You may want to avoid over-manipulating your hair. You may desire thriving, thicker and fuller hair. If you want to reduce your hair’s daily potential for breakage, there are five main ways to go about it:
Night-time protection
On a nightly basis, protect your hair with a satin scarf or cap. You could also try a silk scarf. If you want to pull out all the stops, you could get a satin pillowcase in addition. Why satin or silk? Other fabrics such as cotton, nylon, polyester and wool will soak up the moisture from your hair, leading to dryness. Fabrics, other than silk or satin, will rub against your hair strands. This will raise the cuticles, causing frizz and a higher tendency for breakage. If I am rocking a bantu-knot out for the week, I tend to re-twist my hair nightly in big sections and then use my satin scarf over the twists. You could also use a satin cap to cover your curls without the re-twisting. Personally, I prefer satin to silk as the latter slips off the head easily.
Choose hair tools wisely
When choosing your hair tools, try to keep your choice to a minimum. When your hair is damp with water, apply a conditioner and follow with finger-detangling first. At this point, your hair is easy to manipulate. Use your fingers to massage away any tangles and knots. It is easier to tell with your fingers, rather than a comb, when knots need more massaging or a tangle is too tight. Using a comb leads to pulling too hard on a knot which leads to breakage. We try to use a wooden comb only for sectioning our hair for plaits. Although, I tend to go about my business with bantu-knots which have not been sectioned neatly. It may not be for you, though. Try to section hair from the tips and work your way down to the scalp. This will avoid pulling and tearing of your hair.
Keep clothing out of your hair
Ever wonder why the hair at the nape of your neck is more coarse that the rest of your hair? It could be that the cotton from your wool or cotton neck-scarves and collars have been rubbing against it. I have noticed my daughters’ hair become frizzy from the hood of their sweater and coats. Try to avoid any fabrics other than silk and satin from touching your curly hair. To protect the hair at the nape of your hair, you could go the extra mile by layering a silk scarf before the cotton. Another tip is to sew satin onto the hoods of sweatshirts to create a barrier.
Hair accessories
Hair bands with metal parts snag, pull and cut hair. Have you noticed when you try taking out some hair bands, that they hold on and you end up losing hair? This is probably why certain parts of hair stays at a certain length. You know those flowery, attractive hair accessories with metal parts - they are lethal and will pull at your hair if you are not careful. Avoid them. Choose plastic hair clips and ensure there are not sharp parts.
Change up your styles regularly
Now this may not apply to short hair as a small fro stays put as long as it is not over-manipulated. Short hair could be over-manipulated by combing too vigorously, pulling on it and putting a wool scarf or beanie over it. As soon as hair gets to shoulder length, you may be tempted to slip into a particular style. This could lead to certain parts of your scalp being pulled most times, while others stay put. Pulling your hair back tightly into a ponytail or high bun causes your edges to thin. The scalp at the edges are very delicate and difficult to regrow hair on but it is possible. Try to minimise the pulling of your edges and scalp with styling.
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