A reader asked…

Is it safe to detangle every day?

Low manipulation is the key to longer fuller hair. I don’t recommend daily detangling, but you should strive to keep your hair detangled so that when you do detangle you don’t loose a lot of hair. That means not letting your hair matt up. Make sure you braid it, twist it or set it with rollers when you sleep and wear a satin or silk scarf or bonnet. Also, take time to detangle your hair. Rushing will increase the chance of breakage. If you feel like you’re going to do something that’s going to tangle your hair, then wear a protective style like a bun to decrease the chance of knots and tangles. Also, if you do experience tangles and knots, try to work them out with your fingers and conditioner or oil before you try a wide tooth comb, but watch your fingernails. Don’t pull and be very gentle.

This post is to address questions about braids, weaves and dreadlocks.

Mane and Chic doesn’t cover these topics. Why? Braids, weaves and dreadlocks are all 3 different niches that deserve their own platforms. Mane and Chic is focused on transitioning and caring for your hair without using any of those techniques. That being said, there are a few things you need to know about braids and weaves: don’t get them put in too tight, don’t leave braids or weaves in longer than one or two months, braids should be at least pencil size and take care of your hair underneath. I suggest visiting Grow Afro Hair Long, a very informative site about growing hair with braids and weaves. I don’t know of any blogs for women with dreadlocks, but I’m sure there are some great ones out there. If you know of any please leave links in the comments.

Natural hair is prone to dryness. I am frequently asked about the dry hair phenomenon. It’s normal for natural hair to get dry. Most women with 3C-4B hair will have to moisturize at least once a day to prevent dryness, but many women moisturize multiple times per day on second day and third day hair. You have to do what’s best for you since everybody’s hair is different. If your hair feels dry on the same day that you wash it, you’re probably using the wrong products and aren’t using smoothing techniques. You should be co-washing or washing your hair at least once a week. If your hair is feeling super dry on the fourth or fifth day after your wash and your leave-ins aren’t working anymore like they were on the second and third day, then it’s time to wash again. I tend to moisturize once at night when I’m resetting my hair. I seal with an oil or butter. Sometimes in the morning or during the day I add a little more oil. I wash my hair once or twice per week.

The other day, someone left a comment. Here is what she wrote.

I can’t speak for the 3c’s of the world but, if anything, not having those straight ends to weigh it down has made it worse. I never experienced matting with relaxed hair or while transitioning, but I am literally picking dreadlocks out of my hair daily with natural hair.

This intrigued me so I decided to post a poll asking about your experience with matting. In my own experience, my hair matted terribly when I was transitioning namely because I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing. It would happen when I went to sleep without braiding, twisting or setting my hair. I learned to stay on top of my hair by not letting it get tangled or matted in the first place. For me this means not letting my hair coil up on itself by wearing natural hair sets: braid outs, twist outs and roller sers. I’m also careful not to take naps or lean my head against anything while it’s loose because it causes frizz and matting. If I need a nap, I quickly twist my hair up in a high loose bun and use a scarf or bonnet.

Hi! Ive been following your blog for about a year and I really love it! I’m fifteen and I have been transitioning for a year now. I have many different textures in my hair which is natural however the hair near my hairline has no curl pattern at all! It’s really thick and frizzy but not wavy or curly. It almost resembles relaxed hair however it’s a lot thicker and a little rough to the touch. I remember reading your post on scab hair however my hair has had over 12 months to transition. Is this normal? I appreciate any suggestions or feedback you have for me! Thanks!

You should now that it is perfectly normal and extremely common to have different textures of hair growing out of your scalp. It’s also common that some parts of your head will not have a curl pattern. If it isn’t damage from, sun, wind, heat or chemicals then you can safely assume that is the natural texture of your hair. I happen to have this issue: the crown section of my hair is frizzy, undefined and pretty much the way you describe your hair. I usually wear roller set braid outs, use lots of conditioner and smoothing techniques to blend it in with the other areas.

Check out these other related posts, which can also be found in the Natural Hair 101: The Beginner’s Guide.

10 Tips for Perfecting Your Wet Set Braid Out
Perfect Style for Transitioners and Undefined Curls
Dealing with Different Textures

Shauntae writes…

Six years ago, I would spend $60 dollars or more on my addiction to upkeep my spike haircut. It became so bad that I would take a split shift to make my hair appointment. Then one day I ran it to my coily delight. His dreads right above his shoulder captured my eye. Strand by strand, I began to chop my hair in prayer to become his heartbeat. As I chopped my hair, I began to be free. Releasing the natural beauty, that God had given me. Just like a flower, our love began to grow. As his hair swung past his shoulder, my hair began to reach to the heavens. This natural love six years later produced a blessing. Oh no, I am not worried about what folks might think of me. I am released to wear my hair any way I want. It is no longer my weakness but my strength.

A reader says: “Reading Mane AND Chic makes me want to go natural, but I just don’t think my stylist would agree to it.

Mane AND Chic says: Time to get a new stylist. Click here to read the Mane AND Chic’s post on how to find a dope stylist. Or learn to transition on your own, read these posts.