If you are dealing with CCCA alopecia, thinning hair, breakage, or a sensitive scalp, wash day can feel completely different from what it used to.
One of the biggest things I have learned throughout my own hair journey is that I cannot treat my hair like everybody else treats theirs. I have to pay attention to my scalp, avoid unnecessary tension, keep my hair moisturized, and be consistent.
In my latest YouTube video, I’m taking you through my CCCA alopecia wash day while my natural hair is in mini braids.
Why I Like Mini Braids for My Natural Hair
Mini braids have become one of the styles I enjoy because they allow me to leave my hair alone while still having access to my scalp.
For me, the goal of a protective style is not just to make my hair look good. I want the style to actually protect my hair.
That means:
● Keeping the braids loose enough that they are not pulling on my scalp
● Avoiding unnecessary tension around thinning areas
● Continuing to wash and condition my hair
● Moisturizing my hair instead of forgetting about it because it is braided
● Paying attention to my ends and preventing excessive dryness and breakage
If you are experiencing hair loss, a hairstyle should never hurt. Tightness, pulling, soreness, or bumps around the hairline are signs that a style may be putting too much stress on the scalp.
Step 1: Cleansing My Scalp
I start my wash day by focusing on the scalp first.
When your hair is in braids, it can be tempting to concentrate only on the length of the hair, but your scalp still needs to be properly cleansed.
I use my Sydney Nicole Products Raw African Black Soap Hair Growth Shampoo to cleanse away sweat, product buildup, oils, and debris.
I gently work the shampoo into my scalp instead of aggressively scratching or rubbing.
With CCCA and a sensitive scalp, I have learned that gentle does not mean ineffective. You can thoroughly cleanse your scalp without being rough with your hair.
Step 2: Conditioning the Hair
After shampooing, I follow with conditioner to bring moisture back into my hair.
I pay special attention to the length of my mini braids and especially my ends because those older parts of the hair are more vulnerable to dryness and breakage.
I allow the conditioner to sit before rinsing so my hair has time to soften.
This step is extremely important for me because one of my goals is not only encouraging a healthy scalp but also retaining the hair that I already have.
Growing hair and retaining length are two different things.
If your hair continues breaking as quickly as it grows, it can seem like your hair is not growing at all.
Step 3: Moisturizing After Wash Day
After cleansing and conditioning, I don’t just let my hair dry out.
I continue with moisture and scalp care.
Depending on what my hair and scalp need, I incorporate products such as:
Scalp Soothing Mist
I use this to refresh and moisturize my scalp without weighing my hair down.
Organic Hair Growth Oil
I apply oil directly to my scalp and massage gently.
Moisture Sealing Hair Butter
I use this to help seal moisture into the length and ends of my natural hair.
The important part is consistency.
There is no single wash day, oil, cream, hairstyle, or overnight treatment that replaces taking care of your hair week after week.
CCCA Has Changed the Way I Look at Hair Growth
One of the hardest things about experiencing hair loss is that it can change the way you feel when you look in the mirror.
You may compare your hair to what it used to look like.
You may look at other people’s hair and wonder why yours is not growing the same way.
You may become frustrated when one area improves faster than another.
I’ve had those moments too.
But documenting my journey has helped me see something that is easy to miss when I look at my hair every single day:
Progress is still progress, even when it happens slowly.
When I compare my hair today to older pictures and videos, I can see changes that I couldn’t always recognize while I was going through the process.
That is one reason I encourage women experiencing hair loss to take pictures.
Don’t obsess over them every day. Give your hair time.
Then go back and compare.
CCCA Hair Care Is About More Than Hair Growth
My focus now is not simply, “How fast can I grow my hair?”
I’m thinking about:
Scalp health.
Moisture.
Breakage.
Inflammation.
Nutrition.
Low-tension styling.
Consistency.
And protecting the hair that I already have.
CCCA is a form of scarring alopecia, so anyone experiencing unexplained thinning, tenderness, itching, burning, or progressive hair loss should consider being evaluated by a dermatologist or qualified healthcare professional.
My personal hair-care routine is not a replacement for medical care. I share my journey because I know how isolating hair loss can feel, especially for Black women, and I want other women to know they are not alone in trying to figure out what works for their hair.
Watch My Full CCCA Wash Day
In the full video, you can watch exactly how I shampoo, condition, moisturize, and care for my mini braids while continuing my CCCA hair journey.
Watch: CCCA Alopecia Wash Day With Mini Braids
And if you are following my journey, subscribe to Sydney Nicole Products | Hair Growth & Skin Care on YouTube because I will continue documenting my hair, protective styles, wash days, CCCA updates, wellness journey, and the things I am learning along the way.
Shop My Hair Care Routine
You can shop the products I use throughout my hair-care journey at:
If you’re not sure where to start, the Sydney Nicole Products Hair Growth Trio is a great foundation for creating a consistent shampoo, conditioning, and scalp-care routine.
Remember: healthy hair care is a journey.
Be patient with your hair.
Pay attention to your scalp.
Protect your strands.
Stay consistent.
It’s time to take your crown back® 👑
— Sydney Nicole Products
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