Shout out to all our curly, coiled, kinky, type 4, afro haired girlies… You’re going to want to read this!

You’ve probably had quite a journey with your hair. Maybe had a long period of time where it was wrapped in protective styles, maybe you’ve dabbled in an experimental phase of dyes, or been religiously since you can remember relaxing your natural volume. Your hair soaks up water like a sponge, and compared to finer hair, is much more fragile and vulnerable to damage. Constantly reminded on how keeping our hair hydrated is the be all and end all, making sure we don’t let any moisture escape. Research has shown that women with this hair type are more likely to cite that thinning hair/hair loss as their top hair concern, compared to other hair types. Not to mention spending up to six times more on hair products… Yikes.

Enough is enough. We want to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decisions for your hair. Hair health means so much to us. And loving our hair is a big part in us feeling our best and strong enough to face the day. So here it is, GLOWWA’s top 10 tips on the best afro hair care routine.

1) Hair wash once a week or every other week. Listen GLOWWA readers - We recommend washing your gorgeous locks every 7-10 days. It will help prevent your locks becoming dry with build up from haircare products. Please remember though, this is just a suggestion – hair washing very much depends on your lifestyle, how active you are and even where you live. Top tip: When washing your lovely locks, treat yourself to a good old scalp massage, and then begin your detangling regime. Don’t forget always to work bottom up aka tip to root.

2) Don’t skimp on the conditioner. Did you know that every time you wash your hair you should use hair conditioner? Focus on getting a good all over coverage, to ensure every little hair fibre is given all the TLC it deserves. Your hair ends are the oldest gals on the block and also the most fragile, so don’t forget about them when you are doing your coating of conditioner.

3) Before styling, get in a hot oil treatment. If you plan on styling your hair, and want to minimise heat damage, get your hot oil in your hair while it is still wet after washing. The oil will be a life saver in minimising the damage caused by heat tools. Furthermore, another moment for you and your scalp. Rub your fingers against your scalp to improve your blood circulation as well as stimulating your natural sebaceous scalp oils. Voila - A spa treatment in your own home!

4) Use relaxers with caution. GLOWWA experts would suggest if you plan on using relaxers, try and book yourself in with a hair stylist to perform this treatment. It will really help in minimising the damage and will ensure the treatment has been performed safely. So, how often should you be going for touch-ups? Give yourself a window of a relaxer every two to three months, and only apply it to newly grown hair. You should not apply relaxer to hair that has already been relaxed.

5) Limit use of straighteners and ceramic combs. Heat tools aka our ultimate love hate relationship. You may be the sort of girly who wants to use them all the time but know deep inside they are not the best for your hair’s health. So, let’s try and use these bad boys once a week. Yes, you heard us right. Team GLOWWA would also recommend using heat tools that have a temperature dial, meaning we can ensure it’s not too hot. The aim is to go as low as you can for the style you desire.

6) Don’t go too tight on your braids, cornrows or weaves. Sometimes it’s hard to override the well-known phrase – beauty is pain – however in this case, pain does mean damage! It is

essential to stop your stylist and ask them to redo your protective style if it hurts. After a session in the chair, allow your scalp to repair itself, so make sure you avoid brushing and pulling your braids.

7) Treat your hair to a silk scarf or invest in a silk/satin pillowcase. With summer just around the corner, we need to be doubly aware of storing as much moisture in our hair as possible. If we stick to our routines, moisture will be retained, and our hair will continue to be healthy and hydrated. Let’s begin by sacking off those cotton pillowcases, they are friction fiends and will cause major breakage. Your curls are precious and need protecting – hello silk and satin! These materials are much preferred if you want shinier, healthier, softer and tangle-free hair.

8) Stick to warm hair washes, not boiling. Although a really hot shower may make us feel super clean and ready to take on the day - your hair will certainly not thank you for a boiling hot shower! Hair can become dry when washed in hot water. Meaning going forward you’re going to have to pinkie promise us you stick to warm water instead. Yes, your hair will still be cleansed in this temp aaaaaand it will be gentler on your hair cuticles.

9) Watch out for hair tie bad habits. Who knew a silly hair band could do so much damage? Hair breakage is often linked back to these sneaky little things. This is because they create friction and rub your tiny hair follicles, causing major damage to your cuticle layers. Leaving you with weakened hair structure. Sometimes you can even see a section of your hair that has been damaged over the years from where you have been tying it up. Going forward, make sure you always fully unwrap your hair bobble before taking it out i.e. don’t yank your tight wrapped round band through your hair. And make sure you are holding the root of your hair when you are sliding the tie out.

10) Take GLOWWA Hair Food. Our Hair Food supplements are a natural way to support hair health and promote hair growth. Made with natural ingredients like Biotin, L-Lysine, and Folic Acid, GLOWWA Hair Food supplements nourish hair from the inside out.

There you have it, our top 10 tips on the best afro hair care routine. Whether you are wanting to keep a low maintenance routine or keep switching things up with your locks, you should always try to follow the advice above to ensure you are able to get the most out of your natural texture.