International Natural Hair Meetup Day was an event celebrated on May 21 last year connecting naturalistas across the US and some globally. We hope they’ll continue this great event to promote the beauty of Black hair and how we view ourselves.

Meanwhile, Nyraju would like to focus on a few things those along their natural hair journey may have on their minds.

Your Natural Hair Journey Should Include:

The Regimen. You want healthy hair, you need to incorporate consistency in your hair care: pre-pooing before cleansing regularly. You’ll also to apply deep conditioning, moisturizing, sealing with natural oils and butters. Choose ingredients like, coconut oil and Shea butter and covering your hair with silk wrapping at night.

Use a high quality crème or pudding for curl definition, twisting, braiding and other styling.

Moisture for your natural tresses. Your hair craves it within a regular hair care regimen! Understand though, that hydrating and moisturizing aren’t the same. Hydration means maintaining the fluid balance in our bodies, including our hair. Hydrating products are designed to add water and reduce moisture loss.  Moisturizing hair products like creams and emollients (butters and oils), are for preventing water from evaporating or locking water or moisture into the hair.

So oils and grease do not equal moisture! There are powerful oils like coconut and jojoba which can penetrate hair strands but oils and butters mainly act as sealants after you’ve added moisture.

Essentially yours, Oil – Within the natural hair movement, essential oils are central to healthy hair.  They can be used at every stage of your hair care regimen. These aromatic and volatile liquids which don’t dissolve in water, perform several functions, such as stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, nourish, renew and promote hair growth.

Helping to remove dandruff, dryness and even hair loss, scalp bacteria and fungus infections are part of what they’re said to do as well. Combined with carrier oils and/or butters, and you’ve DIYed your hair to a happy place.

A Healthy Scalp …

Scalp Health – A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair.   Use the right blend of oils for the outcomes your want to achieve with a carrier oil. For dry scalp, incorporate options such as tea tree oil, which is effective for treating dandruff and stimulating hair growth, thyme oil with anti-microbial properties, alleviation for dandruff and dry scalp and lavender oil, useful for treating hair loss and dandruff.

Product overload and ingredients. There are so many and it can be overwhelming – especially since the beauty industry has realized how huge the natural hair market is. Yes, it’s necessary to experiment but pay more attention to the ingredients, rather than spending lots on quantities of different products.

Start with seeing how a couple work for you. It’s even better to make your own organic blends. Avoid products with alcohol, sulfates and parabens which at the very least, dry out African American hair. Then there is the ongoing debate with petroleum. My vote is no.

Shrinkage is beautiful, unique and oh so natural. Yes, you read correctly. We admit though humidity and other factors make styling your hair in certain ways more challenging, your natural hair strands were designed this way.

Focus on the the health of your hair as well as the versatility of it. While it’s fine to work towards length or growing your hair, consider that your crown of coils, represents strength and loveliness. Remember, there are tons of attractive styles and options – whether stretched or not – at every hair length.

Don’t limit yourself and learn all you can. At each stage of your natural hair journey, embrace and enjoy it!

As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care