African American
women's hair must be taken care of properly.
Although black women's hair looks strong and resilient, it is often fragile and prone to breakage and damage when not taken care of properly. For black women, proper hair care means choosing a product that promotes growth, and a maintenance program that will not contribute to damaging the hair or scalp. Hair care products should nurture and restore the hair follicles and maintain a moisturized scalp. Does this Spark an idea?
Natural Hair Care
Natural hair refers to hair in its natural form, without any chemicals that change the shape, look or texture. Black women naturally have tightly coiled or curled hair. It is imperative that natural hair is moisturized at all times. The Califia Care Kit from Komaza Care is designed specifically for natural hair that is coarse and tightly coiled. This kit includes shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner and a moisturizing spray. Califia Care is designed to give natural hair shine, softness and to slow down hair breakage. It is also beneficial for hair growth.
Relaxed Hair Care
A hair relaxer designed for black women is a chemical mixture of sodium or guanidine hydroxide. Both chemicals are strong with potentially damaging effects if not used properly. A relaxer loosens and straightens out the curl of black women's hair. In short, a relaxer strips the hair to gain a straighter effect.
Relaxed hair loses moisture. To maintain moisture, black women can use shampoo and conditioning products that are sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-free. Many herbal products are free of SLS, such as Carol's Daughter shampoo with sea moss and Oyin's Honey Hemp conditioner. Maintain moisture between washes with pure shea butter products. Oyin makes a pudding with pure, additive-free shea butter.
Color-Treated Hair
Treating hair with color means to tint, dye, highlight or hue the hair with a chemical process that changes the hair from its natural color to an enhanced or different color. Each time the hair is treated with color some damage to the hair cuticle occurs. Color treatments contain alcohol, ammonia and peroxide, all which make the hair susceptible to breakage when not properly managed. Since color treatment is also a chemical process, never color the hair at the same time you relax the hair.
The key is to keep the hair and scalp adequately moisturized. Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner is a product that moisturizes and fortifies the hair shaft while maintaining color. Also use SLS-free shampoos on color-treated hair and moisturize between washes. Natural essential oils work well with African American hair that is colored treated. Try jojoba, tea tree, coconut and flax seed oil.
Tags: black women, women hair, African American, between washes, black women hair, Califia Care