Taking Care of Natural Hair For African American Women

The natural hair of African Americans women, in its natural texture is coiled and would need lots of moisture.

As a result, their natural hair type requires less washing and shampooing than other hair types, like straight hair.

Washing can be done one to three times a week with the use of the right hair products.

It would be advisable to avoid shampoos with sodium lauryl sulfate as ingredients. This chemical can dry out the hair and can damage it further.

There are many misconceptions about African American hair. On the onset, it may look tough, coarse and unmanageable.

However, this type of hair is actually soft and easily to manage when properly cared for. Some of the tips from top hairstylists who works with these type of hairs, are as follows:

Take Care When Combing Your Hair
The utmost care that would require your attention, would be the combing of your hair. Improper combing or brushing can damage it and leave the hair broken.

The right technique would be to comb it starting from the ends going up, while firmly holding the hair at the roots.

This would make combing less painful and at the same time, remove the tangles easier. It is better to first comb the hair before washing to make it more manageable when dry.

Hair Care When Washing

When washing, hair products with abrasive chemicals that dries the hair, should be avoided.

Pat and squeeze dry the hair after washing, instead of rubbing it, to avoid frizzing.

A hair dryer with diffuser can be used to style the hair and give it definition.

Extreme caution however, should be use when using styling rods like flat irons and hot combs.

Too much heat can dry out the hair shaft and further damage the hair follicles.

Styling With The Right Products
Hair products like styling gels, that is especially formulated for African American hair can be used to firmly hold the natural hair.

You may also use oil once or twice a week, if you see the hair style going flat.

You can also apply wax or pomade to help bring it back to shape without need of shampooing.

Hairstyles can ranged from Afro puffs, two strands twist, and banto knots, among many others.

Protective hair styles are popular since they allow the hair to grow, in a stylish manner and with less daily maintenance.


Proper Maintenance Goes A Long Way
The natural hair of African American women is more prone to frizzing than any other hair types. It is well advised, to avoid the use of chemical relaxants and heated styling rods to style it.

The chemicals and heat may further damage the hair cuticle.This type of hair also needs more conditioners or oils.

Among the products that can be used are: tea tree, jojoba and coconut oils, among many others. These products can be applied in their natural form or as petroleum based, directly into the hair and scalp area.

Regular massaging of the scalp stimulates natural oil production. A scarf may also be used at night to protect moisture loss as well as keep the hair style in place.

Natural Hair Care Tips For African American Women.

Taking care of your African American natural hair is not an easy task since this type of hair is harder to manage than other hair types. 

Many women are abandoning the straightening and perm systems and opting to grow their natural hair. 

This type of hair needs a great investment of time regardless of the option that one chooses. To maintain your natural African American hair, the following hair care tips should act as a guide to your daily hair care procedures.

Moisturize Your Hair Frequently.
The first tip is moisturizing your hair. Natural hair is always prone to getting dry if you fail to properly take care of it.

Another factor that contributes to dryness is the failed dispersal of natural hair oils secreted by the sebaceous glands to the ends because the hair pattern is curly.

The ends are susceptible to dryness and this usually results in hair growing to a specific length and breaking off.

Water Is A Great Moisturizer, But Not All Water Is Created Equal.
You can moisturize your hair in a few ways. The cheapest and easiest way to moisturize your natural hair is to add water into it.

However, you should be cautious about where you live and the elements that water from your area contains. Certain elements such as lime can cause dryness. It is advisable to buy spring water and a spray bottle. You should then use the bottle to spray the mist lightly over your hair.

The other way to moisturize your hair is to use a pure water based product that contains a mixture of purified water and natural oils among other organic ingredients.

Another option is spraying pure Aloe Vera juice to your hair. The other important tip when it comes to caring for natural African American hair is deep conditioning. It is vital to deep condition your hair at least one time in a fortnight.

Select The Right Shampoo.
Before using shampoos, it is essential to ensure that they are pH balanced and that they do not contain any impurities such as sulfates that may cause your hair to dry out.

When using the shampoo, it is wise to wash your hair once and then rinse it. In this way, you will avoid removing natural oil from your hair strands.

It is also essential to avoid using petrolatum. It is now evident that petrolatum binds to hair and repels moisture. It also causes buildup on the scalp, preventing it from breathing and inhibiting the distribution of the oil that comes from the scalp's sebaceous glands.

Mango Butter, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil or Cocunut Oil?
When using natural butters and oils such as mango butter, shea butter/oil, jojoba, coconut or any other oil that works well with natural hair, one of the things to consider is if the natural butter or oil that you are using is ideal for your hair.

Avoid using natural oils or butters that are mixed with chemicals. Read the ingredients carefully and look hem up online to find out if there are any extra ingredients in them.

The most important thing to note when caring for natural hair is that you should be proud of it. Many people still have a stigma that black women should not wear their hair in its natural form.

This is a negative sentiment and you should not let it put you down. Love and appreciate your natural African American hair and this will give you the motivation to keep it naturally attractive.