Keeping African American Hair Straight: You CAN Have Straight Hair Without Chemicals

I learned very early in life that I had very kinky, hard-to-manage hair that I often referred to as "nappy". Due to the unmanageability of my hair, my mom starting chemically relaxing it when I was about 13, which I continued to do until about 8 months ago. Although relaxers made my hair straighter, and therefore easier to manage, they also made my super porous hair even drier and more brittle than it already was. This caused me to suffer from hair breakage and the inability to retain a longer hair length, but I was satisfied. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with lupus that I realized my hair could no longer tolerate harsh chemicals. During my last flare, I experienced hair loss so significant that I was practically bald and had to wear wigs until it started to grow back. Once I was no longer bald, I knew I had to come up with an alternate method for styling my hair, although I didn't have much faith in keeping it straight. In the past whenever I tried straightened my hair with a hot comb, it would revert so fast it was like I had never straightened it. Fortunately I was able to create a regimen that allows me to obtain as well as maintain relatively straight hair for about a week. This is my regimen:

1.) All-natural or organic shampoo - I used to think it was necessary for African American's to go for 2 weeks or more in-between hair washes, but now I know that's not true. I now wash my hair once a week, which makes a very big difference in the health of my hair. One thing that makes my hair more manageable and easier to straighten is using all-natural and/or organic shampoo that is free of sulfites, preservatives and other harsh ingredients. You can find all-natural and organic shampoos at Walmart, Target or just about anywhere else that you shop for regular shampoo.

2.) Deep condition weekly - Another thing that helps my hair to become more manageable and easier to straighten out is using a quality deep conditioner once a week and sitting underneath a hooded dryer. The heat from the dryer helps the conditioner (preferably all-natural or organic) to penetrate the hair shaft, distributing the product where your hair needs it the most. This also helps my hair to grow faster.

3.) Moisturize properly - One thing that greatly contributed to my hair loss was using "grease" and inadequate moisturizers that contain petroleum and/or mineral oil. Now that I use moisturizers that are free of these and similar ingredients, my hair stays soft and manageable all the time. It's amazing how my straightened hair feeling softer and silkier than it did with other moisturizers. In the past, I had to moisturize my hair several times a day, now I only have to moisturize once a week and my hair stays perfect.

4. Leave-in conditioner - I often wondered why people used leave-in conditioners if they used regular conditioner as well, but now I know that it protects the hair and helps keep the hair softer, more manageable and super easy to comb through. My favorite leave-in conditioner is by Garnier Fructis and I believe it helps me maintain straighter hair.

5.) John Frieda 3-Day Straight - at first I wasn't sure that this product worked, but after a month of using it, I realize that it makes my hair very soft, which makes straightening a breeze. Despite this fact, I believe that products like Chi Silk Infusion and similar products work better, but I've been on a budget lately and can't quite afford the Chi product. In the meantime, I'll stick with 3-day straight until I can upgrade to a better product.

6.) Maxi glide (mini) - although Iplan on getting a Sedu flat iron as soon as my finances allow it, I absolutely love my Maxi Glide mini because its detangling pins quickly yet gently detangle my hair while transforming my kinks into beautiful, silky and shiny hair. It doesn't fry my hair like flat irons in the past have done, and the tourmaline and ceramic work like absolute magic.

It's nice to know that I don't have to straighten my hair every single day like I originally believed I would have to, despite the hot and humid weather here in the south where I live. My hair does revert somewhat on especially hot days, but not enough to warrant re-straightening it before a week has passed. I definitely don't want to put too much heat in it, although I'm not brave enough to wear my hair in an afro like some black women do. My hair journey has taught me that even with my extremely kinky 4C hair, it's possible to keep it "relatively" straight without using harsh, damaging chemicals. On cooler days, it stays bone-straight, and in hotter, more humid weather, it reverts somewhat, but it sure beats dealing with the consequences of using harsh, damaging chemicals.