By: Boitumelo Masihleho
Natural hair is a growing trend and so versatile in a variety of ways. While styles like braids or twists create interesting looks and beautiful curl patterns, sometimes all you need is a change of colour to instantly update your look.
There are 4 important things to consider before you colour your natural hair.
TIP: Never dye your hair more than 3 shades brighter than your natural hair colour. Doing so will damage your hair.
1.Curl pattern change
Colouring natural hair can sometimes result in temporary, unpredictable changes in your hair’s curl pattern. These changes can be permanent. These curl pattern changes are less likely to occur in coarse hair textures (coarse refers to the diameter of the hair fibre, not the feel of the fibre), and are more likely to occur in those with fine to medium hair textures.
SEE ALSO: Can’t decide on a hair colour? Check out these celebs for inspiration.
2. Increases in hair porosity
Products that lighten hair require direct access to the hair’s cuticles which is likely to increase the hair’s natural porosity. When porosity increases, dryness becomes a major issue because moisture is next to impossible to hold securely within the fibre. A strict, moisture and protein-focused regimen is absolutely essential to help with this. Regularly deep conditioning your coloured natural hair must become routine as this helps cuticles close back down.
3.Loss of Elasticity
Elasticity refers to the ability of our hair fibres to stretch gently and return back to their normal shape and character without damage. When hair lacks elasticity, it does not bend and recover when pressured like healthy hair does— it simply gives up under pressure and snaps in its fragile condition. Moisture and protein balancing is critical for keeping elasticity.
SEE ALSO: Essential tips for your natural hair.
4.Horrific Colour Result
Colour is very unpredictable. Sometimes, multiple steps will be needed to get your colour right. It is always best to have a professional stylist to colour your hair brighter by more than 3 shades of your natural colour. A professional stylist will have experience with hair with textures like yours and varying degrees of porosity—plus they have the added bonus of experiences with various colours.
Extra tips: To extend the life of your colour, try any moisture-rich, sulphate-free shampoo.
Use natural dye alternatives such as henna.
The possibilities are endless with hair colour but just prioritize healthy hair over hip hair.
[easy-tweet tweet=”Colouring your natural hair? Here are 4 things you need to know”]
