Does Your Hair Need an Intervention?
Tips for an Easy 5-Step Rehab
Between blow-drying, teasing, flat-ironing, highlighting and lowlighting— there are many ways to change what Mother Nature gave us. But whether you’re regularly straightening curls, lightening darker hair or vice/versa, there may be a price to pay for rebelling.
But most women don’t think twice about the hair habits they’ve had for years and years, says longtime hair-care advocate and health scientist Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.
“Lackluster, frazzled, overworked hair—that’s the price we pay for handling our hair like a pair of jeans. Hair is a fragile fiber that needs to be handled more like a silk blouse,” says Davis-Sivasothy, author of “Hair Care Rehab,” (www.haircarerehab.com). “Oftentimes, the style we feel the most comfortable with reinforces our bad habits. It’s a problem with all the earmarks of an addiction.”
Substances of choice include:
- Toxic chemicals (perms, relaxers & colors)
- Hair OCD (excessive combing, brushing & heat use)
- Environmental lifestyle (too much exposure to sun, surf, bad air and water)
- Nutritional/dietary (fad diets, smoking, low water consumption)
As with a drug addiction, once you’ve kicked your habit, you’ll liberate your bad hair, unlocking new dimensions of hair potential, says Davis-Sivasothy, who has also authored the popular “The Science of Black Hair” (www.blackhairscience.com).
She offers a five-step rehab for damaged hair:
- Chelating: Products containing oils, conditioners, serums and pomades (or minerals), which make you feel better in the short term, can build up and actually prevent your hair’s ability to hydrate. That’s why the first step in detoxing hair is the use of chelating shampoo, which is typically clear and lifts stubborn buildup from products and hard water. While many chelating shampoos are sulfate-based, there are more sulfate-free products entering the market to accommodate sensitive scalps and hair. Clarifying shampoos are a good substitute when chelating shampoos cannot be found. Moisturizing shampoo should be used for general use after detoxing is complete.
- Deep conditioning: After chelating, deep condition for 10 to 15 minutes. This should be done every seven to 10 days using moisturizing conditioners such as instant and cream-rinse, deep conditioners, protein treatments or leave-in conditioners. To go the extra mile, consider an apple cider vinegar rinse to close the cuticle and enhance your hair’s shine.
- Moisturizing: This step adds a layer of leave-on protection. You can use either leave-in conditioner or a dedicated moisturizing product, or both. For thick, dry or curly hair, this step hydrates and adds “slip.” For fine or oily hair, these products should detangle strands while encouraging volume.
- Sealing: This is the last major step in your hair intervention. Sealing with an oil or butter product locks in moisture and solidifies the gains of rehab. It smoothes out the cuticle and keeps hair moisturized for a longer period. Always use sealant on slightly dampened or misted hair, or pair the product with a water-based moisturizer to maximize the benefits. If you have naturally oily hair, you can skip this step.
- Styling protectively: Imagine wearing a favorite sweater every day; washing, drying and ironing it several times a week – it would look pretty worn out after a few years! This is exactly what happens to hair that is bleached, colored, blown dry with artificial heat, ironed, weaved and on and on. Don’t do this anymore! There are several measures you can take to preserve the health of your hair, including wearing it up more often, cleansing it cautiously, detangling strands with a large-tooth comb, protectively using blow-dryer heat, reducing chemical use and not coloring your hair more than three shades lighter or darker than your natural color. In general, be gentle. Do not pull to hard or rapidly when styling it, too; be slow and steady.
♣
About Audrey Davis-Sivasothy
Audrey Davis-Sivasothy is a Houston-based freelance writer, publisher and longtime, healthy hair care advocate and enthusiast. Sivasothy holds a degree in health science and has written extensively on the science of caring for hair at home.
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GIVEAWAY
Now the author behind The Science of Black Hair is back with her newest book, Hair Care Rehab: The Ultimate Hair Repair and Reconditioning Manual!
And, guess what? Yes! That’s what!! I’m giving away a copy!!! LOL!!
To enter for your chance to win your very own copy of Hair Care Rehab, simply tell us why your hair needs an intervention in the comments below!
Deadline for entry: Tuesday, December 18th.
hairscapades 
My hair needs a hair intervention because, it’s dry and crunchy. This is my first full year being natural, and I still need some hand holding. Also I would love to start my own hair library. Thank you for the opportunity.
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I need this book in my life. My natural hair and I have been at odds for the last 4 years. I never wear my hair out because it always looks crazy and it doesn’t seem to want to grow out of this awkward stage. I also have problems with dryness and breakage. This book may be very beneficial in helping me win this battle with my hair.
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I need a hair intervention because my hair be soft and manageable and now it feels rough and dry plus I’m having minor problems with mild breakage..
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My hair needs an intervention because it has been the same length for quite some time.
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Skills,
I believe my hair needs an intervention because after a year of being natural I feel as if there is an abundance of useful information for me to obtain, the science of my hair texture (pattern), and potential is still unknown. Although there are plenty of natural hair sites and suggestions I find it rather difficult to wade through all of them in an attempt to find what “works for me.” I enjoy reading the many articles posted by professional bloggers such as Hairscapades (that’s you), Curly Nikki, and Naptural85 as well as others but, I often feel lost and more confused after reading. I have to bear in mind that our hair is unique and kustomphitted to each individual and therefore, what works for me or you will not necessarily work for the next. So, I believe that Hair Care Rehab could not only be the start of my growing personal natural hair library but, also a stepping stone to helping me achieve greatness in my natural hair journey.
Thank you,
Kustomphitted
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My hair needs intervention because no matter what my hair gets dry like the desert and breaks. I have fine strands, trying to get to waist length and seem stuck at BSL/MBL 😦
I loved the Science of Black Hair! Thanks for the giveaway!
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My hair is breaking after those sengelese twists. I need some intervention recommendations!
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Shelli, you just reminded me with this article that I have this book on my Kindle. A few months back it was avail as a free download. Good luck to whoever wins.
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Hi there. Over the last 15 months I journeyed to the world of natural. Hopelessly optimistic, fingers crossed, prayers lifted and anxious to see my first curl. I set out on the journey to transition my long (healthy, relaxed hair shortly after having my daughter . To some it may be a cliche, but I wanted her to grow and love her God given curls and not idolize mommy’s deceivingly healthly hair. So, I set out. Thinking, hell it can’t be that bad – it’s just hair. Now 15 months into my transition the ebb and flow of joyful naturalness coupled with complete dismay have me at a fork in the road. Longing for the ease of straight, throwing healthy to the wind, hair — I realize that I can no longer half ass commit to this new way of life – I must be all in to seek the true hair God has blessed me with. Thus far i have been a OJ (online junkie) digesting blogs like yours, Curly Nikki, consumer reviews, YouTube, friends, colleagues and my poor husband to get his thoughts on styles – I consume so much info I don’t know which way to go – simply put, I have over analyzed. I rest easy in my go to style of a braid out – but my two textures aren’t playing nice and bunning is a ish! So, with that said, I am sending up another prayer that I will be the chosen one and start my fully committed journey to natural in 2013 with the continued support of your blog and this hair care bible to help me along the way. Merry Christmas! 3heartBeats
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I want to know how to protect it while I’m growing it out with my busy lifestyle.
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My hair needs MORE than an intervention!!! I have sooooo many single strand knots and they wont stop. I’ve been cutting and cutting 😦
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My hair needs an intervention for sure. I’ll be 5 years natural mid-2013 and I haven’t even reached BSL yet. The hair of my edges is growing to about 2 or 3 inches and then completely comes out (of the follicle).
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Intervention please. I’m having split end issues! Guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
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I need an intervention to help with my dryness and ssk issues
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I’ve been natural for just over three years and I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong because I do not have more growth. With a bi-monthly regimen of sulfate-free shampoo, deep conditioning and prepping/twisting my hair into mini-twists for 2 weeks. It could be the ssks holding me back from achieving more length. I just don’t know and I need an intervention. Any thoughts would be helpful. Many thanks!
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My hair needs an intervention because for the past year I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to grow out a bad hair thinning. My hair is two different lengths all over, which causes countless ssks. I’ve been natural 2 years and really need a hair rehab.
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I need a hair intervention because while I love being natural and my hair is much healthier, I need tips on retaining length.
Thanks for the opportunity, Shelli! Good luck, all!
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Hi Ladies! I wish I could post a picture, then you all would truly understand why I need a hair intervention, LOL. I have been transitioning for over a year now, and I need help managing my natural hair vs the remaining relaxed ends. I have always had long hair, so I do not feel comfortable doing the big chop. Please help me Shelli!
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My hair needs an intervention because I continue to get split ends, and have yet to find a working solution for this problem
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My hair needs an intervention because it is so fine, especially in the top, that it is difficult to do protective styles like twists and braids because they won’t stay. I have to do it dry but even then they tend to unravel. With wash n’ go’s everything on the sides and back have a pretty nice curl pattern while the top barely has anything more than a wave.
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My hair needs a hair intervention because I need help bring out the real potential that it has!!
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Hi my hair needs a intervention because all my life I’ve been fighting it and constantly seemed to be losing the battle. Where I come from (Jamaica) my thick hair is considered hog hair because it’s so thick and unmanageable. I’ve struggled with perms and now I’ve decided to go natural it’s a struggle, but I’m not giving up, I just need help and good advice, plus today is my birthday so it would be a great gift. Thanks :0) :0)
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After 10 years of letting Ms. XXXX press my hair, I’ve finally taken the initiative to stop visiting her. She watched me and my sisters grow up, and I’ve watched my hair breakdown. I’m 7 months post heat straightening and dealing with MAJOR heat damage, excessively dry ends, & trouble finding styles that don’t show off my damaged parts. As a college student, it’s hard to slow down and decipher my hair’s needs sometimes. I need an intervention!!
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I stopped relaxing in March 2012. I chose to transition. I have been cutting my ends as my natural hair grows. Sometimes I feel confused with all the information at hand. First and foremost I want healthy hair. I also want nice length. I would love your book to help my natural journey. Thanks for the consideration and for the foresight to write material to help us desiring to be natural! God bless!
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I have been wearing a twa for two years. Every time it gets to a certain length I get major breakage. I want to retain length. I know I keep it moisturized but it still breaks off. I don’t know if I am protein sensitive or just have porous hair. I need some major in a big way.
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I suffered from terrible hair damage by 2011 and decided to transition (dnt know at that time). I have been trying to take care of my hair but it seems stuck. I have had two major depressing eye tearing breakage as a result of protein overload that I got frustrated and decided to stop doing anything to my hair. Now I seriously wish to texturize my hair jst a little so I can be able to manage it 😦
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I suffered from terrible hair damage by 2011 and decided to transition (dnt know at that time). I have been trying to take care of my hair but it seems stuck. I have had two major depressing eye tearing breakage as a result of protein overload that I got frustrated and decided to stop doing anything to my hair. Now I seriously wish to texturize my hair jst a little so I can be able to manage it . Saw this book on Amazon but I don’t have what it takes to buy 😦
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I had color added and eeks it is dry, dry, dry. I am doing protein treatments, I am moisturizing but ugh to no avail. So much to consider and consolidate off the web it is a bit overwhelming. Would love to go to a single source! Plus even 16 years after my big chop, I NEED help! 🙂
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