I know, it’s overwhelming! It can be confusing to see all these tips on social media and never find what works for you, with so many pieces of advice and even more contradictions.
But what if you could keep it simple and effective?
Before we continue, let’s talk about the real needs of your Afro hair.
The Afro Hair!
These are hair types with very tight curls, and their unique feature is that they grow in spirals. They require nutrition because the sebum (the natural oil produced by sebaceous glands) that should nourish the scalp and hair strands doesn’t travel down the entire hair shaft.
So, we need to help! How? By providing hydration and nutrition.
Your hair is not dry because it’s bad hair or inferior to other textures, but because it needs proper nutrition and hydration.
You may be wondering: when is the best time to hydrate and nourish them?
It’s during the WASHING time, as simple as that.
So here are the 3 basic steps for your routine:
CLEANSE - NOURISH - STYLIZE
Oops! Didn’t see that coming, did you?
Yes! You need these 3 steps to give your hair what it needs.
CLEANSE – Shampoo
This is the step that will allow you to start with a clean slate. Achieve a clean scalp and thoroughly cleaned hair.
Use a shampoo that respects the true nature of your scalp and hair.
Tropikalbliss Grapefruit Watermelon Shampoo - $16.51
NOURISH – Conditioner or Hair Mask
This step for me will be the backbone of the hair care process. It will deeply nourish the hair, revitalize it, and hydrate it.
Why is this step important? Because it will nourish the hair fiber from the inside, meaning the cortex. This treatment requires a pause time to ensure proper product penetration (but no need to sleep with the product on 🧐). The pause time can vary from 7 to 30 minutes maximum.
Tropikalbliss Banana Honey Hair Conditionner .- $16.51
Tropikalbliss Marshmallow Melt Rich Hair Mask- 26.79
STYLING - Leave-in or Cream
How to style? The right way.
After rinsing, of course, you need to rehydrate your hair. But should this be done with the mask? Absolutely, just a little clarification: the mask has done its job from the inside. Now, you need to protect that hydration and reinforce it from the outside, and that's done with a leave-in or a moisturizing cream. Then seal it with a heavier product (oil or butter) and finally, style or set your hair to enjoy your new week.
With these 3 steps, you have the foundation of a great hair care routine.
In Conclusion
The secret to a successful hair care routine is simplicity while being effective. With these 3 steps: Cleanse - Nourish - Style, your hair will receive everything it needs to be beautiful and healthy.