Category: knots

How to prevent hair tangling during wash days

by Renniestar, posted in African hair, hair grooming, hair loss, knots

Do you get tangling when you’re washing your hair? Well, this isn’t new, especially to those with longer African hair. African hair has a tendency to tangle if not straightened, stretched due to its curly, kinky and coily texture. Well, there is no need to worry about that because, I got you covered on that! Just keep reading>>

1. Wash your hair in sections

The secret to preventing tangles is washing your hair in sections! Try and section out your hair in 6 or 8 equal parts and start by washing each section gently de-tangling each section using your fingers or a wide tooth comb to prevent breakage and tangles.

2. Wash your hair in twist outs

Twist your hair in 6-8 equal parts and begin by washing from the roots to the ends (tips), apply shampoo directly on the roots of your hair; that is on your scalp, then spread out the shampoo to the rest of hair. Squeezing each twist out to ensure the strands are cleaned out.

3. Wash your hair in braids

This is the favourite way I personally use to wash my hair. Section your hair in 6- 8 equal parts then braid each section, apply shampoo on your scalp then wash distributing the shampoo towards the rest of the braids. The benefit of braiding is that, you don’t have to worry about your hair unbraiding while washing unlike twist outs.

4. Shampoo properly

Using sulphate free shampoo will most likely be beneficial to your hair because of its natural properties, that will ensure your hair does not dry out. Focus the shampoo on your scalp rather than your hair and that will stop your hair from tangling or rather creating knots. >>> grab sulphate free shampoo here

5. Condition after you shampoo

Conditioning your hair right after shampooing prevents your hair from tangling up! most conditioners out in the market, contains slip that provides the hair with the slide between strands thus offering more slip & moisture between the strands.

>>>Get yourself moroccan sulphate free shampoo

6. Seal the tips of your hair

Right after you are done with your routine, ensure you seal the ends of your hair with a good oil or Butter. I find Shea butter working well with type 4 hair type. Although, other butters can be effective also just like mango, cocoa butters. Just find what blends in with your hair type and use it. The ends of the hair tends to be of high porosity so, its good to take care of your ends more often.

>>>Get unrefined Shea butter

>>>Find unrefined cocoa butter

>>>Or pure Mango butter

Just as a general rule; do not brush your hair when its wet, it might cause more breakage. Rather, brush your hair using a wide tooth comb or a paddle brush before starting your wash day routine

Let me know how you wash your hair down at the comment section. Like and share with your friends and family, until the next blog see y’all @renniestar

>>>continue reading more on prevention of tangles

Length retention for African hair

by Renniestar, posted in African hair, hair loss, knots, split ends

African hair women find it hard to retain length due to different factors like culture and norms. Retaining length is part of every one’s health journey and knowing how to navigate through it is a major achievement for most of us.

The curly, coily kinky texture of our hair tends to break easily due to tangles, single strand knots and many other factors. #strugglesofanatural, I guesse you all know that 😭 but that doesn’t mean we cannot grow our hair!

There are different ways we can use to maintain our curls longer than we do now! Which are:

  • Low manipulative protective styling
  • Using a silk/satin bonnet or scarf
  • Moisturizing oils for the scalp
  • Fingure detangling after shampoo usage with either a regular conditioner or a leave in conditioner
  • Using wide tooth comb
  • Using less heat on your hair e.g blow-drying/flat ironing
  • Deep conditioning every 7 days/ 14 days
  • Apply oil at the ends of your hair for at least 3 days in a week
  • Eat healthy balanced diet with more proteins and vegetables
  • Take suppliments if you cannot meat the daily vitamins and proteins required intake.

More tips

Try to exercise every other day to get blood flowing up to your scalp.

Also steaming your hair helps open up the pores on your scalp that really helps in oil/ product absorption >>>> read more

Hope this was helpful in your hair growth journey! Let me know on the comments section. Like and share with your family and friends. As usual it’s your curly friend @renniestar chao!

DIY banana and rice water hair mask

by Renniestar, posted in African hair, banana hair mask, hair loss, knots, split ends

African decent hair requires alot of work and care. Our hair has a curly, coily kinky hair texture that is very attractive but requires attention, and products for it’s manageability. Often more people find it easier to relax and overuse heat for manageability but that is a totally wrong approach towards our strands.

And we do not need to dig deeper into our pockets because with the revolution of natural hair care, we now have DIYS ( do it yourself) that is way cheaper and healthier considering the market is flooded with chemical infused products that may overtime damage our strands!

Highlights

Bananas are high in vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and dietary fibre. Bananas are great for your hair and scalp. Prevents and controls dandruffs and moisturise our scalp leaving it fresh and shiny.

Benefits of using bananas as a hair mask

  • Improves manageability and shine of our hair.
  • Prevents and controls dandruffs.
  • It moisturises our scalp.
  • Its rich in potassium and natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins.
  • Helps soften our hair and protect their natural elasticity.

The more reason why I prefer banana mask for my hair is because it’s way cheaper/ affordable, it makes my hair so soft and elastic, it gets rid of dry hair and revamps my curls real quick.

Rice water the ingredient I use with the bananas to achieve a glossy texture that is applicable on my hair. As you know rice water is known to grow hair in the ancient China, it’s all over the youtube and internet for it’s benefits. >>>Read more here on rice water for hair growth

DIY hair mask

Mash 3 whole ripe bananas in a bowl using afork. Then mix with a pre-made rice water that had stayed for atleast 24hrs, then sieve the mixture to get all the Chunks out before you apply it on your hair. You will get a glossy texture that is creamier and easier to apply to your stands.

Begin from the scalp to the ends of your hair using your fingures to spread through out your hair,for curly hair texture work in sections for more penetration of the mask, then cover with a shower cap for about 30 minutes or even an hour if you have time. Then wash it off with warm water as usual followed by cold water for a rinse.

Hope this was of help to you! Let me know on the comments section. Like and share with your friends and family. As usual it’s your natural girl over here signing out! See you on the next blog! 💓💓

What causes single strand knots?

by Renniestar, posted in African hair, anti-frizz custard, knots, split ends

Hello, welcome back to my blog I was away for some time attending to other life issues. But I’m back behind the keyboard ✌️missed you all…hope you grew your hair like me💓. Anyway let’s dig in to our topic for today.

Have you experienced these knots? Well, I have and they can be annoying especially if you are trying to grow your hair out! Before we think of getting rid of those knots, let’s first know what causes them👇.

What are single strand knots or rather called fairy knots? They are tiny beads that forms along the hair shaft, it happens when the outer layer of hair/ cuticle becomes damaged and opens up.

They snag to each other resulting in tangles & knots, can also appear on a single strand of your hair. Curly, coily and kinky hair is the most common/ prone to strand knots.

Causes of single strand knots!

Curly, coily hair is produced by a flat curved hair follicle. They tend to weave and loop around each other causing tangles and later breakage.

  • Not moisturing your ends
  • Not straightening your hair after shampooing.
  • Manipulation of hair during the shampoo process/ styling and friction.
  • Not using shears meant for hair only.
  • Not trimming your ends frequently.
  • Also not trimming your hair well or rather visiting a hair cut professional.

How to prevent single strand knots from forming!

  • Detangle hair before shampooing.
  • Use the ‘ praying hands’ method- apply shampoo directly to the scalp and massage it with your fingure tips. (Praying hands’) method is where you press your hands together with your hair in between them.
  • Take care of your hair before bed- you could braid out or twist your hair to keep your hair from shrinking on itself at night. Use satin pillow case/ scarf.
  • Use a conditioner – add a strengthening deep conditioner to your routine e.g Maui moisture heal & hydrate + Shea butter hair mask.
  • Keep your hair lubricated especially on the ends where hair tend to be high on porosity.
  • Visit a hair cut professional after 3 – 6 months for curly, coily hair.

Maui moisture heal & hydrate+ shea butter hair mask

Knots should be cut with with proper hair cutting shears, do not try to comb them out or tear the hair apart.

This can also help>> dust your ends every time you notice a knot on your hair to prevent it from tangling and looping around other strands!

What do you do when you get knots? Let me know on the comments section. Also like and share with your friends and family. Till next blog chao ✍️

>>>>read more on single strand knots here

Get your custard here for tangled hair