Secrets For Healthy Hair

I was “tender headed” with “coarse” hair and “needed” a perm. I would get a touch up every 6 months or so and although I can’t really remember the smell, I remember how the process made me feel. My hair was inherently bad and needed correction. My hair needed correcting so it could be manageable so that I can be presentable. There were parts of me that were “bad” so naturally, I wasn’t presentable.

I stopped getting perms in the 3rd grade when I realized none of the girls I went to school with shared my experience, they were Greek. Like all girls, we want to relate to the girlhood around us. One girl asked me why my hair stood up like the Statue of Liberty, I responded “because I’m powerful and it’s cool”. I was different, my girlhood and theirs was different and it hurt. 

I went to my first Dominican salon and got wash & sets every weekend in elementary and middle school. Only once was I suggested to get a texturizer at the salon, I declined. Finally, my hair felt pretty without the use of perms. My hair being done completely depended on whether or not I had $30-$50 to spend every week to two weeks. Times got rough, I had to learn how to do my own hair and I hated it. I hated my hair, I used to wish it was straight, long and didn’t tangle.

I found a new salon that never asked me to perm my hair but they did cut generously. Watching how my stylist would do my hair from ages 13 – 18 re-shaped how I perceived my hair and taught me how to maintain it. I’ve had front bangs, side bangs, curtain bangs, layers, breakage, bleach and perms. I didn’t realize my hair could grow past my bra strap until I learned what my hair needed, how to wash it, blow dry and flat iron it myself. 

Throughout all of the traumas and transitions, deep conditioning, regularly washing and trimming as needed has been key to my hair health. I’ve used Queen Helene Cholesterol, Cantu, Shea Moisture, Eden, Mielle, Design Essentials, Tresemme, Nexxus, I’ve tried it all. I found the most growth with regular hair washing and deep conditioning once a week. Cutting every 6 months is a good rule of thumb but not law, so I’ve gone a year with no trim and only needing to even out the length. 

My hair is the longest, strongest and shiniest it’s ever been because I forgot I once hated it. I finally saw it for what it was. I had to be patient with myself and my hair to learn that, just like my skin, it’s susceptible to being sensitive and dry. That there is nothing wrong with my hair or black hair and if it is different, it’s because it’s “powerful and cool.”

Here is a list of products that currently keep my hair healthy and tackle my dry hair needs: 

Shampoo: 
Ouai Clarifying Shampoo – removes build up, has a rich lather, smells phenomenal, is a fresh start for your hair. I recommend this every month for dry hair as it will take everything out of your hair, including dye. 
Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Shampoo – hydrating, smells phenomenal, light weight with great lather, hair will smell nice after rinsing. 
Conditioner: 
Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Conditioner – infused with protein to promote hair strength, light weight, great detangler, rich and has great slip! 
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Masque – great for dry hair, leaves my hair very soft, works well with detangling, RICH. 
Leave- In:
Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum – great slip, light weight and won’t cause any build up, moisturizing and smells incredible. Great for heat! 
Pattern Beauty Leave-In – I can not stress enough how good this thing smells and how great it is for wash and go’s! 

Oils: 

Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Hair Strengthening Oil – It literally helped grow hair at a  bald spot that I got from a  Dominican Salon.  It took a month and a couple weeks to do its magic.

Dabur Amla Oil – Whenever my scalp is dry, this is my new go too to replenish my scalp and hair!

More Hair Advice: Current Hair Faves; 10 Tips to Grow Long Healthy Hair; How I Silk Press using the products above; Hair ASMR.