Is this everyone’s worse nightmare? 2024 is all about authenticity, with more and more individuals choosing to embrace and enhance their natural hair texture. With the right products and treatments, the beauty of natural curls, waves, and kinks is celebrated more than ever. This trend and blog is a move away from the pursuit of 'perfect hair' towards a more genuine, wild, and free expression of individuality. WTH? Let’s get started..
3 ways to embrace natural hair
Caring for your hair is a deeply personal undertaking. You choose the hairstyle you prefer and the products you use. But sometimes – just sometimes – you may find yourself overdoing it. You will find yourself stuck in laborious hair rituals that do more harm than good. Ritzys is here to alter this.
We are passionate about supporting natural hair, and we’d love for you to share our perspective.
“Natural hair” does not mean your locks will be messy or unkempt. On the contrary. It’s a gentle approach that helps enhance the natural way your hair falls. Whether you have curly or coily hair or unruly tresses that need light taming, you can embrace your natural hair and absolutely love its feel, shape, and form.
Three easy steps to falling in love with your natural hair texture:
1. Adopt a simpler, nourishing hair routine
You don’t have to follow a stringent hair routine or rely on Keratin and relaxing treatments to have lovely, smooth, and silky-soft hair. But you must use the right products suited to your hair type and texture.
2. Invest in a good haircut
The right haircut can ensure a hassle-free approach to maintaining favoloso (fabulous) natural flowing hair. Even a regular trim can help avoid frizz and flyaways so that your chemical-free locks conform to a more flattering shape.
3. Apply a simple approach to styling (less is more)
Another secret to embracing natural hair is to use less product, fewer heated tools, and rely less on artificially styled hair looks. The trick is to use gentle products that embrace the natural flow of your hair themselves, allowing strands to bask in a nourishing environment where they can thrive without the shock of chemically induced treatments.
It may take some days or weeks for your hair to truly reveal its natural hair beauty. For example, natural curls that are used to being straightened regularly may take time to reveal themselves. But with a dedicated, gentle routine, you’ll soon have that natural, supple look.
How do I wear my natural hair with confidence?
Don't Strive For Perfection.
So to make it easier for yourself, forget about the idea of perfection and remember that sometimes frizz-free hair isn't always possible. Instead, learn to embrace the good and the bad of your natural hair to gain confidence in your curls.
When Khloe Kardashian recently posted about embracing her natural hair texture on Instagram, she echoed the thoughts of many women who have been missing out on their keratin, cysteine or other curl relaxing treatments, thanks to the pandemic. Women with curly, wavy hair tend to resort to softening treatments which give you hair that is easier to manage and glossy too. But these treatments need to be repeated every few months and the chemicals can take a toll on your hair. If you too have been wanting to grow out your curls but are wondering what to do with the in-between stage or are contemplating the big chop, here’s how you can fall in love with your natural hair texture to begin with.
Follow these steps if your still not convinced on starting your natural hair journey:
1) Change your perspective
The words we often hear when people describe the naturally curly or wavy hair is wild, unkempt, messy and unmanageable. We need a perspective change first and switch from our instinct to call natural hair messy. Self-acceptance is crucial so when you use the appropriate products, get a cut and style that enhances its natural beauty, you are able to appreciate it.
2) Switch to clean, nourishing products
Curly and wavy hair tends to lose moisture and protein sooner than straight hair because it is more porous. This is also why it appears frizzy and unruly, compared to treatments that close down the hair cuticle and make them look glossy. Plus, chemical treatments make the hair more porous by weakening the bonds between cuticle cells. What you need are products that help you work with your curly hair’s natural movement, plus they nourish and strengthen from within. “For curly and wavy hair, we need products that are gentle and deliver a balance of moisture and protein to naturally rebuild the hair, and provide that natural bounce and movement. Use products that are silicone-sulphate-paraben-alcohol-free. Over time, they form a barrier on the hair which compromises the absorption of moisture and protein. Natural products help maintain the health of this type of hair a lot better. Ritzys recommends that you switch to silk pillowcases and scrunchies, or use a scarf wrap, all of which are gentle on the hair. This will also stop your curls from tangling.
3) Deep condition
This hair needs more care, so just conditioning won’t do. You need to deep condition your hair at least once a fortnight, if not every weekend. “One of my favourite products is Olaplex no 6 and no 7, which protect the hair from natural and superficial heat and also reconstruct the hair and improve its porosity. This will also help your hair hold other products better and make it less brittle. Once you start giving the extra hydration of deep conditioning and bond-building treatments (such as Olaplex) you won’t need to resort to straightening treatments. Choose your deep conditioning product depending on the health and problem of your hair, such as hair fall, coarseness or dehydration. Even a home spa treatment that offers a balance of protein and moisture fortnightly is good. Because your hair has gone through a lot of stress, in addition to deep conditioning, you can also take vitamins, omega fatty acids, biotin and collagen supplements to improve hair strength. Hair that feels healthy from the root and within will superficially deal with products better and repair itself to glossy goodness.
4) Cut
It’s best that you find a curly hair specialist who will not just give you the right cut, but will help you with styling options, and will also know how to diffuse dry or naturally dry your hair the right way as heat is bad for already chemically treated hair. A long bob with soft movement would be perfect for the transition phase. If it’s rebounded, you might have to chop chemical treatment off as when you are left with just natural hair vs half and half, it is easier to style. Newer treatments do not make your hair pokey straight, so you can scrunch and style, or maybe do with a trim or just add layers. Longer layers are suited for this phase instead of making your hair look messy on top with short layers which will look unruly on top (one thing you absolutely wanted to avoid hence the chemical relaxers) as natural texture can look messy on top unless you go longer. If you cut your hair at one level, it will look triangular as the weight doesn’t liberate the curl. It will look flat on top and may not curl or wave enough, as the weight of the curl is dragged down. And if you have springy curls, if the top is ultra-short, it will look like baby hair.
5) Styling
In between hair can be hidden with so many styles. Use pretty, colourful strips of cloth which is ribbon-like to tie your hair in braids, parting the hair daintily. One can also use a cloth hairband. A messy bun tied and held together with a pretty strip of cloth makes a boring bun interesting. You can also use hair accessories (such as barrette clips) to make a simple ponytail look cute and posh at once,” says Savla. Don’t forget heat protection to save dry ends and to avoid damage. Start with creams and gels on wet hair for styling. Use a leave-in conditioner in the form of a cream, milk or butter, and then use gel on top. The cream will give moisture, protein and hydration, and gel will define the movement. So if it is wavy, it will hold the wave together, and the effect stays longer. Using just cream will wear off soon. The product you choose depends on the density. For fine hair, dilute with water and use less product. It’s best to wash wavy or curly once every four to six days. Sleep with a bonnet or a pineapple pony, or even set your curls with a sock so you don’t wake up feeling like Einstein and have defined curls. Use oils, before shampoo overnight. Use lighter oils post-wash to scrunch out the crunch of your styling gel. Light oils such as jojoba, lavender, açai and oil are good for post-wash. Oils for pre-poo can be thicker, such as castor, virgin coconut, olive or almond. You can also just braid the messy part of your transitioning hair and tie the rest in a samurai bun or a half bun.
