The Dos and Don’ts of Managing Your African American Child’s Hair

As hair technology advances many find themselves ditching the old skool ways of doing Black/African American hair, this is true with the ever so popular distribution and usage of hair grease, which to the black community was and is an essential product in the maintenance in the restoration of moisture, and longevity in Black hair, but today we now know that grease is composed of cheap oils such as petroleum, and mineral oil, that clog the scalp’s pores, and alters hair growth. Young girls may even think twice about getting those tight cute conrolls on their heads once they find out their hair line may permanently recede.

The following are the do’s and don’ts to maintaining black/ African American hair

Don’t;

Wash her hair every day; washing black, African American everyday will deprive the hair of the natural oils it needs to grow. This type of hair is in constant need of oils because this hair dispenses less sebum it will become dry and brittle when excessively washed.

Use Grease or products with petroleum and mineral oil; petroleum and mineral oil are cheap oils that will clog the pores in the scalp thereby altering hair growth, and ultimately damaging hair.

Use rubber bands to secure pony tails use elastics or covered bands; rubber bands can cause massive hair breakage, and split ends, trust me, I am a victim. Elastics and covered bands are more gentle to the fragile hair strands, and do not place much restriction on the hair .

Braid hair too tightly (it can actually damage the hair)

Braid hair back too tightly (cornrolls) this can cause the hair line to recede

Excessively brush hair; this will also damage hair, and cause it to break off.

Comb hair from root to end instead, grip the hair’s root, and comb out the ends; this will prevent unnecessary hair loss, by limiting hair pulling.

Use Gel, hair spray, or mousse, they weigh the hair down, break the hair out, and clog the scalp’s pores.

Place a hot iron on hair without testing it in a piece of napkin first, if the napkin turns brown then the iron is too hot to place on hair, wait until it cools down before placing back onto hair.

Excessively place hair under heat; Heat dries out hair, leaving brittle and dry.

Do;

Wash (with shampoo) hair up to 1-2 times a week, if you feel you need to wash you child’s hair more often, you can rinse your child’s hair with warm water, and then condition it.

When braiding or twisting hair; Do Braid hair down to the ends, making sure to braid even the tiniest piece of hair; doing so will prevent ends from splitting and elemental exposure.

Use natural oils such as jojoba, coconut, avocado, or shea butter for hair. This type of hair needs natural oils to thrive, and these oils work best.

Deep condition hair with heat once a month; this enables the cuticles to undo allowing the moisturizer to break into the hair shaft.

Use a detangler comb, or pic, this helps to make combing hair easier, and it limits breakage.

Take out all pony tail holders before bedtime

Use boar bristle brushes

Remove rubber bands with a nail clip or something similar to prevent hair from entangling and knotting with the rubber band, some mothers even use their teeth! (I remember this)

Oil the scalp

Apply leave in conditioner to hair and then part into 2-4 sections depending on amount of hair and then comb each section this way you avoid massive hair breakage and agony in your child

Drank water, exercise, and eat healthy to promote growth and healthy hair

Take pride of your roots!