Unlearning Myths - Manageability

Some think that natural hair is unmanageable, but it’s really not; it could just be really dry.  Dryness will make your hair brittle and less pliable. It will make it feel unmanageable. Once you realize the cause, you can change your hair routine and it becomes easier to manage. If you are transitioning to natural hair for the first time, adjusting to hair styling and upkeep can be a challenge. You are basically starting a whole new hair routine and it can feel overwhelming at first trying to figure out what does or doesn’t work for your hair in its natural state. As you begin to learn more about your hair it becomes easier to care for it. Natural hair just requires a little more TLC, but I wouldn’t say it is unmanageable. Anyway, the end result is always worth it!

Our hair isn’t bad or unmanageable, it’s just different from others. With that being said, our hair cannot be handled the same way as other hair types. Instead of thinking of our hair as the problem, we have to think that it is our styling that is the problem. To be more specific, we have to focus on adding more moisture to our hair. One of the main reasons why the “natural hair movement” has become so popular is because people are becoming more natural and looking for ways to add moisture to their hair. The accessibility of information on the internet has not only changed the way we view our hair, but how we treat it as well.

 

 

Myth buster #1:  Is water and hydrating or drying?

Some say that water can actually dry out natural hair, and this is usually false. While some people may experience dry hair after applying water or washing their hair, it can be because the water was too hot and strip hair of its natural oils. Another reason it may feel dry isn’t necessarily because of the water, it can be because there hasn’t been a proper leave-in product added to the hair to lock in that moisture. If you only apply water to your hair, it will eventually dry up and evaporate, that’s just science, because there hasn’t been any type of holding product applied to seal the hair cuticle. 

Experiencing dry hair after washing your hair is typically an easy fix, but if the problem persists it may be that your faucet is producing hard water. With hard water it contains high levels of minerals that may cause build-up on your strands of hair. To fix this temporarily, you may want to try a shower filter.

 

Myth Buster #2: Does detangling damage the hair?

A common cause of breakage is improper detangling. You should never use a fine-toothed comb (rat-tail comb) to detangle natural hair. The teeth will become caught in your coils, contributing to more knots and tangles. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb or Denman brush and start detangling from the bottom of the strand, working your way up slowly to the root. An even gentler way of detangling, which is particularly good for fine hair, is to finger detangle. While it is a bit more time-consuming, it allows you to gently ease tangles apart with very little stress to the hair.

 

Myth Buster #3: Are my sleeping habits contributing to my hair health?

A conventional practice that contributes to breakage is sleeping with loose hair on cotton pillowcases. This is very damaging and drying to your hair because of the friction with the cotton. Instead, replace your pillowcases with ones made of satin or silk. This is much gentler on your hair and will help it to retain moisture.

To maintain styles overnight, hair can be pineappled (tied in a high ponytail with a very loose elastic) or braided/twisted. If you would like additional protection, you can cover hair with a satin scarf or bonnet prior to bedtime.

CBD oil improves scalp health and prevents/reverses damage. It also increases cerebral blood flow: boosting circulation and delivering the oil’s vital nutrients to the scalp. These proven hair growth nutrients include Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 – which “accelerate the transition to the anagen phase” of the hair-growth cycle. Ensure you avoid dry and brittle hair by keeping your hair moisturized with Safo Hair moisturizer which is an AMAZING moisturizer that contains CBD and other herbal ingredients to ensure you lock in moisture for a longer duration than your average moisturizer.  

Not only will healthy hair and scalp habits ensure you maintain moisture and debunk the myth of natural hair being unmanageable, but the foods we put in our body can also help.  One food we don’t often talk about are PINEAPPLES!!! Yes, pineapples.  Not only are they an tasty and refreshing fruit (especially in the summer time), but they are amazing for the hair and skin as well.  Pineapples are rich in antioxidants and in Vitamin C and can aid in hair growth. Vitamin C gives your hair an extra layer of silkiness. Other benefits of pineapples include softer and shinier hair, thicker hair, and cures inflammation in the scalp.  Here is a pineapple smoothie recipe that I have been crushing on all summer!

Try it out for breakfast or a snack!

INGREDIENTS 

1 banana cut in half

1 1/2 cups frozen pineapple chunks (I typically chop up a fresh pineapple and freeze half of it overnight)

3/4 cup yogurt of your choice (I typically go with non-dairy yogurt - peach)

fresh pineapple wedges and mint sprigs for garnish optional : the fresh pineapples will give your smoothie more juice and will allow you to adjust the thickness. 

I often add cucumbers to taste in order to give it a more refreshing taste and feel.  

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the pineapple juice, banana, frozen pineapple and yogurt of your choice in a blender. 

Blend until smooth.

Pour into 2 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges and mint sprigs if desired. May also add any addition nutritional flare.  Consider protein powder, flaxseed, chia seeds, or spinach.

NUTRITION

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 6g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 62.7mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 1.9mg