When we did the #30DayHairDetox, I discovered so much misinformation out in these Natural Hair Streets that I decided now would be an absolutely great time for me and my partner Aeleise to address them.
1. Pre-pooing natural hair with oil
*SIGH*…You might think it’s cute, but…no.
This is one of many examples of doing entirely too much.
So, you’re going to put oil on your hair and then you’re going to wash said oil off. But you don’t use harsh shampoos that have the capability to remove the heavy oils and butters we like to use, so you still have oil and butter on your hair because you used a mild shampoo.
And then you’re going to put more oils and butters on your hair. If you don’t clarify the oil layer off of the hair and allow water to get into the cuticle, you’re moisturizing dry hair.
2. Exclusively using mild and sulfate-free shampoos
Mild and sulfate-free shampoos are great when used in conjunction with a clarifying shampoo routine. Mild and sulfate-free shampoos don’t have the ability to remove the oil and butter buildup that most of us have on our hair.
Oils and butters need surfactants to be entirely removed from the hair.
3. Too focused on length and not enough on hair care
Wanting long/big hair is a nice goal but having the best curls of your life would serve you better.
If you’re ever going to really have long/big hair you must first get down to the business of properly taking care of it and taking care of it means focusing on having a good hair care regimen, using products that work for your hair and making sure your hair is properly hydrated.
4. “Remoisturizing”
Guess what? The only way to “remoisturize” your hair is to shampoo it.
Once you’ve sealed your hair with a leave-in (yes leave-ins have sealant-level properties) you have already begun the sealing process.
Very little water can get in at this point and no water can get in once you layer on your oil and styling product.
Remember, Oil=Sealant and Water=Moisture.
5. Getting ALL your natural hair care advice from non-licensed professionals
I love vloggers and bloggers but I also have a lot of respect for those who have turned this hair thing into a career.
I’ve been blogging for well over four years and as long as I’ve been blogging, I’ve always reached out to the professionals who have behind-the-chair knowledge.
Getting tips here and there is great but there is absolutely nothing like the advice given by a trained professional.
6. Self-hair assessment
See #5.
7. Retwisting your hair every night before bed
Retwisting your hair every night is not ideal for daily manipulation as it can cause breakage to your ends.
And according to Aeleise, ”If you have to retwist nightly that means that you are not using a styler with enough hold.” If this sounds familiar then it’s time to re-evaluate the products you are using.
8. It takes you over an hour just to shampoo and detangle your hair
“Wash Day” should really not take an entire day.
In fact, the shampoo and detangle process shouldn’t take you over an hour. If your shampoo cycle is taking a chunk of time out of your day then it’s time you re-evaluate your regimen and products.
9. Conditioning your natural hair beyond the manufacturer’s instructions
So, I hear some of you are sleeping in your conditioner.
I have no clue where this got started but it needs to stop. Manufacturers have very specific directions for a reason and it is really important as a consumer that we follow them. The longest you should go with conditioner in your hair is 30 minutes.
The conditioner has done its job and will not do anything beyond that 30-minute window. Also, I hear that some of you end up with itchy scalps afterward, so is overnight conditioning really worth it?
MUST READ: 5 Oils That Are Much Lighter Than Coconut Oil
10. Adding oil to other products
I recently had a conversation with my stylist friend Jerri of the JSpotStudio about a recent client she had that added oil to her shampoo.
Why tho? Adding oil to your shampoo is totally defeating the purpose of the shampoo. It’s like adding bacon grease to your dishwashing liquid…and why would you do that?!
11. Thinking heavier oils are better for winter or just in general
Oils and butters are not the holy grail to keeping your hair healthy and beautiful. Water is.
And no matter how heavy an oil or butter is, it is not going to automatically winterize your hair.
12. Exclusively co-washing
Co-washing was never meant to replace shampooing. In fact, it is a
method best suited for those who wear their hair in a curly state to refresh the hair between shampoos. Exclusively co-washing your hair is the equivalent of washing your clothes with fabric softener. Your hair may smell pretty for like a day but it’s going to still be filled with dirt, oil, butters and buildup.
13. Adding oil outside of the sealing process
The only time you need oils is in the styling stage to seal your ends. Please see #1 and #10.
MUST READ: 6 Common Shampoo Mistakes Naturals Make
14. Overly concerned about shampoo stripping your hair
I hear so much about shampoo stripping away moisture and not enough on how all these oils and butters are keeping your hair from getting moisturized. Shampoo’s job is to remove all the dirt, oils and butters from your hair. Your hair should not feel soft after you’ve shampooed it. It should be a tad bit squeaky so that you can begin sealing the moisture back into it.
15. Adding additional items to well-formulated products
Just stop. Stop adding oil, salves, butters, and stuff from your kitchen cabinet and refrigerator to your products. There are an array of fabulous products on the market that can do exactly what you need them to do. Adding additional items will not help your hair ministry. In fact, the molecules from these extra condiments that you guys are trying to put into your hair products are way too large for your hair. For example, your hair would reap way more benefits if you actually ate the avocado as opposed to putting it on your hair.
