Afro Hair Care

A large portion of African Americans wear their hair in an afro, in varying types, colors and lengths, and when worn in its natural state, the style represents an independent stand from socially acceptable or normal, less attention-drawing hairstyles.

History

In African American culture, the Afro hair style represents pride, and a period in time when African Americans moved away from straighter hairstyles and began to embrace their hair in its natural state. The popularity of the Afro affected other racial groups like Caucasians and Hispanics, and the hairstyle became trendy and fashionable.

Misconceptions

Many people draw their misconceptions from the physical appearance of Afro hair, which can look unmanageable, tough and even hard. Afro hair is actually usually very soft, much like cotton, and easy to manage when properly cared for. Afro hair also appears to be much shorter than other types of hair due to its tighter curl pattern, but can be longer than meets the eye when it is stretched away from the scalp or straightened. Another popular misconception is that the hairstyle is very resistant to conditions such as perms, dyes, and heat. Actually, great care must be taken because the cortex, or inner layer of hair, is substantially weaker than the outer layer of cuticle hair.

Types

Although all Afro hair may appear to look the same, as with other hair types, there are several types. These categories include tightly spiraled to loose and wavy curls. Many people find that their Afro hair overlaps between one or more types, and can have different types of hair in certain sections of their scalp.

Care

An important staple in caring for Afro hair is knowing how to properly comb it. Improper combing techniques can interfere with the hair's growth potential and leave it broken and damaged. Slowly combing from the ends upward while firmly holding the roots of the hair make the process of removing tangles easier and less painful. Combing out the hair before washing it also prevents more tangles and loss of hair. Extreme caution should be employed while using heating tools like flat irons and hot combs. Too much heat can permanently straighten the hair and damage the cuticle. This caution should also be used if you perm your hair or use any new products.

Styles

Afro hairstyles range from Afro puffs, two strand twists and Bantu knots to roller sets and locs. Protective styles are also very popular because they allow the hair to grow more with less maintenance like everyday combing and brushing. Wrapping the hair at bedtime is commonly used to keep the hair in place and protect a desired style during sleep. Another common hairstyle is braids or cornrows. Braiding, which has become a form of art and self-representation in the African American community, also affords convenience, and allows a great deal of creativity and imagination.

Resources

• Afro Hair Care
• Afro Hair Types