There is hardly a girl, who wasn’t preoccupied with the question how to soften natural African hair. To make your natural hair soft is one of the most challenging tasks, which leaves you seeking for natural remedies to soften hair, preparing and testing home remedies for soft hair, and looking for an easy way of how to make hair soft.
The transition to natural hair may seem impossible due to the troublesome hair structure. Sometimes it is so coarse that instead of picking hair softening products for natural hair a person tries to figure out if there is a single product, which is going to work.
How to soften natural hair: the basics
Hydration. This is the first step on your way to softening tough natural hair. Without proper feeding of scalp and follicles, the hair gets tangled easily, and the skin gets dry. As a result, it becomes complicated to comb and easy to damage. To keep hair hydrated, you should drink enough water and of course use corresponding hare care products.
Cleansening. Keep the hair clean to help it renovate faster. It would be better to use moisturizing products for this.
PH balance is one more piece of the puzle. If you try to find out how to soften natural hair at home, just can use apple cider vinegar or coconut milk for a rinse. It will make our hair smooth.
Deep conditioning. If you need to make natural hair soft as fast as possible, in addition to moisturizing shampoo pick a leave-in conditioner. It will double the effect.
Protective hairstyles. Every natural hair softener will work better if you decide to keep your hair sealed. Tuck in the ends, the oldest and probably the most damaged parts, to make them stronger. This is the best way to retain moisture.
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How to make your hair soft: step by step guide
There are a lot of manuals showing how to soften natural hair in Nigeria. Nevertheless, all you need to remember to make your Afro hair soft and curly is several simple steps. Repeat this twice or three times a week to keep the hair in a proper condition.
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- Divide your hair into sections and fix with hair pins.
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- Release one section and sprinkle it with water. Wet the ends generously.
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- Apply the mixture you prepared for moisturizing. There are two basic types:
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- liquid oil and cream
- liquid cream and oil
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- Apply the mixture you prepared for moisturizing. There are two basic types:
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- Walk your hands gently through the hair section.
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- Twist the hair lock and fix at the end.
- Repeat with the remeining hair sections, one at a time.
You are not limited in the selection of hair softening products. As an option, mix extra virgin olive oil and castor oil – it is thick enough to lock in the moisture. Twisting the hair locks helps to make it juicy and add fullness.
One of the most effective ways is to use “greenhouse effect”: mix oil with regular conditioner and cover with a plastic bag overnight. Remember to use products that do not contain silicone or sulfates – they make skin and hair very dry.
It is also important to find products to soften natural hair that work for you. Feel free to try several options, you may not find the one that fits for your hair type at once. It may take some time, but the result is worth it.
How to make natural hair soft without relaxer
If you are not a fan of widely advertised products and chemicals, just learn how to soften natural hair without relaxer. It is always possible to find a DYI alternative. Here are several recipes that will help to manage your coarse hair easy.
Caramel mask
Mix the ingredients:
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- ¼ cup of honey
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- ¼ cup of blackstrap mossales
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- ¼ cup of oil
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- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- 3 jars of banana baby food (or 3 bananas)
Apply and leave for at least 30 minutes. You can leave the mask overnight. Then wash your hair thoroughly.
Cherry Lola mask
Cherry Lola is a blogger, who shared her favorite recipe of the mask for damaged hair.
Mix the ingredients:
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- 2 cups of organic plain yougurt
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- 10 tablespoons of Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
Leave for 20 to 40 minutes.
Nenna mask
Here is one more recipe from a blogger.
Use the following ingredients:
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- 4 green tea bags
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- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 150-200 grams of henna
Heat two cups of water, but do not boil. Pour into a jug, add teabags, and leave for a while. Cool and add henna. Stir well and add honey. Apply to the separate hair sections, cover with a plastic cap, and leave overnight. You may put the leftovers in a freezer.
Coconut Milk mask
Mix the ingredients:
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- 1 can of coconut milk
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- 2 tablespoons of honey
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- 2 tablespoons of oil (any)
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- 4 tablespoons of plain organic yogurt
- lime juice and cornflour to thicken the mixture
Apply for 30 minutes and wash with sulfate free shampoo.
Read also: cheap natural hair products in Nigeria
How to style short natural hair after washing
Styling short natural hair is another challenge. Although you may think hairstyle options for short hair are not so numerous, there is enough room for creativity.
Flat twists
Flat-twisted sides
Knotted bandana
Tight curls
Vertical flat twists
Side-parted Afro
Afro puff with headband
Sky-high curls
Natural twisted-up style
Just keep it natural!