What Do You Need To Know About African-American Hair Care?

How Is African-American Hair Different From Other Textures?

New York stylist Ellin LaVar says, that there is just one type of African-American hair which is one common myth. Having worked with celebrities including Angela Bassett, Naomi Campbell, Whitney Houston, Iman, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Oprah, LaVar says it isn’t just very kinky, coarse texture when it comes to African-American hair. 

Philadelphia dermatologist Susan Taylor, MD, says though the texture may vary making African- American hair different from other types are some similarities. It is found that the hair generally contains less water, growing more slowly and breaking more easily than Caucasian or Asian hair. 

Here Is The Reason Why It Is Difficult To Style My Hair?

You don’t want to buy something too heavy or wrong for you as product labelling can often be confusing. 

As LaVar says, not the colour of your skin, but look for products that describe the texture of your hair. 

How Often Do I Need To Shampoo?

At least every 14 days, most experts say you should shampoo. Actually what’s recommended is every seven to 10 days. 

West Hollywood stylist Kim Kimble believes that African -American hair needs to be washed regularly as she often explains to clients. Having a line of hair care products, she has worked with Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Kerry Washington, and Vanessa Williams

Kimble then says it's unhealthy as bacteria can grow on the scalp without regular cleansing. 

LaVar suggests lathering with a moisturising shampoo designed for normal or dry hair and following with a moisturising conditioner if you are worried about stripping moisture out of your hair when you wash it. 

Why Does My Hair Keep Breaking?

As LaVar says, it loses suppleness and is more susceptible to breakage when you sap moisture from your hair. As it is naturally dry, African-American hair needs supplemental moisture to stand up to styling. 

Making it difficult for natural oils to work their way down the hair shaft as curly textures tend to be the most vulnerable to drying out and breaking because of the bends in the kinky hair. 

Making it brittle and fragile, chemical and heat styling suck the internal moisture from hair. As Taylor says, look for heat-shielding and hydrating products that contain silicone to avoid breakage. Helping seal in moisture, they coat the hair. 

Products designed for limp hair should be avoided as LaVar tells her clients. She further explains that those ingredients which add body can also strip oils and remove moisture. 

To help your hair retain moisture, experts also suggest wrapping your hair in a satin scarf or bonnet before bed. Wicking away hydration is cotton fibres in your pillowcase. 

Are There Any Moisturizers That Don't Feel Greasy?

LaVar then says it's probably not adding moisture inside the hair if the product feels greasy. Rather than sitting on top of the hair, you need a penetrating conditioner with lightweight oils that are absorbed. 

Also agreeing to this is Kimble. Whereas they clog the pores on your scalp and weigh hair down, she says that lanolin or other greasy products moisturise. Those that moisturise without leaving an oily residue, she prefers conditioners with essential oils like grape seed oil, for example. 

As it is designed to be absorbed into the skin, LaVar says that body lotion can be a good stand-in for a leave-in conditioner. Smooth it over the length of your hair after rubbing a dime-sized drop between your palms. 

Why Is The Hair Around My Temples Thinning?

Often the culprit of a thinning hairline is as experts say that braids are. Taylor then says the tight or aggressive handling of the hair thereby causes traction alopecia which is a form of hair loss. 

The weight of braids can stress the hair follicles and cause hair to fall out according to Kimble. 

You should see a doctor as soon as you notice a change in your hair growth or texture as thinning can also result from hormonal changes, genetics, or a health condition. 

Lastly, Are At-Home Relaxers Safer Than Salon Versions?

Here the answer is no. LaVar opines over processing is one of the most common mistakes she sees. Helping it work better, women have the misconception that no-lye relaxers are safer or that leaving a relaxer on longer. 

She notes, to break up the wave, you just need to relax the curl enough. Leading to more damage is leaving it on longer. 

As LaVar then says, people doing relaxers at home is what she doesn’t advocate. As experts agree, without overlapping the last chemical treatment, strong chemicals need to be applied properly and then rinsed off completely. 

Moreover, LaVar says do-it-yourself application comes to be risky and costly. You risk hair damage that needs to be repaired without a professional application.