Blog Author: Jeanette Nkwate
Is sorting your natural hair care regime part of your 2024 resolutions? Well, you’re in luck. Although it's hard to believe that we are heading towards a new year, we know that many of you want to kick off 2024 on the right foot with a solid hair care routine or a trusty reference point for the year ahead. This is why we thought we’d pull together our essential tips and advice on how to look after your hair.
So want to get started on your 2024 natural hair care journey? We have everything you need to know about natural hair care in this simple and easy to follow guide. Enjoy!
Basic Routine
Don’t know where to start with your natural hair care routine? Well, the first step in an afro/natural hair care routine is to create one that is simple and works for you and your lifestyle or schedule.
This is what a simple and effective natural hair care routine looks like:
- Wash
- Moisturise
- Style
Want to know more about this simple routine? Then read on.
Wash Day
So, what should a typical wash look like? Well, we would suggest washing your hair once with a sulphate-free shampoo on a weekly basis (or between 7-10 days).
Look for a sulphate-free shampoo that is pH balanced, gentle enough to be used frequently and that cleans without stripping your hair of moisture, like our sulphate-free shampoo, Swish.
Then follow up with a great conditioner that has lots of slip and no silicones like our conditioner, Swirl. Trust us, this will make detangling a much easier process.
Editor’s Tip: Want to nail your wash day? Then our Wash Day Set will be right up your street and has everything you need to clean and moisturise your hair ready for any style.
Moisturising Your Hair
Once your hair and scalp is nice and clean, it’s time to moisturise. Moisturising your natural hair is imperative because it helps prevent dry hair which is particularly prone to breakage.
We’re big fans of theLOC/LCO method, which involves layering of products (liquid, oil and cream) to effectively combat dryness and maximise hydration.
Editor’s Tip: Our Moisture Surge Set contains products for all three steps — Sheen natural moisturising spray (liquid), Seal (hair oil) and Smooth (moisturising cream).
Styling Your Hair
Now that your hair is clean and moisturised, it’s time to style it!
At Afrocenchix, we love protective styles, these styles are where the ends of your hair are tucked away — think braids, twists, or weaves and wigs. By keeping your fragile ends hidden these hairstyles help to avoid breakage.
If you’re a wig lover then please remember that putting on a nice wig and forgetting about your hair probably isn’t the best thing to do. It's really important to care for your natural hair under your wig and avoid glue. You can learn more by reading our guide: How to Care for Your Natural Hair Under a Wig.
Rocking braids, twists, faux locs or real locs? Please don’t forget about washing them. You can learn how to ‘wash’ your braids without water and without creating frizz with the help of our tutorial. In the video you can see how to clean your scalp easily when you have a long term protective style.
We also love low manipulation hairstyles, which are exactly what they say on the tin: they are hairstyles that involve little manipulation of your hair. Think, buns, puffs and pineapples and they are also great for styling children’s hair. If you’re looking for more styling inspiration for kids, head over to our post on back-to-school hairstyles or our baby & children’s hair page.
Hair Care Issues?
We know that sometimes we can face hair care issues like hair loss, breakage, dry hair and dandruff etc. So if you’re looking to finally sort these hair/scalp issues in 2024, here are some helpful tips and advice.
Itchy scalp? Dandruff? Dry scalp? Hair loss? Don’t worry, we got you covered.
If you suffer from embarrassing white flakes everywhere, you probably think that you have dandruff, but you are most likely to have just a dry scalp. Check out our comprehensive guide that covers everything: from symptoms, how to get rid of dandruff and how to tell if you just have a dry scalp.
Alopecia or hair loss whether it’s temporary or permanent can be very distressing. Check out our guides on alopecia, hair loss and postpartum hair loss to get clued up.
Related articles:
10 Tips to Avoid Hair Breakage
Afro Hair Care - The Ultimate Guide
How to Understand the Ingredients List on Your Afro Hair Products