Terms And Their Applications On A Healthy Hijabi Hair Journey. Part 1

Assalam Alaikum Waramatulahi,

Anas ibn Malik reports:

Allah’s Messenger Mohammad (SAW) often applied lotion to his head and frequently combed his beard. He would then cover his head and his robes looked like those of an oil trader.” (Related by Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Bayhaqi and Abu Al-Shaykh.) Another version of this Hadith mentions that the Prophet very frequently used water to wet his hair when he combed his head.

When you decide to begin a healthy hijabi hair journey, you should know the meaning of some useful terms that has been used for years by the  black hair community.

These terms although quite numerous will help you understand your hair better and know what your hair needs to thrive no matter your hair type or weather conditions. I will try my best to make explanations very easy and simple so i don't bore you to death.😙



Baggying – Putting on a moisturizer ( Leave-in-conditioner -  most people know this as PINK OIL, wash-out-conditioner or any other hair treatment)  and  applying a plastic bag over the hair to trap the moisture in. You can either baggy your ends with a small santana nylon bag or you can do a full head baggy with a plastic shower cap. This is a very helpful treatment for those with dry damaged hair and dry ends. Many Nigerian hijabi call this procedure ''STEAMING''.

Braid-Out – Braiding your hair in sections for a period of time.The most common term for this procedure is called ''CALABAR''.

Carrier oil – Known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils ( Mint oil, Eucalyptus oil, Peppermint oil e.t.c.) Examples include coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, e.t.c

Co-washing – Washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. This helps to put moisture back in the hair without stripping the hair of its natural oils, great for long-term protective styles or after exercising.

Deep conditioning –Applying a conditioner specifically formulated to penetrate the cuticle of the hair. It helps revive dull lifeless hair thus giving it more strength, elasticity, moisture, softness, and shine. It is a good way of replenishing lost moisture in the hair leaving it less prone to breakage and manageable. Another very simple way of explaining this procedure is Baggying or Steaming that last for 3 to 5 hours.
 Am sure my hijabis will go who has the time to sit and baggy hair for such an amount of time. 😠
Don't forget your hair is covered and you can get away with a lot. Baggy that hair and place a fabulous hijabi on it while you carry on with life like nothing happened. Lol
  For natural hijabis, i will suggest deep conditioning every month and for relaxed or texlaxed hijabi every two weeks or once a month. If your hair is indeed damaged, brittle and haywire then  baggy ever week for four consecutive weeks.

Humectants – Attracts and retains moisture to the hair i.e. Glycerin and honey, which are the natural alternative to sorbitol and propylene glycol. This should be incorporated when baggying to repair damaged hair.

Leave-in Conditioner – A quick way of adding moisture back into the hair after shampooing/conditioning. It helps to detangle the hair leaving it soft and manageable. Most leave-ins provide thermal protection for styling afterwards.

Line of Demarcation – Where the natural hair and relaxed hair meet as your hair grows; the point where your new growth meets your previously chemically treated hair. This location can be very delicate so be very gentle when stretching.

Sealing – Using a natural oil to lock in the moisture after you’ve moisturized the hair i.e. Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Safflower Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Using an oil over the moisturizer will allow your hair to stay moisturized longer.




                                                                                                 TO     BE    CONTINUED