How to Grow a '70s-Style Afro

Wear a flower in your afro and large hoop earrings to get that '70s look.

Throughout the 1970s the Afro was a popular hairstyle amongst people of African descent. Associated with the disco era, many celebrities, including The Jackson Five and The Temptations, sported the big hair. Nowadays, a big '70s-style Afro easily makes you stand out in a crowd. The one requirement to grow an Afro is that you have coarse, heavily textured hair. With proper care and the use of the correct hair care products, your hair will naturally grow into an Afro.

Things You'll Need

• Clipper
• Clipper guard
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Towel
• Hair pick
• Comb
• Hair oil
• Silk scarf
• Satin pillowcase

Instructions

1. Trim and line up your hair. Attach a guard to a clipper and run it through your hair, to even out the length. Remove the guard and get rid of the stray hair sticking out around the front of your hairline, behind your ears and in your neck.

2. Allow your hair to grow naturally so your Afro can start forming. Everyone's hair growth differs. On average, expect your hair to grow no more than half an inch per month.

3. Wash and condition your hair once a week at the most. Avoid washing your hair too much, because this can make it dry and brittle. Use a shampoo and conditioner made for your hair type. Remove excess moisture with a towel and let your hair air dry.

4. Use a hair pick with wide teeth to fluff your Afro. Stick the teeth of the pick in your Afro, along your hairline. Pull it out of your hair in an upward motion, working from the roots to the tips.

5. Oil your scalp once or twice a week to keep it from getting dry. Use a natural hair oil made for your hair type. Make small parts in your Afro with a comb, so you can see your scalp. Spray and rub the oil into your scalp.

6. Deep-condition your hair once a month to hydrate and strengthen it. Afro hair can easily get dry and brittle. A regular deep-conditioning treatment can help prevent this.

7. Wrap a silk scarf around your head before going to sleep, to protect your hair from breaking. Sleep on a satin pillowcase to keep friction minimal.

8. Be patient, because depending on the speed of your hair growth, it may take up to six months before your Afro gets to be '70s-style long.

Tips & Warnings

• When your Afro gets very long, comb it while conditioning in the shower. Use a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles. Conditioner helps to detangle the hair and makes it easier to run a comb through it.

• Avoid using heat styling tools on your hair, because these can cause damage and breakage.

References

• Hair Finder: Rate of Hair Growth