Let’s face it, being natural has its good days and not so good days. When the curls are thriving, we are thriving! When they’re dry and dull, we feel dry and dull. How do we have more good days? Follow these 5 tips!

1) HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE!

First, let’s understand the difference between hydration and moisture. (Btw…our hair loves both!) Hydration refers to the inner layers of the hair shaft, whereas moisture applies to the outer layer of the hair shaft. In order for hair to be hydrated, it needs to retain water from within. In order for hair to be moisturized, it must lock in that water from the outside (We’ll dive deeper in Tip #2). Straight hair requires less water and curly hair requires more. This is why it is very important to keep our textured hair hydrated. So, how do we do that? Shampoo hair with hydrating, moisture-rich shampoos. Try TGIN Rose Water Hydrating Shampoo or Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo. Do not shampoo your hair too often since this can strip your hair of its natural oils. Instead, try for either once a week or once every other week, depending on your hair type. Diet plays a major role in hair health. Drinking adequate levels of water (eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day) and water-rich foods (cucumbers, watermelon, kale, and oranges) also aids in maintaining hair hydration.

2) MOISTURE

Now let’s dive into moisture. Moisture refers to sealing in the hydration through the cuticle with oils so the water doesn’t evaporate from the hair strand. Conditioners, oils, and creams play a major role in this process. Look for moisturizing hair masks for wash day. I LOVE TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask. Styling a wash and go? Use the L.O.C. (leave-in conditioner, hair oil, styling cream) method with these amazing products from Alikay Naturals.

3) DETANGLE

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to detangle your strands. No matter the style – wash and go, twistout, bantu knots, pineapple, etc – detangling your hair is a must to prevent breakage, define curls, increase bounce, and maintain healthy hair. For many of us naturalistas, this is the most dreaded part of wash day. Fear not! Try these amazing products to make the detangling process quicker and easier: Felicia Leatherwood brush (my absolute fave), Knot Today by Kinky-Curly (great for 4c hair), and Curldaze Silky Hydration Detangling Leave-In Conditioner (great for all 4-types). Remember, part hair into small sections and, with your detangler brush and adequate leave-in applied, brush through hair section by section.

4) DUST

Put your furniture polish away. Dusting natural hair is the process of lightly trimming (less than ¼ of an inch) the ends of your hair, curl by curl. Your curls will thank you. Dusting aids hair growth and helps eliminate frizz. Giving your hair a dust will allow your curls to move more freely and bounce! Set a goal of dusting your hair every 6-8 weeks to avoid split ends.

5) LOVE

I know, corny right? 4 tips isn’t as catchy as 5, so I’m going to leave y’all with this note on self-love. The natural hair journey has a lot of ups and downs. When your twist out isn’t hitting, is life even worth living? Yes! Don’t let a bad hair day affect your happiness. Beauty begins inward with loving ourselves no matter what we look like on the outside. It means loving our skin no matter the shade. Loving our curls, no matter the type. I want you to follow these tips for bouncy juicy curls. But I also want you to love ALL of you whether the curls are juicy or dry.