16/08/2012
5 Ways To Get Your Hair Soft by Brenda Barrett
Black women the world over, especially
those with kinky hair are always on the look out for a solution to soften the hair.
These days even though my hair is relaxed I find that I am also on the look out for anything that can soften my hair. The longer my hair gets, the harder I have to
work to get the ends of my hair
moisturized, soft and pliant. Soft and silky hair is mostly a dream for
some black women but you know what?
It can be an achievable dream. Softness should not be so elusive especially when
you adhere to certain things. The truth is, some of the things that we do to our hair lends itself to hair being dry and trashy–
or drier and trashier than it should be.
What are some of those things?
1. Excess heat from curling irons dryers etc.
2.Shampoos with chemicals Conditioners with chemicals (which dry
out hair overtime)
3.Too much protein (we can excessively use protein in our heads by using store
bought products which have it added)
4. Forgetting to re-hydrate our bodies
especially in extreme temperatures (like
winter or summer) 5. Hair sprays (leaves build up) Hair Colors (very drying) Of course, there are some things that are
beyond our immediate control, like the weather or PMS. We can however, do some things to mitigate hair dryness and
create soft supple hair on our own by
doing some simple things.
1. Hot Oil Treatment I can remember in years past I went to a hairdresser who did a hot oil treatment on my then natural hair. My hair was so
soft after, I begged her to tell me the
secret, she said it was a combination of castor and coconut oils with molasses. As simple as that! She had washed my hair
and while still damp she applied the
‘secret mixture’, I went under the dryer for twenty minutes under a plastic cap and when I came out she rinsed out the
mixture from my hair and then conditioned it. It felt very soft after that and it is something that I do at home when I feel as if I am losing the soft hair
battle. You can do the same thing or a
variation of it, before you shampoo or after you shampoo, and before you condition.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) There is something about ACV that softens my hair better than any store bought product I have ever used. This liquid made from fermented apples
balances the pH on the scalp and when it hits the hair it makes it feel silky. I personally use it to clarify hair, and after a wash as a final rinse, to make my hair feel soft. Add a 1/2-cup of honey to 1/2
cup of ACV and feel the difference when
you use it as a rinse. My grandmother
uses white vinegar and she has natural hair and she says it works just as well as a hair softener.
3. Moisturizing Deep Conditioners with
Essential Oils I am all for fortifying my store bought products with essentials oils, carrier oils, herbs and tea rinses for softer hair. Using
your favorite moisturizing conditioner
add a drop or two of lavender, avocado, chamomile and vitamin E oil. You can also put a teaspoon or two of your favorite carrier oil (almond, coconut,
castor, olive) and sleep with it under a plastic cap overnight. Rinse out thoroughly in the morning. Hair should be really soft. 4. Water Filter For Your Shower
The hardness of water makes a
difference to hair texture. The hair feels harder or dryer when the water is too chlorinated. One of the easiest ways to see a change in hair texture is to filter
the water that you use to wash the hair with.
5. Leave-In Conditioners
Leave in conditioners can make a difference to the feel of the hair especially if they are moisturizing. Find
one that works well for your hair, does
not leave build up and makes your hair
feel soft and silky. Seal in the moisture with oil and feel the difference in your hair.
