I find that rocking afro kinky hair in the summer is a breeze but once the cold season hits it brings itchy scalps, brittle hair and unmoisturised ends. I do not claim to be a hairdresser or hair expert but here are some simple tips I have learnt about dealing with my kinky hair during the winter.
Moisture is the Key
I personally use a water based moisturiser (a moisturiser or cream that has water or ‘aqua/eau’ as its first ingredient). And I have learnt is that the ends of my hair are just as important as the top; the ends of our hair are the oldest part of hair so it needs as much care and more as the top of our strands. What I do is to run my fingers through my strands making sure that my ends are just as saturated as the top of my hair.
Seal, Seal and Seal
Oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil and castor oil act as good sealants to lock in the moisture kinky hair needs. I personally use coconut oil. It is a light oil that does not contribute to build-up and smells ahh-ma-zing! Make sure to use natural oils, and oils that are not mixed with petroleum. It’s a good habit to read the ingredients before purchasing.
Protective Styling
Protective styling are styles that contribute to the tucking away of ends on kinky hair and allows us not to keep touching, combing or tugging on our stands which can lead to hair damage and loss of hair retention. I confess that I am a hair twirler. I constantly twirl and play with my nape hairs and it doesn’t do me any good especially when kinky hair is classed as one of the most fragile hair types. Some protective styling ideas include:
- Braids
- Twists
- Yarn braids/ twist
- Corns rows (with and without hair extensions)
- Wigs and clip ins
- Crotchet braids
One important lesson I have learnt especially with braids is not to leave them in for too long, not to braid them too tight and to continue moisturising my hair and scalp.
