SZA's Top Haircare Secrets For Keeping Your Natural Hair Long And Luscious
Whether she's rocking super voluminous curls or experimenting with trendsetting hues via a protective hairstyle, SZA continues to keep us memorized with her hair transformations.
Not one to shy away from using her tresses as a form of expression, it is not uncommon for the multi-talented singer to be asked her secrets to maintaining beautifully natural hair. Below, we have combined the "Best Female R&B / Pop Artist" nominee's best haircare advice over the years, along with our favorite looks spotted on the red carpet, on stage, and more!
Tip #1: Never Use Hot Water To Rinse Your Hair
SZA is all about keeping her natural hair properly nourished. While chatting with Vogue, the "Hit Different" singer revealed why she never rinses her hair with hot water.
"I like to co-wash, which means washing without a shampoo," she explained to the magazine in 2014. "I just use a conditioner and coconut oil, and then I rinse my hair with lukewarm water instead of hot water, which strips hair of all the moisture."
Tip #2: Always Carve Out Time To Deep Condition Your Hair
Despite her busy schedule, SZA always carves out time to moisturize her tresses—and catch up on her favorite shows! While chatting with Vogue the same year, she explained her deep conditioning process that includes watching foodie TV.
"I make my own deep conditioner from coconut oil, avocado, a drop of Pantene’s conditioner for women of color, cinnamon, and tea tree oil. Then I sit and catch up on TiVo’d episodes of Chopped and Iron Chef," she shared. "If I have time I’ll twist it, but my hair takes days to dry so I usually blow-dry it out with a diffuser instead. I’ll lean over the blow-dryer and divide my hair into four sections, but I never comb it through because it breaks up the curls."
Tip #3: Limit The Amount Of Heat You Use On Your Hair
After sending her fanson social media into a frenzy with her natural hair reveal, the musical beauty shared her secrets to flawless hair: limited heat and regular trims!
“I straighten my hair once like every 6 months to trim it / check growth. Lol, I almost never touch it," SZA told fans who asked questions in the comments section of her Instagram post. "4c just needs LOW manipulation and lots of moisture… A WHOLE LOT.”
Tip #4: Opt For Protective Hairstyles
It's no secret that SZA turns to protective hairstyles (i.e. wigs, extensions, and braids) to keep her natural hair flourishing. In the photo above, the "Supermodel" artist rocked a bright yellow unit that allowed her to experiment with colorful trends without compromising the health of her inches. Genius!
Tip #5: Disregard Natural Hair Myths
While sharing her natural hair tips with Harper's Bazaar, the musician sent this message to those who may be second guessing embarking on a natural hair journey: "It's so much better."
She added, "Yes, the in-between stage is awkward, and your hair will break. It's hard, but after you get past that—my hair has never grown this fast. There's this weird misconception about Black women that our hair doesn't grow—but it's not true. Yes, genes are important—but your hair will grow if you seriously take care of it."
We can't wait to see what fun and creative beauty moments she'll flaunt this year. Watch the BET Awards 2021 on June 27 at 8/7C to find out!
