Hair texture can easily be broken down into these simple categories: kinky, curly, wavy or straight. Although many people have more than one of these textures growing on their head, there is usually one that is more dominant than others. Generally, women with kinky or curly textures have been the most overlooked, not having a standard of hair care as their reference beyond relaxers and hair grease or products (that have been produced from the standpoint of someone with straight hair) that dry out their texture. Women have been left with heavy gels and waxes that build up and do nothing but lament your texture, preventing your hair from achieving its true potential. Because of the previous lack of information or knowledge on working with these textures, women often end up chemically altering and thermally manipulating their hair (out of despair rather than by choice), some from the earliest age of 7. I see a lot of women who now, thirty years later, are ready to rediscover their natural texture. The many faces of the beauty industry have confused the consumer. Hairdressers start out in beauty school learning how to process hair (and not deal with it in its natural state), mass market manufacturers sell products based on ethnicity rather than the specific texture. A common assumption is because people share the same ethnicity, they have the same hair texture. This is completely false. Although kinkier textures can be found on women of African descent, you can also find curly or wavy texture on a woman of the same ethnicity. Texture is not ethnic specific. I feel it is my responsibility to help all women understand and embrace their natural texture. The Hair Rules approach to beauty is based on truth, and was designed to offer the healthiest approach to hair care and styling as a means toward evolving mindset, changing perceptions and influencing practice. The first line of defense for any hair texture is to make sure you’re using the appropriate cleanser. Using a non-suds, sulfate free cleanser such as the Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream will ensure you’re hair is left clean and hydrated, without stripping hair of its natural oils. This helps hair to retain its softness and pliability, which unleashes its optimal potential. Conventional shampoos with sulfates prevent kinky and curly textures from looking their best, and make it difficult for you to even recognize your true texture. Using a non-suds cleanser also helps your conditioner work more effectively. If you’ve washed your hair with a conventional shampoo, your conditioner ends up spending most of its time dealing with the damaging effects of that shampoo rather than being able to hydrate your hair to its fullest potential. I suggest using Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner. This thick, concentrated conditioner hydrates, moisturizes and softens event the driest, parched, hard hair. Do you see the common theme here? Moisture! Every texture needs moisture. For finer textures, try using a lightweight conditioner like the Hair Rules Nourishment Leave In Conditioner, which will hydrate, but won’t leave hair feeling completely weighed down. Now that your hair is hydrated, you have the ability to use more lightweight styling products. When your hair is hydrated, it allows your styling products to work better. There is a new generation of styling products that have a dual purpose – to leave hair both conditioned and perfectly defined, and essentially maximize your hair texture. These products deliver results without the usually tacky, hard and sticky feeling that many products leave you with. Remember that wash and wear results can be achieved every day for kinky/curly textures, but don’t go longer than three days before repeating your wash and wear style. This will help your curl pattern stay detangled and hydrated so it doesn’t dry out, become brittle and break off. Also, remember to get a proper hair cut every three months, with the ends being adequately cut when straight. You can’t cut what you can’t see on hair that is tightly wound, which is often the case with shrinkage and a ziz-zag pattern. The timing of these haircuts is more essential than anything. Hair grows 1/4 inch to a 1/2 inch a month. If over a period of three months, you’ve gained an inch and a half, the idea is that you’re only cutting 1/4 or less of an inch. This means you’ve gained length! Taking all of this in to account when caring for your texture will help you achieve salon results at home, helping you to love and honor your hair and wear it however you choose.
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