How to transition to natural hair — and learn to love it

Basic Routine

Understanding the basic routine for natural hair care is essential for maintaining healthy locks. Crystal Aguh outlines a simple three-step process: shampooing, conditioning, and styling, which can be adjusted based on lifestyle and hair needs 1. Vanessa Hande emphasizes the importance of choosing the right products, particularly avoiding harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, which can damage textured hair 2.

Shampoo, condition, style, that's it. Depending on your lifestyle, like how active you are, what climate you live in, how much time you have on your hands and what your desired look is, you can do this three step process at various frequencies.

--- Vanessa Hande

Selecting products with natural ingredients like avocado or jojoba oils can enhance hair health and moisture retention.

   

Product Selection

Choosing the right hair products is crucial for nurturing natural hair. Vanessa Hande advises looking for products with water as the first ingredient and avoiding toxic components like sulfates and parabens 1. Crystal Aguh highlights the benefits of plant-based ingredients, such as behentrimonium methosulfate (BTMS) and cetyl alcohol, which aid in detangling and moisturizing 3.

It's certain types of alcohols that can actually help with hair health, like cetiral alcohol, for example. That's a plant based fatty alcohol that actually can help with moisturizing the hair.

--- Crystal Aguh

Understanding your hair's unique needs and selecting appropriate products can significantly improve its health and appearance.