Being natural and figuring out what products works best for your hair.

As a black woman, being natural, understanding, and protecting your natural hair is a journey. Trying to achieve all three can be overwhelming, also at times, frustrating. Well, I am here to help! Hello, I am Cynthia Kia, and I will be providing you with a few tips to help you through your natural hair journey.

I will start by saying that getting protective styles done tremendously helps make your natural hair journey easier and more manageable. I am a very knowledgeable braider. Protective styles are nothing new to me, being in such a large industry and all. Protective styles are a great way to protect your natural hair from any kind of damage. Also very versatile. There are a variety of styles to choose from. Also, I know that many women get carried away and forget to care for their natural hair underneath the protective styles. A lot of women don’t take breaks in between styles to show their hair some love.

Giving your hair a break in between protective styles is very important. This is important because (1) taking a break between styles allows you to try different products and get to know what your natural hair loves and what it hates. (2) protective-styles can cause a lot of stress and tension to your hair and scalp. You want to allow your hair and scalp to breathe before reinstalling another style.

An appropriate break time between styles should be 1-3 weeks. After taking down a protective style, deep conditioning is the next essential step. I recommend sitting under a dryer or wearing a heating cap with a deep conditioning treat or a therapy mask for at least 20 minutes. This will treat dry hair. Repair any damage. Also, this will leave your hair stronger and hydrated.

In these 1-3 weeks, allow your hair to breathe in its natural state and wear it in wash-and-go styles or twist-outs. Our hair follicles need oxygen. So give your scalp the time it needs to breathe. Remember, healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp. Doing this will also build your confidence.

Be fierce. Be bold. Be you. Xoxo