NEW WINE IN OLD WINESKINS.....(yes, I went there!)

Hello Naturals, Transitioning Naturals and the Curious:

If you are just starting to wear your natural, are thinking about going natural, or just curious about being natural and feel like it may be a bit more than you can chew --- let me give you something to consider...

One of the reasons being natural seems so unattainable for some is because we unknowingly bring old habits of the “Straight Hair Game” to the “Curly Hair Table”. Think about it –Tightly Coiled Curly Hair is the EXACT OPPOSITE of straight hair! Therefore, in most cases, you will need to do something completely different, totally unheard of, and in some cases unimaginable to your hair for maintenance. (How's that for dramatics....ha!)

Here are a few old habits of the "Straight Hair Game" that I had to drop!

1. The comb is no longer a staple. Straight hair needs to be combed --- curly hair needs to be shaped (and/or defined if that's your preference). This can be done with your fingers 90% of the time. I only use the comb for straight parts and detangling.

2. Shampoos aren't THAT necessary. My curly hair is naturally dry. Shampoo strips it even more making it difficult to handle (it becomes a tangled, matted mess!) This was where I used to get the most disgusted with my natural hair. Did you know that you can wash your hair with conditioner instead? This is referred to as "co-washing. I co-wash my hair and sometimes use watered down shampoo on my scalp only. This saves me LOTS of time and keeps my hair from drying out during the wash.

 3. Washing Hair in the wrong direction: You know how we do it with our permed hair. We wet the hair, pour shampoo on our heads and begin to move our hands ALL over our head in a circular motion! SUPER MAJOR NO-NO!!! Curly Hair already tangles naturally....so running your hands all over your curls means that you will spend MORE time than necessary detangling! When I add conditioner to my hair --- I run my hands DOWN the hair shaft in one direction from my scalp to the ends ONLY. This smoothes the hair cuticles and you'll notice that you hair will start to detangle on its own between your fingers.

These are just a few of many more tips to come!!

Have a Blessed Day!

-Bee Franklin