It’s been a while since I’ve talked about my hair. Between several different braid styles, summer, and keeping up with the usual bare minimum there’s been little to share. I’ve spent the past year trying out different conditioners that were sent to me and a different wash schedule too. Less. Less. All of it. But even with doing less, I noticed that sometimes in the winter, my hair needs a little more.
Most days, the more means a few more liters of water. Whatever I’m drinking, my hair is drinking too. But despite my best efforts, after a night in the scarf or a few days of braids and then out, my hair is stiff. At first I thought it was product. But even when I use less product, it naturally—like many with natural hair—keeps a form and doesn’t move as easily.
Instead of applying more product, I’ve started to steam the bathroom out for a few minutes after taking a morning shower. A few years ago, a dear friend (with great hair) casually mentioned that this was the trick to her full and soft bantu knot-outs in the summer. So whenever I took my bantu knots out, I would sit in a steamy bathroom for a couple of minutes while lightly picking it. It worked!
It works for the winter too, and maybe it’s even more necassary. Instead of applying anything more to my hair, I just hang out in a very steamy bathroom after my shower and play with it with just the tiniest bit of oil on my hands. This gift it a full and soft fro, that is just like a wash and go. If I do it for a short amount of time, I retain much of my curls (if i had curls). And if I do it for a longer period of time, I get more of a thicker fro. Of course my hair shrinks tremendously, but I don’t mind as much in the winter.
During the summer, with New York’s epic humidity, I don’t find this trick necessary for any other hair style outside of bantu-knots. So as long as we’re down to play summer all year long, a dose of winter humidity will do.
Any winter hair tricks of your very own?
I’ve had some winter blues with my hair for a while now and have JUST learned, especially with going gray THAT moisture is key! Steam from the shower is a blessing, however, I like water too much and kinda stay in there too long and don’t wanna run up the water bill, ya know? So, my other thing(s) I do is: I have a steamer that I use on my clothes; I use that bad boy for my hair (and face, too) at times. It’s the best! You already know I am in agreeance with you the over product usage. I just can’t go there.
Hey Shante! Oh my goodness, winter hair blues is so real. But also, I’VE. NEVER. THOUGHT. OF. A. STEAMER! My mind is truly blown, thank you!
What styles are you doing to make yourself feel a bit better, if so. I’m super interested.
Yes, please invest in a steamer; you and your hair will love it! I have incorporate avocado oil into my hair regimen. It provides super moisture and strength for your hair. Currently, the only style I have been doing are loose flat twists as a protective style which makes me a happy. I still rock my bantu knots. I just can’t seem to get away from those. Oftentimes, I felt like buying me a wig to act as a protective style for the winter, but I don’t think I can tolerate it. I am also heavily thinking about having my hair in cornrows soon, too.