10 Reasons Your Fine Natural Hair Isn’t Flourishing

Hi. My name is Nike (nee-kay), and I have fine natural hair that’s flourishing. It wasn’t always this way. I really struggled during my ten-year natural hair journey. The greatest struggle for me wasn’t so much that I couldn’t get my natural hair to flourish (and look good while doing it). The greatest struggle for me was accepting my hair just the way it is—fine strands and all. Today, I can say with confidence, I finally got the hang of my fine natural hair. You can, too! Just make sure you’re not guilty of the following.

1. You haven’t changed your mindset. Listen, your hair will never look like hers (insert your hair idol, here). But that’s okay, because your natural hair is awesome, too! You just have to accept your fine texture, first, before you can begin caring for it effectively. Love your hair! Being a fine textured gal (or pal) has its benefits.

2. You’re following the wrong advice. It’s tempting to follow the same regimen as the beautiful naturalista with thick, luscious curls, but a regimen meant for a texture different than yours isn’t the best way to go. Do your own research and learn how to best take care of your God-given texture. And do yourself a favor by adding some fine textured gals to your shrine of natural hair goddesses.

3. You’re not willing to experiment. Knowing the best way to care for your fine natural hair will take a great amount of experimenting. This means you have to be willing to make mistakes. But on the flip side, each trial helps you understand your fine texture a bit better.

4. You’re using the wrong products. Heavy conditioners and creams can weigh down and suffocate fine strands. Natural, lightweight products typically work best. This is because natural products don’t contain moisture – blocking ingredients like water insoluble silicones, or drying detergents like sulfates found in commercial shampoos.

5. You don’t wash your hair enough. It doesn’t take much product, environmental pollutants, or dead skin cells to weigh down fine hair and wreak havoc on the scalp. This buildup must be washed away regularly to maintain healthy hair and scalp. How much is enough? At least once a week.

6. You don’t do protein treatments. Regular deep conditioning treatments infused with protein keeps fine strands strong and protected. Protein attaches to the hair follicle and forms a protective barrier around it by hardening the cuticle. Fine hair, that's not protein sensitive, will benefit from weekly protein treatments. But be sure to do a moisture balancing treatment, as well.

7. You don’t consume enough protein. Although protein treatments are great, it’s also important to consume proteins in the form of essential amino acids. Diets low in protein results in weak, hair shafts that are protein deficient. The average adult woman should consume 46 grams of protein every day. Men should consume 56 grams.

8. You’re too rough. Fine hair needs a delicate hand. Rough-handling will rip and snap fine hair at the weakest places along the strand. Detangling tools used on fine hair should be soft and flexible. Fingernails shouldn't have any rough edges. Avoid cheap plastic combs and hair picks, as well as hard bristle brushes. Fingers are best, but a quality wide-toothed comb and/or Denman brush are great detangling options.

9. You don’t opt for low manipulation styles. Protective styles are great, but sew-ins, lace fronts, heavy box braids, and tiny mini-twists can stress both your hair and your hairline. Fine hair tends to be extremely fragile along the nape and temples, which won’t stand a chance against rigid wig combs and/or braids that are too tight. Low manipulation styles like larger two-strand twists, braid-outs, and buns are better options. Plus, you can still wash your hair on the weekly basis.

10. You don’t know your hair texture. For fine hair with medium density, natural hair can often disguise its true texture. While the hair may appear thick at first glance, when evaluating the diameter of the individual strands, some naturals would be surprised to discover that their hair is actually fine. Likewise, naturalistas with thick strands and lower density could mistake their texture for thin/fine hair. Knowing your hair texture is the foundation of your haircare regimen. It’ll help you do the right research and purchase the right products.

If you’re unsure what your hair texture is, do this quick test: Take a strand of your hair and place it next to a standard piece of sewing thread. If the strand is larger in diameter than the thread, your texture is considered thick. If the strand is smaller in diameter than the thread, welcome to the fine hair club.

Please seek out a licensed professional to ensure your hair texture is actually fine and not thinning due to an undiagnosed health problem.

Be a gem and help other fine textured gals out by writing your tips down below!

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