FULL DISCLAIMER: Even though I’m talking to the women, this pertains to the fellas too!
At the end of each month, I look at what I did and what goals I set whether I completed them or not. I usually have three goals for each month and I create three more for the new month when I reflect on the previous month.
Although Black History Month is over, it inspired me to get in touch with my roots. I mean that more literally than you think.
I'm talking about HAIR!
Not everyone can relate to my specific goal, but not everyone has to or is meant to. We all have different hair textures and types. There are even charts to tell you what type of hair texture you have, but before you try to fit yourself into a box, try to learn about the essentials that help your hair and scalp in general. I think it’s very influential to learn about our differences especially when so many are trying to use these differences to separate us. Hair is a very miniscule detail that separates us, but it has become a very controversial topic in varying places in our lives such as the workplace and school. There’s been phrases coined like “good hair” that tend to put pressure on those without this magical hair. Instead of wishing we had “good hair”, we should start by learning about our own hair and how it wants to be treat. Not all hair wants to be played with or washed everyday and one way you can figure these things out through trial and error.
The kinky, curly, wavy hair era is upon us once again. If you look in historic pictures, you can see history repeats itself.
Maybe those women wore their hair natural because there wasn’t the wide range of products we see today. Even so, more women are embracing the curl of the hair. It’s not just women of color that can experience difficulties with hair. All women go through it. We wake up, trying a new hairstyle that might’ve seen on tv, but it won’t go right. We all have things we wish our hair would magically do like grow, curl or straighten. Another important aspect I wish all would begin to embody from Black History Month is embracing who they are, naturally. Embrace it and nourish it.
I’m talking about this because one of my goals for March is to get to know my natural hair better and you could, too. So far I’ve realized all the different styles and techniques I can try on my hair. Something you may struggle with, is the time it may take. I was always too impatient to understand my hair. So instead of doing what I usually do, try to give yourself a larger time to see results from the techniques you try.
For those that want to compare with my hair, it’s very kinky and wild, but never very long. Length was one of my first considerations. I started looking up hair creams and treatments that would help. I found way more than I can count or list and more than I could ever use in a year. They all had a number of essential oils, but not all of them had the same oils or claimed to do the same thing for your hair. At this point you may be wondering, what oils I found and what they could possibly do. Here are some of the common oils used for varying hair types.
- Argan Oil
This is one of the more expensive hair products and also known as Moroccan Oil. It is used as a heat protectant and prevents drying which makes hair more resistant to breakage. It can repair split ends, soften hair and reduce frizz. Argan oil is extracted from a nut from an Argan Tree and contains vitamin E, 9 fatty acids including Omega-3 and various antioxidants. This oil is known to be great for dry, damaged hair so you do not need to apply it to your roots for easy, frequent application.
- Coconut Oil
Some consider coconut oil to be better than argan oil, but that will not be the case for everyone. Try not to focus on the holy grail, but the one that works best for your hair. Extra-virgin coconut oil is the best for maximum effect. It works well for hair growth, sun damage protection, detangling, thickening, strengthening roots and adding a healthy shine to hair. It’s also used for deep conditioning, as a base for hair coloring and to relieve an itchy scalp. For those with oily hair, avoid applying coconut oil to the scalp. You can apply this oil one to four times a month for best results. Leave it in your hair for thirty minutes to an hour and rinse our while shampooing. This oil contains lauric and capric acid which have antimicrobial properties and it’s very high in vitamin E.
- Castor Oil
This oil comes from castor beans and contains vitamin E. The best kind is cold pressed or 100% pure virgin castor oil. It controls hair loss, conditions, moisturizes and prevents split ends. It’s best if used with a carrier oil like olive oil. It can be used as an overnight treatment and then rinsed out in the morning, weekly. Another option would be to use it as a hot oil treatment.
These are a few that I’ll be trying over the next couple months, but I may not be following all the “rules” and you don’t have to either. Do what works for you. If you’ve already tried these let me know how it went! My social media handles will be at the very bottom of the article.
Stay on the lookout for a follow up article revealing my hair developments with the use of some of these oils.
Odyssey: My Odyssey Page Link
Instagram: @simplyfun281
Twitter: @simplefun281
