Embracing My Natural Hair
One of my biggest insecurities has always been my hair. When I was young, I thought all girls with blonde hair were supposed to have straight hair. All of the girls I knew could do neat little french braids and had nice-looking, air-dried hair after a day at the pool. Whenever I envisioned myself as an adult, I always pictured having a slicked-back, thick, blonde ponytail, secured with a silky black scrunchie (because it was the 90's). I remember vividly, as a 5-year-old, having that image in my mind of who I wanted to become as an adult, and the way I wanted my hair to look was a big part of that vision, even then.
I can't tell you how many hairdressers gave me layers thinking it would help manage my waves or the well-meaning mothers who told me I should consider using a flat iron to help straighten things out (what was our obsession with straight hair in the early 2000s anyway?). All of the "helpful" advice I was given, all the trends I tried to follow, ended up ruining my hair for many years and left me feeling very defeated for a long time.
As corny as it sounds, my hair journey is very much a part of my coming of age story. At almost 29, I'm finally starting to settle more comfortably into who I am, and understanding and accepting my hair has been a big part of that.
While I'm not going to claim to be an expert on hair care, I do want to share a few things that have helped me improve my hair health and confidence. If you have any tips on things that have helped you, I'd love to hear them in the comments below!
My natural hair
1) Apple Cider Vinegar rinse - The hero image of this post for a reason. This makes hair incredibly smooth while de-tangling yet not weighing it down. It also helps to cleanse your scalp and strip away any product buildup. I use this about twice a week. It also makes my curls pop just a bit more.
How to make: This is so easy and inexpensive to make at home. All you need is apple cider vinegar, water, and if you like, some fresh herbs or lavender oil. Add everything to a spray bottle. You don’t need very much vinegar, I would say maybe 1-2 tablespoons per cup of water, but you can experiment with what’s best for you.
2) Gentle shampoos and conditioners - I've even had someone tell me that baby shampoo worked great. The point is to not strip your hair or scalp too much and of course, the fewer chemicals the better.
3) Moisturize your hair - just like you moisturize your skin, you should moisturize your hair too. I personally really love both of these products and use them one to two times per week:
4) Limit towel time - try not to do anything other than blot your hair gently with the towel when it's wet since that is when your hair is the most fragile.
5) Don't blow dry every day - I know, this is a no-brainer. But when I was going into the office every day, I felt I had no choice but to wash and blow dry my hair every day. Now that my hair is healthier (from not blow drying every day) it actually looks way better air-dried than it ever did and also looks much healthier and fuller just putting it up in a clip or ponytail.
6) Invest in your hair care - I don't just mean money here, invest your time! Do research on the products you use, the type of hair you have, and the best way to care for it. Invest your time in a routine that works for you and your hair.
