(photo credit: hijabiapprentice subject: my minime (step)daughter with freshly washed air dried hair.)
salaams! Is your hair big? does it grow up and out as opposed to down? Are you transitioning from relaxer or thermal reconditioning to your natural glorious hair? If so this post is for you.
I relaxed my hair from the ages of approximately 14 to 26. The year before I converted to Islam I grew out my relaxer (transitioned) and started sporting my own super duper curly coily kinky hair. I found online support via fotki, naturallycurly.com and nappturality.com. I read every book I could get my hands on regarding caring for naturally curly hair. Once I started to "getting to know" my hair I converted and started wearing hijab. I had so say good bye to most of my cute "out" style because they could not hold up under the weight of the hijab lol. I went through an extremely awkward phase wear I began to loathe my hair! It was constantly dry and it seemed that the trillion products I tried (I was an extreme product junkie) didn't work. I was jumping on every bandwagon and trying everything to find my "holy grail" of products.
Alhamdulillah I know my hair better and try to keep it a simple as possible. On a desert island I'd take conditioner, my denman brush and castor oil! I've learned to accept my hair for what it is and make the most of it.
My advice to newly naturals or transitioners who hijab is:
1) be selective with your underscarves. I usually wear a silk or satin scarf as an underscarf. Cotton sucks the moisture out of your hair. If you have trouble with the underscarf staying on top it with a coordinating lace stretchy underscarf.
2) Moisture Moisture Moisture! I personally wet my hair everyday in the shower, spritz it with Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries and follow up with a cream like Qhemet Amla Olive Heavy Cream or an oil like castor oil. If your hair is not as dry as mine (we're talking EXTRA thirsty) then use lighter products or pre-poo (pre shampoo) overnight with amla oil, olive oil or coconut oil and then shampoo it out in the morning.
3) Protective styles are a lifesaver for me. I have my hair braided or put in buns to protect my ends AND to help my hijab lay flat lol. I'm currently trying to grow my hair out of a short cut so I'm living in protective styles to maintain as much length as possible.
4) Diet! Your food and water intake play a huge part in your hair's health. Nuture your hair from the inside out!
5) Exercise! Keeping the blood pumping stimulates circulation which is great for your scalp! (A scalp massage helps too!)
6) Limit heat styling. Flat irons, blow dryers and pressing combs combined with friction from your scarf can equal loads of breakage.
7) Find a simple routine/regimen with just a few key products and stick to it. My regimen is quite simple. I am a low (sham)pooer. I usually conditioner wash (cowash) a few times a week and use shampoo or a shampoo bar to wash my hair a couple times a month or whenever my hair needs it. I simply listen to my hair if it's feeling weak I'll do a henna treatment, dry I'll do a conditioner mixed with coconut oil deep treatment etc. I dabble in ayurvedic treatments, bentonite clay, ACV (apple cider vinegar)rinses whenever my hair wants them.
I guess my last words of advice is patience. Set your hair goals and be patient and insha Allah you'll get the results you want :). I'll leave you with some helpful sites:
www.naturallycurly.com
www.nappturality.com
http://www.curlynikki.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/richeau (she will turn you into a product junkie :)
http://mwatum.blogspot.com/ (another product junkie but i love her :)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Oyinhandmade
www.oyinhandmade.com
www.hennasooq.com
Wordless Wednesday: My Raison d'être
6 hours ago
11 comments:
she's cute ;)
Aww thanks :)!
As salaamu alaikum sister, she is beautiful. Thanks a bunch for the info I will keep all of these things in mind as I nuture my naturale ( smile). I know patience is key , as well as like you've stated listen to your hair it will tell you whats needed, I've noticed castor oil has been mentioned quite often , could you share with me from your experience the benefits of castor oil in relation to natural hair also how should it be applied , meaning is it used as a moisterizer , etc. Thank you so much sister this post has been very informative. As salaamu alaikum (smile)
Jazakum Allah kheir. I apply castor oil in a myriad of ways. I use it as a sealant, moisturizer on wet hair and as a pomade when I want to slick my hair back. Castor oil has thickening properties as well. My temples thinned out horribly after I had my son and I alternated between castor oil and shea butter and my hair came back quite lush.
Okay..u know we're going to Karen's Body Beautiful when you go to the East coast. We need to hollat at Richeau and meet up in BK!!
Great post.
As-salaamu'alaykum Hijaaaaaaabi!!
Oh my, she is so sweet! Tabarak'Allah.
It's been a while, so I thought I'd stop by.. see how you doing.. see what's new with you! I pray all is well :D
Lots of Love
Farhana
Great advice. I did my big chop about 2 months ago and the only thing i can sayy is : moisturize, moisturize, that's what our hair needs especially under the scarf lol.
Wa Alaikum Salaams ladies,
UmmA: Insha Allah.
Farhana: How are you my dear?! I'll have to email soon insha Allah to catch up with you.
Hijabee: Welcome to the natural side (insert maniacal laughter)! Did you transition for awhile? I'm excited for you :).
Your daughter is very cute mashaAllah. I like your advise on silk caps under the scarve, the only problem is won't that make the hijab slip? Two things that helped me are: 1) make wudu time to refresh the moisture in my hair, I usually wet my ends a little when I make wudu and 2)Keep ends tucked in (not exposed and rubbing against hijab).
Today: Jazak Allah kheir. If I wrap my outer scarf tight enough I don't have a problem with slippage but if it seems as if it will slip I pop a stretchy lace underscarf on top.
I, too, use wudu to freshen up my moisturization situation for my hair and my face.
Thanks for this post. Transitioning from relaxers and finding a style you like while your hair grows out that isn't too much maintenance is hard enough, but add a hijab on top that flattens and drys out your style and its a whole nother can of worms. I'm so glad that you choose to speak on the topic and help us sisters out. I've been struggling with a condition I call PKS (Puffy Khimar Syndrome)because I just can't figure out what to do with my hair.
Post a Comment