Guest Blogger: Six Helpful Tips to Improve Your Hair Journey

 

By Kenneth Byrd of Natural Hair Community

When I think of the name Onyx Rose, there are many thoughts that come to mind. The thought that's most prevalent is one that I find incredibly interesting: Isn't it puzzling that black roses (or onyx roses) don't actually exist? Or, do they? I'll explain.

I've heard several people make the following statement, "My child is growing like a weed." Honestly, I'm sure I've made that statement before. However, as I think about it, maybe my child is actually growing like a rose - a black rose. That has a nice sound to it, right? So, to all the black women -- excuse me -- onyx roses out there, I would like to provide you with 6 tips that will improve your natural hair journey.

#1: Blame your parents: Ok, that’s a little harsh, but ultimately your genetic make-up is a significant factor in the type of natural hair that you have. So you’re unique and will want to find products that work well for your hair, however regardless of how strong the recommendation – there is no miracle or magical product that is going to transform your tightly coiled hair into loose wavy hair.

#2: Skip the elevator and take the stairs: An often underutilized and undervalued component in the healthy hair care process is physical activity or exercise. If you want your hair to reach its maximum potential, be sure to add exercise to your natural hair regimen. 

#3: But, its “bacon night”: I just recently saw a commercial with a national restaurant chain advertising “bacon night”. I like bacon as much as anyone, but seriously – “bacon night”. As you continue on your natural hair journey, keep the following things in mind. Your body always takes care of critical bodily organs first – meaning that your body will sacrifice your hair and nails if you aren’t consuming the appropriate nutritional requirements. So, a sensible healthy eating plan can do wonders for your natural hair.

#4: It’s time to update your resume: Don’t actually update your resume and start looking for a new job, but I know many people allow their jobs to stress them out. At any given time, there are many things that can potentially stress us out. To be clear, stress is often described as dealing with more than you’re accustomed to. During stressful events, your body reacts like you’re in danger or at risk. Stressful events might cause your hair to prematurely initiate the Catagen (resting) phrase of hair growth. Once this happens, it’s only a matter of time before the Telogen (shedding) phase kicks off – causing you to experience substantial hair shedding initiated by stress. So, look for ways to reduce stress. Some things that may help are eating a balanced diet, listening to music, taking a walk, laughter and yoga – only to name a few stress reduction techniques.

#5: You must protect this house: If you’re a sports fan, you’ll know that saying comes from the Under Armour commercials, though it’s also true with respect to natural hair. You must protect your hair from various elements including tangles with other hairs, excessive sun light, lint and many other things. Women who choose not to include protective hair styles as a part of their routine maintenance could suffer from additional hair shedding, breakage and less overall growth.

#6: Drop it like it’s hot: Flat irons, curling irons and pressing combs – to name a few – can get really hot and cause severe heat damage to your hair. My recommendation is to limit the amount of heat that you put on your hair, however when you decide to use heat, be sure to select an appliance that has adjustable heat settings. The ability to control the amount of heat that you use on your hair is critical. This gives you the flexibility to reduce the temperature of the appliance to a less dangerous and hopefully less damaging heat level for your hair.

To all of the naturals out there, I hope these tips are helpful to you during your natural hair journey. Look for Onyx Rose and me to work together more in the future. And finally, to learn more about natural hair, check out my site: Natural Hair Community.