Having relaxed hair nowadays appears to be rapidly becoming a "thing of the past" as many ladies are returning to their natural hair. While this is great news, many ladies (like myself) still choose to remain relaxed, for various reasons.

As a relaxed haired individual, I frequently hear the common phrase "when are you going natural?" I then think to myself, "am I supposed to go natural?""is going natural expected of me?" and then it dawns on me "hey? I am still enjoying my relaxed hair! I don't feel the need to return to my natural hair right now". This lead me to think that though many have decided to go natural, it's important for me not to forget all the fantastic things I love about my relaxed hair, the way it is!

Here are 7 ways to Celebrate your Relaxed Hair: 

Celebrate your relaxed hair and all the joy it brings!

Let's face it, knowing your hair type (i.e. 3c, 4a, 4b, etc.) is great as it allows you to discover your hair texture, curl pattern, density etc. However, discovering your Hair Porosity level is imperative to getting the most out of your hair journey. Hair porosity is a simple concept yet very powerful in revealing certain characteristic about your hair. Learning what porosity level you have, will provide you with direction on how to treat and take care of your hair - effectively!

Understanding your hair porosity level can maximize the effectiveness of your hair routine and improve the product and technique selection for your hair.

What is Hair Porosity?

Hair Porosity is your hair's ability to absorb moisture and retain it. It's just that simple! There are three (3) porosity levels to consider: low, normal, high.

Low Porosity? 

Hair cuticles lay flat and tight around the cortex making it challenging for moisture to enter and escape the hair cuticle. The cuticle is quite resistant to opening and readily accepting water. Opening the cuticle may be troublesome, but once it's open, it will accept, hold on/ retain moisture for a long period of time. 

Normal Porosity?

Hair cuticles lay flat yet open and close easily to accept and retain moisture. Hair maintains elasticity.

High Porosity? 

Hair cuticles have holes and damage along the hair shaft allowing moisture to escape through the hair cuticle easily. Moisture retention is low and the hair feels dry and coarse. This is the result of chemically treated hair or heat damage.

Now, let's zone in on Low and High porosity as these levels require the most maintenance!

Characteristics of Low Porosity Hair

• Takes long to dry
• Hard time absorbing moisture
• Retains moisture really well once accepted
• Tend to resist chemical services i.e. colour, relaxers

Tips on How to Take Care of Low Porosity Hair 

• Steam frequently - Warm steam vapours help to raise the cuticles and allow the deep conditioner to absorb easily into the hair shaft. 
• Moisturize on damp hair - This allows the cuticles to raise slightly thus giving your moisturizer the chance to penetrate the hair strands. Once the hair receives the moisture, it will hold on to it very well. 
• Baggy your hair often - Baggying will help raise the cuticles drawing moisture into the hair
• Always use heat when you deep condition - Heat allows the hair cuticles to raise/open. The deep conditioner can then easily penetrate into the hair cortex giving nutrients i.e. moisture, protein etc. to the hair strands. 
• Clarify often - 2-3x/month will help lift the hair cuticles allowing any deep conditioners, leave-ins, moisturizers to penetrate easily.

Tips on How to Take Care of High Porosity Hair:

Add a mixture of Water and Aloe Vera Juice in a spray bottle (1/4 AVJ, 3/4 Water). Use this before adding your leave-in conditioner. 
Add 1-2 tsps of Aloe Vera Juice in your deep conditioner to lower the pH balance of the conditioner. 
Do an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse 1x/week after you shampoo or co-wash your hair. Apple Cider Vinegar is known to lower the pH balance in the hair and close the cuticles allowing your hair to hold on to moisture. 
Use Roux Porosity Control Conditioner weekly as a quick condition or 1 tbsp in your moisturizing deep conditioner.
Use a protein reconstructor weekly or biweekly to fill the cracks along the hair shaft allowing the hair to absorb and retain moisture.

#2 - Strand Test

Grab a shed strand of hair. With your fingers, slide up the strand starting from the ends to the scalp - backwards. If your fingers move easily up the strand and it feels dense - you have non porous hair aka low porosity hair. If it feels smooth, you have normal porosity hair. If it feels rough, bumpy or it breaks, you have porous hair aka high porosity hair.

Having a concrete wash day regimen is imperative to a successful hair journey! Through excessive trial and error over the years, I have managed to find a routine that has worked for my hair allowing me to get to my goal and maintain it. 

Giving my hair a weekly dose of both moisture and protein has allowed my hair to maintain moisture and strength while decreasing breakage - thus retaining length. Though I have my staple products, I like to switch up my products every now and then, but I always keep the same routine - no matter what. 

I have updated my regimen as I no longer co-wash on Saturdays. So instead of having 3 wash days, I only have two (Sundays and Thursdays) - max! I find that my hair no longer needs that extra dose of moisture. 

SUNDAYS

Sundays:

→ Prepoo with a light protein for 15-20 mins with a heat cap, rinse

→ Shampoo

→ Deep Condition with a moisturizing conditioner for 25-30 mins with heat, rinse

→ Apply Leave-in and lightly comb through

→ Air dry with the Scarf Method (if needed)

→ Moisturize and seal. Apply JBCO to my scalp in sections (optional)

THURSDAYS

Creme of Nature Mango & Shea Butter Ultra-Moisturizing Shampoo - For Dehydrated Hair - $4.99 CAD

This shampoo states that it is enriched with certified natural mango and shea butter. The mango ingredient serves to condition and protect the hair while the shea butter will moisturize and soften the hair. It also has Olive oil and Shea Oil.  The shampoo is an opaque pearlized orange colour plus it smells amazing!! It has a prominent tropical fruity scent that lingers in your hair. It lathers well and rinses out great. Though there is a mild sulfate in the shampoo (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), I find the shampoo is highly moisturizing, slippy and detangling while I rinse it out. It kinda reminds me of  the CON Argan Oil Shampoo that I adore.

So, I will continue to test these products out on wash day and see how my hair reacts overtime :)

Have you tried any of these new products by Creme of Nature? If so, how does your hair like them?

A cationic surfactant with self-emulsifying capabilities.

What does it do for the hair?

It provides incredible slip and conditioning abilities to the hair. It has the ability to moisturize and condition the hair from the inside out. This ingredient imparts great detangling properties to the hair while closing the cuticle, due to its cationic nature.
Which products contain this ingredient?

• Pantene Relaxed Moisturizing Conditioner
• Herbal Essences The Sleeker The Butter
• Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow and Restore Treatment Masque
• Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque
• EDEN BodyWorks JojOba Monoi All Natural Deep Conditioner
• Garner Whole Blends Nourishing Conditioner Avocado Oil and Shea Butter
• ORS Hair Mayonnaise