Whether it’s waves, curls, coils or kinks, Black natural hair encompasses a variety of different textures, each as beautiful and versatile as the other! Perfecting a good routine that focuses on hydrating your natural hair, is key in getting your hair to look and feel its very best. Not sure where to start? Discover more about your own unique texture and the steps you can take to nourish your luscious locks from root to tip.
First things first… What are the hair types?
Type 1: Straight hair.
Type 2: Wavy hair. This type is divided into three – 2a, 2b and 2c depending on the intensity of the wave – 2a being least reminiscent of the letter S, and 2c the most.
Type 3: Curly hair. This type of hair is also divided into three – 3a, 3b and 3c. 3a being the loosest curl and 3c the tightest, sometimes described as a corkscrew shape.
Type 4: Coily hair. Once again, this hair type is divided into three – 4a, 4b and 4c. 4a curls look like tight S shapes, while 4b are often defined as tight looking Z shapes, and finally 4c is even more tightly coiled and generally does not have a defined curl pattern.
One thing to note is that it isn’t uncommon for hair to be multiple textures around your head! So think of hair types as a starting guide to help you better understand what your hair needs to stay healthy and hydrated.
Natural hair routine
A routine that maximises hydration and nourishment is vital for Black natural hair. This is because it’s harder for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down a curly hair shaft and moisturise it that way, so getting hydration from water and the correct products is key!
Cleansing
When washing your hair, opt for a gentle and moisturisingshampoo that will gently cleanse the hair rather than strip it of its natural oils. In this case, it’s best to avoid shampoos that contain sulphates as these chemicals are known for drying and stripping textured hair.
How often you wash your hair is completely based on you and your own preferences. Generally, any less than once a week could start to dry out the hair and do more harm than good, but of course this varies from person to person.
Conditioning
Now’s the time to replace any moisture that’s been lost whilst you cleansed the hair. Apply liberal amounts of a nourishingconditioner, taking time to run it through your hair strands. Don’t forget to pay extra attention to your ends before washing out.
Before styling, you may also want to apply a leave-in conditioner to allow your curls to soak up all the hydrating goodness in between washes. Plus, they also keep your curls defined and hydrated until the next wash day.
Styling
Here are some styles that help to prevent damage and breakage to Black hair:
Protective styling
Protective styles such as braids, faux locs, twists and wigs are achieved by partly or fully encasing the hair, leaving it less vulnerable to damage.
Low manipulation styles
This type of styling is achieved without manipulating the hair with heated tools, stretching or braiding and these include buns, puffs, twists and Bantu knots.
Maintenance
Now we’ve covered the fundamentals of a good routine, here are some of the best ways to keep those curls and coils thriving!
Night-time care
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste with an improper night-time routine. Tossing and turning in the night can cause friction on the hair, which can worsen if exposed to cotton pillowcases. To encase your hair and prevent friction damage, sleep in a silk or satin bonnet and/ or sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. This will also help to keep frizz at bay, so win win!
Trims
Unfortunately, split ends can be masked temporarily but not mended. Booking in regular trims (at minimum once every 3 months) helps to keep your hair in tip top condition and prevents any breakage from travelling up the hair shaft.
Treatments
For the times when your curls need a bit of extra love, deep conditioning treatments are always a winner! They deliver an intense burst of moisture that can restore curls and shine as well as hydrating the hair and preventing frizz.
For an extra bit of TLC, monthly hot oil treatments are a great way to nourish Black natural hair. Simply warm up one of your favouritehair oils (argan, avocado, coconut, olive or almond among others) in a jar and add into hot water. Once warm, section your hair and apply to the scalp and ends, gently massaging it in. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wrap a silk scarf around your head to lock in the moisture. Wash off with shampoo as normal and you’ll be left with your hair looking shinier and healthier than before!
To find out more about the best products to use for naturally curly and texturized hair, check out our Superdrug TV episode here.
Home » How to Care for Black Natural Hair
How to Care for Black Natural Hair
Home » How to Care for Black Natural Hair
Whether it’s waves, curls, coils or kinks, Black natural hair encompasses a variety of different textures, each as beautiful and versatile as the other! Perfecting a good routine that focuses on hydrating your natural hair, is key in getting your hair to look and feel its very best. Not sure where to start? Discover more about your own unique texture and the steps you can take to nourish your luscious locks from root to tip.
First things first… What are the hair types?
Type 1: Straight hair.
Type 2: Wavy hair. This type is divided into three – 2a, 2b and 2c depending on the intensity of the wave – 2a being least reminiscent of the letter S, and 2c the most.
Type 3: Curly hair. This type of hair is also divided into three – 3a, 3b and 3c. 3a being the loosest curl and 3c the tightest, sometimes described as a corkscrew shape.
Type 4: Coily hair. Once again, this hair type is divided into three – 4a, 4b and 4c. 4a curls look like tight S shapes, while 4b are often defined as tight looking Z shapes, and finally 4c is even more tightly coiled and generally does not have a defined curl pattern.
One thing to note is that it isn’t uncommon for hair to be multiple textures around your head! So think of hair types as a starting guide to help you better understand what your hair needs to stay healthy and hydrated.
Natural hair routine
A routine that maximises hydration and nourishment is vital for Black natural hair. This is because it’s harder for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down a curly hair shaft and moisturise it that way, so getting hydration from water and the correct products is key!
Cleansing
When washing your hair, opt for a gentle and moisturising shampoo that will gently cleanse the hair rather than strip it of its natural oils. In this case, it’s best to avoid shampoos that contain sulphates as these chemicals are known for drying and stripping textured hair.
How often you wash your hair is completely based on you and your own preferences. Generally, any less than once a week could start to dry out the hair and do more harm than good, but of course this varies from person to person.
Conditioning
Now’s the time to replace any moisture that’s been lost whilst you cleansed the hair. Apply liberal amounts of a nourishing conditioner, taking time to run it through your hair strands. Don’t forget to pay extra attention to your ends before washing out.
Before styling, you may also want to apply a leave-in conditioner to allow your curls to soak up all the hydrating goodness in between washes. Plus, they also keep your curls defined and hydrated until the next wash day.
Styling
Here are some styles that help to prevent damage and breakage to Black hair:
Protective styling
Protective styles such as braids, faux locs, twists and wigs are achieved by partly or fully encasing the hair, leaving it less vulnerable to damage.
Low manipulation styles
This type of styling is achieved without manipulating the hair with heated tools, stretching or braiding and these include buns, puffs, twists and Bantu knots.
Maintenance
Now we’ve covered the fundamentals of a good routine, here are some of the best ways to keep those curls and coils thriving!
Night-time care
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste with an improper night-time routine. Tossing and turning in the night can cause friction on the hair, which can worsen if exposed to cotton pillowcases. To encase your hair and prevent friction damage, sleep in a silk or satin bonnet and/ or sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. This will also help to keep frizz at bay, so win win!
Trims
Unfortunately, split ends can be masked temporarily but not mended. Booking in regular trims (at minimum once every 3 months) helps to keep your hair in tip top condition and prevents any breakage from travelling up the hair shaft.
Treatments
For the times when your curls need a bit of extra love, deep conditioning treatments are always a winner! They deliver an intense burst of moisture that can restore curls and shine as well as hydrating the hair and preventing frizz.
For an extra bit of TLC, monthly hot oil treatments are a great way to nourish Black natural hair. Simply warm up one of your favourite hair oils (argan, avocado, coconut, olive or almond among others) in a jar and add into hot water. Once warm, section your hair and apply to the scalp and ends, gently massaging it in. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wrap a silk scarf around your head to lock in the moisture. Wash off with shampoo as normal and you’ll be left with your hair looking shinier and healthier than before!
To find out more about the best products to use for naturally curly and texturized hair, check out our Superdrug TV episode here.
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