Skip to main content

Winter Hair Care Tips for African American Hair from SheaMoisture

Winter can be harsh on your hair.  But African-American women with natural hair have an added challenge to keep our hair moisturized and protected from the elements. To find out what we can do to keep our hair healthy this holiday season and beyond, Everything She Wants stopped by SheaMoisture's pop-up store at The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park (open through January 6, 2013).

SheMoisture's pop-up shop at Bryant Park.
We picked up a few fab and fragrant bath and body products like the new Olive and Green Tea line (on sale 3 for $25 or 3 soaps for $10), and chatted with natural hair guru Diane Bailey.

Here are Bailey's tips for "winterizing" your natural tresses:

Moisture is key. "Curly kinky hair thrives on moisture," says the Brooklyn hair stylist.  To keep your hair pliable and spongy, she says SheaMoisture has wonderful, interchangeable systems.  So you can layer different products.

Bailey's picks: Use the Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner as a daily, leave-in conditioner. Then seal in the conditioner with the Organic Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixir.  The Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Style Conditioning Milk is also good for daily use.  And every 2-3 weeks, give yourself a deep treatment like the Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque.  Add a little olive oil to the masque and leave it in for a couple hours.

Shampoo less.  "If you shampoo your hair too much, it changes the alkaline balance," says Bailey.  To keep hair moisturized during the winter months, co-wash (cleanse hair with a moisturizing conditioner) once a week or every other week, and shampoo once a month.
Me with natural hair expert Diane Bailey.

Avoid heat. Bailey pointed out one of the probable causes for our recent bout of hair loss. "Don't ever flat iron natural hair with a tight coil pattern," she warns. "You want hair to have resilience.  Limp hair is no good for curly, coily hair. You know [hair is healthy] when it has a little fight to it."

Wear a protective style. Twist extensions or braids (not too tight, though) are good styles to protect your hair during the winter. Bailey says SheaMoisture's conditioners and deep treatment masques can be used while you wear extensions.

Feed your hair from the inside out. Factors like age, chemical damage, tight hairstyling and stress can affect your hair.  So Bailey recommends you treat your hair from the inside out.  To de-stress, get enough rest, hang out with friends and try meditation and yoga.  Topically, apply a mix of coconut oil, olive oil and cayenne pepper to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles.  To feed your hair internally, take vitamins A, D and E, B-Complex, Biotin and Niacin.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime.  I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern.  Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants.  They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates?  One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’  that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you a...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Comes to Brooklyn, June 5-8

Attending a performance of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is always a highlight of my arts and culture calendar. An engagement with this awe-inspiring and genre-bending dance company is even better when they perform close to home at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.                                                                                                                                         Photo: Danica Paulos Ailey’s long-standing relationship with BAM began in 1969 when the trailblazing choreographer established The Ailey School in Brooklyn and presented his company’s...

Memorial Day Summer Swimsuits in the Amazon.com Swim Shop!

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner.   Do you have your new summer swimsuit yet?  If not, Everything She Wants recommends checking out Amazon.com's  Amazon Swim Shop . Me at the Amazon Swim Shop preview. The online shop is stocked year-round with trendy and timeless swimsuit styles, cover ups and swim accessories from your favorite brands. While I'm usually partial to the figure-flattering tankini, at a press preview for the Amazon Swim Shop, I noticed that the often unforgiving one-piece suit has made a compelling comeback. Thanks to a generous gift card from Amazon I took a chance and ordered a Calvin Klein one-piece in a pretty nude/coral "Sand" color, along with several bohemian tunics. Now here's your turn.    One lucky reader will receive a promo code for $100 to spend at the Amazon Swim Shop (qualifying items must be sold and shipped directly by Amazon and not a third-party seller). Here's how you can win ( you must comp...