Poko Week: How to care for your hair naturally

A product marketed as a miracle treatment can leave hair drier, more fragile and less dense. The problem, the advice says, may not lie with the hair itself, but with a routine or products that do not match its needs.

In this week’s Poko Week column, Fadima Zerbo/Koné offers a natural-care routine for tightly coiled hair. Because of its structure, this hair type can make it harder for natural oils to spread along the full length, increasing sensitivity to dryness and breakage.

The first recommendation is regular hydration. Dry hair does not necessarily need constant oiling. It needs a routine that adds moisture and helps retain it. After applying a moisturizer, a suitable product can help seal in that moisture and reduce water loss.

The advice also calls for fewer harsh manipulations. Repeated combing, overly tight hairstyles and rough detangling can contribute to breakage. At night, a satin bonnet or pillowcase can protect the lengths from unnecessary friction.

Consumers are encouraged to assess products by looking at the formulation as a whole. A complicated ingredient name does not automatically make an ingredient harmful. Concentration, hair type and individual tolerance also matter. The column’s central message is to distinguish growth from retention: hair may grow at the roots while remaining the same length if the ends keep breaking. Rather than promising miracles, the goal is to care for the hair, reduce breakage and preserve new growth.