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African author
Joanna M.
Hair
09 / 2020

How To Wash Natural Black Hair | 4C Black African Hair

how to wash natural african hair

Tips On How To Wash Natural African Hair | 4C Black African Hair

A very warm welcome back to the blog. This topic is all about how to wash natural hair. This has been a how to wash natural African hair long awaited topic as many of you may be aware that I have updated my natural hair wash routine. When it comes to washing your hair, there are many questions that often come to mind such as; How often should you wash natural hair? How do you wash natural hair without shampoo? How do you wash natural hair without tangling? What’s the best natural hair washing routine, what’s the best natural hair shampoo and which water temperature is too hot?

Many of us naturals tend to avoid frequent washing due to the myth that less is more. As for me, I wash my hair once every week, as I believe that water touching the hair regularly is paramount for moisture retention and the reduction of breakage. Product build up, clogged follicles and a slow down of hair growth are often the results of infrequent washing.

Continue reading about how I wash my hair – the video version is below. For more information on how to grow natural hair please read my advanced guide to growing hair: How to Grow Natural Hair. Also, don’t forget to check out the natural hair shop online by clicking the image below. You can find a range of luscious hair products to maintain and grow healthy hair.

How Often Should I Wash My Natural Hair?

here are many myths surrounding the topic of “hair washing”. In the past, it was often recommended not to wash hair too often. For this reason, many black women resorted to washing their hair once a month. However, this also posed a lot of problems such as dryness and breakage. The less your hair comes into contact with water, the more chance breakage and dryness will occur.

I personally wash my hair on a weekly basis. This is because it is essential that water touches my hair and scalp regularly. Moisture is essential to prevent breakage. For us curly hair naturals, our hair structure is relatively thick and therefore needs to be washed one or two times a week a wash. I wash my hair with an SLS free shampoo once a week and I water only wash my hair mid week. You should aim to use the best shampoo for your hair type and the best shampoo for natural hair growth, when choosing your shampoo.

how to wash natural black hair

When freshly washed, the hair is full of shine, full of volume and feels very light and airy. However, be careful not to wash the hair too often. If you notice that after a couple of days your hair seems slightly stringy, with a flat or even greasy finish, do not be tempted to keep washing with shampoo. Your hair only feels this way because the scalp is producing too much sebum. This is a result of the scalp being overexposed to chemicals in shampoos, which has altered your sebum production levels. The solution is to add 10 drops tea tree oil into 2 cups of warm water, add in a spray bottle and spray onto your scalp.

Since our thick natural hair tends to be drier than fine hair, it can absorb the sebum better. However, excess sebum production can only be slowed down with a mild shampoo, or switching to water only washing. It is als essential to use leave in conditioners and regular hair treatments, as they give the hair the necessary moisture needed after washing.

Nowadays, shampoos and skin care products have become gentler. Anyone who washes their hair often should decide for themselves. Hair washing and care are less a medical, but rather a cosmetic matter. Basically, a quick wash twice weekly is acceptable in most cases and with a normal, healthy scalp, provided you use a mild shampoo or, you can even opt for a ‘water only wash’.

How Do You Wash Natural Hair Without Tangling

Since I have been washing my hair in braids last 10 years, I have never had a serious tangling problem when washing. The video below shows my wash technique.

How Do You Wash Natural Hair Properly

Washing hair is a weekly occurrence that hardly anyone really needs to worry about. It’s understandable if you are unsure about the best way to wash your hair, or you wonder what is the best shampoo for natural hair, or the best hair wash routine. No doubt the right technique can significantly improve the hair structure. In order to achieve the maximum shine, the largest possible volume and the long lasting health of your hair, here are some hair wash tips that will help. When washing hair, my advice is to:

  • Avoid using hot water
  • Avoid heavy rubbing, scratching and scratching
  • Use mild, low-surfactant shampoos, because surfactants do remove dirt particles, but they can damage the hair and scalp.
  • Avoid shampoos that contain silicones. Silicones may give the hair a glamorous, smooth effect. However, in the long term, they are said to seal the hair surface, making it difficult to absorb moisture and nutrients.
  • Avoid shampoos that contain SLS

f you have thin or fine hair, note that the very fine and smooth structure of the hair tends to become stringy and greasy quickly. That’s why women with fine hair can calmly dry their hair every two days . It is best to use a mild volume shampoo for this.

Important for the hair wash is that not too hot water is used. This will degrease the hair and scalp too much. It is better to wash your hair with lukewarm water. Another advantage is the use of the mildest possible shampoo, which are colorless, fragrance-free and low in preservatives. Many people lather their hair twice in a row with shampoo; it is better and gentler to wash your hair only once! During the procedure, the shampoo should be massaged into the scalp with light fingertip pressure for about 2 minutes: this opens the scalp pores; The circulation of the scalp is stimulated and dead skin particles, scales and shed hair are removed from the scalp.

Which Shampoo Shall I Use To Wash Natural Hair?

I use my own shampoo, which is made from saponified oils. You can also use any mild shampoo that does not contain harsh chemicals and surfactants such as sodium laureth sulphate.

Shampoos that contain surfactants dissolve the fats from the hair and scalp. To compensate for this loss of fat, the scalp will only produce more sebum. In order to avoid the hair quickly drying out and to preserve the natural protective coat of the scalp, it makes more sense to wash the hair less frequently if you are using heavy chemical shampoos.

Does Water Only Washing Work On Natural Black Hair?

For some time now, a new trend has been conquering the Internet: the no-poo movement. It rebels against the widespread assumption that shampoo is indispensable and successful. No-poo means to dispense with conventional shampoos and to wash the hair with alternative means such as soda, apple cider vinegar, lava earth, hair soap, rye flour or JUST water. The culmination of the movement is “water-only”. Water-only describes the cleaning of hair only with water and a brush or possibly a washcloth, other aids are not allowed.

If you want my honest opinion on the water only washing method and whether it goes, here it is. YES, water only washing works BUT only when you use it as a mid week mini cleanse. Your hair requires constant moisture to prevent dryness, however, water alone cannot get rid of the dirt on your scalp. You will need a shampoo for that OR you can add tea tree essential oils to your water, which is a great anti bacterial oil.

Hair washing is a relatively young phenomenon, for a long time mankind came out without this “cleansing ritual” of using shampoos. “The scalp is generally a very resistant place, so water only washing makes a lot of sense. However, water only washing doesn’t suit everyone. For example, anyone who sweats a lot in the work and possibly comes in contact with dirt, has different needs than someone who exercises a low-motion activity in a clean environment.

People who sweats a lot, tend to have a ‘high-fat’ scalp and has to deal with complaints such as itching or dandruff. They will need to make sure that their scalp is kept clean because the cause of their greasy scalp is due to a strong increase of fungus, which inhabits the scalp.

Should I Change My Shampoo Regularly?

Another myth that has been circulating for some time is that: hair can get used to certain care substances, which are therefore over the course of time, not as effective as at the beginning. That’s why you should change the shampoo from time to time. Rumor or truth? That’s not true. Anyone who has found the right hair care can theoretically stick to it for a lifetime.

Should I Pre-Poo Or Condition My Natural Hair Before Washing?

Good question. There is actually a name for this method and it called ‘pre-pooing’. It is used before the shampoo and regulates a greasy, sensitive or dry scalp.

This was something I used to do in the past. I used to add conditioner on my hair before shampooing it. However, since I started using my own shampoo I have stopped pre-pooing my hair. This is simply because my current shampoo is very mild. I have mixed lots of oils inside the shampoo so it doesn’t dry my hair out like the drugstore shampoos used to do.

I would recommend to pre-poo your hair if you use chemical shampoos. To do this, apply a leave in conditioner product to your hair and massage in, leave for five to ten minutes, rinse. Then shampoo as usual.

Should I Moisturize My Natural Hair With A Leave In Conditioner Directly After Shampooing?

Yes, you should moisturize your natural hair after washing, but not immediately. Rather wait till your hair is damp, not soaking wet. Moisturizing is important because shampoos are more alkaline and tend to dry the hair out. It always attacks the natural lipid coat of the hair and makes hair more susceptible to damage, Therefore, a subsequent care with a conditioner or hair mask is so important. It also depends on the right amount of shampoo: For shoulder-length hair, you should apply no more than the size of a 50-cent piece per hair wash. If you have the feeling that your hair is not clean, because you used a lot of styling products before, then you can possibly shampoo a second time.

Must My Natural Hair Be Squeaky Clean After Washing?

Many people have this strange perception that squeaky hair means ‘clean’. But those who have paid attention by now know that squeaky hair means that, the previously mentioned lipid coat that protects the hair has been washed away to pieces and the hair structure is now defenceless. If you love that squeaky clean hair feeling, only wash your hair with shampoo once a month. Use a deep cleansing shampoo once a month to remove the dirt from the scalp. The rest of the month, you can wash your hair with water only.

Does Cold Water Add More Shine To My Natural Hair?

It used to be said that cold water would close off the cuticle and make the hair shiny. That’s right! However, cold water is bad for the scalp, because the cold also closes the pores of the skin and the substances of care cannot work. On the other hand, you should not wash your hair with too hot water, because this also dries out the hair. And later when they get warm, and when exposed to heat, it opens its surface as the scales spread. That creates a brittle look.

Can I Brush My 4C Natural Hair When Washing?

Remember that the structure of your hair is really much more sensitive when wet and can break more easily. That’s why you have to handle the hair more carefully when wet and should refrain from aggressive brushing. Even without a brush or comb you should not just pull on a knot in your wet hair, but unravel it very carefully with your fingers. Also, prevent dry your hair with the towel: Through this movement, the cuticle of the hair rubbed together – this leads to damage to the hair.

How Can I prevent Tangles When Washing Natural Hair?

My answer is: wash in sections. If you section your hair or wash your hair in braids, you will experience less breakage when washing natural black hair. Also, use your fingers to detangle rather than a comb.

How Do I Wash Natural Hair That Is Greasy

If your natural hair is too greasy, washing your hair once or twice a week is enough to keep the hair healthy, If you still want to wash more often and do not want to attack the lipid coat too much, wash one with shampoo and conditioner, use only conditioner on the next wash and leave out the shampoo.

How Do I Wash My Scalp When Washing 4C Natural Hair?

Apply a small amount of shampoo to your fingers and massage into the scalp. You hair doesn’t require that much shampoo. If you already do a mid week water only washing, you can even skip washing your hair with the shampoo – you simply need to wash your scalp and your are done.

A scalp massage actually causes a provoked partial emptying of the sebaceous glands under the scalp. This results in an accelerated reproduction of the squeezed sebum in the glands, but this does not necessarily lead to an increased oiliness of the scalp and hair

What Hair Problems Can Occur Without Shampoo?

The hair can become straw, dry or brittle and stick together if they are over-degreased. If the cleaning power of the shampoo is too low, the hair fats too quickly. In the case of very sensitive scalp or in the presence of true allergies, scalp problems may also occur (redness, scaling, itching). In particular, parabens or substance such as sodium laureth sulphate and Cocamidopropylbetain as ingredients of shampoo’s can cause allergies!

What Happens If I Wash My 4C Natural Hair Too Often

The scalp and hair dry out too quickly because the protective fatty film is removed again and again. That can lead to the hair losing its suppleness and elasticity; yes it can come to long-term damage and breakage. This can irritate the scalp and develop redness as well as dry scaling. In the long term, this stimulates the fat production of the sebaceous glands, because they notice that the protective layer of fat is always removed immediately. So the hair gets fatter faster!

Who Should Use A Sulphate Free Shampoo?

Anyone known to have allergies (eg, nickel or chromate = costume jewelry allergy) or who can not tolerate certain cosmetics because they cause skin allergies should be wary of using highly colored, highly perfumed shampoos with methyl or ethyl parabens as preservatives. The substance Cocamidogropylbetanin in shampoos triggers especially frequent contact allergies!

Also, people with a gluten sensitivity have a hypersensitivity of the intestinal villi to wheat protein. In addition, if the moist (head) skin is loaded with gluten, this can lead to a potentiation of this hypersensitivity. This means that the next time you eat products from wheat flour (eg white bread, rolls) there is a risk of even greater intolerance (belching, stomach cramps, abdominal grumbling, diarrhea to skin symptoms such as hives). This phenomenon can occur completely without skin reactions of the scalp to the gluten-containing shampoo; but it can also be associated with a certain scalp irritation and dandruff.

Does Older Hair Need Different Hair Care Ingredients?

The care of older hair actually requires different active ingredients than the care of young, little strained, healthy hair: Older hair (from about age 55) are due to the decades-long influence of harmful substances (eg detergent substances in soap or shampoo, but also organic suspended matter in the breath gasoline or diesel residues) or by harmful radiation (eg ultraviolet light of the sun) exposed to significant loads. The hair structure of the individual hairs, which consists of several layers of lamellae, takes long-term damage; the surface of the hair is roughened, the elasticity of the horn material decreases, the hair gets split ends and breaks off more easily. It makes sense to counteract this development, at least to some extent with the help of suitable shampoos, even if you are not under the illusion of being able to stop the normal aging process of your hair with a special “anti-aging shampoo”!

The addition of caffeine-like substances (also Tinctura pfaffia as extract of the ginseng plant), which stimulates the circulation of the scalp and improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair roots, can be useful. The addition of sun protection factors to shampoos protects against ultraviolet Light is still controversial. It is still unclear to what extent this sunscreen after washing the head remains on the horn material of the hair and scalp and whether this is at all an effective sunscreen.

No doubt it makes sense to wear a headgear here! Also useful are additives such as urea (= urea). This substance binds water molecules in the horn structure of the hair and makes it more supple! Q Enzyme 10 (Q10), on the other hand, binds free radicals (= aggressive molecules) and thus prevents damage to the hair structure, for example through UV radiation. It can also be beneficial to add aloe vera, a scalp-soothing substance that can alleviate or even prevent scalp irritation! These measures are rather unnecessary in young healthy and flexible hair, because here the self-healing powers of the body are still functioning undisturbed and permanent damage to the hair has generally not yet occurred. Q Enzyme 10 (Q10), on the other hand, binds free radicals (= aggressive molecules) and thus prevents damage to the hair structure, for example through UV radiation.

It can also be beneficial to add aloe vera, a scalp-soothing substance that can alleviate or even prevent scalp irritation! These measures are rather unnecessary in young healthy and flexible hair, because here the self-healing powers of the body are still functioning undisturbed and permanent damage to the hair has generally not yet occurred. Q Enzyme 10 (Q10), on the other hand, binds free radicals (= aggressive molecules) and thus prevents damage to the hair structure, for example through UV radiation. It can also be beneficial to add aloe vera, a scalp-soothing substance that can alleviate or even prevent scalp irritation! These measures are rather unnecessary in young healthy and flexible hair, because here the self-healing powers of the body are still functioning undisturbed and permanent damage to the hair has generally not yet occurred.

Some Other Things To Remember When Washing Natural Hair

The perfect hair wash and the most common mistakes

  • Every hair wash starts with a water rinse. Before the hair shampoo is used, all hair must be completely wet.
  • By rinsing with warm water, the uppermost protective layer of the skin opens, so that the hair is already roughly freed from dust or dirt.
  • In addition, oils and fats that are in the hair and on the scalp are removed more thoroughly with warm water.
  • A light conditioner is paraben free and phthalate free. With African shea butter, wheat germs and soy proteins it provides suppleness without weighing down the hair.
  • The hair tips are the most sensitive part of the hair and need, from a certain length, special care.
  • In general, only the hair roots are oily, the tips, however, dry out very quickly. Therefore, apply a small amount of conditioner to the hair tips and massage in.
  • Never rub your hair. Friction can destroy the top protective layer.
  • This has the effect that the hair dry out and break faster. Therefore, gently massage the shampoo without heavy pressure.
  • A head massage also increases the blood flow and thus strengthens hair growth. Avoid circular movements as far as possible as they increase the pressure and friction. More suitable are strokes in one direction. The sensitive hair tips should not be rubbed.
  • After the hair shampoo has been completely washed out, gently squeeze excess water out of the hair.
  • Then work in half of the hair length conditioner. Fix the hair with a hair clip and leave the conditioner for a few minutes.
  • Finally, rinse the hair with cold water, as the cold water closes the uppermost layer of hair again.
  • A completely closed protective layer reflects the light better and thus gives the hair more shine.

Adding Oils To Your Shampoo: Best Oils for Natural Hair Growth

There are many oils you can add to your shampoo to aid with natural hair growth. These oils include both essential oils and base oils. Read about some of them here:

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