A big part of a healthy hair journey is knowing what’s good for your hair and what’s not good for your hair. I’ve noticed that a lot of women are mostly concerned about what products to use on their hair eg. what will do wonders for their hair growth. But I believe many people leave out how important it is to have the right tools. Let me take you through my top top four tools for my hair and the things you’d need to look out for when buying them.
Headscarf
In my opinion, this is the most important tool to have whether you’re natural or not. We all grew up seeing our moms and aunties wearing the scarf not fully understanding how important and key it is to our hair health. The benefits of wearing one every night before you sleep are huge. And getting the right kind is key to having healthy hair. A scarf isn’t just about keeping
your weave or braids intact, so don’t think it’s not needed when you have your hair free of extensions or structured styles.
Things to look for when buying a scarf: A good head scarf keeps your hair moisturised. Choose one that’s made out of silk or satin. Avoid cotton scarves as they suck moisture out of your hair. And the number one cause of breakage is dryness. If you still want to look “cute” for bed and don’t want to sleep with a scarf, you can do what many other women do and sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase. That way you can still be sleeping beauty without damaging your hair.
Bobby pins
These little goodies are blessings. You can do so much with them and they’re the one tool I carry around with me EVERYWHERE. If I don’t know what to do with my hair or I’m having a bad hair day, they’re the first things I reach for to figure something out with. They’re super affordable and available pretty much anywhere! As simple as they are, things to look out for when buying and using bobby pins is the bulb. Many already come with bulbs (the round tips at the ends of the pins) but after awhile just from general wear and tear, they drop off, leaving a sharper, pointier end. Those sharp ends are really bad for your hair because they snag, which again can lead to breakage. When my pins get to that point, I have no mercy and just throw them away. By keeping them, and being in a hurry to do your hair, you forget that the bulb isn’t there anymore and by the time you place it in your hair it could already be too late. So make sure you go through your bobby pins regularly to make sure your pins and their bulbs are still intact.
Wide tooth comb
I’ve been using wide tooth combs since my relaxed hair days but the benefits are much more easily visible now that I’m natural. Fine tooth combs are extremely damaging for natural hair. Here’s why: our natural hair strands are so coily
and kinky. The tiny gaps between the teeth of a fine tooth comb are too narrow for our strands to pass through them, so instead of passing through, they get caught and then break. And of course breakage leads to damage in your length retention
goals. So a wide tooth comb is a must, as it allows your hair to more comfortably pass through and be detangled with much less breakage. I use what’s known as a shower comb which you can get from Clicks for an affordable price or even the big ones sold at most hair stores will do.
Metal-free hair bands
Bands that have metal clasps on them are notorious for snagging hair. As a natural, you’re more prone to this as the hair strands are coily and more easily tangled. So once your hair gets to a length that you could start tying it with hair bands, whether for stretching or just styling, get some that don’t have that metal clasp. Snagging, again, causes breakage and will impact your length retention. I got mine from Clicks and the packaging has a sticker that clearly labels them “harm free”. The likelihood of getting those tangled in your hair is far less, so your length retention isn’t greatly affected.
What are some of your must-have tools?
thanks Aisha for the whole information am proud of you. I rock my natural hair like nobody`s business.
Thanks luv!
Hi Aisha!
I been silently reading your posts via email (thank you for putting the whole post there) and I had to come through and join the conversation.
first I have to Slow clap *Claps* Aisha how do you do it? how do you keep bobby pins till they loose their bulb? my bobby pins don't play those games. I get to use them 2 or three times MAX before they go to wherever bobby pins go. If they could figure out where that was I am sure we would have a person on Mars right now (its that mysterious). I loose 3 bobby pins for every 2 bobby pins I use.
What I can say about bulbs on bobby pins is that the quality you buy really affects the quality of the bulb. The most expensive bobby pins are the ones where the actual metal of the pin forms a bulb that then gets painted black or brown. At the other end you have those cheap bobby pins that loose their bulbs when you pop the pin in your mouth to open it (-_-).
I loove all the tools you are talking about and I think i pack them in every travel bag.
one of my favorite tools for styling is the Banana clip! you can make such beautiful mohawks with it!. It hails back to my natural days and I still use it on my relaxed hair now. I just need a banana clip and 4 bobby pins and I am set…
@Mvumikazi I only just started using a toothbrush for my edges – what edge control product do u use? (This information comes handy when I'm 5 months post relaxer)
oh and p.s. Aisha those brows are on fleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
I don't use edge control because well. . .Pietermaritzburg, student budget, life. I usually moisturise them with water, put some castor oil on the, brush and try to get them to lay and put my doek on and tie just a liiiitle tight for 5 minuted then loosen the knot after 5 minutes.
Urban Mnguni
I do something similar to that but with shea butter/ mango butter and a doek … I tie it overnight though (which means I make sure its not too tight)
Hey Kangopie! Thanks for your very articulate comment 🙂 Ummm, the losing bobby pins thing, mine suffer the same fate. I have them all over my house in places I can see and in others I can't. I have no idea where they are…maybe an expedition to Mars is in order. I've tried the banana clip thing and the first one I got BROKE! I have since gotten another one but I struggle to fit all of my hair in :s Where do you get yours from?
Well, I get my banana clips from Pick and pay/ Dischem. They are detachable from top and bottom. Occasionally the comb comes apart but I usually can clip it back together again and try attach it again.
hmm I actually hadn't considered hair volume.. can you tie your hair in a pony? I would do that first, attach the banana clip below the hair band; close the banana clip and release the hair band
The toothbrush Aisha. Never ever forget the toothbrush. People look at me crazy when it falls out of my purse but with these edges of steel, they'll never understand.
Mvumikazi | Urban Mnguni
Lol, yes Mvumikazi, it's a helpful little tool that!
A spray bottle of water is a necessity for me
Good one!
I carry a fine-tooth comb around, but only because of the tail in case I want to do a part on-the-go.
Berry Dakara Blog
I re-purpose my bobby pins!