Care for Color Treated Curliecues

Over the weekend, some of my curliecue friends and I were talking about the challenges of having color-treated hair.  One of the nice things about having naturally curly hair is that you can color your hair, without the added stress of chemical relaxers.  When I first colored my hair more than a year ago, my stylist told me I didn't have to worry about breakage because my hair was natural. What she DIDN'T tell me however, is how much I have to moisturize my hair because of the EXCESSIVE DRYNESS.  My natural hair color is dark brown...but I colored my hair several shades lighter which looked like straw when it was dry.  So over time I noticed my hair was becoming a lot harder to detangle.  I also noticed more split ends which meant more frequent trims.  Most hair colors contain ammonia, peroxide and alcohol, which are your hair's worst enemies, natural or not.  However, that doesn't mean you should steer clear of hair color altogether.  You just have to take a few more precautions.

1.  Use a shampoo/conditioner specifically suited to color-treated hair.  It will help you retain your color longer and will give your hair the extra moisture it needs.

2.  Apply a deep conditioner once or twice a month.  Preferably under a heat source.

3.  Always use a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair.  Do it gently and slowly. Don't rush this process as it will lead to snapping and popping of your hair.  Take extra care when combing through the ends.

4.  Whenever possible...air dry your hair.  Excessive blow drying can be hard on your hair   Also, minimize your use of curling irons and hot rollers.  The more heat you use, the more you damage your hair.

5.  Trim your ends every four to six weeks.  Some people can go longer. depending on the density and texture of your hair.  But if you notice split ends...get rid of them.  It only leads to more breakage.

6.  Avoid being a product junkie.  I know that is a hard thing to do, especially when there are so many options to choose from.  But when you load your hair with creams, gels, lotions, and hair sprays, the more you are robbing your hair of its natural shine, movement and moisture.