Tumbleweeds
You know those balls of collected bush and debris in the middle of some desert in nowhere-land? That was my hair after this monstrous winter. Polar Vortex, polar smortex I was NOT feeling it. Literally, I basically ignored my hair this past winter. It’s true what they say you know: “You reap what you sow.” It felt like straw when I touched it and my curls were limp and uncooperative. I couldn’t blame it all on the harsh conditions. I stopped deep conditioning (a BIG no-no”>, stopped moisturizing daily, got lazy and fell into a new “I don’t feel like doing all that, it’s too cold outside to care” phase. Unfortunately for me this was PRECISELY the time to care for my hair. When the conditions outside were as bad as they were in the northeast this winter, natural hair begs to be cared for.
Welp, it happened. The winter is finally over and I looked up expecting my curls to bounce like bunnies in springtime. HA! This is what I got:
To be fair this was a twist out, but you can see how dry, brittle and just plain SAD my hair was two months ago.
The first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem right? So I did. I got it together and starting deep conditioning weekly again, moisturizing my hair nightly and in the morning, if need be as well. I was on it! My hair was looking better and better and then I decided to straighten it. LOL!In my defense, I straightened only after feeling comfortable that my hair was ready for the heat. When I grew tired of straight hair (which was pretty quickly”> I went back to my routine. So here is a guide to what I did to bring my hair back to life.
Chances are if you’ve been neglecting your hair, you’ve also been neglecting your scalp
I used a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo to rid of any build-up on my scalp. You should apply the shampoo to a dry scalp to give the shampoo a fighting chance. Rinsing your hair first won’t be as effective.”
After washing and a conditioning…
I used the Purification Masque from Shea Moisture to help to rid of any build up as well. This is one of my favorite products. I applied it to my scalp and roots. Then I grabbed the Anti-Breakage Masque from Shea Moisture and applied that to the rest of my hair as a deep conditioning treatment. You don’t have to use these products of course. There are lots of great masques and deep conditioning treatments for naturally dry hair. Find what works for you!
[prodmod]
No time to sit around on wash day so tying this bag on my head while running around the house taking care of business is how I roll. I love a good Target bag for my deep conditioning sessions. The heat from your head creates a little steam cloud under there…works wonders.
After rinsing my curls feel great!
There’s really no secret to helping your hair bounce back from neglect or harsh weather conditions. Being consistent with what works for you, focusing on moisture retention and being patient are all key to bouncy curly success. One thing I didn’t mention is getting or giving yourself a good trim. YES curlies, trimming our hair is so important. Your trimming schedule may be different from mine, but pay attention to your ends. If you’re seeing lots of breakage (not shedding, that’s different”> or tangles, take note and schedule time to get those ends trimmed.
What are some of the ways you’ve been caring for your hair after this past harsh winter? Will your regimen change so that conditions are better?
Kala Garner is the founder of The KG Lifestyle, a dynamic lifestyle blog about hair, beauty and empowerment. She has also presented and hosted natural hair events and seminars across the nation. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel here.
