African American hair certainly requires special attention because of the way it is structured. It may look tougher than Caucasian or Asian hair,  but it’s actually more prone to dryness, damage and breakage simply because that natural kinks in your hair make it difficult for the oils in your scalp to reach the tips of your hair and nourish it throughout.

In addition, kinky hair becomes tangled more easily so brushing it becomes difficult and usually results to more breakage.

Based on this tidbit,  you’re probably thinking that using oil is the key to African American hair care. You’re right but keep in mind that not all kinds of oil should be used on your hair.

Some types of oil or oil-based hair products are not good for your hair.  For example, grease is commonly used in black hair care to help prevent hair and scalp dryness. However, the oil it contains doesn’t really provide moisture but actually does the opposite.

Grease can clog up pores, eliminate moisture and slow the growth of your hair. So, do away with this cheap product and go for natural oils which provide the best moisturizing ability.

There are many natural oils that are excellent for African American hair care such as coconut oil, jojoba oil and Shea butter. These oils are known for being wonderful hair conditioners that provide much needed moisture to kinky hair.

Another great oil to keep your hair moisturized is the exotic Pomegranate seed oil, which has not only powerful moisturizing properties but plenty of nutrients as well that keep your hair nourished and your scalp healthy.

Of course, using the right products is just half of the deal in good African American hair care. The other half involves proper handling and techniques in caring and styling your hair.

When conditioning your hair, don’t rush through it. Proper hair conditioning requires some time for the product to work on your hair. It is also recommended to perform deep hair conditioning once every month, particularly during the cold months. Your local hair salon will definitely have this service if you don’t know how to do it yourself.

When combing out kinky, tangled hair, do it carefully. It can be frustrating and painful but the more you tug and pull at your hair, the more you’ll cause damage to it, not to mention the more hair you’ll loose in the process.

The trick is to comb from the bottom and slowly work your way up. Use a moisturizer – not water – to soften your hair and make it easier to comb.

Just as in proper skin care, your hair needs a good hair care regimen.  Shampoo, condition and moisturize.  That’s from the outside.  We’ll talk about the importance of nourishing your hair from the inside out in another post.

Until then,

Dedicated to Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Publisher

NYRAJU Skin Care – Providers of Natural Skin & Hair Care Products for People of Color

http://www.nyrajuskincare.com