Natural hair is known to have multiple personalities which usually manifest themselves depending on styles, products, weather, etc. Understanding  your hair and the factors that affect how it behaves is very important and can play a pivotal role in mastering natural hair care. As mentioned earlier, weather affects the way natural hair behaves and changing weather patterns that come with changing seasons will force adjustments in your hair care routine.

Spring is in the air and, especially for those regions that experience very frigid fall and winter weathers, the drastic temperature shift will call for changes in your regimen. Here are 6 shifts you should use as tips and tricks for making the best of this very vibrant season.

1. Check For Damage - The winter season can wreak havoc on your natural hair if it is not properly cared for and protected. Natural hair has a tendency to become dry and brittle when exposed to cold weather. Your hair care regimen during those grueling cold months will determine the condition of your hair when things warm up. Be careful to observe your hair, especially the ends, to determine if they have suffered damage. If damage was experienced, the beginning of the spring time is the best time to turn over a new leaf. If your ends look shabby and broken, take the opportunity to trim them off so you can enter the new season with a healthy head of hair.

2. Restore Moisture - The pre-spring weather is usually one that dictates low manipulation and protective styling. Naturals often use the onset of this cold season as their queue to pull out their wigs, get a weave installed, wear braids, or just simply keep their own hair twisted, in cornrows, plaited etc. While these styles are great to achieve the quest for protection and low manipulation, they also dictate a reduction in the instances of applying deep conditioners. Your hair will usually have to remain deprived of well needed deep treatments while your hair remains in most of these protective styles. In addition to the difficulty that would be involved in trying to effectively apply deep conditioners to hair that is in a protective style, it is also not the most pleasant feeling, at least not for me, to have your hair exposed to water very regularly when the temperature is unbearably low. With that said, once the warm weather starts to unfold, you should ensure that your regular deep conditioning regimen is reinstated.

3. Protect From Sun - Spring and summer usually marks the beginning of warmer temperatures in some areas. The sun literally starts to feel hotter and its intensity can cause damage to your hair if it is left exposed for extended periods. The sun's ultra-violet rays can cause damage to your scalp and can also damage your hair from its cuticle to its inner structure. Hair that has been excessively exposed to the sun can become dry and brittle, making it more susceptible to breakage and split ends. Over time, exposure to the sun can also lighten your hair color even though it may not be noticeable. Since it is virtually impossible to totally avoid the sun, it is necessary for us to find ways of protecting our hair while in the sun. Wearing fashionable head gears is an effective way to block the sun from its potentially damaging effects on your hair.

4. Product Inventory - Keeping natural hair moisturized is an ongoing challenge. Evaluate your product stash and avoid using those containing ingredients that are drying to the hair. Some known culprits are alcohol, sulfate, and silicone-enriched ingredients. On the other hand, products with humectants are ideal during the spring time as the ingredient is known to aid in moisture retention. Humectants absorb moisture from the atmosphere into the hair and slow down the evaporation of liquid, keeping moisture in the hair shaft for longer periods of time. Some common humectants are glycerin, hydrogenated honey, hydrolyzed silk, etc. Paying keen attention to the products used and their ingredients can play a major role in your achieving a great hair experience.

5. Use the Baggy Method - The baggy method as the name suggests is a method of using a bag to lock in moisture, thus promoting hair growth. With this method, the hair is moisturized and then covered with a plastic bag to trap in the moisture. This has proven to be an effective means of keeping dry hair moisturized during those humid months. Moisture is applied to the hair which is then covered with a plastic cap. You can moisturize using a good over-the-counter moisturizing butter, custard or you can use a leave in conditioner and seal it with your favorite oil. With spring being a season when people start to get back in the pool and the ocean, it should prove very helpful for your hair if you begin to experience dryness due to the exposure to chlorine or salt water. As a note, try to apply this method in moderation. Use it on a need basis when your hair seems dry and thirsty. If dryness is being experienced only on your ends, then the bag can in fact be used to cover only that portion of hair, secured by a rubber band.

6. Co-Wash - During the winter months, natural hair care regimen is usually slightly adjusted to include the use of heavier moisturizing products such as hair butters, creams, custards etc. on a more regular basis. Using heavy products repeatedly can lead to build up on your hair. Build up on the hair sometimes requires that the hair be clarified using a clarifying shampoo or some type of rinse known to clarify hair. During the spring, however, you may not find it necessary to pile on the products hence minimizing build up. Co-washing involves washing your hair with conditioner, and is therefore more effective during this season with the assumption that you are able to avoid excess build up.

Regardless of the season, natural hair requires lots and lots of tender care and attention. There will never be a point in time when you can just neglect your hair and expect good results. Get to know your hair and what is most effective for it and you will be sure to enjoy all the pleasures wearing it brings.

Candie's Natural Hairnamix was birthed a few months after Jamaican native Rossette "Candie" Allen began her natural hair journey in May 2010. She gears this column toward naturals, transitioning naturals, aspiring naturals and the naturally curious, sharing experiences, expertise and experiments while celebrating emancipation from chemical slavery.