Tones, Tangles & Textures Thursday: 5 Natural hair myths
In the world of coils, kinks, curls, and silky coifs, blogs are riddled with common questions on the frequency of shampooing, heat usage, tips for hair growth, and to relax or not to relax, that is the question. It’s no surprise, that our crispy ends aren’t the only ones stressing out. Thankfully, we’re here to soothe your natural hair woes. Journey with us as we bust a few common natural hair myths below.
Mane Myth: Trimming your hair will make it grow faster.
Tress Truth: “While frequent trims are great for removing split ends, they don’t actually make your hair grow faster,” says Ursula Stevens (stylist to the stars). In other words… ladies stop skipping your maintenance appointments. Cut those crispy ends! Ignoring your split ends will only cause further damage to your strands, as the split ends creep up your shaft.
Mane Myth: Hair with curls and coils don’t need to be shampooed often.
Tress Truth: Wash your hair at least once a week. Infrequent shampooing can result in oil, dirt, product buildup, and scalp conditions such as dandruff, that can weigh down your hair, making it look dull or even worse… greasy! If you’re concerned about the damage or dryness that shampooing can cause, consider a sulfate-free shampoo.
Mane Myth: Black women can’t grow long hair.
Tress Truth: Black women CAN and DO grow their hair long! The challenge is that many women do a lot to their hair and as a result, the locs can suffer. The longer your hair is, the more attention it needs. Keep up your trims, oil those ends, wear protective hairstyles, drink plenty of water, and (if necessary) ease off of the chemicals and harsh heat tools.
Mane Myth: Natural hair is unprofessional.
Tress Truth: Our hair is part of our heritage and there is nothing unprofessional about it! As I stroll the streets of Atlanta daily, I see fierce “naturals” working as teachers, lawyers, social workers, actresses, etc. As long as you don’t look like you just arrived fresh off of the treadmill, all hair types can be maintained and styled beautifully.
Mane Myth: Water is evil. It will dry out your hair.
Tress Truth: Lies Ladies! When you’re thirsty, what do you drink? Water. When your hair is thirsty, what do you think you hair should be drinking? I’ll wait… water! Water is one of the BEST ways to hydrate your lovely locks. Don’t be afraid to use it. And don’t forget that healthy hair starts from the inside out. My tip: drink at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water a day and make hair steaming a regular part of your hair hydration regimen.
Follow a few of these steps and take it from us girls, your hair will thank you over and over!
