Once you decide that it is time to get your hair healthy again it might be confusing on just where to start. I remember there was a point in my hair journey right in the beginning when I stared at the mirror asking myself what in the world was I going to do about my hair.
My hair was breaking, it was shedding like crazy and I was suffering from hair loss due to a bad perm. Where do I start?
In this post I want to answer just that question because getting your hair healthy, believe it or not, is a process. It takes time and you have to have a plan in order to be successful.
I know that everyone’s situation is different so my level of ‘un-healthy’ might not be the same as yours or vice versa, but there are a few general things everyone needs to consider when they decide to start a healthy hair journey. Here are the top 7 things you need to do to start:
1. Get a detailed consultation from a recommended stylist
Even though we are a family of DIY’ers, it helps to get help from a professional who will assess your hair and scalp and give you a list of recommendations.
We suggest getting more than one consultation so that you can cross-check between stylists and check off what was common between both. You have to know where you are to determine where you are going so a consultation is a great place to start.
2. Say no to chemicals
I know it is hard to hear but you cannot fix damaged hair with more damage. Chemical treatments like, relaxers, color or extreme heat treatments demolish the structure of the strand. This means that if your hair strand is so thin that it is breaking without a relaxer if you add a relaxer to your hair you are only making things worse.
There is no such thing as a healthy relaxer, but there are relaxers that have been developed to cause less damage in comparison to others.
If your hair is struggling to get healthy do not use any relaxers, color or extreme heat in an attempt ‘to fix’ it.
3. Get a hair cut
Some women need just a trim others need a down right cut, when you consult with a stylist on the state of your hair they will make the best recommendation for you.
Hair cuts are not a bad thing especially if you are starting over from heat damage, chemical damage or haphazard hair loss.
To start out fresh you need to cut off all the damaged ends, and give your healthy hair a chance to thrive, it is much better to have healthy shorter hair than long unhealthy hair.
Karen Mason says
Great information! I had started my hair journey almost three years ago and boy it hasn’t been easy. The first thing I did was “toss out” way too many hair products. Yes throughout my journey I would pick up a new product here, a new product there and to be honest, I started questioning myself, why do I need to try anything new and how will it affect my hair?! Sometimes good to great to bad, to the ugly. Not all products listed for our hair works for our hair….found that out.
What I should have asked myself is, what products have I used in the past that are great for my hair?! I have always used coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, castor oil and I’ve never had a problem. I also use to braid my hair in extensions as a protective style to prevent breakage, kept the braids and my own hair well cleaned,moisturized and neat.
I decided not to put my hair through the extensions because of the weight, but I have to confess, the braids kept my hair neat and I didn’t mess with my hair that much, but the braids did encourage hair growth. I’m trying to grow my hair healthy without the extensions and it has been tough. I recently clipped my hair ends and I made the decision to keep going. I’m keeping a closer look at my ends and make sure I moisturize my hair on a daily basis.
I am almost tempted to braid my hair with extensions and keep the extensions in for only 6 weeks. Just watch the tension as I braid my hair myself. After 6 weeks, give myself a deep conditioner, a deep moisturizer, massage my scalp, check the overall condition of my hair and see what happens. I will not give up. I started a hair regiment journal and several times I have referred back to see what I have done and what products I have used. The hair regiment journal makes a great reference reminder and my goal is to have shoulder length hair.
Hadiyah Fields says
I started my natural hair transition journey in April this year. After I had a bad relaxer that had my scalp shedding after two weeks of treatment I knew something was going to change. I was washing my hair and it looked like someone put a box of raisin brand flakes in my hair 🙁 I did consult with my hair dresser and I talked about alternative methods but she did inform me that it was still a chemical. I didn’t know what I was about to do, but I knew I was not about to keep up with the relaxers! I transitioned for about three months and did the “Big Chop” this week on Tuesday! During my transition I had Senegalese twists in my hair. I love this sassy look and I am embracing my natural hair with my chocolate skin!!!! I had beautiful full long natural hair as a child but begged my mother for a relaxer cause I was scared and tired of the hot comb…lol *sizzle sizzle*
I look forward to this journey and the healthy growth and promotion of natural hair. I didn’t know my curl patterns at all until I began my research. I have 4b and 4c hair and can’t keep my hands out of my hair…lol I feel so liberated and healthier!! I will continue to keep a hair journal of photos.
Thanks for this site!
H. Fields
say_no_go says
I decided to stop using heat (blow drying and flat ironing). I already stopped relaxing my hair 1y6m.
But the down side, I take a anti estrogen pill Tamoxifen (because I was diagnosed with breast cancer—doing better now) and I am just hoping it does not make my hair thin or fall out.
Anyway, my hair was shedding like crazy, I mean like crazy it was damaged by all the blow drying and flat ironing so enough is enough.
My hair is 3c and extremely soft
I am looking forward to conversing with my natural sisters
Anesu Ncube says
I wish l can know those 7 things but am out of data to download