How to Do African American Hairstyles

Before styling African-American hair, there are a few steps that will prime the hair for a great end product. African-American hair holds shapes well and is full of volume, which is wonderful for creating lush, sexy designs. Just a little preparation creates an original, long-lasting style that will turn heads in admiration. Style the hair with a focus on making the most of black hair's natural benefits, and it'll be hard to go wrong.

Things You'll Need

• Wide-tooth or detangling comb
• Oil sheen or cream moisturizer
• Barrettes and coated hair elastics

Instructions

1. Have the right combs for the job. When styling African-American hair, a fine-toothed comb won't do. Instead, have both a detangling and normal wide-toothed comb to make the process easier. This will cause less breakage and pulling to the hair in the long run.

2. If the hair is relaxed, don't use water as a styling tool on a dry head. The hair will revert, which means that it will become coarse. If it reverts, it will need to be blow-dried and flat ironed again, which takes up extra time. Instead, use gel or a bit of hair spray.

3. Moisturize the hair thoroughly. Black hair is best when it's just a bit oily, unlike other types of hair. Adding a bit of oil sheen or cream moisturizer to natural or relaxed hair will increase elasticity and keep frizz at bay. However, overuse can impede hair growth and clog follicles, so be conservative with your dosage.

4. When styling with barrettes and elastic bands, use products that don't involve sharp edges or surfaces that can break hair strands. For black hair, coated rubber bands without metal parts work fine, as do bobby and hair pins with rounded ball ends. If using a hair clip, don't pack too much hair into the barrette; the sharp edges can cause breakage.

5. Don't secure the hair too tightly, since this causes hair loss along the hairline. There's a long history of women who cause their own receding hairlines because of braids that are too tight. Hair should never be so tightly bound that it causes discomfort. If it is, loosen the hair immediately and restyle.

Tips & Warnings

• It's sometimes possible to keep an elaborate hairstyle for days on end. However, it's probably best to clean your scalp of those heavy-duty styling products after about three days or so.

References

• iVillage: Solutions to Common African-American Hair Problems
• Marie Claire: How to Style African-American Hair