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Silky and straight or funky and Afro-like, there is so much you can do with African-American locks. Forget about the old adage that this type of hair is difficult to style; you just need to have an understanding of what it takes to accomplish a certain look. Anything that you can do with any other hair type can be done with African-American hair. Plait it, dreadlock it, perm it or just be natural and free; whatever you choice, make sure you are having fun with your fabulous hair.
Texture
Texture galore is the best way to describe African-American hair. One of the more common textures is a mass of thick, tightly coiled locks. This hair type can be stretched out into one big halo of an Afro or plaited down onto the head in thick and lush braids. Tightly coiled locks can also be chemically relaxed into an entirely different texture; you can have straight and silky hair that will swing with every step you take.
Care Tips
African-American hair requires tons of conditioning to keep it properly moisturized. A deep conditioner is a must at least once per week to cultivate healthy black hair. Unlike other hair types, African-American hair should not be washed every day or even every other day since this can dry it out. Generally, once or twice per week is enough.
Style Possibilities
Braid it. Dreadlock it. Perm, curl or straighten it. There are so many ways to style African-American hair, partly because its thicker texture can hold styles in place fairly easily. The ability to do certain styles depends on whether the hair is natural or chemically altered. It is much harder, for instance, to get a huge Afro with relaxed locks than with what you were born with.
Misconceptions
African-American hair is very misunderstood, which can sometimes lead to a lack of proper care for it. Not all African-Americans have coarse or tightly curled locks; some have very fine and silky hair naturally. Others have much more loosely coiled curls than the tighter curls most associated with this hair type. African-American hair is also resilient. While prone to damage from chemicals and heat styling, it can rebound quickly.
