The do's and don'ts of hair care during the pandemic.
I never, ever thought I'd actually see something shut the entire world down. When they first began talking about it at the beginning of the year, I thought to myself, "yeah, we're going to hear about a bunch of cases that hit close to home and then it will miraculously disappear like everything else did"! I was so wrong about that! By March 17th California was shut down. I was out of work, people were in a panic and you couldn't find toilet paper, sugar or a bag of rice anywhere.
It's August. Five months later and the virus is still sweeping through the world. This is a stressful time for many. Businesses are closing, stimulus checks are gone and the nation is concerned about it's future. What's worse, the stories change daily through the various media outlets because no one really has the answers.
The majority of us are just trying to stay safe and find ways to take care of our families. The last thing you're probably thinking about is your hair. For the most part, it's clean and it's not all over my head. Then there's the other group who have opted for protective styling because they don't want to have to touch their hair at all. However, there is a group who is very hair conscience. They have a bunch of products, watch YouTube and are doing their best to take care of their tresses. Even with all of this, they still have some concerns and questions that need to be answered.
I decided to put together a few do's and don'ts of hair care to help ensure Corona doesn't have your hair looking quarantined too!
Don'ts
Don't wear braids, weaves or any protective style longer than 6-8 weeks.
I know we like to get our monies worth and keep our hair up for as long as we can. However, keeping braided styles in longer than the allotted time can actually do more harm to your hair than good. Excessive debris, oil and buildup along with sweat can cause bacteria. This cause cause breakage and scalp fungus.
2. Don't use conditioner as an everyday leave-in.
Just wetting and drying the hair causes the cuticle to expand and contract which can be weakening because it creates radical cracks in the outer cuticle layers. Daily conditioning also causes hair to be weak, limp and have low elasticity. This is called "hygral fatigue". Hygral fatigue happens when your hair cuticle is damaged due to excessive moisture entering and exiting the hair cuticle.
3. Don't overly use edge control.
Too much of anything can become bad at some point. Too much edge control can cause hair loss if not careful. Don't reapply to edges daily for weeks at a time. This build up can be damaging.
4. Don't twist braids to refresh braids.
Once your hair is grown out, do not add gel or styling foam to the new growth and twist (like when doing dreads) to allow you to wear the braids longer. This is causing unnecessary tension which can cause hair loss or alopecia. If they have grown out, remove them.
Do's
Do shampoo often.
In order to have healthy hair, the hair and scalp must be cleansed regularly. You should shampoo and condition weekly or bi-weekly. But wait no longer than 3 weeks. This includes weaves, braids and protective styles.
2. Do use a leave-in conditioner.
If you are rocking your natural tresses, you should always use a leave-in to freshen your curls. Always use a leave-in after conditioning and before styling. This is your hairs insurance. Some help with frizz and humidity. Others have UV protectors, heat protectant and antibacterial fighting agents.
3. Do use professional products.
Professional products are much better for your hair and deliver the best results because the ingredients are in their purest form. The purer the ingredient, the smaller the molecular structure and it's ability to penetrate into the cuticle layer and actually work. Professional products also have far more of the naturals ingredients in them than the cheap products at the beauty supply's and drug stores.
4. Do oil your scalp.
Essential oils and herbal hair dressings are great for your scalp. They help the hair and scalp to not only retain moisture, but it acts as a coating for the hair and seals in the moisture. Studies show that Coconut oil is the only oil that penetrates the deepest into the cuticle layers of the hair. Both your hair and scalp benefit from regular oiling which can stimulate hair growth.
I know we have been dealing with some pretty difficult times. I hope the tips I've shared will assist you in keeping your hair healthy during the pandemic. Stay safe and remember, YHWH is in control. Trust Him and believe His promises!
If you'd like more tips on caring for your hair, please join my Facebook group: "W.L.F Hair Care Academy" Join our 90 Day Healthy Hair Growth Challenge to totally transform your hair and see the growth you've always wanted.
