African American Hair Products
Choosing the Right Products for African American Hair
Finding the best hair products for the African American woman or any woman of African descent can be a real challenge. Like finding the right shade of makeup, African American women have to work hard at locating the right types of shampoos, conditioners and other hair products.
Understanding African American Hair
Firstly, African American hair types differ greatly and as such how it is cared for depends on the type of hair you have. The style you choose to wear will also impact how you care for your hair. Some African American women have natural hair, that is, they do not use any kind of chemicals to alter the look of their hair. Others while natural may choose to put in braids, weaves or even grow dreadlocks.
Caring for African American Hair
It may be hard to believe but black hair is really fragile and therefore easily damaged. Even natural hair can develop split ends and become damaged by exposure to the elements and combing methods. For combing it is always best to use a comb with widely spaced teeth, to prevent tangling and breakage. Some experts warn against brushing the hair of women of color, but if a good brush made of natural bristles is used there will be less damage.
Unfortunately, in a bid to control our naturally kinky hair, we tend to use lots of hair grease or pomade which only serves to make the hair greasy and heavy. While African American hair really needs lots of moisture, hair pomade is not the way to go. When using hair oil it is best to go with natural oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil and olive oil – they can be found in many beauty supply stores. Black women should avoid using any type of hair care products that include petrolatum and mineral oil as ingredients. Shea butter is also a good choice for moisturizing African American hair and giving it sheen.
It is not a good idea to wash your hair everyday as washing removes the moisture and can leave your hair looking dull. In addition some experts recommend not sticking to one type of shampoo, but to alternate using different ones that work at regular intervals.
One little trick that not many black women employ these days is sleeping with their hair in a satin scarf or using satin pillow cases. Because black hair is so delicate, cotton pillow cases and sheets can cause damage and result in split ends.
What Products are Available and How to Choose?
One of the biggest mistakes African American women make with their hair is using the wrong products on their crowning glory.
Thankfully many cosmetic manufacturers have now seen that there is money to be made in making hair products for African American women.
Selecting a shampoo is extremely important as well since moisturizing is important for the health of both the hair and scalps of black women. Shampoos that dry the hair are a definite no. Some great shampoos include Crème of Nature, Nexus Therapee and Mizani Botanifying Conditioning Shampoo, which are all proven to work on black hair.
Pantene Pro V hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner works well on some types of African American hair as well. Other manufacturers of hair care products for black women include Luster Products, Motions, Kerasoft from Jazma Hair Inc. The Mane and Tail line of hair products is great for most types of natural hair.
Motions is a very popular choice for many black women for both home and salon use. The line includes products for both natural and processed hair. The brand also has a line of products for the hair of African American children called Motions for Kids.
The bottom line is that there is no one formula for finding the best products for your hair if you are an African American or woman of African descent. Remember also that products that work on chemically processed hair may not work well on natural hair and vice versa. Experiment until you find what works for you and look for products that are designed for women of color.
Thank you to Jessica McCurdy Crooks for this "African American Hair Products" article.
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