Afro hair is generally very tightly coiled so the sebum (natural oils produced by the scalp) have a hard time travelling down the hair shaft, meaning it is more prone to dryness.
Afro textured hair is naturally on the drier side because our beautiful kinks, coils and curls make it hard for the natural sebum created by our scalp to run down the entire shaft of the hair. So the question of how to moisturise dry afro hair, is something naturalista's may often ask.
A good scalp oil not only emulates your scalp's natural sebum, but it also creates a layer that protects it from the weather conditions and even insect bites! For everyday shine, just apply a few drops of oil to your scalp and massage it through. It'll also help to reduce afro hair frizz.
Why do we get dry afro hair? Dry afro hair is usually a result of a lack of moisture. Our scalp produces natural oils for our hair, however, unlike straight hair which allows these oils to glide down each strand, the oils in afro hair find it harder to move down each shaft.
Even though natural black hair is dry, the build-up of debris can make it feel greasy if not washed regularly. You should ideally wash your natural black hair once every seven to fourteen days. Use mild cleansing hair products such as gentle shampoo and conditioner.
How often should I wash? A rule of thumb is that afro hair should be washed every 7 – 10 days, or more often if you have an active lifestyle Every 4 - 5 days. It is important to cleanse the scalp and hair of flakes and product build up to ensure optimum health and hair growth.
There are two reasons why we believe African hair texture is genetic. Firstly, the texture is universal in Africans, while nearly absent from other ethnic groups. Secondly, it is consistently passed down to the children in each new generation.
Afro hair produces plenty of protective oils called sebum, but the oil struggles to spread evenly along the hair fibre due to the curly nature of afro hair. Without lubrication, the fibres become very dry which causes the hair to become frizzy and brittle.
The African hair is generally curly or frizzy, and grows almost parallel to the scalp. It has the slowest growth rate of 0.9 centimeters per month due to its spiral structure which causes it to twist on itself as it grows.
Moisturizing your natural hair every day will help it thrive and keep your natural texture bouncy, smooth, and defined. But it's also important to keep in mind that scalp health plays a key role in your hair's overall health and moisture level.
Can you wet African American hair everyday? Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't meanwashing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.
Natural hair, especially curly hair, craves moisture. Moisturizing your natural hair every day will help it thrive and keep your natural texture bouncy, smooth, and defined. But it's also important to keep in mind that scalp health plays a key role in your hair's overall health and moisture level.
The use of a gentle shampoo will cleanse your scalp without stripping its natural, protective, oily substance, called sebum. Too much sebum can cause more dirt to get attached to the hair. Too little sebum and your afro hair will be dry and unprotected from lice.
Afro hair needs moisture.
In actual fact, water is needed to achieve soft and moisturised hair. Moisture is vital for healthy Afro hair. Afro hair is prone to dryness because of the twists and turns in the hair fibre. This is why using a water based moisturiser is so important.
It's better to use a microfibre towel and dry your hair following the direction of your hair's cuticle. This means going down from root to tip, squeezing the hair, releasing and then starting back up at the root. Do this in 4-6 sections to absorb excess moisture and then wrap your head if you wish.
Black people have the lowest growth rate of hair but the highest eumelanin content. Breakage is increased or faster in this hair type. This group also has smaller hair cuticles than other ethnicities.
Hair Growth Rate
Asian hair shows the fastest growth rate in comparison to the other two hair types. African hair has the lowest growth rate.
Scientifically, black hair is the slowest growing hair type due to its elliptical shape and only grows about one third of an inch per month. Alongside slow growth, you'll likely also encounter issues such as breakage, thinning and shedding whilst trying to grow your afro hair; typically, this is due to dehydration.
It has been reported that Asian hair is generally straight and is the thickest, while its cross-section is the most round-shaped among these three. Caucasian hair is generally straight or wavy and is the thinnest, while its cross-section is relatively elliptic.
According to the survey, the majority of men (42%) found blonde hair to be the most attractive. This was followed by brunette (36%), red (16%), black (5%), and gray (1%).
Being less protected with the natural oil, the cuticle loses moisture, becomes fragile, and tends to get damaged at a touch. Black puffy hair is the toughest scenario because of the coiled pattern common in people of African ancestry.
Afro-textured hair is a human hair texture originally prevalent in many regions with hot climates, including in sub-Saharan Africa. Each strand of this hair type grows in a tiny, angle-like helix shape.
Healthy afro hair is soft to the touch. When your hair is adequately hydrated and moisturised, you will feel it when you touch it. Your hair should feel nice and soft. To check this, you will want to feel your hair in it's natural state so after you have washed it and before you put any products in it.
Hair is a centerpiece of Black culture; it's a symbol of identity, of resistance, creative expression and freedom. It is woven deep into Black culture and therefore rooted in the history of America.