Author: Etieno Udoh, BCom, Commerce and Marketing.
To commemorate this year black history month I will be taking you through how I care for my afro-textured hair.
Afro is a hair type and hair style that is grown naturally by people of the black community.
Hair just like any other thing has factors that play in enabling it to grow. These factors include but are not limited to genetics ,diet, weather and so on. Regardless, it all boils down to knowing your hair type and what works for it.
Being a black girl and growing up with an afro-textured hair hasn’t always been all rainbow and sunshine, the struggles were real.
As a young girl I remember always wanting to relax my hair because of how painful it was and how much I cried through the process. Fast forward years later when I was done with my secondary school, natural hair had become a trend so I hopped on the trend, with zero knowledge about it .
To commemorate this year black history month I will be taking your through how I care for my afro textured hair.
Afro is a hair type and hair style that is grown naturally by people of the black community.
Hair just like any other thing has factors that play in enabling it to grow. These factors include but are not limited to genetics ,diet, weather and so on. Regardless, it all boils down to knowing your hair type and what works for it.
Being a black girl and growing up with an afro-textured hair hasn’t always been all rainbow and sunshine, the struggles were real.
As a young girl I remember always wanting to relax my hair because of how painful it was and how much I cried through the process. Fast forward years later when I was done with my secondary school, natural hair had become a trend so I hopped on the trend, with zero knowledge about it .
When I decided to start my hair love journey, I had to do my own research. Why does it take so much time? Why are my curls so tight? Why do I have so much shrinkage? etc, are some of the questions I researched.
After my extensive research, I concluded that I have a 4c hair type, low porosity, thick strands and high density hair. I have been on my natural hair journey for a few years and honestly I am still trying to find my foot around it, having coloured, cut, and styled my hair in endless ways to figure out it’s full potential. It definitely has been a journey and I am loving every part of it.
The 4c hair type is usually termed problematic, unkept, ugly, untamed, and unpolished. Over time our beautiful nappy curls have become accepted and well represented. I will be taking you on tips on how I maintain my 4c hair types.
I try to keep my hair routine very simple, as it is said less is more.
Moisture: My hair is always dry, so I try to moisturise it with water before styling it to avoid any breakage.
Protective styling: A protective hair style is a black girl’s best friend, it prevents the hair from breakage and tangling, my personal favourite is cornrows. you can also have your hair done in twists and bantu knots they also protect your hair.
Trim dead ends: Trimming your split ends helps retain length for your hair. I try to trim my hair once a year cause if done too much it can cause hair loss.
Wash days: It is greatly advised to set a day aside to wash your hair because the washing process could be tedious. Also having a simple hair wash routine helps a whole lot, because you would not want to put your hair through undue stress as it might lead to breakage. I try to follow my wash days religiously.
Others include; going easy with heated tools, following up your hair treatment frequently, choosing the right shampoo and conditioner, and finally finding a good hairstylist who can handle your hair.
Afro hair can be overwhelming but find out what’s works for you, love your hair, don’t compare your hair journey with others and be prepared for the bad hair days.
