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| Corn Rows |
By Geniece of Beautifully Made
It’s that time of year of again. The rush of term papers, Friday
and Saturday night social events, all-nighters: Yup, back to school. If you
will be going away to college for the first time, you will soon discover that
hair care will often fall low on your priority list as you juggle a new and
exciting academic and social life. Before I went away to college my mother was
a ready and available hair care lay-expert and I had a number of hair salons
within walking distance from my house. Going to college in a not so diverse
town in upstate New York was not only a culture shock but taught me that I
would have to learn how to care for my hair. If you are natural you’re already
ahead of the curve because when I went away to college I was still relaxed,
which meant maintaining my hair required using a harsh chemical that could have
spelled disaster in the hands of an unskilled teenager. This is not to say that
it will be a cake walk if you’re natural but you can certainly manage your hair
on a weekly basis without causing damage. Here are a few hair care tips that
you may want to take into consideration.
1. Stock up on products before
you head to school
If your school is located in an area in which “ethnic” hair care
products are not easily available please consider stocking up before you board
the plane or drive miles away. Two or three bottles of shampoo and conditioner,
your favorite leave in and styler should keep you until Thanksgiving or
Christmas holiday. Even if there aren’t any beauty supply stores in your
neighborhood consider checking out the availability of products at CVS,
Walgreens and similar stores, which have several options available. While
ordering online is always an option, you will probably want to save your money
for book shipping costs or for what my younger sister called “emergency
outfits” for social events.
2. Keep your styles simple
There will be weeks when you have NO TIME for anything not related
to studying for an exam or writing a paper. As such you will need to identify a
go to, easy hairstyle so that you can walk around campus looking presentable.
While I have seen my fair share of brightly colored head wraps and du-rags in
the library during midterms and finals, it is possible to keep it classy while
prepping to ace your economics final. If you choose to keep your hair in a
simple bun, be sure to moisturize it every two days. When your hairstyle
becomes frizzy simply mist it with water and tie it down with a scarf. You may
even find that this unintentional protective style actually holds benefits for
your hair.
3. Watch out for cigarette
smoke/party smells
I wasn’t much into parties in college but living in a dorm I
became familiar with party smells. That’s right, smells. Parties held off
campus will possibly have the aroma of cigarette smoke. This smell will cling
to your perfectly fluffed fro. There’s not much to do to get rid of the
smell but to wash it out so be prepared to possibly reserve Sundays for your
hair washing day.
4. Find a “campus stylist”
Instead of doling out money to go to get your hair braided or
twisted at a local salon identify the campus stylists. I’m a big fan of
do-it-yourself hair care but I have yet to master cornrowing and even if I did there may be times when I’d be too
lazy to style my hair. If you can find the individuals on campus who can braid
you will be able to get your hair styled for a fraction of the cost of a salon.
If you’re a freshman ask upperclassmen to point you in the direction of the
best campus hair stylists.
5. Have fun!
College was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.
While there are seasons of busyness, don’t allow the drama of others to dampen
your experience or stress you out. I have seen the effects of unnecessary drama
on one’s physical appearance, including hair. Enjoy this special time in your
life, make friends and wear your beautiful, natural hair proudly.
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