How do I care for my African American NATURAL HAIR?

Question

I have ben growing my hair out for one year. I recently took my braids out and have decided to finally wear my natural hair. The problem is, I have had relaxed hair the majority of my life and I only know how to care for relaxed hair. How do I care for my newly natural hair? I need some tips! Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I have been learning, too.

A beautician and author who specializes in natural hair stated that one of the most important things to use is Nexus Humectress conditioner.

I started using it and it has made a night and day difference in my hair's look and feel. It's finally growing now, but it used to break off really badly. Now that it has gotten some length, I may straighten it and style it instead of just wearing twists...we'll see.

To help manage it during the phase where it was too short to braid but too long to look neat while loose: I just twisted it (took two pieces of hair and twisted them together) instead of braiding them; I was so surprised that my husband and all my family and friends love my hair this way!

Do not use any gels in your hair if you decide to twist it because it will flake up and end up costing you a lot more time and energy than you'd probably want to spend maintaining your hair.

I use Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil line of products (shampoo, hair lotion, and hair dress). Using the hair lotion and hair dress are very important to maintaining moisture of your scalp and hair between washes. It smells great and won't make you look like you have a greasy curl or something. And it's thick enough to help with keeping the twists together...they won't unravel very easily if you have thicker kinkier hair like mine.

Depending on where you live, you should be able to purchase all of these products at your local beauty supply store...and the Olive Oil products are sold by Wal-Mart and Target and some of the other large grocery store chains.

Make sure you get yourself a super-wide toothed comb so that you can comb the Humectress conditioner through while your hair is wet. And maybe one of those nice combs with the widely spaced bristles with the balls on the end to massage your scalp and pull the conditioner through, as well.

If you want to relax your hair a little bit, MaxiGlide is an awesome professional style ceramic, ionic flat iron that has tiny teeth all over it...so it acts like a cross between a hot comb and a flat iron...kind of the best of both worlds. The same company makes a pink gel that you can put in your hair to help prevent frizz after you go outside (you apply the gel after rinsing out your conditioner and before blowdrying, it causes the hair to relax more easily and prevents frizz later).

I use these on my daughters hair and it makes a world of difference. I've never given her a perm, but she has very long beautiful thick hair, but it's still kinky just like mine...but people can't tell because I use such good quality products in her hair.

Her hair is not bone straight, but it's much more manageable than it was before I started using these. The best difference is less tender-headedness for her. When I use these products on her hair, she doesn't complain because the roots are more relaxed and the ends are detangled and there is no painful pulling and tugging on her scalp when I begin to style her hair.

I hope that you are enjoying your hair and discovering a new and beautiful natural look for yourself. God bless!

The books that me and my friends use are listed below.
The website to purchase the Maxiglide and pink frizz-control gel is listed below, as well.

Answer 2

I found these articles which might help:

Taking Care of Hair
http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1535.html

Reduce Hair Loss With A Thorough Head Massage
http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1681.html

Answer 3

Hey, me too!

Keep it moisturized, make sure you braid it when you go to sleep at night, keep it well conditioned, don't press or blowdry it too often, or it'll start to break...you just have to stay on top of things. Oh--and buy some oil for your scalp; I recommend Dr. Miracle's. It's a bit pricey, but it makes your hair grow really quickly. There are lots of cheaper alternatives, though. Grease just kinda sits there; oil is lighter, it doesn't weigh your hair down, and it won't clog your pores--remember; your scalp is skin, just like the rest of your body! :)

Answer 4

you could always lock it, or twist it. if not, in many beauty supply stores there are natural hair care sections: oils, herbal shampoos, strengthners, stuff like that, that you could pick up.

Answer 5

kids shampoo works good on my hair, it smells good

Answer 6

its difficult, but anyway use conditions and good shampoos, and blowdry evenly.

Answer 7

You care for it how your parent(s) did when you were little.