Tips on Growing an Afro

Wearing an afro can serve as a powerful fashion statement. Whether your goal is to channel 1970s icons or to have a low-maintenance hair style, the afro is a suitable style option. While a soft perfectly-shaped afro is your goal, attention in the beginning phases is critical to the final appearance of your new hairstyle. Growing an afro will take more than wishful thinking.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Natural oil moisturizer
• Wide-tooth comb
• Hair pick
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

1. Begin with unprocessed hair and a clean scalp to ensure your afro receives the best possible start. Correct hair and scalp problems prior to growing your afro. If growing an afro is a direct response to hair damage, it’s especially important to get rid of the damaged hair. Cut your hair down to the “new growth” portion if your hair was previously relaxed.

2. Apply regular moisture to your hair. Use products containing natural oils to add moisture without clogging your pores. There a variety of product lines to choose from such as SoftSheen-Carson. Since afro hair is more susceptible to hair damage, regular applications of moisturizers will help prevent breakage and split ends.

3. Stimulate your scalp. Use a wide-tooth plastic comb or hair pick to groom your hair. Your scalp will benefit from the extraction of natural lubrication and removal of excess oil and dirt. Avoid using combs with narrow teeth as your hair can become trapped between them. Entanglements could lead to unnecessary hair breakage.

4. Trim your afro regularly to help mold it into the desired shape. Realize that certain areas of hair may grow more rapidly than others. For example, it may be necessary to trim the right side of your afro more frequently than the left side. The amount of trimming you choose will vary depending on how large you want your afro to be at any given time. Some choose to wear very low afros while others desire large exotic afros. Afros are unique to the wearer and don’t even have to be uniformly molded. Get creative with your presentation to show off your personality.

5. Wash your hair regularly. Stick to a routine washing and conditioning schedule to keep your afro soft and fresh. Choose shampoo and conditioning products specially formulated for natural hair for extra protection. Product lines such as Carol’s Daughter offer extensive solutions for natural hair. Use a daily conditioner as well as weekly deep conditioning treatment to further reduce hair damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Sleep on a satin pillowcase to avoid stripping moisture from your hair while you sleep.

• Comb your hair daily to prevent matting, which can lead to hair loss.

• Never get scissor happy when trimming your afro.

Resources

• View SoftSheen-Carson hair products
• View Carol's Daughter hair products