Guidelines for Black Hair Maintenance: Washing Strategies, Styling Techniques, and Product Selection
In the world of hair care, understanding the unique needs of Black hair is crucial. Here, we delve into a comprehensive guide that focuses on hydration, protection, and nourishment to maintain the health and beauty of Black hair.
Minimizing Heat Damage
Using ceramic-coated tools, the lowest heat setting, waiting until hair is clean and dry, applying a heat protection product, and limiting heat styling to once a week can help minimize heat damage.
The Science Behind Black Hair
Black hair is characterised by fewer follicles compared to white hair, with an average of 90,000 for Black hair versus 120,000 for white hair. The shape of the hair follicle determines the hair's curl pattern: a curved follicle creates curly hair, while a round follicle generates straight hair.
Hair Care Tips and Products
To prevent dryness, breakage, and damage in Black hair, specific care tips and products focus on hydration, protection, and nourishment.
- Hydrate daily with leave-in sprays: Use a hydrating spray daily to refresh curls and lock in moisture.
- Deep condition weekly: Deep conditioning once a week restores strength and reverses dryness.
- Use moisturizing products regularly: Incorporate leave-in conditioners, natural oils, and creams to seal moisture.
- Protect hair with styling: Protective styles like cornrows, box braids, and twists reduce manipulation and lock moisture in.
- Avoid dryness overnight: Sleep with a satin or silk bonnet or pillowcase to reduce friction, minimize breakage, and retain moisture.
- Protein treatments: Use shampoos and conditioners with hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids when hair feels weak and damaged.
- Use lightweight, water-based products for better absorption without weighing hair down.
Special Considerations
The scalp produces sebum to keep the skin and hair hydrated, but curly hair can be prone to dryness. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing tightly coiled hair once a week or less to avoid drying out the scalp and hair.
Styling and Maintenance
It is best not to comb textured hair when it is dry to prevent tangles and breakage. Movement during sleep can cause damage to Black hair, so it may be a good idea to remove tight hair bands before bed, use a smooth, silk or satin hair wrap, or use a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction.
The Importance of Representation
The dominance of white beauty standards has resulted in racist perceptions and stereotypes about Black hair. Black people are not allowed to wear their hair naturally, in braids, or in locs at work in some cases. The natural hair movement encourages Black people to wear natural hairstyles and counter related bias, and California passed the CROWN Act in 2019 making it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on their hair.
Chemical Treatments
Perms and relaxers are chemical treatments that straighten the hair permanently until it grows out, but they can gradually weaken the hair and damage the hair and scalp if applied incorrectly. Chemical treatments need touching up every 2-3 months, as the hair grows, and new treatment should only be applied to new hair growth.
Common Issues and Solutions
Traction alopecia occurs when frequent tension on the hair causes it to fall out and is reversible if treated early. During treatment for traction alopecia, it is best to opt for low-tension styles, keep braids as loose as possible, change the direction of braids regularly, and avoid securing braids with rubber bands or bands with a metal join.
Black hair often has a curly or spiral shape, and the curls may be loosely or tightly coiled. Braids that are too tight can increase the risk of breakage, irritation, and hair loss. Black hair has a thinner cuticle layer than other hair types, which means that strands may break more easily.
Conclusion
A regimen combining daily moisture, weekly deep conditioning, protective styling, and the use of natural oils and protein treatments effectively prevents dryness, breakage, and damage in Black hair. It is important for all doctors and stylists to familiarize themselves with Black hair care to ensure that all patients' and clients' needs are met.
- In addition to hair care, understanding the impact of conditions like asthma and alopecia on health and wellness is essential, especially for women's health.
- For those battling alopecia, medical-care professionals must be informed about the right treatments to halt hair loss and promote regrowth.
- Skin care is an integral part of women's health, and products for PSA tests should be used with care and according to medical guidelines.
- To create a diverse and inclusive lifestyle, it is crucial to acknowledge and appreciate the unique beauty in trends such as fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and hair care that cater to all races and ethnicities.
- Science has made significant strides in unraveling the mystery of MS, and promising discoveries are being made that would impact the treatment and management of the disease.
- Embracing the natural beauty of Black hair means breaking free from restrictive beauty standards and promoting its unique characteristics, such as its increased tendency to dryness and fragility.
- Regularly educating oneself about health-and-wellness, particularly concerning skincare and medical-conditions, ensures that we are making informed decisions to maintain our overall well-being.
