Black / African Hair Tips

[twinki]

i switch up my hairstyles often. i relax my newgrowth every six weeks or so, and i do a deep conditioning every 2 weeks. right now i'm wearing a "braidout"- i made cornrows and set them, then unbraided them for a wild afro-y look (think kelis). im too lazy to wear sleek styles , but on the rare occasions that i do, i cornrow my own hair and sew in some human hair extensions. i no longer go to salons, because i would always end up heavily altering the style that i received. so now i do my own .

 

[twinki]

wow! you (and your hair) look lovely, ms. jade!

i use a product called wild growth oil on my hair. my hair was badly damaged from overprocessing. i had thin sides, and the whole deal. i got some great results from it! i get mine from a local beauty supply store, but i believe they have a website if you are interested

 

[ms.jade]

Thanks for the compliments...

im too lazy to wear sleek styles

I know exactly what you mean

I go to the salon for relaxing... they get the best results!
I surfed the internet for wild growth oil and found their hp. I'll look for it in my "afro-shop"...

I'd really love to see some of your hairstyles.
Would you mind to post some pics??????
Thanks a lot!

 

[soho101]

Viviscal is a hair supplement to encourage hair to grow faster and healthier, I first read about it in an article in the Oct. issue of US Vogue. It wasn't an ad, it was an article from one of the editors who was looking to grow her hair out but not patient enough to wait for it to get longer. The hairstylist that she went to in New York said that the only thing he reccomends to his clients to grow hair faster is viviscal (and he's recomended to giselle and demi moore who both have fabulous hair). You can definitely get it online, 'cause that's where i get mine!

 

[daddyslittlegrl8]

I'm black and right now I have natural hair. This is possibly the best hair decision I've ever made. I never believed people when they told me I would look really cute with short hair. After a spontaneous decision to cut all my relaxed hair off and see what my 'real' hair looked like, I was pleaseantly surprised. I looked older and I found out I have such cute curls!!! And I love short hair....it's highly underrated and will probably have short hair for a long time to come. I'm thinking just for the fun of it of flat ironing my hair to see what it looks like straight and short. ANyways, I use this salon product on my hair that contains mink oil. I seriously never knew what soft hair was supposed to feel like until I started using this product. My hair feels like damp cotton. Very moisturized. Ok, I'm done with my rant now.

dlg

 

[fashionicon]

My hair is in microbraids.

They have done the best for me, when it comes to repairing my hair. With that I use a product called "Surge" and I use the revitalizing spray. I also use a product called Nioxin Follicle Booster.

They all have a been a big help in repairing my hair.

 

[Sugarmama]

My hair is in braids now. They've been for about a year. I just got tried of damaging relaxers. My hair kept breaking off and was very fragile. My hair is shoulder length and feels free. I use Infusium 23 leave in conditioner and shea butter. I have to be careful of what products I use because of unhealthy products.

 

[modelmama]

I ve tried just about eveything (except Jehri Curls).

At one point I wore straight extensions, then switched to braids.
While wearing braids I decided to go natural- NOT FOR ME!!!

My grade of hair is not...cute. Natural curl pattern is very very tight and very difficult to manage.

I am back to my extensions- and loving it ( until I get my hair to a desired length)

 

[ms.jade]

That's the way my hair looked like before I started relaxing. I didn't like it that much my mother used to braid my hair. At that age I did some modelling...
Today I'm quite proud of my hair. It looks healthy and natural. Because I'm just "semi"-black most of the people belive it's my natural hair. I'm not using any special products. I go to the studio for relaxing. At home I mostly use olive oil and some products of the "dark&lovely" series. There are some shops in germany where you can by black hair stuff, but they got no choice...

 

[Madhuri]

A couple of great websites with active forums on black haircare

www.longhaircareforum.com

www.nappturality.com

 

[Princess_Ayana]

I'm half Black and Japanese and I got the crazy mixed-fro-ish-curly-crazy hair. I usually just get it straightened with a ceramic flat iron at the salon. I DID chemically straighten it a few times but I don't really like it. Right now it's in braids because I'm too lazy to do anything to it.

 

[classic1908]

I know this is a bump of a very old thread, but I'm also AfAm and right now have few hair issues. I stopped relaxing it last year because my sister/stylist can get me straight with a flatiron.

And, I'm also a wearer of "quick weaves," or 3/4 wigs. I have several human hair styles. My actual hair has grown, but it's thin and will never, because of heredity, have the fullness that I desire.

 

[greeen]

I'm not specialist in the hair care area, but I am AA and I have worn my hair in it's natural state (verrry curly) for almost 2 years now. I've found that you must condition more than you normally would if you were wearing it straightened. Our hair is prone to get dried out way faster than the hair of others. I'm not a perm wearer, haven't been for years upon years because it's only damaged my hair (breakage, split ends, thinning on the sides). I still straightened it over the years but it looked limp to me..always bland.

It's thicker and fuller now that I've stopped applying heat. No heat for 2 years has an amazing effect on your hair! I agree that ABBA'S hair products are reallllly nice, they're pretty much all I use. But I'll probably be trying Ojon, Pureology, and Purehair in the future. I only use all natural haircare products too..I don't like harsh chemicals. Lots of shea butter and olive oil are good additions as well.

Also, I know alotta AA women feel like it's alot prettier to have long straight locks of hair, but I know so many women that feel sexier when wearing their hair au natural, you have to own it and love it for anyone else to. It took me a little while to learn what works and what doesnt as well as what I do and don't like. It's VERY overwhelming to just hack off 3 years of permed hair and focus on a texture you never took the time to style, study, and enjoy. But your hair will definitely be healthier. When I want straight hair, I'll go out and buy a really nice wig or something, but I love my hair the way it is now, I even have an album for it
Last few tips,
Invest in products that work for your hair, not the hype.

Try something for a month, if it doesn't seem to give you what you want, don't buy it again.

AA women have curly/kinky hair, it's not a secret...if you're trying to make your natural hair have that "good" curl or look texturized, you might come up short and disappointed because those looks are done with texturizers which are weak perms.

Don't obsess over your hair looking like someone's whose isn't as thick or "untamed" as yours. It doesn't do anything for you or your hair.

Play in it! Whenever you have the chance, hang out and just try stuff out.

omg. that was long lol..

 

[baRose]

[FONT=&quot]For years I straightened my hair by means of a hot comb. It was shiny and straight but eventually it damaged my hair, and it wouldn’t get past a certain length. I stopped liking my hair so I went natural

I have been wearing my hair natural for some time now. Its wavy/curly and SUPER thick and shiny again. Its a pain to deal with it sometimes, but I just love my hair now. Its now almost past my bra strap and I wear it up, chic low and high buns, use pretty clips, wear it down, two braids. I can now wear my hair to match my moods and fashion where I couldn’t do that with dull, straighten hair. [/FONT]

 

[baRose]

I also want to mention some of the products I use my hair:

Frederic Fekkai - Shea Butter Shampoo/Conditioner; Color Care Mask (though my hair is not color treated) and Glossing Cream

Pureology

Aubrey Organics - various shampoos (non SLS products)

Avalon Organic - Lavender shampoo (non SLS products)

Lanza - Be Long, Protectshine

Ojon - the hair treatment (its overpriced but I still like it)

The Body Shop - Texturizing Wax

Phyto

Curlfriends - Leave in Conditioner

Jessicurl - Too Shea Conditioner



Unrefined coconut oil
Raw shea butter
henna (sometimes because its such a mess)


Just to name a few because I'm such a junkie.

 

[cyberfruit]

I like having my hair straightened sometimes but, I would never want my hair straight forever. I loooovvvveee my curls. There's so much you can do with curly hair and it suits my personality.

My hair is only straightened for special events and the first day of school. I get lots of "are you mixed with Indian?" questions with it.

 

[baRose]

l. I get lots of "are you mixed with Indian?" questions with it.

God I hate those questions! I though this "Mixed-with-Indian" and "good hair" BS would have died by now.

"Don't remove the kinks from your hair. Remove them from your brain." Marcus Garvey

[SIZE=+2][/SIZE]​

 

[cyberfruit]

^ Oh man, nooo. I go to a mostly black school. I always get the "ooh girl, you got good hair!" "what are you mixed with?!" and "Are you Indian? Yeah, you have to be Indian!" I also get the, "If I had your hair..." <--- You would have permed it. Curly hair is no joke.

Most people can't believe that I'm half Hispanic (Dominican, like Omahyra XD).

 

[baRose]

I know you probably go to a mostly black school because we are the only one who would ask such a question. Its sad how many black girls feel that they cant wear thier hair natural if it isnt curly or wavy. I catch a lot of flack myself.

 

[greeen]

^^ so many people feel that way, it's a shame, I'm glad I woke up one day and realized I didn't have to go through all that work to like my hair..it's ridiculous really!