Natural Hair Myths
Starting when I was a child, I was told a story about my kinky hair and have gone through life believing aspects of the story to be true. These natural hair myths have so many chapters, passed down through generations, and given life through twisted societal norms and expectations. I am still learning about my hair, but through a lot of effort getting to know my hair and determining what it is telling me, I have managed to rewrite some of these chapters. These are some of my favorites, and as time goes on and I learn more, my list grows.
Wash kinky-curly hair as infrequently as possible
I believe this gained traction during slavery. Our ancestors didn’t have the luxury of washing and caring for their hair often. As heartbreaking as that is, I believe it is an ideal that has been passed down for generations. Let’s be honest–natural hair takes forethought and time, thus the best solution was to “do” it as little as possible. I think this is why cornrows were so popular. Once they were in, they could last all summer! The truth is, washing infrequently results in dry hair, which leads to tangles, brittleness, and breakage. Also, product build-up on the hair and scalp creates problems with itching, dandruff, odor…..yuck.
Natural ladies and gents, wash your hair at least weekly. Moisture only comes with exposure to water, often. A clean scalp can breathe, and creates the perfect environment for hair follicles to keep busy growing new hair and pushing it out. This is the most important part of any regimen.
Oils are needed to seal in moisture
This natural hair myth took the longest for me to believe otherwise. When I first went natural, like many women I turned to coconut oil thinking it was providing moisture and shine. I used A LOT of coconut oil and reapplied it throughout the week. I also took to mixing oils—jojoba, black castor, almond, olive oil…thinking that different oils for different purposes was the best thing for my hair and scalp.
The circumstances around when I gave up oils are fuzzy; I don’t remember what prompted me to stop using them. But I remember clear as day the ding-ding-ding that went off in my head, when, after a few weeks the quality of my hair did a 180. It started feeling softer, held moisture longer, and had more movement. I never would have believed it had I not proven it to myself. As far as shine, yes oils do provide a sheen to kinky hair, like it does slathered on food. But after seeing the dramatic effects of going without it, I’m happy to live in my naturally matte finished hair.
It makes sense to me now, that oils coating your hair strands and scalp is akin to smothering it. Oil and water don’t mix so it cuts off your hair’s ability to accept moisture from the air. Moisture only comes from water and the only thing oil seals in is dryness. It’s that simple.
Shrinkage is bad
Ask any natural about what is most frustrating about being natural, somewhere at the top of the list you will find Shrinkage. The rate of shrinkage is affected by things outside of our control, like humidity and weather conditions. The truth is hair that spirals, coils, or kinks tends to shrink. The smaller the coils, the more they shrink. But shrinkage is also a sign of health for a coily halo. It means that the bonds in the hair shaft are intact and strong.
Damage caused by heat and tension weakens these bonds over time and the hair can lose its elasticity and cause breakage. Heat damage is often found on the oldest part of the hair (the ends) when it occurs and the hair can appear straighter than at the root. Tension caused by tight braids or ponytails can weaken hair at the root and cause it to fall out.
That said, stretched hair does help to mitigate tangling for our coily strands. Stretching out coils has its benefits during and after styling, and there are many ways to incorporate it safely and regularly into a haircare regimen. Not only that, shrinkage can also be a styling tool! You can use it to create a certain look.
The kinkiest of hair doesn’t have a curl pattern
Girl, please….no matter if the hair strand forms a “S”, an “O”, or a “Z”, or all of the above (like mine), you have a curl pattern. If you find all these letters on your head, that is your curl pattern! And they are all able to be defined and look beautiful. As long as the hair is satiated with moisture and you give it time and patience and consistency, the hair you were born with can and will be amazing!
These natural hair myths resonated with me. As you get to know your hair, it will likely surprise you in some way. The proof is in the hair! How it looks, feels, and moves is the ultimate judge of whether a hair “rule” should be broken. What are your favorite natural hair myths? Comment below!
