Natural hair is beautiful and versatile and experimenting with different styles and products is a part of the beauty of natural hair care. Curls, bangs, waves, afros, buns, and twists are just some of the hair styles that you can create. However, if you aren’t careful, you can destroy your hair and cause permanent damage forever.
I enjoy creating unique styles with my hair and I’m always researching the latest natural hair products to test. On the other hand, I also know how important it is not to manipulate my hair too much or wear a certain style too often.
Buns and afro puffs are fabulous, but if these styles are not done properly or if they are done too often, they can cause severe breakage. What’s the point of having a fly style if it’s going to ultimately leave you with regret? Here are some ways that you may be ruining the hair you have tried so hard to keep healthy.
Afro Puffs, Braids, and Buns
Afro puffs are gorgeous and are great for those days when you want no fuss hair. However, it can cause permanent damage to your hair line if you wear it every day. Buns and braids also fall into this category because like the afro puff, if you are wearing these styles for too long, you will see damage in the long run.
When these styles are worn, they pull at your hair and hair line. It doesn’t matter how loose you think your style is, your hair is still being pulled. Instead of wearing these styles every day, try wearing your hair in a bun one day and down for the next two days. Braids are an excellent protective style, but if you put them in repeatedly they will cause issues.
I have seen women develop traction alopecia because they have worn braids or twists for years without a break. They have a long hair at the crown, but the perimeter of their head is balding and shiny. This kind of constant tugging and pulling on the hair isn’t healthy.
Manipulation
Twist outs and bantu knot outs are funky and fun, but if you put your hair in a fresh twist out every day, your hair will become weak and break. You may not see it at first, but in the long run, the ends of your hair will be see through because they are constantly being pulled at and separated.
Shampooing and combing repeatedly can also cause damage to your hair. Instead of twisting your hair every night, twist it every other night. Also, when you re-twist, don’t comb each section.
Combing will pull at your hair, causing it to break. Your hair isn’t freshly washed, so it’s not as flexible as when you first twisted your hair while it was still wet. Try to re-twist your hair using just your products and your fingers we promise your hair will still be just as fabulous.
Very informative.
This article says to wear a bun for a few days and then wear your hair down for a few days. That kinda defeats the purpose of leaving your hair alone in a bun. That requires more manipulation to restyle your hair every few days.
This was a good article especially the last sentences. Shea butter seems to work for everyone except me. It makes my hair break off like crazy. I have found butter blends to work better for me like carol’s daughter healthy hair buttet which has a mix of stuff.