7 things only girls with natural hair will understand

Thick hair is both a blessing and a pain. If you have thick hair, you are a source of envy to women with thin hair. It can handle a lot of 'mistreatment'. However, there are challenges that come with thick hair.

It is worse if your hair is long and natural. What with the difficult detangling of dry and painful hair? One may even be tempted to cut it for easier management. What if you are not ready to cut it? There are ways in which you can live with your thick mane.

Sections: Handling one big lump of thick hair is not easy. Whenever you want to shampoo, condition or oil the hair, section it to ensure complete coverage of the hair. You can section it in four or more parts depending on the size of your head.

Product: After sectioning the hair, make sure you apply enough of whatever the product is. The thicker your hair, the more quantity of a product it requires. Yes, it means you spend more on product than someone4 with thin hair. Once you apply the product from the roots all the way to the ends, comb it through to even the coverage.

Patience: Yes, thick hair requires more time to wash, dry and straighten. You cannot rush through the combing and detangling because it is painful. Always be prepared and plan when you know you need to do your hair. Drying it alone can take up to an hour.

Right accessories: The thicker your hair, the stronger the accessories you need to use on it. Fancy hair pins and bows, for example, may not hold your hair in place unless you use many of them. You are thus better off going for bigger stronger hair clips. Plastic headbands will not help you much as they may not hold your hair in place. You are better off using an elastic band or refashioning a headscarf on your head. Invest in a high-powered hair dryer and strong hair brush; a tooth-comb will not help your hair.

Detangling: The least painful way to comb thick hair is from the middle to the ends. However, this is not the best way because it leaves the roots tangled. Hair that is not detangled locs on its own; so you must detangle from the roots. The longer and more you skip detangling from the roots the more painful your hair will be. Do this every day if your hair is open.

Hydration: Keep your hair well hydrated so that it is easy to manage (comb) and even look nice. Dry hair is prone to snapping off at the slightest interference. Use conditioners that keep your hair and scalp clean and moisturised. Regular deep conditioning once every one to two weeks will keep the moisture levels high.

Keep it stretched: This is especially for the naturals who don't like relaxing their hair. When the hair is stretched; it is easier for moisture to be sealed in from the roots to the ends thus minimising breakage. Un-stretched hair also tangles easily. You can keep it stretched by making matutas before you go to bed or if you don't mind some heat, blow-dry it.

 Natural hair sister: Finding naturals with your type of hair will help you since you are able to enquire among each other how to take care and style such hair. Look for blogs, Facebook pages or even groups of women who have that hair type.