BlackHair.me

blackhair.me brings you information about natural hair care, hair types, and helpful suggestions and independent recommendations. For our natural recipe suggestions see the natural ingredients page here. If you need hair help or info you can contact us, and have a look at our links page for afro hair products and hair salons – there are some interesting websites there, and be sure to check out our salon reviews page.

On this website we use the term afro which means loose hair combed natural hair,twists or plaits (braids), and we also use the term dread(loc)ks which means traditional locs, freeform locs, organic locs, sisterlocks, and brotherlocks for explaining matted hair.

Relaxed Afro hair can be combed the same way as European hair, however research has shown relaxers to be carcinogenic. If you can’t eat it then why put it on your skin or hair ?

Healthy hair grows in a healthy scalp. Healthy hair grows if you follow a healthy diet and maintain a healthy scalp. A healthy scalp is always clean and free of bacteria.Wash your hair regularly it is important to remember that sweaty hair and sweaty scalp create bacteria and bacteria eats your scalp therefore causing scalp problems like head sores,itchy scalp and other things.The salt content in the sweat dries out your hair and scalp and causes scalp eczema. I can’t stress it enough about the importance of shampooing,scalp cleansing and at the very least regular scalp rinsing.

Curly or Afro hair is very fragile hair, and it requires alot of moisturising (leave in conditioning creams or oils) and gentle care. Afro hair follicles and hair shaft are tightly curved, creating a naturally curly or kinky texture. Curly and Afro hair creates less oil production, afro hair also tends to become very dry and is easily knotted and tangles because  it tends to shrink.The curlier the hair,the more it tends to be dry.The curlier the hair the easier it is to shrink and dreadlock.

Shampooing hair too frequently can increase dryness. I recommend liquid african black soap by Akamuti for curly, afro and dreadlocks.I also recommend Akamuti’s organic liquid castille soap. Alternatively you can use Dr.Bronners liquid castile soap any fragrance of your choice. After shampooing or rinsing you have to retwist your dread(loc)ks or re-plait your afro hair.Remember that after washing or rinsing your hair you have to moisturise cream or oil the  hair and scalp. Rinsing your hair with water may be  fine, depending on how oily  and  curly your hair is. My hair shrinks to a quarter of it’s original length, in other words I loose 75% of it’s length because my hair is very kinky.I have 100% African hair which is coiled and coarse.(My hair is 4c in texture,see hair classification types).However it returns to it full length if I comb or blow dry my hair with an attachment afro blow dry comb.

Head massages with some base/carrier oils can help circulation and with a balanced vegan or vegetarian diet, exercise and vitamins intake, will increase hair growth.

Dread(loc)(k)s needs oils like Rosehip seed oil, Avocado oil, Apricot kernal oil, Jojoba oil, Hemp seed oil  or Olive oil scented with essential oils like rosemary, cedarwood and lavender. (I go in detail about the qualities of these oils further later). If your scalp and hair is dry then use a blend of cocoa butter and the above mentioned oils when retightening/retwisting your Dread(loc)ks but only use a small quantity.You can use oils to moisturise your scalp and locs about three times a week or as required. Using heavy butters when re-twisting once every six to eight weeks is okay, but not more than that.Using Shea or cocoa butter on your dreadlocks on a daily basis is not a good idea because it causes build up in your locks. Retwisting your locs every six weeks is good. The best thing for locs is Aloe vera with Jojoba oil and an essential oil or two of your choice (like rosemary and lavender, Lavender and orange also smells uplifting ) blended together this oil gel lotion would be good for locs and scalp.

Just to let you know, if you grow dread(loc)(k)s (but not Sisterlocks or Brotherlocks) and decide that you no longer want them, you can go to a natural afro hair salon and have the locks combed out, back into an afro, you do not have to cut or shave your head.Also if you cut off your locks  you can  have  them  reattached  by  the  salon  once  you have  some growth. Ask your natural hairstylist.

Natural afro hair and scalp needs regular moisturising (as much as daily) with a pomade,hair gel,or styling wax.Glycerine is probably the best moisturiser for afro hair.You can also combine glycerine with a natural moisturiser like aloe vera,coconut oil,cocoa butter or shea butter and two essential oils of your choice if you desire. Essential oils kill germs, fungal infections and are natural preservatives.(The rule for essential oils is maximum 40 drops for 100mls of oil).

Afro hair requires a no-comb hairstyle to keep it in good condition and avoid unnecessary breakage (afro hair is prone to excessive breakage caused by combing,especially if treated like European hair. You can’t wash and comb it everyday like European hair (You can comb and wash daily, but you would get a lot of breakage,especially if your hair is really kinky or coily) ). No comb hairstyles (twists,plaits,braids or hair extensions are called no comb hairstyles) can last from three weeks to three months depending on the hairstyle. Cornrows with natural hair and no extensions can last up to a month, whilst plait extensions can last on average three months. Dreadlock extensions can last up to a year. Weave-ons can last up to three months.It is best to not leave hair in a no-comb hairstyle (plaits,braids or extension) no longer than three months as the hair will turn into dreadlocks.