12 Gifts Of Hair Wisdom To Help You Glow

That’s right! Your ‘fros, our ‘fros, relaxed, natural, weaved up, braided out, you name it. We’ve gathered a bunch of wisdom, product suggestions and helpful hair talk from some of our favorite experts.

There are so many products, Youtube channels, Instagrams and Tumblrs out there for hair that it can all feel overwhelming. Because hair — especially natural hair — is so individualized, the hardest part of doing your hair is finding the right combination of products and regimens that work best for you.

Afrobella says it’s important to learn what ingredients your hair responds to and recognize that what works for your favorite YouTuber may not work for you. “Some people like coconut oil, some people are allergic to nuts in general and can’t use shea butter. There's all kinds of variables in hair.” There's no one product that works for everyone!

“We don't have the same process and you can’t tell me that my process is dirty or unclean,” says Afrobella. Advice like "'wash your hair everyday’ dries it out for us,” she says. It’s okay to say, “Wait a minute—brushing my hair 100 times a day and washing my hair every day is not for me."

Know that having a YouTube channel and a million followers on Instagram doesn't make anyone an expert, especially on something as intricate as hair care. There's a lot of misinformation out there so it's your responsibility to do your research and find out what's real and what's not.

Whether you want to spend a lot on your Mary Poppins bag of detangling tools or not, the most important secret weapon is using a product with a lot of slippage, which will encourage your comb/brush/fingers to glide through the hair and melt tangles instead of breaking it off at gnarly friction points.

Products like Kinky Curly Knot Today and Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist detangler are cult favorites and may help tame your tangles.

The right tools can make all the difference in the world! You don't need a lot, just a few really good ones to make maintaining and styling your hair easy.

This Ouidad Double Detangler can make wash day less of a nightmare, or this soft elastic hair tie can give you a bomb puff without snagging your edges. If you play your cards right, you may be able to convince someone to get you this detangly wizard wand.

Money is tough to find sometimes, so don’t sleep on that drugstore-chic! You can find lots of products there that are great in a pinch at a low cost. Make sure you read the ingredient labels, though, and don't just buy products because they're easy on the wallet. Some ingredients are harsh and have adverse effects over time.

Check out the "Before You Start" section of this natural hair challenge for some common ingredients you should stay away from.

Classic dilemma: your hair is on point, but you need to get dat ass in shape tho. Afrobella assures us that these things don't have to be mutually exclusive. "Use some kind of sweat absorbing headband, or tie your hair up so you can avoid getting your scalp super sweaty," she advises. Actress Nicole Ari Parker actually invented this gym wrap to absorb moisture when working out!

Some naturalistas may wonder how often to wash without drying out delicate hair. Afrobella suggests trying "a no-poo or low-poo like Deva Curl,” though, she adds, the formula may not work for everyone. Research a few specifically for your hair type and try them out.

“The world does not know what to do with black women’s hair,” says Heben. STILL. Despite it almost being 2017, some of us are still subject to drive-by pettings from colleagues, strangers and (soon to be former?) friends. Stand up for yourself if you feel you need to, but don't feel pressured to explain yourself. The most important thing is to respect your own needs!