African American hair may be kinky, curly or wavy and the strands may be thick or thin. Kinky, thin hair tends to break more easily than other textures because it dries out easily, but curly and wavy hair is also more prone to dryness than straight hair. Dryness and breakage may keep a young black girl's hair short. However, using the right products and techniques promotes healthy hair growth.
Step 1
Wash your daughter's hair at least once a week with a mild shampoo to prevent buildup of products, dead skin cells on the scalp and grease---all of which block hair follicles and stunt growth. A mild shampoo effectively cleans your daughter's scalp without drying out her hair or leaving a residue, according to A. Dickey, author of "Hair Rules! The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly or Wavy Hair."
Step 2
Pat the hair dry after shampooing and add a conditioner suitable for your child's hair texture. According to Dickey, protein conditioners are best for relaxed hair. If her hair is natural, apply a deep conditioner, place a shower cap over your daughter's hair and let her sit under a dryer. Conditioning treatment should last about 10 to 15 minutes so your child doesn't become too uncomfortable.
Step 3
Rinse conditioner from your daughter's hair thoroughly and squeeze or pat dry the hair with a soft towel. Never twist or wring the hair as you're drying.
Step 4
Comb out hair with a wide-tooth comb and work from the tips to the roots to minimize breakage. Braid hair to dry naturally or set your child under a hair dryer until hair is dry, but not overly dry. Avoid using a blow dryer, which increases dryness and breakage.
Step 5
Comb out hair gently once it's dry and apply a liberal amount of moisturizing lotion and then a small amount of olive, jojoba or castor oil to seal in the moisture.
Step 6
Braid or cornrow your daughter's hair. These hairstyles limit the amount of handling the hair receives, thereby reducing possibility for breakage. Don't braid hair too tightly, advises Deborah Lilly, author of "Wavy, Curly, Kinky: The African American Child's Hair Guide."
Step 7
Tie your daughter's hair with a silk or satin scarf at bedtime to reduce friction and breakage. Lilly also recommends switching to silk or satin pillowcases.
Tips and Warnings
- Apply a moisturizing lotion to the hair daily. Avoid using heat-styling appliances such as hot combs or flat irons that increase breakage. Avoid using chemicals in your daughter's hair as they dry out hair and make it more brittle and fragile. If your daughter has kinky hair, apply a leave-in conditioner before drying and styling. For ponytail hairstyles, use soft, silky hair ties or scrunchies that are less likely to cause hair to break.
- Lilly recommends not using relaxers on children younger than eight years old. However, if you can wait until your daughter is 12 years old, it's even better for protecting her hair and scalp. Do not tug, pull or rip a your child's hair. It damages the hair and slows growth. It also teaches her poor hair care that she'll practice throughout her life.
Things You'll Need
- Mild shampoo
- Protein conditioner
- Deep conditioner
- Wide-tooth comb
- Moisturizing lotion
- Natural oil
- Silk or satin scarf
- Silk or satin pillowcase
References
- "Wavy, Curly, Kinky: The African American Child's Hair Guide"; Deborah R. Lilly; 2006
- "Hair Rules! The Ultimate Hair-Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly or Wavy Hair"; A. Dickey; 2003
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