Nkosi Mpofu 01 August 2022

How to Properly Care for Afro-Textured Hair in 5 Easy Steps

The first question most clients ask concerning their hair is “How do I maintain my afro, it's painful when combing it out?” Well, it makes sense because, over the years, the only education we’ve had in regards to afro-textured hair is to relax it.

It’s only now that companies and individuals in the hair industry are sharing education on how to properly care for afro hair to allow natural hair lovers to embrace and proudly wear their beautiful crowns.

If you’re looking for ways to simplify the process of caring for your kinky hair, we’ve compiled this guide just for you.

What defines hair type?

Your hair type is defined by the curl pattern of your natural hair and your curl pattern forms based on your hair follicle.

As your hair grows, it takes the shape of your hair follicle and grows out straight, curly, wavey, or coily. Straight hair follicles produce straight hair whereas curvey hair follicles produce curly hair.

Genetics also play a role in determining your hair type and each time your hair goes through its growth cycle, the genetic elements such as curl pattern are reasserted.

1. Make water your best friend

Water does not only have health benefits, such as improving blood circulation, and flushing out toxins in your system to give you glowing skin, it is a necessity for a healthy afro as well.

Because of the texture of coily and curly hair, it is prone to knots and tangles, and managing it can be a nightmare. Water is the easiest way to soften the hair to allow for easy detangling without having to force the hair strands apart.

On your wash day, ensure you have a spray bottle to dampen your hair before you begin the shampooing process and during your moisturizing routine.

2. Create a wash routine

The good news is, unlike other hair textures, afro hair does not require that you wash your hair every day. Once a week or fortnightly is enough to keep your hair clean until your next wash day.

The reason behind limiting washes is that shampooing strips hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and susceptible to breakage.

On your wash day, ensure that your hair is properly detangled before beginning the shampooing process. This will prevent the hair from getting knotted.

Also be mindful to use a moisturizing shampoo, because it is a much gentler option that won’t leave your hair feeling dry.

3. Ensure your hair is always well moisturized

Dryness is the major cause of many hair problems such as breakage, an itchy scalp, failure to retain length, uneven hair, and so on. By nature, afro hair dries out quickly, and to maintain its shine and luster, ensure that you moisturize often.

A good leave-in conditioner goes a long in ensuring that your hair receives enough moisture. We also recommend the Mizani 25 Miracle Milk which moisturizes and keeps your hair hydrated for longer for soft textured hair and the Shea Moisture Curling cream for coarse textures.

One other way to feed your hair with moisture is a regular deep conditioning treatment. Deep conditioning hair allows it to absorb all the ingredients it needs from a moisturizing hair mask to strengthen it, and for a healthy shine.

4. Braid your hair before heading to bed

We know, that coming home from a busy day at work or at school, the last thing you want is to get home and have to deal with your hair. However, taking a few minutes in the evenings to braid your hair before you sleep will allow your hair to retain moisture, and experience less friction on the pillow, making it easy to style it in the morning.

5. Get rid of split ends

For most people, retaining length is the ultimate goal of their hair journey and this leads to a popular belief that by trimming ends, you lose a few inches and your hair will take forever to grow back.

The truth is, split ends are damaged hair cuticles, and the longer you keep them, the higher the chances that they’ll end up damaging the healthy part of your hair.

When cutting off split ends, ensure that you get rid of all the split parts to prevent your hair from further splitting.

Final thoughts

Maintaining afro hair does not have to be a dread, with the right tools and education, you can grow your hair healthy and proudly wear your crown.

To achieve this, make water your best friend, it will soften your hair and keep it hydrated. Create a wash routine, moisturize well to enhance its natural texture, and always braid your hair before heading to bed to retain moisture.

To learn more about how to better care for your natural hair during cold, dry weather, here’s our blog article: Winter Hair Care Tips: 7 Easy to Follow Hair Hacks For Healthy Natural Hair.