First things first, what on earth is a microfiber towel?
Microfiber (or microfiber here in Britain) is a synthetic fiber that is finer than one denier - this diameter is smaller than a strand of silk. A microfiber towel is less fluffy than a regular cotton towel but is actually much more ideal for drying hair because:
How do you use a microfiber towel?
After washing my hair I give it a gentle squeeze to get rid of the dripping and then I wrap the microfiber towel over my head and let it get to work. You don't need to rub or scrunch at all. A gentle pat over the surface is enough. Where can you get a microfiber towel? I got links to the top rated microfiber towels on Amazon.com and .co.uk below. I have Mimi's Diva dryer. It's what I have on my head in the photos.
Washing your hair once a week is enough.
Type 4 (kinky and curly) hair doesn't get greasy as badly and as quickly as straight hair does for the very reason that it is kinky or curly. Why greasiness is not an issue Sebum, the natural oil produced by the scalp struggles to move up the kinks, curls and coils of type 4 hair. This means that dryness is much more of a problem for curly and kinky haired types than greasy hair and overwashing just exacerbates the problem. Tangling is a big issue The washing process is prime time for hair to get tangled and knotted.
But I go to the gym a lot? Personally my hair doesn't take on a stench when I exercise even when I sweat heavily so I just stick to my weekly wash. I frequently make one of my workout days coincide with my wash routine. Of course, your hair's moisture level, tendency to get knots and tangles and sweat pattern will be different to mine so you need to find the right wash-regularity for you.
Many of us were brought up to believe greasing one’s scalp with “hair food”, such as Blue Magic, Sulfur 8 or any other petrolatum-based grease was essential for maintaining healthy hair. However, many in the natural hair community now argue that greasing your scalp is not essential. So is it? It depends… Day-to-Day Management Generally, a clean and healthy scalp does not need to be greased to stay soft, pliable and well suited for hair growth. Sebum, the oil naturally produced by the scalp lubricates the scalp on an on-going basis. Importantly, unlike skin, the scalp is not constantly chaffing against clothing or rubbing against furniture so it doesn’t need to be moisturized as intensely or as regularly as skin does. Dry Scalps The above said, just as some people have drier skin than others, some scalps are more dry than others. The dryness of one’s scalp can be impacted by diet and weather. Whatever the case, if your scalp doesn’t seem to lubricate itself and perhaps gets all dry, ashy or dandruff-ridden then it certainly doesn’t hurt to oil it. If your scalp is dry, don’t use a thick or heavy grease; choose a light, nutrient-rich oil to rub into your scalp.
When In Plaits If your hair has just been plaited/braided then it might be useful to oil your scalp to prevent bumps and rashes from forming where the root has been pulled. I personally have a very sensitive scalp; even with minimal pulling my scalp gets sore and bumpy so I oil the scalp religiously for about a week after its been plaited using Neno Natural’s Hair Growth Stimulator when I have just had braids installed. After a week the new growth compensates for the pulling my scalp endured. Hair Growth Last but not least, because the scalp is so thin, you can promote the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the scalp to help hair grow by massaging it with an oil + essential oil blend. I have quite a few recipes that you can blend yourself |
