under the shower there is more breakage.
So what is pre-poo?
Pre-poo is short for pre-shampoo treatment. It is simply the adding of moisturizing products on to the strands of your hair before you shampoo.
Why Pre-poo?
Shampoos can be harsh on your hair but sometimes you need to shampoo your scalp to remove product buildup. Product buildup can stop hair from growing. The pre-poo will protect from drying out.
What products you can use pre-poo?
There are a wide variety of products to use to pre-poo. It will depend on cost, how creative you want to get and what makes your hair happy. Naturalistas can pre-poo with
Commercial pre-poo products on the market
Conditioners
Conditioners mixed with oils
Leave-in conditioners
Avocados (blend and strain first)
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Honey
Mayonnaise
Egg
I pre-poo with a warm mixture of coconut oil and honey or conditioner that is mixed with oil.
How do you pre-poo?
Set up your products
Wear an old t-shirt. It could get messy-depending on the product you are using.
Use a water bath to warm the product. When pre-poo is warm it opens the hair shaft and allows more moisture penetration.
Start by separating into 4 sections or more. This is where butterfly clips come in handy.
Apply your pre-poo in individual sections.
Detangle with fingers or a brush.
Put on a shower cap.
Give the pre-poo time to penetrate your hair shafts…10 mins at least.
Shampoo after.
If you follow these steps, no matter what shampoo you use, your hair will be soft, moist and clean.
This is a product that adds tiny protein molecules to your hair stands. The molecules fill up the gaps in the cuticle and penetrate the cortex.
Why use a Protein Treatment
Hair is made up of protein molecules. Chemical processing, heat, high manipulation breaks down the molecules making the hair brittle. The protein treatment temporarily adds protein structure to the hair strands. This strengthens the hair strand and prevents further breakage. If you use the protein treatment in the right way, your hair will have minimal breakage, reduced shrinkage and an increase in volume.
How to apply a Protein Treatment
Wash hair with a shampoo
Section hair into four or more sections using section clips
Add protein treatment to each section. Do not comb as this may harden the hair. Smooth the treatment up and down the hair with your hands together in a praying position.
Put shower cap and leave it in for 40 mins-1 hour
Rinse
Deep condition with moisturizing treatment or conditioner
Rinse
Style as usual.
Different types of Protein Treatment on the market
Whether your hair is relaxed, transitioning or natural it’s good to have a protein treatment every six to eight weeks. Commercial protein treatments have hydrolyzed proteins. i.e. proteins that have been broken down using water. They are smaller. They can penetrate the shaft-making the hair strand stronger.
This will reduce on the breakage. There are different types of protein treatments on the market. A genuine protein treatment label will contain some or more of the following magic words:
Hydrolyzed keratin
Collagen
Silk proteins
Wheat protein
Vegetable protein
Animal protein
Silk Amino Acids/Proteins
ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is one of the most recommended protein treatments on the market. It’s a good product for those transitioning to natural hair. When using it follow instructions in order to ensure good results.
For those with lighter protein needs, ORS Hair Mayonnaise and JBCO Protein Conditioner are available.
And you don’t have to break the bank to do a protein treatment. Protein packs are available at a lower cost.
DIY Protein Treatments
Whether Home-made protein treatments work is debatable. These treatments usually involve an egg. DIY Naturalistas swear by it. For the protein molecule to actually penetrate the hair shaft and reinforce the cuticle it has to be small. DIY egg treatments coat the shaft with the protein. They do not penetrate the cuticle. They are not small enough to do this. The shaft coating wears off fast. However do what works for your hair. If you have been using an Egg DIY treatment and have minimal breakage, then keep doing it.
While we are still on DIY proteins, coconut oil does not have protein-the oil is obtained from it’s flesh which is made up of healthy fats. Coconut milk does have protein however they are not hydrolyzed.
Protein Overload
This is when your hair has more protein than moisture. Tell tale signs are dryness, stiff hair, hair that breaks off, hair that is dull and rough-in such a situation, cut down on the protein treatment.
Protein in Hair Products
Not everyone needs protein treatment. This is because there is protein in almost all hair products-shampoo, leave-in conditioners, moisturizing treatment…you name it, it has some protein. This is their marketing pitch ‘promise’ to strengthen hair, add volume etc. Key protein ingredients you will find in your hair products are:
Casein
Collagen
Keratin
silk
rice protein
soy protein
oat flour
soy wheat
If your hair is still dry or brittle after using these other hair products it’s safe to say that you should try doing a protein treatment pack once every six weeks. As time progresses increase the time in-between protein treatments to once every 6 weeks.
Last words on Protein Treatments
At the end of day, it all really depends on how your hair feels after a protein treatment. If it is soft with less shrinkage then keep doing it. Balance protein treatments with moisturizing treatments in order to avoid dryness and breakage. The more damaged your hair is, the more you need an effective protein treatment. This is especially important for chemically-processed and transitioning hair.
Looking for quick easy styles for your natural hair….Read more
When I decided to go natural, I didn’t just fall I made a parachute jump. There were bumps and bruises on the way. But thankfully I found my safe landing. And here’s how:
#1.I saw my hair as a project
I considered going natural for six months. Every month I kept getting depressed looking at my mirror-By normal Kenyan girl next-door standards my hair was not bad-it was neck length, straight but by my standards, it was awful-hair line was receding, thin strands, split ends, no growth.
I took charge and set two simple goals-grow healthy hair and get my hairline back. But what did having healthy hair mean?” I googled ‘healthy hair’, how to have healthy hair for one month as I wore braid extensions. One day I had an epiphany-I remembered the time when I was most happy and comfortable with my hair-It was when I was a child, when my hair was chemical-free. It was natural so the natural conclusion (pun intended) was to go natural. Go back to how my hair was as a child and this time do it differently. Be in control…as an adult. Learn to enjoy it.
I researched
It’s 2016, there are natural hair communities out there willing to help and encourage you on your hair journey. A few short years ago there, being a local natural hair blogger was unheard off. You are not doing this alone. Many women from all works of life and social class are on this journey. They offer tips, product reviews, youtube videos.
I started to deep condition
The first few months as a naturalista, I had 4 inches of an afro. I didn’t have to do much. I would shower every day, slap on a 20 bob coin sized amount of leave-in conditioner and gel and voila I’m off to work. But now that it was healthy. It began to grow. In six months it had grown an additional 3 inches. The ends got drier. I developed knots and tangles that unravelled with a lot of product in my hair. Styling it was difficult. Product would simply sit on my hair.
I then met a fellow curl friend who had awesome long hair. She offered a simple but effective tip…deep condition. And I’m offering it to you. Deep condition and if you can, deep condition at least every week. If this can be a part of your regiment, your hair will be soft and easy to manage.
#3.I learned to do my own hair
You can’t have natural hair without learning to do your own hair. There reason why we have badly damaged processed hair is because we would go to our hair stylist and take what they say as the gospel truth. Let’s remember ladies, they are preaching from the pulpit of This-is-how-I-pay-my-bills. If you don’t know what your hair needs, then trust me, your hair dresser will not. Here are few basic lessons I learned. When my hair is dry-it’s thirsty for moisture, I need to deep condition. If I want a good hair day the next day I need to sleep in a silk/satin scarf to avoid the frizziness and dryness.
#4. I avoided heat
When I went natural, my scalp was sensitive. It had been damaged by the long-term chemical processing. With an afro I was relieved to see that I did not require heat to style it. Heat permanently changes the curl definition of your hair and it does not grow back. When it is too much it literally cooks your hair. Picture your hair in an oven. There is no turning back. Use it wisely and sparingly. Even salon dryers can be damaging. Some hair stylists will put you in the dryer with too much heat because it is to their advantage. The more clients the more money.
#5. I developed a hair regimen and then I kept changing it
Develop a hair regimen. That works for you and stick to it and then listen to your hair as it grows. If you look at the mirror and don’t like what you see i.e. the texture, breakage, split ends, poor curl definition then it’s time to admit you need to change the hair routine.
Looking for quick and easy styles for your natural hair…Read more
In 2013, I decided to style my hair the night before a workday. I had bought a product that promised great curl definition. I was thrilled because it was a well known international brand that had recently hit a popular Nairobi cosmetics shop . I applied the product and did medium sized twist braids. In the morning I woke up to my hair half dry and half dry. My hair also had white flakes. It looked like I had a serious case of dandruff. I was disappointed. I quickly had to wash my hair. Luckily, I had resisted the urge to hit the snooze button on my phone. I had enough time to wash out the product, slap on some gel and style my hair. That is the life of a natural sister. Some days are more challenging than others.
#Transitioning was my most difficult part of going natural. My hair was two textures. It was weak and damaged. And the processed ends kept breaking off. It also not easy styling it. I wore a lot of weaves and braids during that season. My hairdresser made a lot of money of me. After transitioning for four months I cut off the permed ends. I was relieved.
#Learning to like my natural hair was also not easy. It was like having a new person in my life. I had to take time learning how to keep it happy and how to accept it the way it is. Weekly deep conditioning and understanding my hair types played an important role during this process. As 3C/4A/4B my hair was and is always hungry for moisture.#
#I felt the pressure to have a certain natural hair type. I consider all-natural hair beautiful. However certain hair types are considered beautiful while other hair types are ‘ugly’. Not everyone is supposed to have loose curls. I had to accept my hair the way it is….frizzy, kinky, coily.
#Confidence was another challenge I faced as a natural sister. Opinions are like a certain part of human anatomy. Everyone has one and every one offers one up even when it is unsolicited. The negative opinions hurt because…well, I’m human. It took me a while to have the courage to rock my natural hair. I was afraid of what people would say. But I got used to people’s ‘helpful advice’ on natural hair. I’ve developed a thick skin of self-acceptance. It’s a layering that takes time to develop.
I recall friend X who had been wanting to go natural for three months but she when she shared her thoughts with friend Y, friend Y laughed and said, ‘I think your hair will be to ugly to go natural.’ Friend X felt discouraged and retouched her hair.
As my hair grew my hair got drier and got tangles and knots, I realized I lacked natural hair knowledge. The Internet came in handy. Blogs and websites educated me. Any woman can have soft and manageable hair. You just need the knowledge…and a few mistakes. In 2013, the day of my emergency Afro-puff-ectomy, I learnt that a little curling crème goes a long way on a non-wash day.
#I needed to develop a hair regime. I cannot tell lie. I’ve had my fair share of bad hair days. Sometimes I’ve used the wrong products and the outcome would make me crawl back to bed. On other days I was just lazy. It took a while to get used to doing natural hair. For you to have soft, manageable hair that is easy to style you need to give it tender loving care. Natural afro hair is delicate. Curly hair is weaker than straight hair. It has weaker points of breakage. But it was really all about time management. I found that watching the 9 o’clock news with my daughter and a cup of herbal tea by my side was the perfect time to do my hair in twists on Sunday. I tie my hair during weeknights and have early morning wash day Saturdays.
#I had to stand firm against the heat. When I went natural I was always tempted to blow dry my hair to check hair length. It took a while to get used not blowdrying hair. And I’m happy to say I am two years heat-free. Nowadays my
#I needed to fight off the urge of being a product junkie. When I went natural there were few products available for natural hair. I’m glad it has changed. When I go to a cosmetics shop with natural products I’m like a child in a toyshop. I want everything. It’s a current challenge that I still have but I’m getting better.
I have learnt a lot on this hair journey -my hair gets frizzy in the front, when it’s humid, on days when the Nairobi sun is beating down on the pavement it gets dry, when I ignore it for more than two days, it revenges by scrunching up like Sokoni steel wool. But despite all the challenges, I have had no regrets about my hair. I have loved this hair journey. It has made me stronger and set me free.
Looking for quick and easy styles for your natural hair…Read more
Happy New Year, Naturalistas…wait is it too late to say that? It’s that time of the year where we set up new year resolutions…and fail. But never fear, here are 4 secrets to keeping your Natural hair goals for 2016.
#1. Keep’em trouble-free
The reason why people don’t keep their new year resolutions because they set unrealistic and complicated goals. They then fail, get frustrated and give up. Set up simple goals that are achievable. My two goals last year was:
Goals that have a plan result in guaranteed success. So I set up a plan. My plan was simple.
Goal: Go Heat-free
Plan: Give blow dryer to sister so it is out of sight and out of mind.
Goal: Learn 2 DIYs and do them at home
Plan: Read up on DIYs and create simple but effective DIYs with products that are easily available.
Set up a plan that will be in line with your goals. Share your plan with a friend. It will hold you accountable. Look at it on a monthly basis to find out how you are doing and to consider that challenges you are facing with that particular goal.
#3.Seek out natural hair experts
There are many blogs, Facebook pages and websites that offer natural hair advice. Follow them on social media. Keep reading them to gain confidence and knowledge. Subscribe to their mailing lists/newsletters to get articles directly into your inbox. Reading these websites helps me stay motivated on my hair journey. My fav’s that have helped me learn about natural hair and more are:
Blackhairinformation.com
Curlynikki.com
Tricia’s Naturals (on Facebook)
You can also get a lot of styling tips from natural hair vloggers on Youtube. These naturalista Youtubers have varying textures and hair lengths. They offer awesome tips on styling. Find a vlogger who has similar hair to yours and learn tips on how to manage your hair.
#4. Set your hair budget
Knowing how much money you can spend on your hair will let you know which products to buy, how many times you should go to the salon, when you should DIY at home etc. If you stick to a budget you’ll avoid being stuck with 20 conditioners catching dust in your cupboard.
This year I’m plan on being lean and mean. My hair budget for 2016: Kshs. 1500.
Need help setting up your natural hair goals?I’m here to help.
Have an Awesome 2016
Are you struggling with your natural hair…Read more
When I looked in the mirror after years of chemically processing , my hair was flat, lifeless. It did not reflect the person I felt inside-alive, with personality, passionate with character…in other words it had no volume. If you are still reading this, you are like me, you want your hair to have extra oomph. This article is for you someone who wants to learn how to have voluminous hair.
And here are possible reasons why your hair is thin:
Is your hair chemically processed?Then it is probably over processed
Are you transitioning to natural hair?Then you have weak thin processed ends
Are you the only one in your family with thin hair?If not, then it’s probably genetics
Are you on any medication?Is hair thinning a side effect?Hypertension and High Blood Pressure medication has that side effect
Are you using heat every other day?Direct heat can cause thinness and breakage of hair.
Are you constantly blow drying your hair every other day or week?Extreme heat -232 °C-I wouldn’t even bake a cake in such heat, will break the bonds of your hair and cause heat damage
Are you stressed?We are what we feel on the inside.
Other possible reasons-poor diet, not drinking enough water, tight breads and weaves.
Now that you know why you hair is thin, here is how to add volume:
Go natural-Who are we kidding?The most volumous hair is natural. Look at Erykah Badhu and Jill Scott. And this is for good reason. That’s the beauty of Afro hair. Other races love the afro hair because of the thickness and volume it has.
Use your blow dryer properly i.e.with a heat protectant, at cool temperatures and upside down-I know crazy right. Work from the roots and be gentle on the ends
Trim straggly split ends-if your transitioning or have chemically processed split ends. It’s time to give them a trim.
Use oils in deep conditioning. They give an appearance of thickness to your hair.
Finger style-coat your hands and fingers with oil to undo twists or braid outs to avoid frizziness. Lift section of the hair from the roots with to add volume.
Use an afro pick at the bottom of the roots and lift, this will give the illusion of volume.
How else do you add volume to your hair?Let’s share tips 🙂
Learn how to have natural hair with volume…Read more
I’ve always loved henna even when my hair was relaxed. This is because henna would gently color and strengthen my chemically processed hair. Other chemical dyes when applied on my hair would leave it dry and prone to breakage. Chemical dyes also require a professional colorist to get it right (can you say expensive :-PWhen I went natural, I tried to use henna-water mixture but it left my hair hard, dry and it was difficult to remove the henna particles when washing it off 🙁 but I was determined to use henna on my hair because there are many benefits to using henna on hair:
It colors without using harsh chemicals such as ammonia
It strengthens hair
It promotes hair growth
It repairs damaged strands
It locks in moisture and nutrients
After a few touch-and-go failed henna DIYs. I turned to henna gloss. It turned out to be a best solution for the natural haired me.
A gloss is a coloring system that for hair. It colors the hair subtly and deep conditions it too . I love it because it adds color and shine but does not leave it dry. The addition of conditioner to the henna powder rather than water, turns the henna into a gloss. To make it more moisturizing , natural oils are added.
What you will need for the Henna gloss
100g of Henna
1 cup of conditioner
1 tablespoon of castor oil (optional)
1 tablespoon of olive oil (optional)
1 tablespoon of honey(optional)
1 old toothbrush (if you are trying to colour gray/white hairs)
Plastic/rubber gloves (it can get messy)
Plastic wrap (to stop the gloss from dripping onto your clothes)
4 or more section clips
Head scarf
2 Old t-shirts (1 for application-it can get messy, 1 for drying hair after wash)
)Mixing and Applying the Henna
Add the henna and the conditioner first. Ensure it is the texture of cake batter (or baby poop…dare I say)
Add oils and honey and stir with spoon.
Put the bowl with the mixture in a hot water bath as you section hair into 4 or more quadrants.
Take one section and start applying the mixture starting from the ends all the way to the roots. Cover your hands in order to avoid staining them. The stains are hard to get rid off.
Take small sections of the sectioned hair between the palms of your hands. And slide your palms together in an upwards downwards motion. This is to ensure the product covers the hair strands from roots to edges.
Repeat for each mini section and for each major sectioned hair.
Use the toothbrush to apply the henna gloss on stubborn white hairs.
Wrap your hair with cling film and put head scarf.
Leave it on for a minimum of 4 hours if you are using the henna dye for color-if possible overnight.
Rinse afterwards and air dry.
What you should know about henna gloss:
The longer the henna gloss stays on your hair, the more colour it will have.
Don’t be a ninja, use gloves-your hands will stain if you don’t
Henna will darken your hair and any hair color you may have used previously
It will color any white or gray hairs you may have
Do henna glosses every three weeks, any more than that may result in hard hair that will be prone to breakage
Henna glosses strengthens hair, makes it shine and gives it volume. It also reduces frizziness. The addition of honey gives your hair a better curl definition.
Whether you are transitioning or a new natural, try a henna gloss for soft shiny manageable hair.
I’ve always loved henna even when my hair was relaxed. This is because henna would gently color and strengthen my chemically processed hair. Other chemical dyes when applied on my hair would leave it dry and prone to breakage. Chemical dyes also require a professional colorist to get it right (can you say expensive :-PWhen I went natural, I tried to use henna-water mixture but it left my hair hard, dry and it was difficult to remove the henna particles when washing it off 🙁 but I was determined to use henna on my hair because there are many benefits to using henna on hair: