Hair Care Advice for African-American Women

The average beauty supply perm and style for an African-American woman is $60. If her hair is touched up once a month and washed bi-weekly for $40, she's spending about $100 per month. Why spend that kind of money to take care of African-American hair when it can be done on our own? A couple of hours one day and maybe a half hour or so the other six can help African-American women take care of their own hair, as long as we're willing to put in the patience and effort.

Oil hair as needed. There are African-American haircare products like Parnevu and Luster's Pink Lotion that encourage African-American women to use daily oil on their hair for styling, and to eliminate dandruff and a dry scalp. Depending on the hair type, African-American hair can be oiled weekly or bi-weekly; the thicker, the more oil that's needed. With other types of hair, oil gets into the hair and makes it dirty, but because African-American hair is thicker and dryer, we need these essential oils. While other hair textures need to wash oil out, African-American hair is packing it in. Oiling hair only requires parting the hair into small sections about an inch apart and, with one finger pad, sliding the oil down the part in the head. Continue parting hair until all has been oiled and sweep the edges of the hair too, which also get dry.

Perm hair as needed, but try not to do it too often. Depending on the beautician, African-American women will get different opinions on how often hair should be permed. Depending on the hair type as well, perms on African-American hair can be used anywhere from one month to six months, or not at all if the African-American woman chooses to press or flat iron her hair straight instead. Beware of perming hair too much just to straighten out the back of hair because if the area is permed too much, it can lead to African-American hair falling out or breaking off. If any hair sores are already visible on the head or appear after the perm has been added, do not perm hair again until the perm burn has completely healed. To avoid perm burn, try using pre-conditioner (such as Vitale) or petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around the edges in the hair. Perming hair is similar to oiling hair, but the hair is parted into smaller sections. The perm is put on a lot like paint, starting from the scalp straight down to the strands of hair. A touch-up is usually just a perm around the edges and the scalp to about an inch of hair to flatten hair down.

Wash hair weekly or bi-weekly. Because African-American hair tends to be dry, flakes, dandruff, and itchy scalps can occur. Although hair oil helps and leave-in conditioner can make a wash last longer, wash African-American hair regularly.

Clip split ends. It's a better idea to clip split ends when the hair is wet because it is at its longest length and it can easily be combed out. Don't get too scissor happy. The only hair that's being clipped are the very edges that are uneven, and this is done to avoid breakage and increase hair growth.

Use satin or silk pillowcases and head wraps. There are certain head wraps and pillowcases that claim to help grow hair, but regardless of whether it does, satin and silk are easier on hair while an African-American woman is sleeping. Cotton tends to pull hair out. Test out both types of pillowcases and head wraps, and you'll see a difference.

Use hair rollers. Although it may be more comfortable to sleep with a head wrap on or quickly use a curling iron, using hair rollers to curl hair makes it far easier to style hair daily. Just unroll the rollers and go. The curls usually last longer than a curling iron would, and rollers help African-American hair avoid more heat to the head. Our hair is already dry. Why add more constant heat on top of that?

Wrap hair instead of using curling irons or flat irons. Although there will definitely be days when African-American hair needs a quick primp, using a head wrap surely does help keep a style in place. If your beautician has spent four hours doing your hair and putting you under the hair dryer to mold the hair, it'll probably be easy for the African-American hair to be brushed into a circular mold, wrapped and then unwrapped whenever she wants to comb her hair out. The thicker the hair, the harder it is to mold or for the curls to stay, so there may be a little bit of primping needed, but it's better to touch only a few spots with curling irons or flat irons rather than the entire head.

Give African-American hair the day off sometimes. African-American hair can be treated just like a job. Sometimes it needs a vacation from all the heat, chemicals, oils and styling. It's OK to put African-American hair in a neat bun, ponytail or clip just to give it a rest. If African-American hair is styled, heated and washed (especially if it's really wavy once the hair is dry), put a ponytail holder on it and rock the Afro puff look. Or, twirl it into a bun and have that librarian high-fashion look. Hair does not have to be weaved down a person's back or piled high on the head in order to look nice. Let African-American hair breathe.

Sources:

http://www.parnevu.com/

http://www.lusterproducts.com/