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When it comes to her hair, a black woman can have it just about any way she wants it. This is the beauty and versatility of this hair texture. Want it straight and bouncy? Relax it. Want it curly and huge? Let it be natural. Want a throw-back look? Rock it full and fluffy. Want to change it every week? Get a weave and keep it moving. But no matter which style you choose, give your hair some special care to keep it healthy.
Weekly Wash and Condition
Wash black hair once per week -- no more if you can help it. Because of black hair's tight curl pattern, oil never makes it down the hair shaft, so frequent shampooing dries the hair out. If you need to wash it more because of a trip to the beach or a swim around the pool, do so, but remember to condition. In fact, conditioning is one of the most important aspects of caring for black hair. It restores moisture and helps to reduce breakage due to chemical processing. So apply a deep conditioner once every two weeks to moisturize.
Trim Regularly
Get into the routine of getting your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks to get rid of split ends. Not only does this help prevent breakage, but it looks better when it is cut routinely. Otherwise, you have stray and straggly ends that can ruin even the most fabulous hairstyle.
Avoid Heat Styling
Heat styling can hamper your hair's health much sooner than you would expect. So it's prudent to style your hair without heat when possible. Wrap hair at night to get a nice, sleek look or braid it while wet for some built-in waves. If you must use heat, use the lowest possible setting on the curling/flat iron or blow-dryer.
Don't Overload Hair With Products
While some products may help you to achieve a certain look, most just gunk up your hair and cause it to look dirty and weighed down. Use an anti-frizz serum and perhaps some oil sheen, but avoid goopy gels when possible. Get into the routine of making your hair’s natural oils work in your favor with limited heat styling and extra-nourishing conditioner.
