How to Care for Natural Hair During the Winter Months

curlyincolorado.com haircare natural hair
My hair is softer and more manageable thanks to using Olive Oil

I have a love/hate relationship with the long winters that are common here in Colorado.  On the one hand, you have fun times in the snow and beautiful scenery.  On the other, unpleasant bouts of dry skin and hair.  I realize that other states get plenty of snow like we do here in Colorado.  Thing is, we also have a dry climate which can seem even drier during the wintertime.  This seasonal change can lead to skin that soaks up lotion like a sponge.  It can also be a burden to my already thirsty natural hair.

Continue reading “How to Care for Natural Hair During the Winter Months”

My Summertime Wash n’ Go Routine

 Now we all know that “wash n’ go” is just what we say when we wear a style that shows off our natural curls right?  Okay then, with that said, this is what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks for MY wash n’ go (insert smiley face here).  To be honest, the hot, summer-like weather did not hit us Coloradans until mid-July.  For that reason, I’ve only just recently gotten into a summertime routine for my wash n’ go.

wash n go routine, curly hair, natural hair
My summer wash n’ go style back in 2015

Continue reading “My Summertime Wash n’ Go Routine”

My Go-To Hair Styles for Working Out

This month I decided to get back to working out regularly.  Since I’m planning on exercising at least  four times per week, there are certain hair styles that I’m thinking will work best for me.  It has been a little over a month since I last straightened my hair but that style is not on my current playlist.  I was able to keep my hair straight for two weeks but I just don’t see that happening while doing heavy workouts.  Here are some of the styles I plan on rocking while I’m getting fit this month.

curlyincolorado.com wash n go hairstyle
My wash n’ go style is perfect for working out

The Wash n’ Go

I call this style the wash n’ go but there is a little more to it than that.  This is when I rock my hair in its natural curl pattern.  I tend to use different products depending on what I have and how much time I want to spend.  Still, I pretty much always use a leave-in conditioner, something heavy to seal and then a hair gel.  You can watch me do this style here.

 

The Puff

This is fast becoming one of my favorites styles as of late.  I can wear my puff up high, low or somewhere in between and it still looks great.  This is usually my follow-up style after wearing a wash n’ go for a couple of days.  My hair already has product in it so I just wet my edges and nape and brush my hair into a puff.  Sometimes I use a banana clip placed sideways while other times I simply use a ponytail holder.  Click the video link below to watch how I do it.

PUFF HAIR TUTORIAL

The Braid Out

This style can be worn up or down and is pretty easy to maintain.  It also is the type of style that looks great when it gets bigger so a little working out won’t hurt it.

These are the styles that I’m gravitating towards lately but I may throw in a bun here and there.  Either way, it’s all about keeping it simple and doing what works best for me.

How I use a Blowdryer and Diffuser on my Wash and Go

 

curlyincolorado.com how to use a blowdryer diffuser on wash and go

During the winter months I tend to shy away from wearing the wash and go style.  This is because I don’t want to walk around with wet hair while it’s cold outside.  Recently I discovered that, if I carefully wrap my hair at night, I can rock the curly look without re-wetting my hair in the morning.  So as of late, I have been doing the style at night and then blowdrying my hair before going to bed.  That’s where my diffuser comes in.

The point of using a diffuser is to dry your hair without causing frizz.  Mine is an attachment for my blowdryer that I picked up at Sally’s Beauty Supply for about 10 bucks.  Unfortunately, the attachment broke recently after years of use which I’ll be replacing soon.  Nowadays you can find a blowdryer that comes with its own diffuser attachment included. Continue reading “How I use a Blowdryer and Diffuser on my Wash and Go”

Scalp Psoriasis and Natural Hair

curlyincolorado.com scalp psoriasis natural hairThe fall and winter tends to be the time of year when we hear more about protective styling.  With the colder temperatures and drop in humidity, a lot of naturals will do this in order to protect their tresses.  I admire all of the different styles from braids to twists and pretty up dos.  However, this is usually the time when I really just want to hide my hair from view.  That is because I suffer from scalp psoriasis which tends to last over a long period, beginning in the fall and lasting into the winter.

There is plenty of information online regarding psoriasis.  In my case it shows up on my scalp and skin in small spots that spread out over time.  Years ago, I sought treatment and advice from medical professionals who unfortunately did not help me to understand the condition.  They prescribed steroid creams which led to my worst spell with psoriasis ever.  Later, I found out that psoriasis is an auto immune disease which means the immune system is out of whack somehow.  Since the digestive tract makes up about 70 percent of the immune system, I tend to focus my efforts there.  I do this by eating a diet rich in clean foods and focus on staying hydrated.  I’ll explain more on my diet and supplements in another post.

The tricky thing about having scalp psoriasis while having thick, curly, natural hair is that the flaking that develops can be hard to get rid of.  Using oils can reduce the appearance of flakes but can also increase the production of them.  This means I end up cleansing my hair and scalp more often.

I try to stay away from harsh shampoos during this time because the frequent washing is already a lot of manipulation on my hair.  Sulfate based shampoo leaves my hair feeling stripped and can lead to tangling.  When I cleanse my scalp with a sulfate shampoo I try to follow it up with a pH balanced shampoo or an apple cider vinegar rinse.  I’ll do this once a week and then use a sulfate free shampoo on other days.  I end up cleansing my hair and scalp up to three times per week in total.

As far as protective styling goes I’ve found that wearing hats and wigs are the most comfortable for me right now.  I don’t have to worry about flakes being visible when I’m out which is a boost for my confidence.  Other times, a wash and go style is my go-to because it is quick and easy.  I also don’t worry as much about the frequent washing because I usually refresh the style every two or three days.

Read Here for  How I Clear Up My Psoriasis with Diet and Supplements