At the start of 2010, I decided to chop off all of my relaxed hair and go natural. Like most things in my life I didn't have a plan in place, I just jumped. I knew nothing of taking care of natural hair nor of the important hair care regimen that is necessary to maintain the fro of your dreams. Thirteen months into managing my African locks I have experienced highs and many lows of nursing natural hair. Despite the lows, all self inflicted, I love the true identity of my mane. It has so much personality! A big side of that personality is its perpetual need of moisture. For all of you non-African heritage readers, natural hair can be likened to a house plant. When regularly watered and trimmed it will flourish and liven up a room. Let it go neglected and it will wither and die. The past four weeks of winter 2011, have been uncharacteristically cold and dry, and as a result, my hair has greatly suffered from the lack of humidity in the air. I thought it be a good time to apply natural oils to my fro to help alleviate some of its dehydration.
During a brief trip to Wal-Mart, I came across an oil treatment that included natural oils and excluded all of the harsh chemicals that kill African hair. I noticed that it was a THERMAL OIL TREATMENT but I was more interested in the natural ingredients. Plus, I was thinking of using it on a daily basis to help my hair get through the rest of the winter months. With that goal in mind, I really should have gone with a regular daily treatment verses a thermal version. The instructions on the back of the box recommended only 1 -2 applications a month, because the product could cause burning. I read these instructions at least 3 times but never concluded that this hot oil could do any harm. I guess I have a different interpretation of the word 'thermal'. Although, that word has a very limited definition. But in the English to Moira dictionary, thermal is a throwaway adjective used for clothing or a layer of the earth's crust. Nonetheless, I parted my hair into several sections and applied the oil. As directed, I applied the oil onto my hair roots, gently massaged it into my scalp, and then brushed it to the ends of my hair. The oil felt great on my tight itchy scalp. I made two stranded twists with each section of hair, applied my head scarf, and headed off to bed.
The following morning I woke up to a burning sensation on my left temple. I patted my hair on each side of my head and felt a terrible sting all over. I sat up in my bed and unwrapped my hair. As I pulled on a few twists the stinging sensation intensified. OMG! I burnt my scalp! I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. I turned on the faucet in the bathtub and dunked my head under the cold running water. As the water made contact with the seared sections of my scalp I could feel the degree of the burn to my head made by the thermal treatment. I felt like an idiot. I dangled upside-down over the side of the bathtub and made oh-ah sounds, due to the pain, for a good fifteen minutes. As I toweled dried my hair and tried to assess the damage to my scalp, I could see white flakes of charred scalp at the roots of my hair. "Rats!" I thought. Instead of being proactive, I have taken steps back in helping my scalp/hair maintain moisture. But like all my hair lows, it is was entirely my fault. Thermal means one thing and one thing only. HEAT!!! The sheer stupidity of it all. Sometimes I need to be saved from myself. Happily, I was able to rectify the situation but now have to nurse burned patches of scalp along with dry hair for the next several weeks.
They say mistakes are not a waste as long as you learn from them. The lesson I take away from this ordeal is to not listen to my private interpretation of a spoken language. If in doubt, consult family and friends with a command of the language as well. And lastly, own up to your mistakes and forgive yourself. Hair and skin are resilient and will heal. Wash, rinse, and don't repeat!
During a brief trip to Wal-Mart, I came across an oil treatment that included natural oils and excluded all of the harsh chemicals that kill African hair. I noticed that it was a THERMAL OIL TREATMENT but I was more interested in the natural ingredients. Plus, I was thinking of using it on a daily basis to help my hair get through the rest of the winter months. With that goal in mind, I really should have gone with a regular daily treatment verses a thermal version. The instructions on the back of the box recommended only 1 -2 applications a month, because the product could cause burning. I read these instructions at least 3 times but never concluded that this hot oil could do any harm. I guess I have a different interpretation of the word 'thermal'. Although, that word has a very limited definition. But in the English to Moira dictionary, thermal is a throwaway adjective used for clothing or a layer of the earth's crust. Nonetheless, I parted my hair into several sections and applied the oil. As directed, I applied the oil onto my hair roots, gently massaged it into my scalp, and then brushed it to the ends of my hair. The oil felt great on my tight itchy scalp. I made two stranded twists with each section of hair, applied my head scarf, and headed off to bed.
The following morning I woke up to a burning sensation on my left temple. I patted my hair on each side of my head and felt a terrible sting all over. I sat up in my bed and unwrapped my hair. As I pulled on a few twists the stinging sensation intensified. OMG! I burnt my scalp! I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. I turned on the faucet in the bathtub and dunked my head under the cold running water. As the water made contact with the seared sections of my scalp I could feel the degree of the burn to my head made by the thermal treatment. I felt like an idiot. I dangled upside-down over the side of the bathtub and made oh-ah sounds, due to the pain, for a good fifteen minutes. As I toweled dried my hair and tried to assess the damage to my scalp, I could see white flakes of charred scalp at the roots of my hair. "Rats!" I thought. Instead of being proactive, I have taken steps back in helping my scalp/hair maintain moisture. But like all my hair lows, it is was entirely my fault. Thermal means one thing and one thing only. HEAT!!! The sheer stupidity of it all. Sometimes I need to be saved from myself. Happily, I was able to rectify the situation but now have to nurse burned patches of scalp along with dry hair for the next several weeks.
They say mistakes are not a waste as long as you learn from them. The lesson I take away from this ordeal is to not listen to my private interpretation of a spoken language. If in doubt, consult family and friends with a command of the language as well. And lastly, own up to your mistakes and forgive yourself. Hair and skin are resilient and will heal. Wash, rinse, and don't repeat!
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