i’ve had natural hair for longer than i can remember. dreadlocks, afros, two-strand twists, flat top — sis has done it all.
over the years, one thing has remained constant despite my hair style. i’ve always battled with dry hair. my curl pattern is super tight, some may call it type 4c. this means that my hair has high porosity and struggles to maintain both shape and moisture.
lately i’ve been paying lots more attention to self-care, including my hair, skin and nails. since we’re in quarantine, getting a haircut is definitely out of the question. i’ve had no other option, but to force myself to really focus on how i can bring more moisture and shine to my twa aka teeny weeny afro.
thank goodness i’ve perfected a hair routine using skin by ame products that i absolutely love. not only are my curls more defined, but my hair feels soft and moisturized.
How I Maintain My Natural Hair with Skin by Ame
step one: my method starts in the shower. i make sure to wash my hair with a curl enhancing shampoo that’s sulfate-free about once a week. other days, i simply wash my hair with conditioner, also known as a “co-wash.” this prevents unnecessary stripping of my hair’s natural oils.
step two: after washing, i do NOT DRY MY HAIR. this may seem counterintuitive, but again type 4c hair is high porosity. my curls get frizzy and expand when dry. if you have this hair type and want to keep your curl definition, then applying products to soaking wet hair works best.
step three: i spray a leave-in conditioner to help soften my strands. this is a vital step that i never skip.
step four: i apply skin by ame’s whipped body shea butter to lock in moisture. shea butter is rich in vitamins and this product is infused with organic jojoba oil which allows it to melt right into my palms. initially, i thought it would cause flaking or clump, but my hair completely soaks it all up.
the best part is using skin by ame’s whipped body shea butter primes my hair for the next step. use my code politicsandfshn to get 10% off!
step five: i use my favorite gel to lock in my curl pattern. again, this only works if your hair is soaking wet. plus, using the shea butter mentioned in step four ensures that when my hair dries it’s not crunchy.
step six: once my products are applied, i use a wet curl sponge to really give my curls definition. the sponge must be WET (see a pattern here) because if not it will pull all the moisture from your hair that you’ve just worked to lock in.
step seven: i allow my hair to air dry and top the style off by adding some shine. skin by ame’s sweet almond oil is the perfect carrier oil for both skin and hair. it gives my hair a beautiful sheen without feeling greasy.
the seven steps above have allowed me to fall in love with my twa. initially, i was itching for a haircut, but skin by ame’s whipped shea butter and sweet almond oil brought my hair to life. now, even when quarantine is over, i’m pretty committed to allowing my hair to grow.
