Our natural afro curly hair is truly our crown. We go through blogs and videos looking for the best maintenance methods. Our closets and bathrooms are filled with products for every situation from frizzy hair to dry ends and even the quick go to style method. Maintaining natural hair seems like a great big task at first, but with practice, it gets easier.

You can pay someone at a salon to take care of your tresses, but you can also take care of your own hair. It is naturally yours, after all.

At Grass-fields, we have compiled a list of 5 methods for maintaining natural hair.

First is First!

These are the basics when maintaining natural afro curly hair.

For thick and kinky hair the winter time is harshest for hair. A good way to stay on top of dryness is to start a routine of the following:

Section hair and apply hot oil treatment with your favourite hair oils. Apply the hot oil treatment to all parts generously with a scalp massage and making certain to pay attention to the ends

Co-wash your hair with a conditioner. You will want to use water and condition and comb through with a wide toothed comb. Once the co-wash has been applied, wash it out and apply a deep conditioning treatment to your hair.

Cover your hair with a plastic bonnet for at least 20 minutes. Rinse out the conditioner with warm water. Apply a leave-in conditioner and section or style your hair as normal, while wet. Leave it to air dry.

Lots of attention to the ends of your natural hair are necessary. Paying more attention to the moisture content can result in more growth and a healthier head of hair. Halfrican Beaute shows us how it is done.

Using Mayonnaise as a hair conditioner

Another great routine for kinky natural hair is to use mayonnaise as a conditioner. Yes, mayo. Mayonnaise already has eggs and other proteins at are good for hair. Also, it is conveniently already made and available in most grocery stores.

If you are wearing your natural hair, here is another washing routine:

You will need a wide tooth comb, shampoo, mayonnaise, plastic hair bonnet, leave in conditioner.

Before applying any water, part your hair and section for manageability, then start to put quarter sized dollops of mayonnaise into the hair. Make certain to work the hair and the mayo through to the ends of the hair.

Place the plastic bonnet on your hair and allow the mayonnaise to sit for at least 20 minutes. After the 20 minute wait, take off bonnet and wash all mayo from the hair. You will already feel the softness from the mayo, but you could also use a leave in conditioner to continue the soft feel.

Using sulfate-free shampoo

Another natural hair routine that will not dry out your hair is to use a sulphate free shampoo. Follow along with these steps:

Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo, detangle with your fingers. Once washing is finished apply conditioner and wash it out

Dry and wrap hair with a T-shirt and reapply water with a spray bottle to sectioned hair. Apply oils of your choice (coconut, for example). Use a leave in conditioner to define the hair's natural curl and work it through with your fingers

Apply an oil gel to through your hair. The more water, the better as oil gels respond best to more water. Notice you will see your curls shining through. Style your hair as you desire.

Maintaining natural hair can be a chore, but with some methods, it can be a breeze and yet still effective.

Finger curling your afro hair

With this next method, you will begin by parting your hair into sections. Wet the hair with a spray bottle and use a leave in conditioner to finger comb hair.

After finger combing, you can finger curl your hair. When complete this will give you a cute curl if your hair has some length. Once dry you can untwist the hair and you are left with a cute free curl that you can style.

When it's wash day we never stop to think about how we could avoid tangles while washing. Before heading to the shower grab a bottle of coconut oil and follow these steps:

Apply coconut oil to the hair generously. Finger comb hair - remember that finger combing over brushing or combing saves the hair from breakage

Once complete cover the hair with a plastic bonnet. If available, cover the plastic bonnet sit a thermal heat bonnet for 45 minutes. Once you take it off, you will already feel the softness of the hair.

Wash the hair in sections while massaging the scalp with a scalp massage/wide tooth brush. These are available online for purchase.

You will start to see the trick to maintaining healthy natural hair is adding lots of moisture. Once you have mastered how often your hair is seeking moisture, you will have arrived at the level of hair nirvana. Working moisture from the roots to the ends is key.

Remember that hair textures vary, as well as lengths. Keep this in mind as you watch videos and adjust your routine according to your hair type. Maintaining natural hair is a journey more like a marathon rather than race.

Still Unsure?

Let us know in the comments below if you have any extra tips or suggestions on how to maintain natural hair. We’d love to hear from you. Grass-fields fans can hear more from us by signing up for our newsletter. So, let’s keep chatting!

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