| Do you love your hair? Are you, like many | | | | - A wide-tooth comb or a hair pick |
| African American women, frustrated by the lack | | | | - A natural boar bristle brush |
| of Black hair care products? Many products are | | | | - Natural oils to apply to the hair, not petroleum |
| on the market for hair care, but there are not a | | | | based products |
| wide variety of products readily available for Black | | | | Many people make the mistake of washing Black |
| Hair. Don't make the mistake of buying any old | | | | Hair too often because they think their hair is |
| product off the shelf. Black hair is quite different | | | | dirty. Shampooing your hair every day or every |
| from the hair of other ethnic groups, and many | | | | other day will dry out your hair and cause |
| common hair care products can damage Black | | | | breakage. In order to clean Black hair on the days |
| hair. | | | | you are unable to shampoo, you can rinse your |
| Did you know Black hair is extremely fragile and | | | | hair with warm water, follow up with a deep |
| can easily be damaged just by rough brushing or | | | | conditioner. |
| using the wrong types of products? Black hair | | | | Nearly every beauty shop sells relaxers. Take |
| also tends to be very dry because it does not | | | | care when using them, relaxers can be very |
| produce the same amount of oil as other types | | | | damaging because they contain a strong alkali or |
| of hair. In order to care for your hair, Black hair | | | | calcium hydroxide, both of which are harsh |
| requires added moisture. You can do this by using | | | | chemicals. Some people use these relaxers to |
| a spray bottle filled with water to mist your hair | | | | make their hair pin-straight. The use of relaxers is |
| (or fill the bottle with other hair care products | | | | controversial in some African American |
| specifically designed for Black hair). Some products | | | | communities because it changes Black hair so that |
| may say they are moisturizing, but if they contain | | | | it looks more Caucasian. However relaxers add |
| alcohol, they will have a drying effect on your | | | | another dimension to the range of available Black |
| Black hair. Stay away from these products! | | | | Hair Styles. |
| You will need to buy a few items to care for | | | | Now that you know some of the secrets of |
| your hair, such as: | | | | Black hair care, you should quickly become an |
| - A high-quality hydrating shampoo | | | | expert in the field. You will soon find you have a |
| - A hot oil treatment or deep conditioner | | | | beautiful head of healthy Black hair that is |
| - A daily leave in conditioner | | | | manageable and gorgeous! |