Black hair comes in a variety of textures, from almost completely straight to tightly coiled, or kinky. For those with more tightly coiled hair, growing out natural texture can be tricky. Many African-Americans start straightening their hair at a young age and have almost no experience dealing with their actual hair texture. In its natural form, however, black hair can be quite versatile and there are several styling and maintenance options for growing it out.
Step 1
Schedule a haircut. Even if you are growing out a relaxer, a good trim will remove much of the damaged ends and prevent breakage. Even if you don't cut off all of the damage, cutting a small amount helps. Get a professional trim every few months.
Step 2
Use care when combing your hair. The area where the relaxed hair joins the new growth can become tangled, and can also be brittle and prone to breakage. Even fully natural hair is delicate and requires special care. Use a wide-toothed comb and a detangling agent. Comb your hair when it is wet so it will spring back into shape. Dry combing disrupts the curl pattern and leads to breakage.
Step 3
Keep it moist. Wash with a moisturizing shampoo and use a moisturizing conditioner. Use a leave-in conditioner for extra moistening, as well as a moisturizer prior to styling. Apply vegetable-based oils, such as jojoba or coconut, to supplement your hair's natural oil and drink plenty of water to keep the skin and hair hydrated. Avoid heavy mineral- and petroleum-based products, which clog the pores and hinder growth.
Step 4
Deep-condition or apply hot oil treatments once a month. Leave the treatment in for at least 30 minutes.
Step 5
Adopt end-saving hair styles. Try plaits, knots or twists. Set your hair on rollers or in pin curls instead of using heat. Try weave or extension braids to protect the ends while your hair is growing out. Consider dreads or sisterlocs for a more permanent hair style.
Step 6
Massage your scalp with a root-stimulating oil. Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, seven drops of rosemary oil and four drops of tea tree oil to 1 cup of olive oil. Pour the mixture into a squeeze bottle and massage a dime-sized portion into your scalp once a day.
Things You'll Need
- Moisturizing shampoo
- Moisturizing conditioner
- Deep conditioner
- Detangler
- Wide-toothed comb
- Vegetable-based oil
- Scarf or "do" rag
- Peppermint essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Tea tree essential oil
- Olive oil
References
- "Thank God I'm Natural"; Chris-Tia E. Donaldson; 2008
- "Textured Tresses: The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining and Styling Natural Hair"; Diane DaCosta with Paula T. Renfroe; 2004
- "No Lye! The African-American Woman's Guide to Natural Hair Care"; Tulani Kinard; 1997
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