Share This Article
The natural hair movement started in the 1960s and saw a major resurgence in the 2000s. The term “natural hair” refers to hair that has not been chemically treated or straightened in order to alter the texture or curl pattern. Today, this movement is stronger than ever, with more and more women all over the world embracing their natural hair.
If you’ve worn a weave, extensions or have chemically straightened your hair, transitioning to natural may seem like a daunting challenge at first. Going natural requires work and effort, and while you may have been used to doing very little in terms of daily maintenance, you would need to do a lot more once you go natural.
The first thing you need to know about going natural is that natural hair requires more time and TLC than other hairstyles. Chemically-treated hair and extensions have a “get up and go” benefit that natural hair does not. Natural hair is a commitment, and you’ll need to ensure you have enough time to give your hair all the TLC it may need, be it washing, moisturising, detangling, styling etc.
That’s why we believe that December is the perfect time to go natural. It may be known as the party season, but December is a time to rest, relax and take stock. It’s the perfect time of year to take time for yourself, and, you guessed it – it’s the perfect time to “make the time” to go natural! If you plan to go on leave, not only will you have more time to go through the process, but you’ll also have some time to play around with different styles and perfect new techniques, before having to go back to the office.
A few things you should know about the journey:
You won’t perfect it overnight. The transitioning process takes time, and requires patience. Don’t go on the journey expecting to have your dream curls from day one.
Expect your hair to be shorter. Relaxed, straight hair has more length than bouncy curls.
Keep it simple to begin with. Natural hair allows for plenty of experimentation when it comes to different styles, and you may have to try a few before you find your niche. When you first go natural, try a few simple styles like topknots or braid outs. More complicated styles like Bantu knots, updos or crochet twists may take some practice and are probably best attempted once you’ve grown accustomed to your natural hair.
You will need to moisture often. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair, because the shape of a curl makes it more difficult for oils from the scalp to travel down the hair shaft. When selecting a moisturiser, look for ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter and avocado oil. Try The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Luscious Leave-In Moisturizing Butter (from R99.95) – it offers 24-hour moisture and curl protection without any parabens, silicones or sulphates. Cantu’s Avocado Leave-In Conditioning Cream (R169.95) is also a great option for natural hair. It repairs damage and split ends while nourishing the scalp and adding moisture to the hair. We also recommend Crème of Nature’s Pure Honey Moisture Replenish & Strength Hair Mask (from R199.95) which helps replenish moisture and strengthen hair to prevent breakage, and tame and control frizz and tangles. Crème of Nature’s Argan Oil Creamy Oil Hair Moisturizing Lotion (from R99.95) is an oil-rich formula which blends Argan Oil into a moisturizing hair lotion that restores moistures, softens and smooths the hair for improved manageability, making it easier to comb.
Say no to heat styling. Try not to reach for a hairdryer or flat iron when going natural. Instead, let your hair air-dry to protect your hair from heat damage. If you have to use heat, make use of a heat protecting spray like Cantu Thermal Shield Heat Protector (from R169.95). We also recommend Crème of Nature’s Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner (from R149.95), a unique two-phase formula that combines Argan Oil liquid shine and a strengthening protein complex that detangles hair, improves hair strength, protects hair against damage and heat styling, and moisturises one’s tresses.
Detangle your hair when it is wet. A paddle brush of wide tooth comb works best. You might also want to add a little bit of moisturising conditioner to your hair before you start detangling to make the process a little easier. We recommend The Perfect Hair’s Mango & Marula Deep Conditioner (from R89.99). Detangle with less breakage and moisturize dry hair with Crème of Nature’s Break Up Breakage Leave-In Conditioner (from 169.95) or restore moisture and repair split ends, with Crème of Nature’s Pure Honey Knot Away Leave-In Detangler(from R139.95) which instantly detangles and improves manageability of hair.
You will need to trim your hair regularly until all the damaged or chemically treated ends are removed, as this is the only way to get your natural curl shape back. If you don’t want a drastic change to your look, do a slight trim every two weeks or so, instead of waiting for it to grow longer before you have it trimmed.
You will need to find products suited to your needs. Your hair care needs change drastically when you go natural, so you may need to experiment with new products before you discover your perfect routine. Cantu is a great place to start, as they have a range of core hair care products for all natural hair types and textures. The Cantu Shampoo Moisturising Cream (from R129.95) and Cantu Rinse-Out Conditioner (from R129.95) are gentle enough to use with every wash, yet highly effective in softening, moisturising and cleansing the hair. Depending on what your hair needs most, you can build on this basic routine with other products from Cantu’s core range. We also recommend Crème of Nature’s new Clay and Charcoal (from R159.99) range of products to help detox, cleanse, de-frizz and define your hair whilst replenishing moisture to make your curls pop without any of the time-consuming measuring and mixing. Get ready for bouncy, voluminous curls!
If you want to boost hair growth, you could try Cantu’s Grow Strong Hair Treatment (from R139.95). If breakage, split ends or brittleness is a concern, try Cantu’s Daily Oil Moisturiser Treatment (from R159.95) or Crème of Nature’s Argan Oil Perfect 7™ (from aR199.95), a 7-in-1 miracle leave-in treatment mask.
Going natural might be an adjustment, but the rewards are endless! Try to exercise as much patience as possible, and – most importantly – enjoy the journey!