There are practically some things to never do to Your natural hair because it’s more fragile than you think. In order to maintain that healthy, shiny, and stunning hair, here are 5 things you should never do to your natural hair. Lupita Nyong’o, Solange, and Yara Shahidi have helped to propel women of color with natural hair to the forefront.

1. DO NOT USE CONDITIONER LIKE SHAMPOO

    The shampoo is not a conditioner. Therefore, you shouldn’t use them the same way. Shampoo is meant to clean your hair at the roots. While conditioner is meant to moisturize the part of your hair that needs it most which is the ends.

    Applying conditioner to your roots will leave a tacky film behind, make your scalp oily, and also grease up your hair. Therefore, apply conditioner only to the ends of your hair, which is probably where it’s most dry, broken, and damaged.

2. DO NOT BRUSH WITH A DIRTY HAIRBRUSH

    Always clean your hairbrush because it can collect many germs, bacteria, and dead skin cells that you are not aware of. Remove all the hair before going through your brush with a clean toothbrush, baking soda, and tea tree oil solution before letting it air dry.

HOW TO DEAL WITH HAIR BREAKAGE

3. DO NOT EXPOSE YOUR HAIR TO TOO MUCH SUN

    Your hair can get damaged from too much exposure to the sun, just like your skin. The sun’s warmth may feel great, but it can quickly dehydrate your hair, decrease its natural proteins, and cause damage. This can be avoided by wearing a protective hat or by keeping your hair moisturized.

4. DO NOT OVERWASH YOUR HAIR

    Your hair has natural oils that it must maintain to keep it healthy. Washing it more often than it truly needs will only do more than good. Washing your hair about three to four times a week is a good schedule for oily manes, while two to three times a week is better for thinner, dryer hair that is more exposed to hot tools. 

5. DO NOT USE TOO MANY PRODUCT

     Most hair products only require a small amount, from the size of a pea to a quarter, to effectively work. Using too much hair product can mess with your hair’s natural makeup as well as create irritation and/or greasy hair faster than you would like. Therefore, it’s best to stick to the recommended amount.