My Natural Hair Regimen

Now that you know how to build a hair regimen (in case you missed it, read Part 1 and Part 2 first), I thought I'd to share my regimen with you. I break it down into four main categories: Clarify, Moisturize, Pamper and Nourish. I also have Length Retention as a category, though sometimes I kind of stray away from that one, so I guess you could call it a sub-category. 

Once I cover these basics my hair is happy - My hair thrives as long as I keep my hair and scalp clean, moisturize religiously, deep condition regularly and nourish it with good stuff (my hair is spoilt now so it reacts to crappy ingredients!) and use protective styles.

Here are the simple basics of my hair care routine:

Clarify:

• No-poo / conditioner wash – 1 time weekly with any 'el cheapo' conditioner, Suave Tropical Coconut is one of my faves.
• About once a month, clarify with my homemade shampoo (available soon from "Just Bee You!" Beauty Products) OR diluted black soap OR bentonite clay

Pamper:

• Deep Condition and /or Hot Oil Treatment: 1 time weekly (for 30 minutes with heat, 1 hour and more without heat) I make my own deep conditioner (which I will also sell in the near future); my hair also likes "Africa's Best Organics Hair Mayonnaise", hot oil treatments using Oils and Herbs and homemade kitchen concoctions such avocados blended with olive oil or plain yogurt with oils and honey.
• At least one of my 4 deep condition sessions per month should involve protein. I use cassia obovata (AKA neutral henna)
• Incorporate herbal rinses as a final rinse after my shampoo and conditioner/deep condish as regularly as possible. I use Herbal Sachets. 

Moisturize:

• My hair loves water! I apply a light mist of water based moisturizer Herbal Hair Spritz to my hair daily or every other day. As a short cut to this step, I shower without a cap on so my hair gets sprinkled in the shower.
• After weekly shampoo, condition session I apply a heavy cream/butter (Shea and Aloe Hair Souffle) to my hair while damp to seal in moisture. I generally only need to re-apply this (mainly to my ends) once during the week until next wash day.
• Sleep with a plastic cap under my satin cap/scarf 2–3 days a week.

Nourish:

I try to only use products which are made from natural and safe ingredients and avoid harsh chemicals. Most of what I use on my hair and body is handmade. Now that my hair knows the difference between good stuff and crap I have no choice anyway, or it just REBELS! And most of all, it's much better for your health to avoid the amount of toxins and harmful substances to which you expose your body. If you're not into mixing your own things at home, that's what we're here for =) So be sure to check out the handmade hair and body goodies from "Just Bee You! Beauty Products.

Length Retention:

• I clip my ends only when necessary. You don't need a 'schedule' for clipping your hair, clip your ends when they need clipping. Don't believe the myth that clipping ends every 4 weeks or full moon or whatever adds length or thickness.
• I generally finger comb my hair. Whenever I do comb I use wide tooth combs (Usually for detangling when fingers aren't enough) and the tail of a rat-tail comb for parting. 
• I wear protective styles the majority of the time. My go-to protective hairstyle is twists, though I also like braids, crochet braids, and wigs.
• I put my hair away at night to prevent tangling, matting and breakage. For Twists, Flat twists, Box Braids, Cornrows - I simply cover them with a satin cap or scarf. For Loose Hair - I grab large sections of hair, mist lightly and finger detangle, then make large twists or large braids and cover with satin cap / scarf. This leaves my hair untangled and soft for the next day!

What works for my hair may not work for yours, but this is just what I have come up with through experimenting and getting to know what makes my hair happy.