Natural hair is beautiful, though it is a pain in the back side to maintain sometimes. Whether you are black, white, Asian, or latina our hair in its natural state is one of the few things that make us completely unique from the rest of the world. There is nobody in the world with the exact same hair texture as you, or color, or the amount of strands on our heads. Being a black woman there are some things that you must have to maintain the health of your hair. In this article are the top five things that a natural girl must have/use daily.
Must-have #1:
A good silk sleeping cap or scarf. This is the most important component to your hair's survival. During the day you can mess with your hair, add oil, comb/finger through your hair as needed. However, when nighttime comes, it's a whole new ballgame. You toss and turn and roll all over your bed and most likely you have cotton sheets. It has been proven that cotton as well as other like materials actually take the moisture out of your hair. This is the Devil! Dry hair is not healthy hair and being a black girl with natural hair, I cringe at dryness. So, having a good silk cap to sleep in is like a little security blanket for your hair.
Must-have #2:
Unless you have locks like myself, this must-have will save you from having a sore scalp and a comb full of your hair -- a wide toothed comb! These combs are life savers, especially on wash days when your hair shrinks up to about half of its length and your curls get tangled into one another. Now praise God I have locks and will never have to comb my hair again! What a blessing!
Must-have #3:
Coconut oil! Coconut oil is like God's tears made into a paste. This oil, which is not actually an oil (it's more of a cream), is great not only for your hair, but your whole body as well. This type of oil is great for dry hair, especially because it's nourishing but not heavy so it doesn't clog your pores. Clogged pores, dead ends and a dry scalp are all equal evils to natural hair. I use actual oils on my hair just because it's super light and I don't get any build up in my dreads, but you can never go wrong with an oiling regimen that includes coconut oil.
Must-have #4:
Patience! In the last few years with natural hair making its way back into the mainstream, a lot of black women who previously had relaxed hair have done the "big chop." For those unfamiliar with the term, the big chop is when you make the big decision to cut off all of the processed hair and start your hair over completely natural. For some women, this left them with just a few inches of hair. Speaking from personal experience, I did not have to, my hair made that decision for me. My hair that was processed just fell out and I was left with about three inches of hair when it was all said and done. When this happened, I was in high school and did not have nearly enough courage to walk around with my tiny afro. So, as many of my sisters have done, I kept my hair braided for about three and a half years. I was never without braids. This was a long journey, and nothing was going to speed it up at all. So to any queens out there that have done or are thinking about doing the "big chop" just know that you have to be patient and protective. Styles will become your best friend!
Must-have #5:
Confidence! Being a black woman already makes you stand out a little bit and then having curly hair that relentlessly stands at attention makes you the angel on top of the Christmas tree. Even if the stares are not intentional, they happen. The most important thing about wearing your natural hair as a black girl, is wearing it like the crown that it is!
