Caring For Your Hair During COVID19

If you are currently wearing a protective hairstyle such as braids, twists, locs, or a weave, chances are you will need a touch-up soon, long before the quarantine is over.  If you have had your hair in braids, twists, or a weave for more than six weeks, it’s time to re-do the braids or twists around your hairline, and to shampoo your hair.  It is also critical for those wearing weaves to expose their scalps to air, and to shampoo their hair and give it a conditioning treatment.

Anu Essentials Conditioning Treatments

Remember that your new growth, particularly around your hairline, is vulnerable to breakage if you have single extensions, and you have more than an eighth of an inch of new growth.  If extensions around your hairline are left in beyond six weeks without a touch-up, they will pull on the new growth, and have the potential of pulling the hair around your hairline right out of your head, directly from the follicles; this would cause permanent hair loss in that area.Don’t allow this to happen.  Instead, remove these braids and re-braid your hairline yourself. If you don’t have the skills to do this, then remove the extensions.  Here is an opportunity for you to take care of your hair, to allow your hair to rest, to be nourished and pampered by you. Today, everyone ponders how we will stretch, shift, change, and learn new skills during our confinement.  This could be an opportunity for growth, by learning to care for your own hair.Apply conditioner to your hair when removing and combing out your braids or twists. This will lubricate and moisten your hair, keeping it from snapping and breaking while you’re combing it out.  Once all the braids or twists are removed, apply more conditioner to your hair to thoroughly comb it through. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of hair in the comb.  This is hair that you would have shed anyway, had you been combing your hair on a daily basis.Now it’s time for the shampoo.  Take your time and really massage your scalp.  This will stimulate and wake up your scalp from weeks of lying dormant.  Always condition your hair after shampooing, but since you have extra time on your hands during this time of quarantine, why not give yourself a deep conditioning or hot oil treatment?For the conditioning treatment once your hair is shampooed, towel it dry to remove excess water, then generously apply the deep conditioner to your hair, and comb it through thoroughly using a wide-tooth comb. If you don’t have a hooded hair dryer, use a shower cap to cover your hair for your deep conditioning treatment.  The heat from your head will allow the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft. After 20-30 minutes, rinse the conditioner out using cool to cold water to seal in the conditioning emollients.  This is a very crucial step! If you use warm or hot water, the emollients will rinse down the drain, which would thus be a waste of time and product.If you have locs, perhaps you would prefer a hot oil treatment instead of a deep conditioning treatment. Remember that our Medicinal Hair Oil is chock-full of anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal botanical herbs, and is a great way to refresh your hair and scalp. After shampooing, use a light conditioner, and then rinse the conditioner out. Then apply the oil generously to your hair and cover with a shower cap or hooded dryer.  After 20 minutes, remove the cap and dry your hair.  There is no need to rinse the oil out.  You can twist your new growth and pin down the twists using a light gel, just as you've seen your stylist do, countless times. Remove the hairpins once your hair has dried.Our Medicinal Hair Oil is especially recommended for those wearing weaves. Having your head completely covered for weeks at a time can cause intense itching, or even cause a sour or foul odor to emanate from your head.  Remove your weave, treat your scalp, and pamper your hair.  If you have hair loss or are uncomfortable wearing your own hair, wear creative head wraps or order a wig online, remembering to frequently air your scalp.Whatever you do during this most contagious time, don’t go out to someone’s home to have your hair done, and conversely, don’t have someone come to your home to do your hair.  Placing yourself at risk of contracting Coronavirus to have your hair done, is just not worth it.  You can do this; you can care for your own hair, and Anu Essentials is here to help you do that. Get creative and love your hair.  If you would like a Zoom Consultation, please email me for the details at anu@anuessentials.com