I remember when I was in high school, I loved to dance and I had a relaxer – two things that didn’t really work well together when you tend to sweat a lot from your scalp. I knew the struggle of having my hair look crazy after only a matter of hours. So what’s a girl to do?
Since many teens are now embracing the beauty of their natural hair, they don’t have to worry about ‘sweating out their perm’ if they’re into a more active lifestyle, but they do have to worry about making sure that their hair stays clean and manageable while still doing things like going to school and getting homework done.
If you are or someone in your family is an active teenage girl, and you’re looking for an easy hair regimen keep reading to learn more!
Wash Day
There should be at least one dedicated wash day during the week, especially if you play sports or dance. This will help get rid of the product build up and dirt that may accumulate over the course of the week. During this wash day use:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Deep Conditioner*
Use a sulfate free shampoo* to gently cleanse your hair. Black soap shampoo does an excellent job of cleansing hair without harsh chemicals. If you find that your scalp still itches during the week, try to add cowashing to your regimen on another day as well.
(Cowashing means washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Cowashing gently removes buildup without drying out strands and it’s a great way to add more moisture to your regimen).
LOC/LCO Method
Lock in moisture in your hair using either the LOC or LCO method after washing. Simply grab the products you need (Liquid, Oil, Cream) and apply in either order.
Since you will be active and sweating, don’t use products that are too heavy. Opt for lightweight leave in conditioners, oils*, and creams. Perform the LOC/LCO method after every time you wash your hair.
Styling
A cute twist out is probably not the best idea when you’re moving around a lot. There will be endless frizz and tangles to your curls. Instead, opt for protective styles – your hair will be out of the way, but hair health won’t be sacrificed.
Twists, and braids are great protective styles. Buns are also good – they’re simple and still effective. Whatever your style, try to keep it for at least a week (longer if you’re using extension hair). Preserve your hair at night by either sleeping on a satin pillowcase*, or putting on a satin scarf or bonnet. Each one will keep hair in place for the next day!
Being a teenage naturalista doesn’t have to involve a ton of work, since you have so many other things going on. Take care of your curls how you can, and they will thank you!
How do you maintain your curls with an active lifestyle?