This post is sponsored by P&G.
This is the third article of the series Kari’s Natural Hair Story.
“Stand on a corner in Hyde Park, Wicker Park, or the Loop for more than two hours and you’ll start to notice something about the area’s black women. It’s their hair. It’s unrestrained, it’s dreaded, it’s braided, it’s twisted, and it’s unapologetically kinky. Natural hair is well represented in Chicago.” – Kari’s Natural Hair Journey: An Update
Well, hello there hair enthusiast! The last time we talked I had just undergone my millionth “big chop”. That was back in September. Now, six months later, I’ve finally unlocked the mystery to growing my course, fine hair – I think. The secret? Moisture! Here’s what I mean:
3 Things I’m doing to improve the Health and Length of my Natural, Course, Fine (Type C) Hair:
Trimming hair every 4-6 weeks – myself! Looking for split ends? I’ve got plenty. With fine kinky hair, moisture is greedily hogged by the hair closest to the scalp, leaving the ends parched and frail. This is a problem because moisture is a must from the root to the end of each strand. Thus, if you’re looking, you’ll be sure to find a gang of splits chillin’ like some villains on my head any given day.
As if personally challenged by the existence of these little buggers, hairstylists often painstakingly sift through the forest of my ‘fro, hunting and destroying each split end one snip at a time. In the end, I’m left in a high chair surrounded by inches of once curly glory.
To counteract this overkill, I invested in a pair of professional hair shears (important!), watched a lot of YouTube videos, and proceeded trimming my own hair. Within months, I saw major improvement to both health and length.
Keeping ends tucked away, especially during cold months. For reasons explained, my ends are forever delicate. Because of this I never go more than one day with my hair “out”. It’s usually twisted up, under a satin bonnet and hat, under a full unit or hair piece. This method of protection has been invaluable at deterring breakage during this cold Chicago winter.
Using only products I trust to work for and not against the health of my hair. Not all of the creams and sprays geared toward us are created with our hair’s best interest in mind. For this reason, when I find something that works for me, a product that leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized, I like to share it with you.
Head and Shoulders is a name we all know but maybe haven’t reached for in a while. This is a shame since many textured hair gals also deal with dry, flaky scalp issues. Nothing’s worse than spending hours on the perfect twist out only to find your finished coif’s full of flakes. Tragic! Knowing how important moisture is for us, Head and Shoulders has just released a new product line for textured hair, The Moisture Care Collection. It includes a shampoo, co-wash conditioner, and their unique Scalp Soother.
The Moisture Care Collection
The 2 in 1 Shampoo: Like many natural girls, I steer clear of shampoos with sulfates when it comes to my weekly routine. But every 3-4 weeks a good shampoo like this one is necessary to remove build up, keep my scalp clean, and stop my hair from feeling weighed down.
Co-Wash: I use this for my weekly wash. It helps to remove any product left over from days of styling.
Scalp Soother: So far, the Scalp Soother has been my favorite part of this treatment system. It’s designed to be applied directly to the scalp, after and in between washes, releasing a peppermint oil complex and Vitamin E for a cooling sensation that aids in keeping the scalp healthy and dandruff free.
The entire system targets the scalp, penetrates into the skin, and releases ZPT (Zinc Pyrithione) to fight fungi that cause dandruff. Over time, this is guaranteed to improve overall moisture. You know the feeling your mouth gets when you’re chewing spearmint gum? That’s the cool, refreshing feeling my scalp gets from the Head and Shoulders Moisture Care system.
My honest opinion? This seems to be a great system for cleansing natural hair and keeping the scalp clear and dandruff free.
Head and Shoulders scientists explored the unique needs and characteristics of African American hair and found a drastic need for moisture and protection. Head & Shoulders NEW Moisture Care collection, with Vitamin E rich almond oil and coconut essence, provides moisture for scalp and hair immediately and also over time, eliminating dandruff and leaving you 100% flake-free. For more information, Head & Shoulders on Facebook (www.facebook.com/headandshoulders) and follow @HeadShoulders on Twitter.