Whether your goal is “bra strap” length hair, or growing out your TWA, join me for the healthy hair in 2020 challenge! No matter the state of your hair, you can turn it around by practicing healthy hair care techniques and keeping an air tight regimen [which sounds harder than it actually is]. Healthy hair isn’t limited to just wearing your hair in a natural state. You can have healthy heat straightened hair and healthy relaxed as well. The key is to do everything in moderation.

In order to get the best results, it’s best to start your personal hair care challenge with a trim. If your ends are in good condition you can skip this step. Trimming your hair is essential to retaining length. Here’s why; ends that are split will eventually break off, and you will gradually lose length this way. Couple healthy ends and care when handling your hair and you will be able to retain that 1/2 inch of growth monthly.

There are many ways you can care for your hair during this challenge. You can go with a traditional regimen using some of your favorite products, you can opt for all natural products, and you can even take the Ayurvedic route. No matter which regimen you choose, the things you must remember are:

• Proper Detangling Techniques
• Keep the stress low on the hair follicles [avoid tight buns, pony’s and tight braids]:
• Keep your hair moisturized 
• Lay off the excessive heat: Excessive heat breaks down the Keratin bonds in your hair which could cause breakage and overly porous hair [overly porous hair does not retain moisture well]
• Monitor temperatures if you use heat: Always make sure you are using the appropriate heat setting for your hair type.
• Go easy on the products that contain alcohol [gels, setting lotions, hair spray]: These products can dry out your hair leaving it brittle, the ends split, and your strands lacking moisture.
• Keep your hair protected at night: Sleep with the use of a satin bonnet, or on a satin pillowcase, not only will this help protect your strands from breakage, but it will also help stretch the life of your hair style.
• Deep conditioning regularly: Hair that is highly textured needs regular conditioning intervals to help replenish lost moisture and nutrients to keep it healthy and promote hair growth.

Keeping these basic principles in mind will foster healthy hair and also keep you motivated as you start to see the health of your hair improve and also start to notice growth.

Here are some essential tools you need on your journey: 

• Wide tooth comb: For detangling
• Soft/hard bonnet dryer: For deep conditioning
• Conditioner
• Ouchless rubberbands
• Moisturizing Shampoo
• Clarifying/Chelating Shampoo
• Natural Oil: For sealing moisture in your hair, I recommend Grapeseed, Jojoba or Coconut.
• Styling aid: For doing styles like twist outs or braid outs. You can use hair butters like Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter, or puddings like Miss Jessie’s

How this challenge works:

The goal is to encourage us to start taking better care of our hair. The healthy hair care challenge is for anyone who wants to take a healthier approach to hair care. It doesn’t matter if you are relaxed, natural, transitioning, or heat straightened.

To participate in the challenge:

1. Note your starting length and your goal length.
2. Note the type of regimen you are going to follow.
   • Traditional [using regular natural hair products]
   • Natural [using mostly of DIY and some natural hair products]
   • Ayurvedic [using mostly of Ayurvedic Herbs/Oils].
3. Set your start date.

for instance, my starting length is bra strap, my goal is upper back length, and I will maintain a regimen that is a combination of Natural Hair Products, and DIY!

I will start the first of next month and I will continue for six months!

Let’s go!

Come back at different intervals to let us know your progress.