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| Image by ian dooley on Unsplash |
You can have healthy, thriving hair without it feeling like
an overwhelming amount of work. Really? The key lies in addressing issues as they
occur instead of letting them fester into enormous problems. To do this, you must commit to monitoring natural
hair characteristics regularly for changes.
The five items covered here should be at the top of your list to watch for
hair health.
Ends Condition
An unhealthy hair end weakens the entire shaft. It can cause a split traveling up the
hair. Moreover, a rough end can snag on
other hairs causing damage. To many
ragged ends also detract from your tresses' overall gorgeous appearance.
Furthermore, these types of ends are dead weight to the
hair. They suck up resources from the
rest of the strand. Additionally, the
small amount of length you get pales comparatively to the potential cost to the
rest of your hair. As such, this is one
natural hair characteristic you promptly need to resolve when it occurs.
To keep hair in top-notch condition, be sure to receive
trims regularly. Furthermore, give ends
a little tender loving care when moisturizing and conditioning. The 'thank you' will be a more robust, prettier
crown of locs.
Moisture Level
You wouldn't know it right off hand, but your hair does
contain water. Optimum moisture levels
provide hair that is elastic, soft, and manageable. Stiff, crunchy, damaged hair awaits those who
leave their tresses in a thirsty state.
So, how do you keep this natural hair characteristic from
derailing a hair journey? Apply moisturizing products to hair when needed. Moisturizers have high water content and allow
that hydration to soak into the hair.
Alternatively, you can spritz hair often with water and
follow up by applying a small amount of oil to the hair. The oil will help to seal in the moisture. Also, don't forget to deep condition after
every wash.
Hair hydration cannot be controlled merely from the outside
alone. You also must consume sufficient
water to address the issue from the inside out.
Stay diligent with your drinking frequency and the amount consumed; don't
just wait until you are thirsty. Additionally,
you can utilize a water consumption smartphone app to meet your goals.
Curl Pattern
Did you know that your natural
hair curl pattern can change under certain circumstances? While
aging is a common cause, hair texture can sometimes vary due to behavior items,
such as your diet. This aspect of your
hair doesn't necessarily pose a problem unless you do not change your hair
routine to match a new curl pattern, as needed.
A different texture could mean new products and techniques
to keep tresses at their healthiest. Additionally,
more protective hairstyles may be required to keep damage at bay. Lifestyle behaviors may need modification to continue
to promote healthy growth.
However, individuals may miss the signals needed to make
changes if they neglect to monitor their curl pattern changes. Overlooking this task could delay the
adjustments required to keep hair in prime condition.
Build-up Amount
All hair will experience build-up provided a sufficient
amount of time between cleansings.
However, more product residues, dirt, germs, etc., find their way into
the hair based on personal habits. So, you
retain complete control when it comes to this natural hair characteristic.
Some people use more hair products than others. Other individuals put their hands in their
tresses often, transferring germs to the hair.
Your skin cell lifecycle may be shorter than your neighbors', leading to
more dead cells laying on your scalp.
Regardless of the causes, build-up should be addressed on an
on-going basis. If the hair feels or
looks dirty, it's time to wash.
Furthermore, consider the use of clarifiers on the hair for a deeper
clean. Naturals should also look into
exfoliation of the scalp periodically to increase blood flow and prevent clogging
of hair follicles.
Scalp Condition
Healthy hair begins with the scalp. Blemishes, itching, and
irritation can lead to scratching, which can damage scalp and hair strand in
the vicinity when it is excessive.
Conditions like dandruff, eczema, and dryness don't provide the best
environment to nurture the healthiest hair.
As with all the other items on this list, one's scalp
condition should be monitored regularly.
You also want to keep track of any changes and assess for any
patterns. A variety of issues may cause
scalp problems, including hair products.
If you have recurring scalp issues or the situation gets out of hand, be
sure to consult with a physician.
For the vast majority, attention and proper care are all
that are required for a healthy scalp.
Keep your scalp clean and moisturized.
Make sure your nutrition and hydration levels are adequate. Likewise, you can engage in scalp massages to
promote healthy circulation to the scalp.
Final Thoughts
Healthy tresses are a labor of love. Yet, hair care efforts can fall flat if you have
an inattentive attitude toward the signs your hair may be sending. Keeping a watchful eye on the natural hair characteristics
present here will help build a sound environment in which healthy hair can
flourish.
