Shiny, healthy looking hair, is one of a black woman’s and even a black man’s greatest assets. Not only is it pleasant to look at but it also tends to be the body’s barometer for good health.

The life-span of a hair can range from several months to a couple of years, depending on how it is treated and how healthy your scalp is. Trouble with hair can start when new hair does not form in the follicle. There can be  several reasons for this,  like inadequate blood supply and irregular glandular structure or hormonal imbalance.

There are four main types of hair: normal, greasy, dry, and a combination of greasy and dry. Although African American hair is often thought of as dry, it can actually come in all forms. Normal hair is shiny yet not oily and is fairly easy to manage. Greasy hair can become lank quite quickly. Dry hair tends to look dull and has ends that are dry and split easily. Greasy – dry hair features a greasy scalp and dry ends.

Hair mainly depends on good health so natural hair care involves a lot of diet techniques. Hair is from a form of protein so a high protein diet can contribute to making it grow strong and healthy.

Valuable vitamins such as B-complex are important for hair health so look for products like brewers’ yeast. Other good sources of Vitamin B for natural hair care include bananas, potatoes,  lentils, other whole grains, chili peppers, green vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and meats including turkey, tuna, and liver.

Minerals are also important for the health of the hair. Include iron, copper and iodine in the diet. Fortunately, iron and copper are present in everyday foods like meat and leafy green vegetables so it is fairly easy to gain access to them. For greasy hair, cut down on fried, greasy and fatty foods and concentrate on green vegetables, meats, fresh fish, eggs and cheese.

Those with dry hair can add a little vegetable oil to the same basic diet. However, having dry hair does not give license to go crazy with fried food, since it may cause skin troubles and require its own black skin care routine.

Dry normal and greasy hair is the most common hair type for African Americans. There is a tendency for dandruff or the flaking on the scalp skin to occur. A well-balanced diet is essential for getting rid of dandruff permanently. Products that contain zinc also help in getting rid of the flakes. To control the dryness, natural moisturizers such as shea butter and coconut oil will help.

So, when it comes to your hair, whether it’s natural, pressed or relaxed, it needs natural products and natural food to care for it the right way.

Dedicated to Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel,

Esthetician/Publisher

NYRAJU Skin Care – Providers of Natural Skin and Hair Care Products for the African American Market

http://www.nyrajuskincare.com