| For optimal black hair growth and health, you should | | | | Even more if your hair is very damaged. Just like |
| develop a week by week regimen of what you will | | | | conditioners and moisturizers, there are deep |
| need to do to your hair in order to keep it clean, | | | | conditioners especially made for hair that needs more |
| healthy and growing. | | | | protein or hair that needs more moisture. I will discuss |
| To create a basic hair care regimen, you need to | | | | deep conditioners and how to use them in an |
| determine the following things: | | | | upcoming post. I personally use the Motions Deep |
| --DAILY-- | | | | Penetrating Treatment. Your hair may like a different |
| 1.**Figure out what times of day you need to | | | | product. Try a few different ones to see what works |
| moisturize and what products work best for your hair. | | | | best. |
| You should have at least one moisturizer for adding | | | | 3.**Vitamins, Diet, Exercise, Growth Aids |
| moisture AND another moisturizer that specifically | | | | A good diet and exercise contributes a lot to having |
| says it contains protein or that it is "Anti Breakage". | | | | healthy hair. The body focuses first on internal |
| Alternate between these two moisturizers as needed. | | | | processes, then on things like hair and nails last. So that |
| I will tell you in another post how to tell if your hair | | | | means, if you aren't taking care of your insides as well, |
| needs more moisture or more protein. | | | | your body will give nutrients and vitamins to your |
| 2.**Oils and Sealants | | | | insides first and your hair and nails may get neglected |
| To keep moisture in your hair after using your | | | | if you the body doesn't have enough nutrients to use |
| moisturizer, you will need to apply an oil to "seal in" the | | | | for them. Using a good multivitamin supplement is a |
| moisture so your hair wont get dried out. Good oils to | | | | great idea to make sure your hair and scalp get their |
| use are olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, rosemary oil, | | | | share of internal attention as well as the attention you |
| sweet almond oil, carrot oil, tea tree oil, castor oil, etc. I'll | | | | pay to it from the outside. There are also supplements |
| have a detailed post just on essential oils later. | | | | like Biotin, which can make hair and nails stronger. |
| 3.**Determine when and how you will style your hair | | | | 4.You can also consider using growth aids to speed |
| and find products necessary to protect your hair from | | | | hair growth if that is your goal. Popular hair growth aids |
| that styling. For example, if you style with a lot of heat, | | | | are Megatek by a company called Equiss and M-T-G |
| you will need to use a Heat Protectant on your hair | | | | by a company called Shapeley's. Do your research on |
| each time you style to prevent damage. | | | | products like these first and see what results others |
| 4.**Leave-In Conditioner | | | | are having and how they need to be used. I am |
| Find a good leave in conditioner that makes your hair | | | | currently using Megatek and have also used MTG, so |
| feel and look better. It may take a while of trying | | | | if you would like more specific information on these |
| different products to find the one you like best. Infusium | | | | products, please comment or send me an email. |
| 23 is an example of a good leave-in conditioner. | | | | --MONTHLY-- |
| 5.**Determine how you will protect your hair while you | | | | 1.**Determine how often you will relax your hair. It's a |
| are sleeping. Either wrap it up with a satin head wrap | | | | good idea to stretch as long as you can between |
| or use a satin or satin-like pillowcase. This prevents | | | | relaxers to reduce the chance of you re-relaxing hair |
| excess friction on your hair as you move around in | | | | that has already been relaxed before. I will talk more |
| bed, which will cause less hairs to be accidentally | | | | about stretching later, but it gives the hair time to grow, |
| broken off. Wrapping your hair up in something also | | | | so that it will be easierto apply the touch up relaxer to |
| keeps the products you put on it from messing up | | | | the new growth only. |
| your pillows and sheets! | | | | 2.**When you use a lot of products in your hair every |
| 6.**I have not yet discussed protective styles yet, but | | | | month, as most black women do, it is then necessary |
| basically they are styles like buns, wraps, wigs, | | | | to use a Clarifying Shampoo once a month to remove |
| weaves, etc. that you can use to keep your hair | | | | buildup that regular shampoos do not remove. I use |
| protected from excess sun, dry air and friction from | | | | Suave Clarifying Shampoo once a month. If you |
| clothing. Putting a good moisturizer on the hair and | | | | continue to pile products onto hair that already has a |
| using a protective style during the day is a great way | | | | lot of product buildup, products will start to not have as |
| to keep your hair moisturized all day. The less your hair | | | | good of an effect on the hair as it did the first few |
| is out and messed with, the better! | | | | times you used it. Clarifying gets rid of the buildup so |
| --WEEKLY-- | | | | products will once again be able to provide you with |
| 1.**Determine how often per week (or bi-weekly) you | | | | their full benefits. |
| will wash your hair and what products you will use. | | | | If you do these things, you will have a pretty good |
| Remember to use a moisturizing shampoo.If your hair | | | | basic regimen. It will take some time on your own to |
| is very damaged and feels mushy, you should use a | | | | find the right products that work for you and are |
| protein conditioner that says on the label that it | | | | available in your area, and you can try to add things |
| contains protein or keratin. If your hair feels hard, | | | | that you discover work for your hair that I may not |
| stringy, dry and broken, use a moisturizing conditioner. | | | | have mentioned here. The important thing is that you |
| 2.**Find a good deep conditioner. I would suggest using | | | | learn what your hair needs on a daily, weekly, and |
| a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week. | | | | monthly basis and keep up with doing it. |