For length-obsessed naturalistas, heat stretching combats shrinkage. Done by using a blow-dryer, heat stretching is a less damaging alternative to flat ironing, helping to avoid permanently altering your hair's natural texture and curl pattern.

"I started heat stretching, because I didn't want my regular use of heat to be mistaken for heat training," says Alicia James of Easy Natural Hair, who says she has a mix of 4A, 4B and 4C curls. "I'm not trying to change the natural texture of my hair. I do it because heat makes my hair easier to manage. My knots and tangles are minimal, and I experience less breakage and shedding throughout the week ... My goal is not to have straight hair, but to manipulate my hair in a way that helps me maintain it daily."

"Using heat is a big decision when it comes to [natural] hair maintenance. You have to always be very careful and understand the risk that comes with doing it ... even just once. For extra heat protection, I use extra virgin olive oil. It was already a regular part of my hair regimen, and extra virgin olive oil has a high smoke point, so it can tolerate high heat."

Some women with natural hair braid it up at night to keep their kinky curls tame. Others, like Sharday of The Awkward Stage, prefer the pineapple method, a way of piling the hair on top of the head and wrapping it so as not to squish curls while you sleep.

She explains, "The pineapple method is basically when you gather all your curls into a high ponytail and loosely secure it with a hair tie. Once your ponytail is secure, you make sure the ponytail part is facing forward so you can pin down the ends."

"Once it's up, you put on your satin bonnet and go to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, all you have to do is fluff your hair and go."