African American hair is different from all other types of hair out there, which is why it’s so unique and beautiful when taken care of. Although it is distinctive and gorgeous, it can definitely be hard to manage on a daily basis. The texture of workability of this type of hair can be time consuming, which is why so many African Americans resort to damaging hair tactics. Many women will undergo hair relaxers, which chemically straighten their hair. They may also choose to have their hair braided and add extensions in order to make their hair more workable. Unfortunately, these types of hair services are extremely damaging to the hair, making it even less workable in the future. For African American women, there are some great hair tips for making hair healthier so that those harsh chemical services are no longer required.
The first thing to do is find a hair salon that specializes in African American hair. Many stylists rarely deal with African American hair, making them inexperienced. A good African American salon will always keep the health of your natural hair their first priority. By keeping your natural hair healthy, you can do more things with your hair as time goes on, such as grown it out, curly it, straighten it, and color it. Call around and find an African American salon with stylists who have a lot of experience with this type of hair.
Next, it’s important to recognize that African American hair is much dryer, and therefore more susceptible to breakage, than other types of hair. Although many women of non-African American decent will wash their hair several times a week, African Americans should try to only wash their hair once every one to two weeks. This will help allow your natural oils to soak into your hair follicles, keeping them soft and healthy.
The more natural you can go with your hair, the better off it will look over the long run. Try to straighten your hair or curl your hair only on occasion. The rest of the time, try to keep it natural. There are a lot of products that are made especially for African American hair that will allow you to capture the curls and texture without using harmful heat. Blow drying African American hair is never a good option because it is much more susceptible to breakage and split ends. Instead, let your hair air dry and add nourishing oils and serums to keep it shiny and healthy.
