5 Ways You Could Be Damaging Your Natural Hair

Natural hair is beautiful and versatile and experimenting with different styles and products is a part of the beauty of natural hair care. Curls, bangs, waves, afros, buns, and twists are just some of the hair styles that you can create. However, if you aren’t careful, you can destroy your hair and cause permanent damage forever.

I enjoy creating unique styles with my hair and I’m always researching the latest natural hair products to test. On the other hand, I also know how important it is not to manipulate my hair too much or wear a certain style too often.

Buns and afro puffs are fabulous, but if these styles are not done properly or if they are done too often, they can cause severe breakage. What’s the point of having a fly style if it’s going to ultimately leave you with regret? Here are some ways that you may be ruining the hair you have tried so hard to keep healthy.

Afro Puffs, Braids, and Buns

Afro puffs are gorgeous and are great for those days when you want no fuss hair. However, it can cause permanent damage to your hair line if you wear it every day. Buns and braids also fall into this category because like the afro puff, if you are wearing these styles for too long, you will see damage in the long run.

When these styles are worn, they pull at your hair and hair line. It doesn’t matter how loose you think your style is, your hair is still being pulled. Instead of wearing these styles every day, try wearing your hair in a bun one day and down for the next two days. Braids are an excellent protective style, but if you put them in repeatedly they will cause issues.

I have seen women develop traction alopecia because they have worn braids or twists for years without a break. They have a long hair at the crown, but the perimeter of their head is balding and shiny. This kind of constant tugging and pulling on the hair isn’t healthy.

Manipulation

Twist outs and bantu knot outs are funky and fun, but if you put your hair in a fresh twist out every day, your hair will become weak and break. You may not see it at first, but in the long run, the ends of your hair will be see through because they are constantly being pulled at and separated.

Shampooing and combing repeatedly can also cause damage to your hair. Instead of twisting your hair every night, twist it every other night. Also, when you re-twist, don’t comb each section.

Combing will pull at your hair, causing it to break. Your hair isn’t freshly washed, so it’s not as flexible as when you first twisted your hair while it was still wet. Try to re-twist your hair using just your products and your fingers we promise your hair will still be just as fabulous.

Blow-drying and Hooded Dryers

You thought because you aren’t using a flat iron every week that you’re excluded from heat damage? Wrong! Blow drying your hair too often or using a hooded dryer* with high heat is still damaging to your strands. Blow dryers* and hooded dryers get hotter than you think. Every time you use these styling tools you are stretching your kinks and curls breaking the bonds within the strands.

Each time your curls are stretched, it becomes harder for them to go back to their original shape. Hooded dryers are the better option because unlike the blow dryer*, the heat doesn’t directly hit your head, but it distributes heat evenly around your head.

However, if your heat setting is on hotter than hot, you are still causing heat damage. The damage isn’t immediate, but over time it will rear its ugly head. Put your blow dryer* on a lower heat setting and reduce your frequency of use. Your hooded dryer* will still dry your hair if it’s on a medium setting and not on high heat.

Dry Hair

Dry hair is a big reason why so many naturals experience breakage. If you have dry natural hair, you have to work a little harder to keep it moisturized. If your hair is consistently dry, your hair will break off with no apologies.

Dry hair is weak and it isn’t flexible at all. If you don’t get a handle on it immediately, it can cause a significant amount of damage. I always make sure I seal my wet hair with oil that locks moisture in like coconut oil* or olive oil.

I also make sure I use a butter on my hair like shea butter* because butters are very moisturizing. I repeat my moisturizing process every 24 hours because moisture is only locked into your hair for that long.

Gels and Styling Pomades

 Gels and pomades are not the root of all evil. These products are quite effective, but you have to use them properly. One should never use these products without packing on the moisture first. If you apply a gel or pomade to your hair without any moisture layered under it, it will snap your hair off quick and in a hurry.

The particular gel that you’re using may have some moisturizing ingredients in it, but it will not moisturize your hair. It will dry your hair out and dry hair breaks. It won’t take long before you see the damaging aftermath of using a styler without moisture.

Before you apply your styling pomade or gel, make sure moisture is locked into your hair first. This will prevent dull, lifeless hair and it will also prevent breakage. Repeat your moisturizing process every time you use your gel or pomade.

As with any advice, you have to apply what you know will work for your head of hair. For some, their hair may thrive in braids all year and for others, it may be the complete opposite. Do what works for you because natural hair is a journey.