By Laura Kebede
From MotownGirl.com
As fall and winter approach, summer clothes get swapped out, air conditioners get turned off and seasonal hot beverages make their debut. Habits for caring for natural hair should change too.
The air is noticeably drier in winter months. This robs natural hair of needed moisture, says Bucky Jones, owner of Legends Salon & Day Spa on West Cary Street. He has been working on black and white hair for 35 years in his home base Richmond and around the world. He offers these tips:
1. Don’t over shampoo. One of the common mistakes he sees his clients making is shampooing too often in the winter. Once a week is good.
2. Take a normal rinse-out conditioner and use it as styling product. Instead of rinsing out your conditioner, leave it in for locked-in, light moisture without frizz.
3. Flat iron/blow dryer users: treat hair with deep conditioner every week.
For wardrobe and household changes to boost hair health, check out tips from MotownGirl.com:
1. Wear a silk headscarf under your winter hat. Harsh fabrics like wool can cause breakage. Cotton absorbs moisture from your hair. Adding a protective layer can save your hair from breaking.
2. Use a humidifier. This is will maintain moisture in your home after harsh weather or damaging heat systems. Steam from a pot of water on the stove will work just as fine.
From karenwilsonbeauty.com
Karen Wilson, owner of Karen Wilson Natural Beauty in White Oak Village, is teaching a “Fall and Winter Hair Maintenance” class at the World Natural Hair Health and Beauty Show in Georgia and at “Curls Night Out” at the Hippodrome next month. She warns that it is “absolutely critical to seal in moisture” during the winter months and recommends:
1. Use a thicker, heavier daily moisturizer such as a cream rather than a spray; afterward, apply an oil-based product to seal in moisture
2. If you want to try a protective style, such as braids or Bantu knots, winter is the time to do it. Delicate dry hair ends will avoid the wear and tear of constantly rubbing up against shirts, coats, scarves and hats.
3. For a more ambitious yet effective treatment, mix vegetable glycerin, a hair softener with water to draw moisture to your hair like nectar.
