Hair washing secrets for healthier afro textured hair

I  have heard so many women with textured  hair say that they don't wash their hair every week, let alone, everyday.  It's just too much on hair  that has a tendency for dryness.  So, I thought that I would set out to find some good recommendations for afro textured hair washing and conditioning. I would like to share these secrets here.

I welcome readers to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences as there are so many different hair types out there even amongst the textured hair.

Now, let's look at and examine textured hair.

Give your hair what it needs

Coiled hair has a tendency towards dryness due to the fact that the scalp secretions, or sebum, contain less lipids than straighter hair types. Also, the texture makes it difficult for the sebum that is excreted to reach the ends, making them even more dry and fragile.  Now, combine this with the fact that most
women use super high temperatures in blow drying, flat ironing and curling their hair, it's no wonder that this hair type breaks before achieving any length!  Armed with these facts, one would want to diligently seek out a shampoo that delivers moisture, nutrients and strength  without adding a lot of potentially harmful chemicals.

One such product that I've read about is Wen.   (I am a big reader of labels and try to avoid preservatives, antibacterials and chemicals as much as possible). Honestly, I have not used the product yet, but will certainly do a follow up on this article when I do.  Wen is a cleansing conditioner  with a 5-in-1 formula that combines shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner and leave in conditioner.  It cleanses hair without using the highly sudsing detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate and other surfactants.  Therefore, it shouldn't strip the hair of natural oils.

Some key ingredients are chamomile extract, cherry bark, rosemary extract, panthenol, sweet almond oil and glycerin.  Sounds like a winning combination to me.  I invite anyone who has used this product to write in and give their experience with it.




What next?

The next step will depend upon your hair type and individual needs.  Most times people apply shampoo twice to get a good, clean result.  One point here is to not use water that is too hot.  As this can result in drier hair. Try to wash the hair in the shower rather than over the sink to eliminate tangling.

Once you have washed your hair, be careful not to pull, tug, comb or brush!  Wet hair is extremely delicate and should be very carefully handled.  Again, depending upon your hair texture, you might want to use a very wide tooth comb to get tangles out.  (Again, use a combination product with a detangler to avoid breakage).

A recommendation for drying is to allow the hair to air dry, if you can.  (I know that everyone is in a hurry nowadays, but this will eliminate some of the heat that your hair is subjected to).  If your hair is damaged, this really is essential.

The finished product

Again, this will depend upon what your styling preference is.  The thing is to be gentle with your hair.  As much as possible, avoid a lot of chemicals in your hair creams.  A suggestion is to use sweet almond oil  or olive oil which both provides vitamins A and E.  The cost is not too bad either.  Use as needed between shampoos.  Now, relax and watch your hair flourish!