Hair care tips for women with kinky hair – Part 2

“Small combs and kinky hair mix like oil and vinegar.”

~ Author unknown

Caring for “kinky” hair really isn’t more difficult than any other type of hair as long as you know what to do. I’ve dealt with mine for years and managed to obtain a variety of styles with minimal cost. The main strategy is to follow a 5 core principals.

These core principals will keep kinky hair at its prime and help you avoid its usual pitfalls like dryness, breakage and tangles. So here what to do.

Principal #1 – Condition your hair on a regular basis.

Kinky hair tends to be dry. As a result, it’s important to invest into a good hair conditioner designed just for it. Try Nexxus, Abba or Carol’s Daughter products. Get one that you use right after you shampoo your hair and follow it up with a daily leave-in conditioner. The conditioner, more than actual hair oil, is the key to keeping your hair from breaking and a way to combat dryness.

Principal #2 – Don’t over heat your hair.

Hot combs, flat irons and other tools that create a lot of heat are often used by people with kinky hair. I know this very well. However, it’s usually in a way that damages it. So avoid all of those tricks your grandma taught you like keeping a curling iron in your hair for 3 seconds to tighten the curl. It’s not really true and will damage your hair. Instead, lower you temperature level down a notch or two when you flat iron and blow dry on low. You’ll notice after a while that the condition of your hair improves and you still get the same beautiful effect.

Principal #3 – Wrap your hair at night or sleep on a silk pillow.

Unlike straight hair, kinky hair tends to mat up or tangle at night, even if you have a relaxer in it. As a result, it’s important to wrap it up in a silk scarf or sleep on a silk pillow. I enjoy doing the latter and it gives a double benefit. Not only does it help your hair stay tangle-free, it also reduces wrinkles in your face.

Principal #4 – Go for hairstyles that fit your hair and budget.

I paired up the tip of matching up the perfect hairstyle with a corresponding budget because both need to work together in order for a person to maintain kinky hair. In other words, if you want to perm your hair and it requires that you see a stylist once a week, only do it if you can afford it. Why? If you can’t, your hair will break off. Then, you’ll have a mess on your hands. Remember, it’s hard to hide bald spots on a head of kinky hair. So do what you can “afford to maintain.” It will help you keep your hair in top-notch condition.

Principal #5 – Wash your hair at least once a week.

A lot of my friends don’t want to wash their kinky hair more than twice a month because of the time it takes to style it and the dryness. However, the build up of dirt and grime takes away from its luster. It also keeps kinky hair from growing. So, if you want your hair to breathe and move, you’ll need to wash it at least once a week. Just be sure to condition well afterwards.

In conclusion, kinky hair isn’t difficult to care for as long as you follow a few core principals. By using them, you’ll ensure yourself a long, happy relationship with your hair.