Natural Haircare for Sistahs: Dispelling the Myths and Setting Your Curls Free

Women of African descent are among the leading consumers of haircare products and services. Why? This is in part due to the media's influence to have so called "acceptable" hair, and to the black woman's quest to find effective hair products to manage their hair. One size does not fit all when it comes to your hair care regimen, so what works for straight ,oily hair, will not work for dry, curly hair. Perception of what is beautiful has caused some sisters to take drastic measures when it comes to their hair. Harsh chemicals and heat are common culprits that lead to the negative self image black women have about their hair. Well, sisters, it is the dawn of a new day, and an era of empowerment has been ushered in. Knowledge is power, and by learning the most we can about our individual and special haircare needs, we take the initiative and find what truly works for us. We can dispel the myths and set our curls free.

One of the first myths we will address, is that in order to be beautiful, we must have straight, long hair. That's just plain garbage. Variety is the spice of life. Therefore, curls, swirls, waves, fros, and straight hair can all peacefully coexist and be equally stunning. Working with what nature gave you, rather than against it, can both simplify your haircare routine and promote the health of your hair.

The second myth, is that hair of African descent is stronger than all other hair types because of its wiry texture. Actually ,the opposite is true. Due to the curly, wiry, or afro texture of most black women, our hair is most prone to breakage. There is a substance called sebum that our scalp produces. Sebum lubricates the hair shaft protecting against dryness, and promoting shine to the hair. On straight hair, sebum slides easily down the shaft, but on curly or kinky hair, it must work its way down and around each bend and corner. This explains why typically, black women have such dry hair. Also, at every bend in the hair there is a stress point, a potential for breakage, so black hair truly requires delicate, and specialized haircare. Aiding your hairs' natural sebum (oil) distribution is key. Natural, essential, and vegetable based oils such as soy, rosemary, coconut, and castor oil absorb into the hair and skin. Avoid heavy greases or oils such as mineral oil, paraffin, lanolin, and anything that is petrolatum based, as they sit on top of the hair attracting dust and debris, and they have a tendency to clog the pores, stunting hair growth. Do not suffocate your scalp, let it breathe sister!

The third myth, is that water drys our hair out, so we only need to wash our hair occasionally. Water equals moisture. We need water to moisturize our hair and we need it to clean our hair. Dirty hair demotes hair growth. So become good friends with water, it is your ally in the battle against dryness. Now, that you know you need to wash your hair regularly, at least once or twice a week, how should you wash your hair? Typical shampoos on the hair market contain sodium laureth and\or one of its derivatives. This is a detergent that strips your hair of essential moisture. The best shampoo is one that is free of this chemical. You can even use the "no poo" method of washing your hair. In this method, you use only conditioner to massage and clean your scalp, then rinse as normal. The great thing about this is you can do this everyday or twice a week, and you can detangle your hair in the shower. Once a month, if you choose, you may use regular shampoo for clarifying, but it must be followed up with a deep conditioner.

Finally, sisters, use heat styling sparingly, as it is not your only styling options. Wear your hear naturally air dried, or wear protective styles, like braids and twists. In this day and age, natural and organic is a way of life. By embracing your natural texture and learning about it, you embrace yourself and break free to be you: a natural, beautiful sister.