Love Your Natural: A Guide to Starting a Healthy Hair Journey
Hi Ladies and Welcome to another Blog in Kayla's Corner!
I am so excited that you all decided to join me today! As you can tell by the title, we will discuss how to jumpstart your healthy hair journey!
Our hair has been a way for Black women to express our creativity and tell our stories for centuries. It is important that we not only embrace how unique our hair is but to also learn how to properly care for it. Today we will talk about understanding your hair chemistry, building a healthy haircare regimen, protective style tips, and I will also highlight some of my favorite natural haircare brands. 
Let’s Get Started…
Know your Crown inside and out
The first thing that we need to focus on in order to start a healthy haircare journey is first understanding our hair’s unique chemistry. Let’s start with some definitions…. Hair Porosity is defined as “ A measurement of the hair’s ability to absorb and hold moisture”. Someone with high porosity is able to absorb moisture very quickly but loses that moisture just as fast. Having low porosity involves having a harder time absorbing moisture but once it is absorbed it is highly retained.
Very Important Side note… WATER IS MOISTURE!!!
Here is a helpful video that covers Curl Pattern, Texture, Density, Porosity & Protein Sensitivity
Now moving onto our next definition which is Hair Density or “The amount of individual hairs per square inch on your head (or scalp)” this can often be mixed up with the thickness of our hair which is more directed towards the width of each hair strand.
Finally let’s discuss the different types of hair textures or curl patterns. Keep in mind that your hair porosity is far more important than the type of curls you have are far as retaining moisture while texture is helpful to know when doing certain styles.
Create a Routine and Stay Consistent
Whether you wear your hair in its curly natural state, a silk press, or a protective style you MUST have a consistent hair regimen. I know it can be difficult to know what to do and when so let's break the ideal haircare routine into a few simple steps:
Step One: Shampoo
You want to make sure that you are starting off with thoroughly cleansing the hair. I recommend using a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any buildup or excess oil and then follow up with a moisturizing shampoo.
Step Two: Deep Condition
This step is essential for making sure that your hair is fully moisturized after stripping it clean with the shampoo. Knowing your hair’s porosity is helpful when looking for a deep conditioner. Their ingredients can target many problem areas moisture retention while also increasing the hair’s strength and preventing breakage.
Step Three: Leave in Conditioner
You will want to pick a leave in conditioner that is both moisturizing and light weight. I recommend applying a generous amount for the best results!
Step Four: Style as Desired
This step is based on your personal preference. If you like to wear your hair straight, I recommend using a light weight heat protectant and finish with a serum.
For my Natural girls, find the best styler that works for your hair type. Some examples would be a styling gel or mousse.
Here are my some of my favorite Natural Haircare brands that I think you should try!
Mielle Organics
Camille Rose Naturals
The Mane Choice
Healthy Hair in a Protective Style
I love a good protective style! Whether it is a weave, braids, or even a bun I like to have the option of putting my hair away. Many people have the misconception that having one of these styles allows them to neglect daily haircare, but this could not be further from the truth.
Although these styles are convenient, you still must take care of your hair underneath. This is where scalp health is the most important. Make sure that you continue to routinely cleanse and moisturize your scalp while in its protective state.
I recommend using a dry shampoo and conditioner with any braid styles while finishing off with a light weight scalp oil.
REMEMBER TO ALSO TAKE BREAKS FROM YOUR PROTECTIVE STYLES TO PREVENT BREAKAGE
My current favorite protective style are sew-ins because they are beautiful and can last a long time when kept up! I recommend staying on a consistent maintenance schedule with your stylist to ensure that your hair underneath can flourish
