Avoid Dry Styling to Maintain Natural Hair Health

So you fell asleep from exhaustion and didn’t moisturize, twist or put your hair in a satin bonnet or scarf and woke up with a dry, matted mass of hair that’s drier than the Sahara Desert.

You’re running late, so you grab the nearest pick or wide toothed comb and work it through your hair as fast as you can. Your scalp stings from all the pulling and you notice a steady shower of tiny coils and small balls of tangled hair raining down from your head as you sculpt your hair into the style of the day.

Sound familiar?


Dry, tangled, mattedness is among the worst things to happen to a head full of natural hair because it can result in breakage. Who wants to see months of hair growth go down the drain as a result of hair mismanagement? It hurts.

Sometimes dry hair can’t be prevented. Work, kids and life in general can leave us feeling so depleted that our arms ache at the thought of lifting a comb to our heads.

Stretched hair, or hair that is straightened by braiding, twisting or banding over time, can’t be moisturized much or it will revert to its natural kinky, curly state and will become dry and crunchy as a result. Yes, even the beloved twist-out has its limits.

The best way to avoid the temptation to style your hair when it’s completely devoid of moisture is to practice prevention. Create a daily hair regimen that involves adding moisturizing products to your hair and commit to following it daily unless circumstances make following it absolutely impractical.

If you have dry hair and there are no other styling alternatives then proceed with caution. Select a hair style that requires little manipulation like an afro or pony tail and use your fingers to gently work through twists and tangles. If you have the time, rub a dab of moisturizer between your palms and work it through your hair.

Styling dry natural hair should be avoided unless you have the time and patience to do it in a way that ensures minimal damage. Treat your hair with love and it will be lovely for years to come.

Author:
Chanel Polk

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