Category: Black Hairstyles

There are some hairstyles that are as beautiful as they are protective, not to mention so easy to achieve. Cornrow braids and short Senegalese braids fall into this category. If you know the basics of braiding, you're already halfway there when it comes to learning how to cornrow. The difference, though, is that while braids or plaits hang freely from their individual sections, cornrows are braided to the scalp. "Cornrows are beautiful and shows our African heritage using some modern braiding technique.

Classic braid
The classic three-strand braid hairstyle for black women is simple and looks chic anytime. Start by dividing your hair into three equal sections. Flip the left section over the middle section. Now, flip the right section over the middle section (that was previously the left section). Keep repeating this by alternately flipping the left and right sections of hair over the middle section until you have braided till the end. Secure your ends with a hair tie.

First, use the tail end of a ​rattail comb to create whatever size section you want. Skinnier sections will result in smaller cornrows, while larger sections will yield bigger cornrows. If you're creating cornrows on straightened or relaxed hair, you might not need to detangle as you braid. But natural hair, as pictured, needs to be detangled as you work your way down sections. Simply and gently pull your fingers through the hair to work your way through so that the braids will continue to be neat and uniform. Damtew recommends the crochet braids detangler brush for getting rid of knots without breakage.

Here, a section is parted in front to create a cornrow directed to the side. "There is no one way to part for cornrows," notes O'Connor. "They can be done from the side, backwards to forwards, straight back, braids crossing over other braids, tiny braids beside bigger braids—the patterns available for braiding are endless.

2. French braid
   If you can master the three-strand protective style braids, you should move on to the French braid easily, which includes picking up pieces from either side of your head and adding it to the braid as you work. Start by gathering a top section of the hair and divide it into three equal parts. Braid these three sections once. Before continuing the braid, add a section of hair from the same side of your head and add it to the part of the hair that continues the braid. Then braid that one section. Then, repeat on the opposite side. Continue adding more hair to your quick braids as you move down your head until you reach the nape of your neck. Braid the remaining strands to the bottom and secure your ends.

Black hair is beautiful, whether it is natural, relaxed, or braided. The key to healthy, beautiful hair is moisture and gentle treatment. Without these, black hair can become dry and brittle. Caring for black hair takes a little bit of extra effort, but the soft, silky, and healthy results are worth it.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent years trying to figure out what your natural hair wants and needs. When I was younger, my mom took care of my hair, which typically involved natural hairstyles like twist-outs, the occasional hot comb, or a day off from school to head to the salon for cornrows or braids (a rite of passage for any black girl at the time). When I hit high school, I begged her for a perm or perm rod set on my natural hair, which led to a continuous cycle of dyeing, frying, and chopping my extra-thick 4c hair on numerous occasions before I fully committed to it in its natural state.

Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to prevent frizz, breakage, and dryness. This way, your hair can stay healthy and won't break or tear. Cotton pillowcases tend to snag hair and create tiny rips and tears. They also tend to suck the moisture out of your hair, which can make it even more frizzy and brittle.
Satin or silk pillowcases are also great for skin, as they don't draw out moisture the way cotton pillowcases do.

The first thing you must know: African American hair is SUPER curly and gets REALLY dry. If it is not properly moisturized, the strands of hair that shed can attach to the healthy hair, creating knots in the most fragile parts of the healthy hair strands—the bends. This is what causes the “tangles.” The shed hair creates almost a web with the healthy hair, and when those tangles/webs/knots are not properly removed, they can cause the hair to break in those fragile parts of the strands.

The most important thing for you to do when washing and styling her hair is to make sure, first, that you get all the shed hair and those knots out—that her hair is properly detangled. The only way you can do that is to make sure that there is enough “slip” for the hair so that the knots can “slip” out without damaging the healthy strands. To do this, you must have the proper tools:

A good detangling comb can make some dope Black hairstyles.

Apply some oil to natural hair every day and straightened/relaxed hair twice a week. Look for products that contain natural oils, such as almond, Argan, coconut, and jojoba. You can also just use natural oils straight from the bottle instead. Skip products with petrolatum, lanolin, and mineral oils. They will only dry your hair out and stop moisture from penetrating the shaft.
A little bit of oil goes a long way. Start with a small amount, about the size of a dime, and add more as necessary.
After washing your hair, apply a moisturizing leave-in conditioner, then add the oil of your choice. This seal in moisture and ensure that your hair stays healthy.

A good conditioner (I use Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Long Term Relationship; it’s at any grocery store)
A spray bottle
Water
Olive oil or coconut oil
hair clips
Your fingers
Patience

Wash the silk pillowcases once a week. You can do it by hand or using a washing machine. Check the label before washing them.
If you can't get a satin or silk pillowcase, consider tying your hair up at night with a satin or silk scarf instead.

Take the one section into your hand and spray it down with the water and oil mixture. Then apply a generous amount of the conditioner directly onto her hair, from root to tip. Go nuts with it.

The idea is to get the hair as moist as you can with the product, so that it creates that slip I was telling you about. Once the hair is saturated, use your fingers to feel for the knots and GENTLY separate the hair from the knots, working them out with your fingers. Once you can pull your fingers through her hair without feeling any knots, then you can use the detangling come to make sure you can comb through it. See articles about short hairstyles for Black women.

Over the past 10 years, relaxers have been deprioritized in the black community. Other presumed less-harmful chemicals began to take their place, such as the keratin treatments. It was not until we learned about formaldehyde that clients and stylists began to back off from the keratin treatments.

Use a hot oil treatment twice a month to add moisture and elasticity to your hair.[14] Heat ½ to 1 cup (120 to 240 milliliters) of oil in a double-boiler or a jar in a pot of hot water. Part your hair into several sections, then use an applicator bottle to apply the oil. Massage the oil into your hair and scalp, then cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes. Once the time is up, wash your hair as usual with shampoo. [ See article about sisterlocks on natural hair here ]
If you don't want to warm up the oil in advance, you can apply it then sit under a hooded hair dryer for 30 minutes while wearing a shower cap.
Don't use a microwave to heat the oil, or it will lose its nutrients.
If you don't have a shower cap, you can wrap a damp, warm towel around your hair instead.
You can use any of the following oils: Argan, avocado, castor, coconut, jojoba, olive, sesame, and sweet almond.

That signaled the start of the chemical-free craze. Everybody wanted to be natural but still get their hair straightened. The problem was that most people’s hair would not last through humidity or exercising. When they had to shampoo it naturally, they did not know what to do in terms of styling. Their hair had uneven textures and was just difficult to manage. From there began the “big chop” phase, removing all compromised ends that were not natural in texture.

Put that section into a loose two strand twist hairstyles, or just clip it back up, and then move on to the next section until her whole head of hair is detangled.

Why hair porosity is important
Finding the right product like the best edge control for coarse hair and routine that for your hair can be a hit and miss. Curl typing will only get you so far, which leaves people looking for a more reliable approach to finding what works. For an increasing amount of people, that approach is hair porosity testing.

What is porosity?
So here's a quick primer on how hair porosity is defined in the natural hair community. (Hair scientists and hairdressers traditionally have a different concept).

But on hair that's truly high porosity, whether by nature or by damage, you're always going to have the advantage of hair that's easy to moisturise -- and the work of going that extra mile to lock moisture in.

For dry high porosity hair, your focus isn't getting moisture to penetrate your hair; it already does that easily. Instead, you need to focus on insulating your hair to reduce moisture loss.

Insulating goes a little further than sealing; it means using different layers of water-loving and hydrophobic products to trap moisture inside your hair.
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This process starts with your conditioning step: you can blend super hydrating treatments like Baba de Caracol with other powerful conditioners that act more at a surface level like Silicon Mix Treatment.

Porosity for naturalistas is all about how much (water or product) your hair can absorb. Generally, people use these three categories of hair porosity:
​
High porosity hair takes in (and loses) moisture the fastest
Low porosity hair takes in moisture more slowly and loses it slowly too
Medium or 'normal' porosity hair is somewhere in between.​

​What causes porosity in hair?
Your hair's porosity is the result of several factors: how compact your cuticle layers are, how raised your cuticle is (naturally or through damage), and how intact the surface of your hair is.

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High porosity or porous hair will usually have one or more of the following: a less than compact strand, a higher cuticle scale angle, or a damaged surface, full of 'pores', often with the outermost layer missing.

​So whether it came out of the scalp with its cuticles at a slightly higher angle, or got that way via a texturizer or some bleach, a lot of people have hair that takes in moisture fast and loses it fast too.
​
To naturals, both these types of hair count as "high porosity hair."

High porosity hair vs hair that's just dry: How to tell the difference
If you don't have high porosity hair and your hair is just dry for one of these three reasons, how would you know? Does low porosity hair need protein?

You might have to repeat the process a few times to know for sure, but it's super simple. The first step is to clarify your hair: Use a laureth sulfate shampoo, use atrActiva Anti-Stress Shampoo to remove the buildup that is stealing all your moisture at the strand level. Sulfate-free options won't work for this.
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Deep-cleansing like this will take care of dryness due to buildup from drying oils or other residue.

Do I have high porosity hair?
If your hair sucks up moisture like there's no tomorrow, only for it to disappear within the hour, you might be thinking you're firmly in this high porosity category. But you might not be. Here's why:
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Reason #1: Porosity isn't the same as absorbency
People in the natural hair community often use the two terms interchangeably, but while they're definitely connected, they're not the same.

Difference between High and Low Porosity
High porosity hair means your hair takes in moisture just as easily as it lets go of it.
Low porosity means your hair has a difficult time taking in moisture.
Porosity can be affected by different things, like chemical damage, but that’s not the only factor: people just have different hair, including different porosity levels.

The lie is that you can easily find the porosity of your by simply doing the water test, which is not an accurate representation of how your hair takes in moisture.

hair porosity test
First of all, there are so many variables involved with this porosity test. Our hair naturally has oils in it, and oil floats on water. We may also have a lot of products in our hair, which doesn’t accurately show our porosity if we take a strand of hair with tons of product.

Even if you wash your hair and take a clean strand, what is the certainty your hair is free of oils?

When it comes to porosity, you should know:

How to Test Your Porosity?
You can evaluate your own hair’s porosity level without taking out any strands or setting aside two cups of water.

Both of these sponges are dry to begin with, but then you spray a large amount water onto one of them.
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After that, you put each of those sponges into identical bowls, filled with exactly the same amount of water, and let them soak for the same amount of time.

What happens when you pull them out?

​The sponge which was already partially hydrated — the one you sprayed -- won't have taken in that much water.

That's no surprise; it was already wet, so there wouldn't be much space left inside to hold more water. But the dry sponge? It might soak up all the water in the bowl.

This difference in absorption happens even though both sponges naturally have the same porosity.
​
Sponge and spray can illustrating high porosity vs low porosity and hair dryness.
Wetting a sponge makes it less absorbent but doesn't change its porosity. Image by Tumisu.

​It's exactly the same with hair. Say you have a hair twin whose hair has roughly the same porosity as your hair. If you keep yours moisturised and she leaves hers desert-dry most of the time, her hair is going to seem like it's more porous than yours.

Square One
Let’s start from square one – what does porosity mean? Hair porosity refers to your hair’s natural ability to absorb moisture and product.

Medium Porosity
Medium porosity hair has little to no difficulty absorbing or retaining moisture. It tends to be relatively healthy with minimal exposure to damage from UV, chemical or heat processing.

Fun Fact: Hair starts out with a medium or low porosity level and gradually becomes more porous as damage occurs.

The best thing you can do for your strands is to have a beneficial hair regimen that focuses on hydration and low-heat styling to keep hair at a medium to low porosity level.

Tips for Hair with A Medium Porosity Level

Wash your hair regularly to keep it clean and build-up free. Since excess buildup and deep hydration aren’t a large concern for this porosity, focus on choosing products made for your hair type.

We’ve created a simple assessment that can help you to determine your hair’s porosity level and give a bit of background as to what exactly that means.

You can take our Porosity Quiz and report back to get some deeper information on porosity levels in the rest of this blog!

If you’d like to take a hands-on approach, there are a few quick tests that you can conduct yourself to determine the porosity level of your hair.

The Strand Test
Take a single strand of your hair in fingers. Starting from the bottom, run your fingers upwards to the root of the strand.

What do you feel?

Low porosity hair has a limited capacity to absorb moisture. Image by Agatha Ezepue.

If you then use products that aren't favourable to moisture absorption, like most people with low porosity hair do, you effectively bring your coarse hair strands' chances of getting moisture down to nil.

And once your hair is that dry, it can start to act thirsty, the way high porosity hair does. Whenever it gets the chance — like when you're applying leave in —​ it absorbs more moisture than you would expect.

But if your low porosity hair doesn't get enough time to take enough moisture in -- which is very likely to happen since it's so slow at absorbing stuff — guess what happens?

It'll feel dry again soon after, just like high porosity hair does.

Moisture (aka water) isn't going to stick around and wait forever for your strands to absorb it. If your hair doesn't take it in in time, it's just going to evaporate from the surface, especially if you're in a dry environment.

If the strand feels rough, bumpy or breaks - your hair has a high level of porosity.

If the strand feels smooth – your hair has a medium level of porosity.

If the strand slides easily and feels dense or hard in your fingertips – your hair has a low level of porosity.

Want a second opinion? Try this quick test, too!

The Float Test

After brushing or running fingers through your hair, remove a single strand. Fill a bowl or cup with room-temperature water and place the strand inside.

What It Means:

If the strand sinks quickly to the bottom – your hair has a high level of porosity and it may mean that you have coarse hair.

If the strand sinks slowly to the bottom – your hair has a medium level of porosity.

Hair with a high 'Moisture Debt' like this, will need to take in more moisture over time, gradually balancing its levels before its true porosity is revealed.
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Which brings us to Reason #2.
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Reason #2: Low porosity hair sometimes acts 'just like' high porosity hair
Low porosity hair can do the whole, "I just moisturised it and look now it's dry again!" thing very well. Contrary to popular belief, if your hair's porosity is low enough, it runs a pretty high risk of getting extremely dry -- often way drier than high porosity hair.
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This happens very often on 4c hair, which tends to have extremely low porosity but is often mistaken for high porosity hair, because it too struggles to retain moisture.

Oils can often block out hydration on low porosity hair. Image by Silviarita.

​Other oils which aren't classified as drying oils can still build up on the surface of your hair and act as a barrier to hydration.
​
If you've ever felt like the more oil you apply, the drier your hair gets, it probably isn't because you have high porosity hair; it's more likely because the oil's blocking all the moisture out.

What if I have the type of hair that just drinks up everything?
Your hair doesn't really absorb everything. Nobody's hair does. Most of the stuff we apply to our hair never even makes it inside; that's because only ingredients with the right size and chemical structure can actually penetrate the hair's surface.

Water can make it in (with varying degrees of difficulty) but the size and shape restrictions rule out most oils and butters aside from coconut oil.
​
Some deep conditioning ingredients can penetrate the hair if you give them enough time; cetrimonium bromide is one. But most won't.
So if you're putting product on your hair and it's just disappearing, it's not all going inside your hair. Some of the water is, but the rest is just evaporating, rubbing off on your clothes, drying and flaking off, or just sitting on the surface of your hair. Even if you can't necessarily feel it on your strands. That's because many products are designed to leave you feeling like there's nothing on your hair, when there's actually a good bit of residue.

​That same residue could be tricking you into thinking your hair's high porosity when it's not.

If the strand floats – your hair has a low level of porosity.

Shower Test:

How does your hair take in water when you wash your hair? Does it easily absorb it? That would be a sign of high porosity.

Ask yourself:

Does my hair dry up easily after moisturizing? You may have high porosity hair.

Does it take a lot to absorb moisture? Once that moisture is captured, does it last for a long time though? You may have low porosity hair.

Or does my hair have none of these problems? You may have normal porosity hair.

Testing your hair porosity is almost like playing a guessing game, compared to the inaccurate test all across the Internet, but is definitely a better option to figure out how to treat your hair.

Read these too!

Damaged hair is going to be more porous than virgin hair.

There are better and more accurate measures to test the porosity of your hair. [ Learn about how to stretch natural hair after washing ]

The appeal behind this is simple: Figure out your hair's porosity and you'll know exactly what kind of products and routines work best for you. Your hair will flourish and your natural journey will be that much smoother. At least, that's the theory.

If you have Type 4 hair, then you’ve been blessed with kinky or coily hair that is naturally dry and spongy in texture. Depending on whether you’re 4A, 4B, or 4C, your curls may be tighter or form more of a zigzag to your scalp.

WASH 4C HAIR WITH CARE
It is important to keep your scalp clean and healthy, but don’t wash your 4c hair with shampoo too often. It is perfectly fine to leave 2-4 weeks between every cleanse. Don’t use shampoo that contains sulfates and alternate between washing your hair with a conditioner and a sulfate-free shampoo. You should always wash your hair in small sections to minimize tangling as much as possible.

Hair Care Recommendations for 4C Naturals
When cleansing 4c hair, it is best to focus on the scalp and avoid agitation to prevent the hair from becoming tangled or knotted. Use a sulfate-free shampoo and follow with a creamy moisturizing conditioner for restoring moisture and also help with detangling the hair. Use a wide-tooth comb while in the shower to remove tangles starting from the ends of the hair and working upwards.

When you detangle your hair, try using your fingers. The great thing about using your fingers is you can feel any intricate tangled areas and work through detangling it with your fingers. A wide-tooth comb is excellent, but nothing is better than your delicate touch.

Why stretch your hair? 4c hair has an enormous amount of elasticity, which causes it to shrink. Shrinkage is a good thing, but it may not be the look you want to achieve for your style. Once you stretch your hair, you will be able to wear a hairstyle that is closer to your hair's actual length! Stretching simply allows more styling options!

We often get asked the question how to care for our 4c hair kinky clip-in extensions. We can tell you that it is not that much different from caring for your own 4c hair!

Out of all the curl patterns we carry, our 4c kinky hair has the tightest texture. The hair strands are curled in very tight s-patterns, sometimes barely noticeable. Just like other curl types, 4c hair comes in different densities and porosity levels. Yet, 4c hair has a few typical characteristics that make it stand out from the curl pack.

4c hair does not maintain moisture very well, yet ironically it is the curl pattern that needs moisture the most. The tight kinks in 4c hair prevent the flow of sebum through the hair. You need a good moisturizer, that caters specifically to 4c hair. These moisturizers are often thicker than regular moisturizers and good for protein sensitive hair.. When your hair is properly moisturized, you need to seal in the moisture with a good sealant like coconut oil, avocado oil or shea butter. Even when you wear a protective style, like our kinky hair extensions, you need to moisturize regularly. This goes for your own natural hair as well as the kinky clip-ins.

4c hair doesn’t maintain moisture easily and dries out quickly, more so than other looser curl patterns.
4c hair is prone to a fair amount of shrinkage. 4c hair often shrinks up to 75%.
4c hair (as well as 4b hair type texture) is subject to tangling and matting, if not properly taken care of.
4c hair is very delicate and breaks easily.
So what is the best way to go about maintaining 4c hair and bringing out its beautiful qualities

After detangling your hair, moisturize your hair thoroughly, part accordingly, and create braids, cornrows, or a two-strand twist style.

APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF 4C HAIR
Avoid overstyling 4c hair and just appreciate it’s natural beauty. If you want to do something different with your hair, it is easiest to do a protective style. Styling 4c hair excessively can lead to breakage as its very fragile. You can always get yourself clip-in extensions if you feel like switching it up!

If your hair is short, this styling method will cause it to stretch. If your hair is long enough to place into a loose ponytail, your hair will stretch out even more. For longer hair, make sure you tuck away your ends. Your ends are the most fragile, and tucking them away will support the health of your ends much better than leaving them exposed to the elements.

Afro-textured hair, also known as Type 4 hair is the most delicate hair texture that exists. Caring for type 4 hair requires gentle handling and should be styled with as little manipulation as possible in order to promote length retention, volume, and growth.

4C Afro-Kinky Natural Hair
Like all type 4 hair textures, 4C hair is extremely fragile and easily susceptible to breakage if not properly handled. This texture has very little to no curl definition and can be resistant to moisture. Type 4C hair textures can also shrink up to 75 percent of its true length. Daily conditioning is required in order to prevent the hair from becoming too dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. 4C hair also becomes tangled easily and should be handled as if you are handling a delicate cashmere sweater. Learn about 3C vs 4A Hair here.

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Everyone's hair could use a proper steam treatment. Not only is this process of penetrating the hair shaft with a surge of moisture a benefit to all hair types, but it's also super important for the 4c hair texture. 4c textures crave deep hydration.

The pores in your scalp also open up, which stimulates hair growth. Level up the process by using peppermint or eucalyptus based conditioner before steaming. Make sure you rinse all of the conditioner entirely out before steaming your hair. Sew-in extensions are also a popular protective style for women with natural 4C hair because the hair is braided and hidden while wearing the style. Sew-ins can last for several weeks before needing to be retouched which will allow your hair time to rest. Our Afro Curly hair bundles match perfectly with 4C hair textures and the hair can be washed and reused as long as you care for it properly. Learn how to thicken 3C hair...

Here are some hair steaming tips:

Make sure you thoroughly cleanse your hair from product buildup. We recommend you use a clarifying shampoo to get off all of the residues.
Do not use a heavy conditioner. You want to make sure nothing is blocking the water particles from penetrating the hair shaft.
Add six drops of lavender essential oil to your steam machine and create your own spa experience in your home's comforts while your hair enjoys much-needed attention.
Stay under the steamer no more than 15 to 20 minutes.
Add a leave-in spray conditioner. Make sure it's a light-weight and not a cream spray leave-in conditioner.
Towel dry and style your hair accordingly.

In this blog, we’re addressing the 4C gals specifically. These gorgeous locks are stunning, but shrinkage and dryness are often major concerns. As the most tightly coiled curls on them all, your hair is also more fragile than the rest. Keeping 4C hair moisturized can be difficult, but we’ve got 10 amazing tips for you that will make hair care a breeze.

Natural type 4 hair should be well maintained due to its fragile state and with a little TLC and a delicate touch, your natural hair will grow longer, stronger and healthier.

Discovering how to care for your natural hair can be easily determined by your hair texture. There are some hair textures that will hold certain styles longer and some textures that will require less manipulation in order to achieve a style. Type 4 natural hair is characterized by having tight, densely packed curls, coils or kinks that fall within 3 categories; 4A, 4B hair, and 4C natural hair. Learn more about type 3c hair here.

DEEP CONDITION 4C HAIR
4c hair loves a good deep conditioning! We advise you to deep condition your hair weekly and do a hot oil treatment right after to seal in the moisture. Use a thick deep conditioner to keep your kinks healthy and shiny. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is our favorite oil to use for a hot oil treatment. Just heat the oil in the microwave, but make sure it is a decent temperature before you pour it over your hair and scalp. Place a shower cap and and a towel over your hair. Let it sit and watch the magic happen. Get a great type 4c 4b hair care regimen here.

Caring for 4C Hair can seem daunting. There are so many myths out there about tightly-coiled Afro-textured hair and its supposed unmanageability. Even within the natural hair movement, 4C hair is often neglected. There is so much information about defining curls that one sometimes forgets that not everyone has visible curls—and that is completely fine.

Hair Care Guide for 4c Hair Type
4c natural hair is one of the most overlooked natural hair texture. As a practicing licensed natural hairstylist for over 20 years, I’m going to break 4c natural hair care down to you ladies so that it will forever be broke.

4c Hair Care Tip Quality Styling Products
Lastly, It’s important to use quality natural hair care styling products like tgin curl bomb that are alcohol-free. Also using products that have a lot of slip will be your 4c hairs best friend. For maximum stretch and minimum breakage blow out your hair once a month. Then add styling products like Flawless Foam or Curly U Curl Cream to do a twist out, these are some of the best Curl Activators for 4C Hair. You will find that your 4c hair will be less dry and your styles and length are more controlled.

I hope this information helps you with taking care of your beautiful 4c natural hair. If you have a question email me at [email protected]

4c natural hair type grows in the tightest of all-natural hair types. It’s so tight that shrinkage is about 70-80 percent depending on the density and texture of your hair. Caring for 4c hair type takes time and patience. In my salon, my clients always ask me questions about 4c hair. Are you suppose to wash your hair? How often do you wash your 4c hair? So I’ve put together 5 hair care tips for 4c natural hair to help you maximize growth and length for your hair.

4c Hair Care Tip #2 Deep Conditioning
When conditioning your hair ALWAYS gives your hair deep conditioning. You can do this by adding oil to your wet hair and scalp after you shampoo your hair. Then, sit under heat for 30 minutes with a plastic cap. Find your favorite book or CD and relax for 30 minutes. Adding this to your 4c hair care regimen will do wonders for your hair. I promise you by loving your hair it will love you back!

4c Hair Care Tip #3 Detangling for Growth
After giving your hair a deep conditioning rinse your hair with cool water. This will smooth your cuticle and calm your hair down making it easy to detangle. Detangle your hair with your fingers, a wide-tooth comb, and a ventilated paddle brush. YES, I said brush! Keep in mind that you haven’t been combing your hair for the last two weeks at least. The amount of hair that you’re supposed to lose is 60 to 100 strands a day. It’s possible that you haven’t shed those because you haven’t been touching or combing your hair. If your hair has been in its natural state for weeks when you go to shampoo + condition and detangle your hair you are expected to lose around 3000 strands.

4c Hair Care Tip #1 Wash Day Routine for Growth
Shampoo your hair at least once a month. And always shampoo your hair with a moisturizing shampoo, it's how to make coarse hair soft and silky-feeling.

4C HAIR
This type of hair has a curl that has the tightest coil of the three options. This hair is what most people refer to as nappy or kinky hair. It looks ‘packed together’, as opposed to the fluffy appearance of 4B hair, and it doesn’t show a defined curl pattern.

4C hair is the most fragile type of hair there is as its shape makes it more susceptible to dryness. To maintain your 4C hair in a healthy state, it’s necessary to sometimes wear protective styles like extensions or braids.

The Importance of Moisture for 4c Hair

This will allow you to cleanse your hair and scalp properly. This will help create an optimum environment for hair growth.

DAILY MOISTURISING
As part of a daily and nightly 4c hair routine, you should spritz your hair with water if you can before styling.

Aloe vera juice is great for helping your hair to get moisturized.

You can make up a concoction of water and aloe vera in your spray bottle and use this for your hair each morning.

You can also use a leave-in conditioner at this point too followed by a butter of your choice such as shea butter or mango butter or an oil.

This will help you to seal in the moisture into your hair. See article about 4D hair type.

This is called the LOC method and basically stands for:

L- Liquid

O – Oil

C-Cream

or some people find that the LCO works better for them. One thing to particularly notice is that water always comes first no matter if you use the LOC or LCO method.

No product can add moisture to your hair like water can. The days of using hair grease as a way of moisturising your hair are long gone.

One thing that I must tell you about trying to grow long natural hair is that the less you play about with it the more length you will be able to retain.

Related post: Why sweet almond oil could be exactly what you are looking for

WEEKLY MOISTURISING
Try to keep your hair fresh and not bogged down with too many products.

To achieve this try washing your hair regularly so it remains fresh and moisturised. While co-washing on a weekly basis is great, it's still important to clarify your hair every so often. Clarifying, or deep cleaning, gets rid of product build up (getting rid of this build up will help products perform better) and gives your hair and scalp a nice detox. Once a month go in with a shampoo to cleanse your hair.

• It's super important to keep your hair and scalp clean--it helps to maintain health and encourage growth. Since 4c hair tends to be quite dry and prone to breakage, try co-washing each week with a cleansing conditioner. This will keep your hair clean while maintaining moisture. It's the perfect solution!
• Every now and then add protein to your hair with a strengthening treatment, like Chad from #DearBlackGirl. This restores the elasticity and structure of the hair, and keeps it strong. Try a strengthening treatment every 4-6 weeks to maintain strong, healthy hair.

4c natural hair

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HAIR?
If you have time the best practice would be to wash your hair once a week or every 2 weeks if you simply don’t have the time to invest.

4c Hair Clip-ins and Extensions
4C clip-in hair and extensions are designed to perfectly blend with your own natural hair, giving you a full, afro style in just minutes. No matter what type of hair you have, this is a great way of adding length or volume and creating new styles while working to maintain your natural hair in its healthy state.

Some styles you can do using clip-ins and extensions include:

4C Natural Styles
Faux Bun
Faux Locs
Feed-in Cornrows
Box Braids
Huge Afro
Once you get your natural hair-care routine down, you can start having fun with your hair. There are tons of different styles that you can do ranging from braids and buns to ponytails and updos. If you feel like giving your hair a break from protective hairstyles, here are some of the (no-heat) styles you can now enjoy thanks to your 4C hair:

BANTU KNOT
This is an easy style to create. Simply divide your hair into small sections and apply a tiny amount of styling gel to the hair. Twist with Is TGIN Good for 4C Hair each section into a bun and hold it into place by pinning it at the bottom. For a more defined end result, make the hair sections smaller.

CROWN BRAIDS
This style is great for preventing your hair from drying out. Just like the Bantu knots, it’s very simple to do. All you have to do is split the hair into two sections, then French-braid each one. Wrap the French braids one over the other, and secure the ends under the braids with bobby pins.

If you are going to wash your hair every 2 weeks instead then I would recommend deep conditioning.

Deep conditioning is great for your hair as it refreshes it and gets the moisture to penetrate deep into the hair shaft in a way that a regular conditioner would not be able to do so.

If you are not sure about the difference between regular conditioner and deep conditioner then this might help you throw some light on it.

HOW TO WASH 4C HAIR
As 4c hair gets dry and tangled very easily it’s better to wash your hair in sections.

Washing in sections not only makes your hair easier to manage but it also allows you to control the amount of tangling that can happen during the process.

Start by sectioning your hair into 4 or 6 sections, whichever feels more manageable. Each week, whether you're clarifying or co-washing, there's one thing you MUST do…deep condition!

This is the key to healthy, nourished hair. Deep conditioning imparts moisture and nutrients to your hair, and if you want these results to last, consistency is key. Deep condition every week and watch how your hair transforms. Try to refrain from doing your edges every single day. That constant manipulation and application of product can be tough on your delicate hair line. When you do style your edges, try applying an oil before your edge control, this helps keep your edges nourished and thick.

Once sectioned decide if you want to pre-poo or not.

Pre-poo simply means adding some type of treatment to your hair before you wash it (pre-shampoo). You can use your regular conditioner or do a hot oil treatment.

After you pre-poo, begin to wash your hair each section at a time.

You can either wash with shampoo or conditioner. Just bear in mind washing with shampoo can cause a certain level of dryness so I would advise you only use the shampoo once in a while if you don’t have a lot of product build-up.

Keep your hair in its sections throughout washing then add your leave-in conditioner followed by your oil or/ and butter.

Style as desired.

By doing this you are eliminating dandruff, improving scalp conditions, and removing any product and environmental build-up on the hair. This will ensure your clean hair and scalp can receive the benefits of your conditioner and the rest of your hair care products you’re going to apply next.

• Since 4c hair is quite delicate and prone to breakage, low manipulation and protective styles are your best friends! When doing these styles, though, be sure to loosen your grip. We love a tight, neat, hair style, but you don't want to sacrifice the health of your scalp to achieve a cute 'do. Lots of tension on the scalp and edges can lead to hair loss, and we don't want that!
• Next time you're styling your hair, try to section it into more than four equal parts. Four sections, especially when your hair is thick and/or long, can cause tension at the center of your scalp. It's funny, I used to do this all the time and my scalp was always sore, and the hair at my crown was always breaking. Once I switched it up and put my hair into six or eight sections, I noticed a drastic improvement!

Are you ready for some DIYing? Great! Do you know how to start? No…OK, we can work it out! I keep seeing so many bloggers discussing it and so many friends on Facebook already doing it. They are whipping, mixing, measuring and dicing away like seasoned chefs! They are making their own conditioners, shampoos and natural hair concoctions and you do not have to be a natural hair expert or a scientist to jump on the DIY bandwagon. All you need is the desire. [ Learn What Does Moroccan Oil Do For Your Hair? ]

It's all too familiar to any aspiring naturalista that going to the salon can be a nightmare. This is because most hairstylists don't know how to handle natural hair, they use the wrong products on your hair, like a sulfate shampoo or regular non-moisturizing conditioner or cream which are damaging to your hair. Kinky Curly Hair Oil Guide

DIY Henna Hair Dye
henna color of your choice
hot water
plastic or glass mixing bowl
plastic spoon or spatula
plastic or latex gloves
shower cap or plastic wrap
old towel
olive or jojoba oil
petroleum jelly
Don’t wash your hair at least 12 hours before you color, a little of your hair’s natural oils is a good thing…

Mix henna (Most henna will have mixing directions on the container).

Apply the henna paste the same way you’d apply any other hair color. Section the hair, start at the roots and work your way down the hair shaft. Once you’ve covered all of the sections, go back and cover your entire head with any leftover paste to make sure it is thoroughly applied.

Once you’ve allowed the henna to sit for the desired amount of time, rinse it out in the shower. Rinse in warm water and gently move and work your fingers through the hair to get out as much of the henna as you can.

The color won’t look very different until your hair is dry, so be patient and let it dry. But if you can’t wait, go ahead and blow it dry but be kind to your hair and use either a low or medium heat, never high! - Does Rice Water Dry Your Hair Out?

REVIEW
"I have been dyeing my hair with henna since junior high. I have dyed my hair with chemical dyes before and it never took and came out well. Henna all ways looks good never fades none of the problems I used to face. In order to get the color I get with henna I have to bleach my hair and cause a lot of damage. I just love henna. I can't say anything about it."

While store-bought hair products with irritant chemicals are a no-no for your natural hair, having to spend so much more on natural hair products monthly is an even bigger turnoff. Because the journey to healthy natural hair care can be an expensive one, we've come up with simple recipes on how to make your own natural hair shampoo, conditioner, or cream without breaking the bank.

Making Your Own Natural Hair Shampoo

Whether you are making a simple spray bottle concoction or your first deep conditioner there are a few rules to follow that will allow your mixture to turn out great and your creation to last as long as possible!

Rome wasn’t built in a day and becoming great at the whole natural hair DIY takes time. The best way to ensure you have a great experience is to start out small with a DIY mixture of two to three ingredients only. I always suggest a refresher spray or leave-in conditioner in a spray bottle as your first DIY mixture.

How to make your natural hair shampoo
Get a large mixing bowl and grate the black soap into bits. If you don't have a grater, you can use a sharp knife and cut your black soap into bits.
While you are cutting, boil 2 or 3 cups of water in a large pot and leave it to boil.
Add the boiling water to the grated black soap, stir and break up the lumps of soap. Rice Water & Onion Juice for Natural Hair
The next step is adding 3 tablespoons of almond oil to the mixture.
Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil in the mixture. The castor oil acts as a moisturizing agent for your natural hair shampoo.
Stir the mixture really well.
Add a preservative to keep it from spoiling, (Vitamin E is a good preservative) or you can just refrigerate it.
Seal it up in a container with an airtight lid and let it sit for 2-3 days which allows it time to dissolve.
You can now put it in any container of your choice and it's ready to use.
This DIY natural hair shampoo moisturizes your hair, is safe for all hair types and doesn't strip your hair of its natural oils, unlike most commercial shampoos.

Starting out small for your DIY hair mixtures will give you some practice and find out if you even like doing it yourself. There no shame in going easy and some of the easiest mixtures are the best! Not everyone is down for a list of ten ingredients and many prefer mixtures with three or less ingredients. My very first successful DIY mixture was distilled water, a few drops of lavender and some Is Rice Water Good for Natural Hair? Kinky Kinky Knot Today conditioner in a spray bottle as a refresher to my hair. During winter, I added a few drops of glycerin and I adapted my mixture to all climates!

Bodifying Horsetail Hair Rinse
Ingredients
2 1/2 teaspoons Frontier Dried Horsetail

Directions
Steep horsetail in boiled water for 20 minutes. Shampoo hair and rinse thoroughly. Poor horsetail rinse through hair and leave in for ten minutes. Rinse with clear water.
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Ginger Dandruff Treatment
Ingredients
Indian Blend Fresh Ginger Root
1 teaspoon Banyan Botanicals Organic Sesame Oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions
Squeeze ginger root through press to obtain one tablespoon of juice. Mix all ingredients. Apply to scalp and let dry before shampooing. Repeat three times a week.
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Jojoba Oil and Beer Conditioner
Ingredients
1 cup WARM beer
1 teaspoon Desert Essence Jojoba Oil

Directions
Mix all ingredients. Apply and massage through. Rinse well. You may want to shampoo afterward if your hair remains oily.

Avocado Deep Conditioner
Ingredients
1 small jar of mayonnaise
1/2 avocado

Directions
Peel avocado and remove pit. Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl with your hands until it's a consistent green color. Smooth into hair being careful to work it to the ends. Use shower cap or plastic wrap to seal body heat in. Leave on hair for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning wrap a hot, damp towel around your head over the plastic, or use a hair dryer set to a low to medium heat setting.

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS SHELF LIFE
Know the shelf life of your ingredients to ensure you are getting the best out of your DIY hair mixture. and knowing that items without preservatives have a shorter shelf life of around 1 to 2 weeks. Remember many of your mixes (if you have any left over) will need to be refrigerated to keep them from spoiling and used within a reasonable amount of time.

Quick Leave-In Conditioner
distilled water
extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
your favorite conditioner
I take about 6 ounces of distilled water in a spray bottle and mix in 2 capfuls of EVOO and 2 tablespoons of my favorite conditioner. I shake well and there you have it, a simple, easy, moisturizing homemade leave in conditioner spray mix. - tiffjust2002 (3c)
REVIEW
"Love this leave in. I put the conditioner in first then the EVOO and last water it mixed great" - Lesa31 (4a)

"I just spend $5 on a small bottle of leave in conditioner… never again. This works so much better on my hair. It is quick and easy to do and it uses stuff I have around the house." - SBolton35F (3a)
700 shea butter

Shea Butter Leave-In
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons shea butter (raw)
5-10 large drops of honey
You can add oils if you want (tea tree, avocado, jojoba, grapeseed etc. to name a few)
Melt coconut oil, shea butter, and honey in the microwave for 15-30 seconds or on top of the stove for about 2-5 minutes. Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir until well blended, then pour into a dark glass container with lid and put in the freezer for bout 5-10mins. After it hardens you can take out and store it in your bathroom! This works wonderfully on my hair. Hopefully it will do the same for you. - Curly-Kinky (3c)

For a pudding-like consistency, you can whip the mixture with a hand mixer until blended.
"Very moisturizing perfect to have a frizz free day"

Many mixtresses use natural preservatives like Rosemary Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract or even Neem oil to prolong the life of their mixes.

Take notes – You want to make absolutely sure you do not make the same mistakes twice by not remembering what you used the first time around. You also want to remember what you used if it turned out amazingly well. Write down exactly what you used and how much until you have perfected your creation. Take clear and accurate notes so you can recreate or change up accordingly.

You might be sitting on the fence right now when you think about transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. I don’t blame you, it’s not an easy decision to make.

Regardless of what you might’ve read on Instagram, most people don’t have one single curl type, says Melissa. “I probably have two or three different curl types on my head—and if you’re transitioning with relaxed ends, you need to take that into consideration when it comes to your product picks,” she adds. And just because your hair is naturally textured, doesn’t mean it’s thick.

If you want to go natural but dread the idea of the big chop, don’t despair! It may take a little extra time, but you can transition your hair so that it looks beautiful and healthy.

GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO ADJUST
There is definitely a period of adjustment that needs to take place here. If you are expecting that nothing will change during this transition period, unfortunately, that will not be the case.

As your natural hair growth comes in you might find the hairstyles that you were working with before no longer work.

It will feel difficult at first but I can tell you that the more your hair grows the easier it will get, you just have to be prepared to wait for the adjustment period to pass.

I would say give yourself at least 3-6 months before making a decision to quit.

Start by eliminating all chemical treatments and heat styling, and utilize protective styles while you let your hair grow out. Wash your hair a few times a month and be gentle when detangling your locks. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro at caring for your natural hair.

A lot of people are surprised to hear that my type 4 hair is very fine,” says Melissa. Products for thick hair will weigh down fine curls, and DIY natural hair products for fine hair won’t give thick curls enough moisture and hydration. There’s also curl porosity—your hair’s ability to get, and stay, hydrated—to take into consideration.

Despite what some people might say life with hair does not suddenly become easier just because you have decided to go natural. There are lots of things that you need to take into consideration. It’s a big step for sure and its hard work but I can tell you right now that few people regret it afterwards.

What does it mean to transition to natural hair?
Basically, transitioning to natural hair means you’ve stopped chemically straightening your hair (aka getting relaxers) and you're now letting your natural texture grow out, says Cindy. When someone decides to go natural, you can either let it grow out or you can cut off all your hair (also known as “the big chop”). Cindy decided to grow her hair out, but noted that it was hard to manage her new natural growth with her already relaxed ends.

However, don’t stop washing your hair altogether! If you don’t regularly cleanse and clarify your hair, you’ll end up with a lot of product buildup. You can use a sulfate-free shampoo like NaturAll Club's all natural Cleansing Avocado Shampoo, whether it’s once a week or every two weeks- just don’t cut it out completely.

Take the time to learn what your hair needs. Your hair is changing, so your regimen should be too! Don’t go out and spend all your savings on new products, but also don’t hesitate to get rid of a product that isn’t working for you and try a new one. Instead, make a DIY curl cream without shea butter.
Keep your hair moisturized- we can’t stress this enough. Dryness will cause breakage along that line of demarcation we mentioned. If you missed them, here are our tips for keeping natural hair moisturized.
Find a go-to style that you can master and feel confident in. We recommend trying twist-outs, braid-outs, or perm rods to help you blend the two textures of your hair until you’re done transitioning.

PROS OF TRANSITIONING:
You have the time to learn about your particular hair type.
If you are not comfortable with short hair, then you can avoid that adjustment period, and avoid the wait of growing your hair back out.
During transitioning you have the time to perfect your hair styling skills.

Using excessive heat on your hair is basically a recipe for breakage. You need to use the least amount of heat on your hair as possible, says Sims, so it's best to air-dry your hair if/when you can. But if you do decide to use heat on your hair, be sure to layer on a heat protectant spray before you turn on the blow dryer or flat iron. Even though heat protection sprays can’t reverse damage, they can help prevent split ends, dryness, and serious breakage.

CONS OF TRANSITIONING
The texture of your hair will not be consistent: which means if you decide to wear your hair in a twist out or braid out style the root of your hair might be curly while your ends will be bone straight (To avoid this simply roll the ends of your hair with rods or rollers).
The process of transitioning takes longer than if you just did “the big chop”.

Want more tips on transitioning? We got you.
Trim your hair regularly. This will remove split ends, help your hair grow faster, keep it healthier, and ultimately get you closer to being fully natural. You can trim according to what’s comfortable for you- maybe you chop off an inch every month, or maybe you’re more conservative- but make sure to keep an eye on your ends and trim them regularly.
Avoid products with toxic or drying ingredients, which will increase breakage and frizz. Here are some ingredients to avoid. Your hair needs its natural oils now more than ever, and sulfates will strip those away, leaving your hair dry and brittle. [ Learn the History of Black Hair In American Media ]

Don’t shy away from protective styles. You shouldn’t leave them in for months, but a protective style for a couple weeks can give you a needed rest from hair maintenance.
Deep conditioning is important for everyone, no matter the state or texture of their hair- but it is absolutely non-negotiable if you are transitioning. Just like we mentioned earlier, your hair is in a weak, fragile state while you’re transitioning, and it needs all the nutrients and moisture it can get. Make deep conditioning part of your haircare regimen, doing treatments every two weeks or as often as every week. Here’s a link to Black Hair Media's all-natural deep conditioners, which will get the job done better than anything else.
Our final tip is the most important- love your hair and yourself! Enjoy your natural hair journey! You get to discover your natural hair slowly, and it’s one of the most exciting things you can do for yourself. Don’t forget to seek tips, advice, and words of encouragement from other naturals or people in your life that you trust.

Decided to cut all of their hair off. Agyemang had been relaxing her hair since she was three years old, and she wanted to see what her natural hair, from her roots to her ends, would feel like. “I just didn’t want to deal with the breakage that comes with having relaxed ends,” she said. Johnson said that a lightbulb went off in her head one day, and she realized that she can be beautiful with short hair, too.

Pursue whichever path feels most comfortable (or exciting!) to you, and remember that neither choice is eternal. If you big chop, your hair WILL grow out again (and you can always wear wigs or clip-ins in the meantime); if you transition, you can decide to chop off your permed hair at any time.
If you decide to do the big chop, great! You can get started right away with taking care of your new, natural growth. If you decided on the transitioning route, things can be slightly more complicated. Here’s what to expect.

Use protective and low-manipulation styles to minimize breakage. These styles don’t require heat and can often stay in for 2 weeks to 2 months. They’re great to use while your hair is growing out! They also give your hair a beautiful style while masking the difference between your treated hair and your relaxed hair. Braids, wigs, and twists are great options.

Learning to keep your hair moisturised is a big one. With relaxed hair, you don’t really need to think about moisture but when it comes to transitioning to natural hair, moisture needs to be at the front of your mind.

If you fail to moisturise your hair properly it will become hard, dry and brittle and will be more prone to breakage.

No more running away from the rain in order to keep your hair dry. Water is now your best friend.

Try to moisturise your hair every few days by spriting it with water and using a leave-in conditioner. The LOC method is a great way to ensure your natural hair is at full potential.

If you opt for a weave, have it sewn into your hair rather than glued. The glue can damage your hair when it’s finally removed.
Look into doing a high bun updo, bantu knots, a halo braid, space buns, boxer braids, and flat-twist pigtails for some fun styles.
Avoid styles that put a lot of tension on your temples or the nape of your neck. They could break the sensitive new growth and slow down your transition process.

Not only that but you will have to get used to the new you. You will look quite different to yourself and it takes some time to get used to.

Expect to make a significant change in your haircare routine. Transitioning means no chemicals, no relaxers, no heat. There is no middle ground here, no “occasional” touch-ups or treatments. If you’re deciding to transition, you need to throw the chemicals away and store your heating tools in the back of a closet or at your friend’s house. We’re just being straight with you!
Expect to be tempted to treat your hair again!

Transitioning is a slow process, and it’s frustrating, and it can be discouraging at points. This is why we recommend that you decide now how long you want to transition for. Having a goal can motivate you to keep going when those straighteners or relaxers look really tempting. Note- you can always change your goal! You might get 3 months in and decide to do a big chop after all! That is OKAY.

Expect to see a clearly defined line that divides your damaged ends from new, natural growth. This is known as the line of demarcation. The line of demarcation is the weakest point on each and every hair strand. It is extremely vulnerable to breakage. While it may be a challenge to blend the two textures, make sure above all to be extremely gentle with your hair at that point. Avoid over-manipulation and take care to keep your hair highly moisturized.

Trim your hair every 4-6 weeks as you transition to get the right length. Even though you’re not doing the big chop, you still need to gradually trim away your treated hair to fully transition to natural hair. This doesn’t have to be a big trim—just 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch (0.64 to 1.27 cm) at each trim should be enough to keep your length the same while slowly getting rid of your treated hair.
You can trim the ends of your hair yourself after you shower, or have a professional at a salon do it for you.

REMEMBER TO TRIM
Gradually trimming your relaxed ends off is the key to transitioning.

You should trim as and when you feel ready. Some people are not ready to start trimming until they see at least an inch or so of new growth and that’s fine. Some people like to wait longer and others start to trim straight away. It really does depend on what you can tolerate and how you can handle your hair afterwards.

What you may find the more your natural hair starts to grow is that where your natural hair and permed hair meets (the line of demarcation) you may start to experience some breakage. Don’t be alarmed by this it is completely normal and to be expected.

You may find that as time goes on you will be trimming larger amounts of your relaxed hair off as your new growth comes in in order to cover up the breakage. You’ll need to give your hair time to grow. If you’ve been perming, relaxing, or straightening your hair for years, you aren't going to be fully natural in a few days. Expect to be growing your hair out for four months (or more!) to fully get back your natural texture. Sure, it seems like a long time, but if you’re moisturizing, trimming, and conditioning your hair properly, you’ll see results before you know it.

No matter how careful you are, you should expect to see some breakage. Your hair has been permanently damaged by chemicals, and you simply can’t expect it to be as strong now as it will be eventually when it is fully natural. You’re not necessarily doing something wrong if you notice some breakage or hair loss- don’t get discouraged, and continue to treat your hair with care

You’ve been used to looking a certain way and being able to easily manipulate your hair into what you want it to be for a long time so the change can be hard.

Well once you go natural you have to re-learn all of that again. It’s not to say that you can’t but its a new level of understanding for you and your hair so just be prepared for that.

If you are considering transitioning to natural hair without having to do the big chop then I have a few tips that will help you along the way and make life seem much easier.

The big chop route involves cutting off all or almost all of your permed hair. This is like a “reset” button on your hair. By chopping off the hair that’s been chemically treated, you can start over with new, natural growth. Many women have embraced this choice! It can be incredibly liberating to let your hair go (along with any insecurities or identities you may have tied to it) and start fresh, experiencing all the different stages and lengths of natural hair, and the styles that accompany them.
But the big chop isn’t for everyone. Transitioning is a different route to natural hair that involves cutting chemicals, relaxers, and heat out of your hair regimen. While your permed hair will never return to its natural state, you can retain length while you transition to natural hair, slowly trimming off the damaged ends until it’s fully natural at a length you’re comfortable with.
We cannot stress enough that this is a personal choice! Whether you decide to big chop or transition, don’t let anyone tell you (least of all yourself) that you made the wrong choice or that your hair isn’t beautiful. Everyone’s hair is different, and everyone has a different relationship with their hair. You might hate the idea of short hair or not want to lose the ability to do longer styles; on the other hand, you might be impatient and ready to get rid of your permed hair NOW! You might not want to deal with two different textures or not like the look of transitioning hair.

We love natural hair in all its diversity of patterns, textures, lengths, colors, and styles. Going natural can be an incredible form of self-love and self-expression for many women who used to perm or relax their hair- and for many women who have always been natural, it’s simply a part of who they are and a lifelong journey of knowing themselves.

Also, something to consider: When your ends aren’t relaxed, they’re stronger, says Sims. “You won’t have ends that are breaking off, so your hair will look and feel healthier,” he adds. Ultimately, the choice is up to you and what you’re comfortable with. “There’s really no right or wrong way to make the move to natural.

The hardest thing that you will have to battle is within your own thoughts and feelings.

Remember, you only have to go through this transitioning process once. After that, you just need to care for your natural hair.
If you find yourself wondering if it's worth it, try creating an inspiration board full of pictures of people with natural hair that you love. This can be a great way to remind yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing. Be patient and give your hair lots of time to transition. It may take anywhere from 4-18 months for your hair to fully transition, just depending on how fast your hair grows and how long it was to begin with. It can feel like a long time, but stick with it! You’ll love how your natural hair looks and feels once you’re done.

You will have to get used to caring for natural hair which is completely different from having relaxed hair.

Following a healthy diet is something that is good for your hair, but it is also good for your overall health and wellbeing.

I have never thought my hair was a particular strength of mine. It’s a mélange of several nondescript colors. It puffs out in the back in startling and unexpected lumps no matter how much I brush it.

Not everyone has the same nutritional needs – each person is unique. If you want to become healthier, you must make healthy choices. The best way to get the nutrients that your body needs is to eat whole foods and herbs for Black hair growth..

You should consume raw foods on regular basis. You cannot expect to see results from dietary supplements alone. Dietary supplements can promote good health when they are taken while a person is making essential dietary changes.

If you start managing your nutritional intake, the condition of your hair and skin will likely improve. The goal of this article is to help you create a strategy that will lead to increased hair growth, get your foods for hair growth and thickness.

It has never grown longer than my shoulders, despite years and years of good-faith effort. And then I got pregnant.

While we’re interested in helping women promote hair growth, it’s not just about eating better to get your hair to grow faster (or longer and fuller), but also about making dietary changes that will help you see all kinds of improvements, such as weight loss, more energy, and even clearer skin.

You probably know where I’m going by now, but you should incorporate Greek yogurt for hair growth, several dark green veggies, like broccoli and spinach into your diet. These veggies are packed with nutrients like vitamins A and C. Ultimately you need to consume protein, and foods rich in vitamin A, D, C, E, and B Vitamins as well as minerals such as iron, zinc, folic acid, selenium, folate, biotin and essential fatty acids that support the growth of healthy, strong follicles and minimize hair loss.

Spinach is loaded with folate, vitamins A and C, iron, as well as other nutrients and minerals that promote hair growth and health.

The vitamin A aids in the production of sebum, which is an oily substance that serves as a natural moisturizer for the scalp thus helping to keep the hair healthy and vibrant (source).

Does Diet Affect Hair Growth?
Yes, it is evident that what you eat has a significant impact on your hair’s health. See article about Vegetarian foods for hair growth and thickness.

You can use the information outlined in this article to create a meal plan that meets your overall nutritional needs.

So, what are the best foods for hair growth and thickness?

What’s up Doc? That’s the famous line of our carrot-eating friend – Bugs Bunny.

Aren’t you envious of Bugs Bunny’s natural hair?

It was most likely so healthy looking do to his consumption of carrots, which provide an excellent source of vitamin A and promotes a healthy scalp.

Also, I really like Multi-grain Cheerios and fat-free milk. This healthy breakfast provides a good source of calcium, fiber, iron, and protein.

Consuming dairy products that are low fat like skim milk, cottage cheese and yogurt are an important component of your healthy hair journey.

Furthermore, incorporating whole grain breakfast cereals and bread into your diet can provide you with zinc, iron and vitamin B.

Correcting a deficiency in any of the nutrients can aid in addressing hair loss issues and increasing the rate of hair growth.

If you want your hair to reach its full potential, you’ll need more than quality hair products and a consistent natural hair regimen. You should also eat a healthy diet.

This article should get you started down the right path as you begin to create your meal plan. Now it’s time to take action, so head to your local grocery store and pick-up your favorite foods that promote healthy hair growth.

Consuming around 30grams of this leafy green vegetable supply the body with up to 54% of the vitamin A it needs per day.

It is one of the excellent sources of iron, a mineral that’s essential for hair health. The red blood cells need iron to help in the delivery of oxygen to all the organs in the body for the execution of other functions such as metabolism, cell repair, and hair growth.

As a new mom, I didn’t really have time to spare sourcing meals that represented every color of the rainbow. Zinc is an important trace mineral that helps prevent hair loss, keeping it healthy so it can grow," Haber tells us. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of the mineral, and if you're into oysters, it's your lucky day: According to just three ounces of oysters fulfill your day's entire quota. Like citrus, papaya is filled with hair-perfecting vitamin C, which protects collagen. In fact, just one cup of the fruit chopped up yields 86.5 mg of the vitamin.

The Basics: How to Improve Hair Growth with Food

There are certain things that you should understand when you are making dietary changes to become healthier and improve your hair growth. In the same vein, green leafy vegetable drinks like celery juice for hair growth are one of the best foods for hair growth. Rich in antioxidants, they'll ward off pesky free radicals that can damage your skin's natural collagen supply.

Supermodels and other beautiful civilians take biotin supplements and report excellent hair as a result, but I was breastfeeding and cautious of pills. Instead, I would eat seeds and mushrooms I would forage from a glen called Whole Foods. nuts (especially almonds or walnuts) are particularly great for hair growth due to their high biotin content: "While research doesn’t directly show that biotin helps hair grow, it does show that a lack of biotin can cause hair loss. With that in mind, it definitely can’t hurt to add a handful of almonds to your afternoon snack. These nuts are also rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps nourish both the hair and scalp

I would also invest in styling lessons, for flourish. Soon my hair would resemble that of who has had two children and yet still boasts cartoonishly beautiful hair, probably because she eats only leaves and nuts. (I ate likefor four full days in 2016 and felt ravenously hungry, if marginally more like a human trophy, because of it.)

What Kind of Food Should You Eat for Hair Growth?
Let’s incorporate more hair growth foods into your natural hair regimen. There are several great hair foods that you can add to your diet. Below is a list of my favorite recommendations (includes vegetarian foods for hair growth too):

Citrus is an incredible source of vitamin C, which boasts plenty of important health benefits. However, it's especially helpful for hair growth as it protects and maintains collagen stores, which as our experts told us, is key for hair growth.
Meats, like steak and chicken, are common foods in many people’s diet. Meats are a good source of various nutrients (like protein) that can support hair growth.

I barely had time to shower — I certainly wasn’t going to forage in a mushroom glen — so I decided to sign up for a meal-delivery service. One in particular, Sakara, delivers plant-based, high-protein, high-ORAC meals directly to your door. I would also make salmon as much as humanly possible for dinner, no matter how sick of it I got. And I would dump oregano on everything that wasn’t particularly antioxidant-friendly as a precautionary measure. High in protein and essential vitamins and minerals like zinc (one cup has about one and a half milligrams), Greek yogurt is a strategic add to your daily snack or breakfast rotation in the interest of strong, lusciously long hair. For an upgrade, add a handful of berries, a pinch of chia seeds, and search for yogurt that's plain, organic, and from a grass-fed source.

Shrimp is a type of shellfish that is rich in various nutrients such as vitamins B, vitamin D, iron and zinc which are known to support hair growth and health.

Eating around 100 grams of shrimp a day will deliver 38% of the amount of Vitamin D the body needs daily. Interestingly, a vitamin D3 deficiency has been found to trigger hair loss.

And while shrimp may have a low-fat content, the small amount omega-3 fatty acids it has is abundant, and that means that eating shrimp can help improve the growth and health of your hair.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t typed “Hair Growth Vitamins Supplements for Hair Loss in Females” into Google more than a couple of times. And if you’ve ever accidentally gotten a very extreme haircut, you probably have, too. (Maybe it's what brought you to this article.) For me, it was just that my hair grows really slowly.

Secondly, the minerals zinc and selenium hair growth vitamins can be especially beneficial. Zinc improves oil production (in a good way, to produce the necessary amounts of sebum), and is one of the best means of slowing hair loss. Selenium prevents and combats dandruff and dry, itchy scalps, which can hinder hair’s path to prominence. Find supplements that combine any and all of these vitamins and minerals for more proactive defense against hair loss.

Perhaps I'm genetically predisposed to have sluggish follicles, or maybe all those years of straightening finally caught up with me, but I noticed about a year ago that my hair no longer grew as steadily as it did when I was younger. It has always been on the thinner side, but it was staying on the shorter side, too. It didn't seem to get any longer, regardless of how much time passed, as if the ends just evaporated into thin air. For a while, I didn't even bother getting it cut anymore.

Like the Hair, Skin, and Nails pills you've probably already tried, Viviscal supplements contain Biotin. But there are other ingredients mixed in, like vitamin C, apple extract, and a marine complex they call AminoMar (there's more of this in the Viviscal Professional line than the Viviscal Extra Strength version).

Viviscal's literature says it's been clinically tested for 25 years, but the majority of its trials focus on older men who are balding, or women who experience hair loss and are looking to increase their number of hair strands. But even if that’s not your profile (it isn’t mine), the supplements should help existing hair, too. There are a lot of reasons for wanting to give your hair some help.

Do vitamins like bamboo extract for hair loss and supplements for hair loss—or for hair growth, however you want to look at it—actually work? The answer is complicated. Maybe not always in the way you intend. But in general, sure.

Vitamins A and C, Zinc, and Selenium
While Vitamins A and C both help the scalp to produce healthy amounts of sebum—which keeps hair healthy, nourished, and lustrous—they have their individual benefits as well. Vitamin A helps reduce breakage, while Vitamin C improves iron absorption and collagen production, both of which assist in the formation of strong hair.

We’ll explain more, and recommend some of our favorites, but first, let’s get one thing out of the way: If you’re thinking about taking supplements for hair loss, then know that they are exactly that—supplements.

Hair Growth Vitamins Supplements for Hair Loss in Females

Saw palmetto is often advertised as a DHT blocker in supplements, shampoos, conditioners, and the like. That’s because it is believed to block the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT (that is, dihydrotestosterone, an androgen that can lead to hair loss). So, it can slow hair loss by significantly inhibiting the main culprit. (As an added benefit, it promotes prostate health, too.)

They should not be your primary plan. For that, you need to visit your dermatologist and ask about hair loss remedies like finasteride, minoxidil, and PRP. Or, if you want to cut to the chase, then meet with a digital dermo and sign up for an at-home hair loss subscription from Hims or a similar provider. (Just be sure to monitor usage closely, per possible side effects. Your doctor’s expertise will be essential during the process, to make sure all is going as planned.)

Biotin, sometimes called vitamin H, is a B-complex and MSM for hair growth vitamin supplements that strengthens protein structure in your skin, hair, and nails. You probably know it as the supplement people take to grow out their hair faster. And that’s exactly what it does: It helps hair grow faster and stronger, though you’ll first notice the increased frequency with which you’re clipping your nails. As a solution to hair loss, well…it isn’t one.

Folic acid improves circulation and stimulates cell growth, while Niacin also boosts circulation. You may see folic acid listed as Vitamin B9, and Niacin as B3. Either way, they improve nutrient delivery to your hair follicles—meaning they also heighten the performance of all the other vitamins and minerals. I started noticing a difference around two and a half months into my twice-daily hair growth pills. When I would grab my hair to throw in a ponytail, it felt thicker to me. I also noticed it looked better after my usual morning shower and styling, like it was sturdier, or livelier. So I pressed on and continued to buy more supplements when I ran out.

This is the same approach that minoxidil drops or foams take (you may know minoxidil as Rogaine), though minoxidil one is far more effective as a tactic against hair loss. Folic acid and niacin are, once more, a supplement to those efforts.

But if you are taking the aforementioned hair loss prescriptions (like finasteride and minoxidil), then it will help expedite and fortify your hair regrowth. Similarly, it will strengthen the remaining hairs you have. So in that way, it could slow hair fall on the follicles that are withering away, but we won’t soon be endorsing it as a solution to the problem.

Take the Hims biotin sugar gummy on the daily, if you want to make it fun. They also include vitamins that benefit heart, nerve, and digestive health, in addition to many of the below nutrients, too.

Popular Hair Growth Vitamins Supplements for Hair Loss in Females

Risks and warnings
Adding more biotin-rich foods to your diet doesn’t carry any risks. However, you should always check with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your routine. Biotin doesn’t have any known interactions, but your doctor should still confirm supplement use alongside any other medications you may be taking. Your doctor can also provide more individual information about prenatal hair growth vitamins and biotin dosage and potential side effects.

One box of Viviscal Professional cost $60 in the salon, for a month's supply of twice-daily pills, and my stylist let me know that it would take at least three months to see results. The bottle promised to "nourish" my hair follicles and "promote growth from within." I wasn't convinced, but I knew I'd be back in the salon in six months for another trim (because this kind of maintenance is also crucial for healthy hair growth), and if the pills worked, I could have longer, thicker hair by then. The purchase was made and that was that.

When I'm extremely loyal to the pills, and focused on maintaining the twice-a-day regimen, my hair rewards me with some growth, a more bountiful feel and appearance — and I swear it's better behaved and better looking, too. I'm not sure if this means I have to keep taking them forever.

So did these supplements give me the mermaid-meets-Rapunzel hair of my dreams? No. Did they make a difference instantly, like before that big date you have coming up this weekend? Sadly, no.

Biotin Hair Growth Vitamins Supplements for Hair Loss in Females

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, so any extra biotin in your body will flush out through your urine. This makes a potential overdose unlikely. If you develop an unusual or unexpected skin rash after increasing your biotin intake, see your doctor. In rare cases, this is a sign of biotin overdose. SEE: Prenatal Vitamins supplements in Shampoo for Hair Growth

But if you are willing to make a big commitment, for a result that may only be noticeable to you, then go for it. Like I thought when I first swiped my credit card to buy a box: I'll be getting another hair trim in six months regardless; it would be cool if there was actually some more hair to trim. And, for me at least, there has been.

Hair Growth Products That Work for Black Hair - It is every woman’s dream to get their hair to grow as much as possible. However, hair growth requires a lot of maintenance and sometimes the use of some products that support hair growth. Some women do not have an issue when it comes to getting their hair to grow.

If your hair growth journey has been disappointing and you’re fed up — we feel you. Sometimes otherwise healthy hair arrives at a standstill and for more stubborn locks, sometimes you need a potent concoction to get those follicles in action.

How to prevent hair breakage
You need to avoid brushing wet hair. Hair is most fragile when it is wet. Brushing wet hair can cause severe damage.

You also need to avoid blow drying the hair immediately after the shower. It is wise to wait until the hair is halfway dry before exposing it to the heat of a blow dryer. When you blow dry while the hair is extremely wet, the heat becomes excess, and this result in hair breakage.

When curling, blow drying or straightening the hair using heat, it is essential to use a heat protectant. Applying a heat protectant helps to protect the hair from heat damage.

It is also crucial to ensure that you do not expose your hair to too much heat. When using heat to style your hair, always consider a low amount of heat. If possible, you can altogether avoid heat.

Air drying the hair is also most convenient when it comes to preventing breakage as a towel can be rough on the hair.

You can also use lotion on your hair as it helps to strengthen the hair and prevent breakage.

Hairstyles like tight ponytail can also result in hair breakage and damage.

What is the Best Hair Growth Product for Black Hair

When it comes to hair maintenance, it takes more than a single hair product. Most of the products discussed above come in a set. Each product reviewed in this article can go a long way in helping you maintain your hair and encouraging active hair growth.

Why is this?
The reason is that black hair is naturally coarse, thick, and curly. This means that simple actions like combing through the hair can lead to breakage. On the other hand, black women use a lot of products to tame their hair and these products many are times are the reason why the hair gets damaged due to the chemical content making it difficult to maintain a healthy hair that can grow naturally.

Who better to aid you in your quest for long locks than Black women who know our hair and how to get it to respond? We poured through the comments of highly-rated oils to see exactly why users love these carefully curated blends and brought you only the best there was to offer.

Essential Oils
The oils from rosemary, sage and lavender are natural products that aid in the stimulation of the hair follicles to promote healthy hair growth and a healthy scalp. You can use these oils daily as a hair rinse or a moisturizer for constant scalp stimulation. Hair Growth Products That Work for Black Hair

Dr. Miracle
In an interview with "Hype Hair" magazine, Eugene Smith, a celebrity stylist, advocates the use of Dr. Miracle's Temple and Nape Balm. It is inexpensive, costing less than $10, and is used to stimulate the areas on the scalp most susceptible to hair loss.

HOW TO GROW BLACK HAIR FAST

WASH HAIR WITH A GENTLE, SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO.
Our little one’s strands are delicate and prone to damage. When we wash their hair with harsh chemicals, we can damage the hair and strip it of it’s natural oils. This in turn makes hair very dry and brittle. It really helps when it has sea moss added for a boost in hair growth.

Companies are starting to listen to its customers and have created shampoos for kids with natural hair that cleanse the hair without robbing it of its moisture.

2. DEEP CONDITION OFTEN
   When we shampoo our child’s hair, we want to make sure that we replenish the moisture that was lost during the shampooing process. A great way to moisturize the hair is by deep conditioning. When done properly, deep conditioning treatments strengthen the hair, replenish much needed moisture in the hair, soften the hair strands, prevent damage and split ends, and make detangling a breeze.

When it comes to women of African American descent, hair growth is such a tasking endeavor. It takes more than just essential maintenance for black hair to grow and stay healthy. Black hair is vulnerable to breakage, hair frizz, and several hair issues that do not support the healthy growth of the mane.

Hair Growth Products That Work for Black Hair

DETANGLE WITH CARE
I’ve learned to detangle my child’s hair with my hands ONLY when wet and saturated with a lot of conditioner. You have to be as gentle as possible and use a product that gives you A LOT of slip when running your fingers through it. If you must use a comb, make sure it’s a wide tooth comb.

Zenwise Health has come up with these vitamin supplements that contain biotin and DHT blockers that are the perfect combination when it comes to fighting hair loss. The vitamins are supplemented with 25 powerful ingredients that help to nourish the weak and brittle hair giving both men and women a healthier, stronger, and softer mane.

Haircare XL is a supplement that has been manufactured with DHT blockers that reverse the influence of DHT, which cuts the blood supply to the hair follicles. By doing so, it eliminates hair loss. It also contains hair growth vitamins that work together to stop hair loss and to help the hair to grow back and thickens the hair.

It is manufactured from more than 25 natural and safe ingredients that work from within to help stop hair loss, thinning, hair shedding, and balding. They repair the dormant follicles of the hair hence promoting new hair growth or fast hair re-growth.

The Biotin shampoo for hair growth and Vitamin B7 that is present in this formula help to restore the thickness and strength of the hair as well as it’s naturally shone. These supplements also contain several vitamins like Vitamins A, C, E, B6, and B12, which help keep the hair healthy and growing. The grape seed extract that is one of the ingredients of this product help to maintain the scalp and protect the hairline as well.

PROTECTIVE STYLES HELP GROW HAIR
Protective hairstyles are those that protect the ends of your hair from breaking, and over exposure to harsh elements. Protective styles prevent manipulation of the hair thus encouraging hair growth and length retention. Protective styles include two-strand twists, flat twists, cornrows, braids, buns, up-dos, wigs, and weaves. When hair is properly moisturized, and protective styled, it flourishes!

This is one of the most revolutionary hair growth products in the market. It is an FDA approved hair loss treatment and medical device that is used to treat conditions like alopecia, receding hairline, balding, and thinning of the hair. Additionally, this device is also designed to stimulate hair growth and re-growth in both men and women. Hair Growth Serum for Black Afro-textured Hair.

FOODS THAT GROW HAIR FAST
Your child’s eating habits and water consumption are directly related to their hair health and growth. Eating healthy and nutritious fresh and organic foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals in diatomaceous earth fossil shell flour hair growth products , proteins, good fats and carbohydrates are essential to growing their hair fast.

If you haven’t already heard about the benefits of these foods, you might want to try incorporating some of them into their diet. You might be surprised with the results! Check out: 10 Foods That Help Grow Your African American Child’s Hair

The manufacturers of this device guarantee 100% results in three to six months of failure to which they guarantee a refund for the device. The device is a sort of helmet that has been proven to be 100% clinically safe to use by both men and women. It is a comfortable device that is built to fit all shapes and sizes of heads and hair volumes. Hair Growth Products That Work for Black Hair.