There are three basic reasons why it is so hard, tangled, and why it looks as it does. Let’s check them out together and figure out some useful tips on how to soften natural African hair.
It is too dry
What does this mean? Naturally, curly hair has a lot of pores. Through these pores, it loses the moisture that’s inside it. The moisture and nutrition all come from the roots, so if your scalp feels dry, your hair is, probably, dry, too.
It’s possible that you are using the wrong shampoo or that something from the outside helps it give off its inner moisture. For example, you spend a lot of time in the open, under the sun, or in the wind.
What can be done in this case? It’s necessary to moisturize your hair and your scalp. Check out your shampoo and replace it with a proper one if the current one doesn’t moisturize. Besides that, you need to remember that there are no oils or butters, which are able to moisturize without moisture.
They will never work on dry hair if you don’t apply water first. Remember: always apply oils and butters on wet hair. The oil will seal the pores, not letting the moisture out, and your tresses will quickly start to look much healthier and smoother.
You don’t use enough conditioner
There’s no other way you can soften your tresses without a conditioner. You need to remember that the more often you use shampoo on your hair, the more prone to dryness it will be, especially at the ends where it’s very hard to comb it properly. If you don’t like, so to say, chemical ones, you can always search for organic options.
But how do you condition it correctly? Don’t go hard-handed, apply enough conditioner and you will see how much softer your tresses will be. First of all, it will help you detangle the knots that often appear at the ends of hard curly hair. Then, you will notice how much shinier your tresses will be after applying enough conditioner. Finally, you will feel the difference with your own hands when you start to comb and do your hair after the conditioner. It will be less frizzy and much more flexible.
Sometimes it makes sense to wash the conditioner away after the application but it’s better to apply a leave-in conditioner. It will help protect it from the environmental impact until the next wash day. If you prefer a conditioner that can be washed out, try warming the conditioner slightly before usage and leaving it on for about 30 minutes.
You consume too much protein
Too much protein may make your mane coarse and brittle.
