Salon Hair Care Tips for African American Women

How to Condition African American Hair

Conditioner is vital because conditioner helps leave the hair feeling smooth by leaving a thin wax-like coating. Conditioner also helps lessen the breakage and pulling caused by tangling. Tangling happens when the cuticle of one strand of hair (which are more raised in Black and Biracial hair) catches on the cuticle of another hair. Conditioner also smoothes over rough broken edges of the outer layer of hair. By smoothing over the outer layer of the hair, conditioner makes the hair feel softer, reflect light better and keeps it from tangling and breaking as much. Lastly, the protective coating left on by conditioner holds moisture and reduces static electricity.

Tips for Deep Conditioning Black Hair

At least once a week, I deep condition their hair. I will use one of several products:

• Treasured Locks Deep V Conditioner

• Treasured Locks Hot Hair Repair

• Baka Beauty Sahara Clay

• HumiNature Rhassoul Clay

I put one of the deep conditioning products on after co washing and use either a microwave or professional heat

cap for 30 minutes or so. The moist, gentle heat allows the cuticles to open and the moisturizing product to penetrate

the hair shaft. A good hot oil treatment could be done here instead.

How to Properly Moisturize African American Hair

Probably the most important key to healthy African American hair care is moisture. Because of the structure of our hair, it tends to become dry easily. Dry hair lacks elasticity and therefore is brittle and prone to breakage. Moisturize with good products and do it often. Moisturizing is not necessarily the same as oiling. And it is certainly not the same as putting on what we used to call “grease” (see below). After the Deep Conditioning or Conditioning I moisturize. I use one of these products:

• Treasured Locks Leave-in Spray Conditioner

• Black Earth Protective Mist Bodifier

• Treasured Locks Conditioning Balm

• SheaMoisture Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner

• Treasured Locks Locks Of Curls Pomade & Gel

Help Prevent Split Ends

• 
  • Try using hair products that do not contain alcohol. If alcohol is listed in the first 5 ingredients it is a danger to your fragile ends! This would include products such as: mousse, hair spray, gel, and other products used to either straighten or curl hair.

  • If you feel you must use these products. Try giving your tress a hot oil treatment, preferably with jojoba oil or placenta, every two weeks. You may also want to buy a conditioner with jojoba oil or shea butter. If you can't find a conditioner with jojoba or shea you may add ¼ cup of jojoba oil to your favorite conditioner. Also treat your hair to a trim every 6‐8 weeks.

  • If your braids are tight, try using an oil mixture of tea tree oil or peppermint oil with jojoba oil. Use 15 drops of tea tree or peppermint oil per 2 oz of jojoba oil. Then apply to scalp around the hairline. You may also apply shea butter to the hairline. If your hair has recently been braided try not to pull your hair back or up for the first 2 weeks and always wrap them with a silk or satin scarf before bedtime or while working out. The most important fact about braids is the care of them.
  • Make sure you don't wear braid over 8‐10 weeks. You must take the braids down to wash, condition and trim your hair.

  • Remember, just because you're wearing braids doesn't mean you shouldn't condition your own hair. Wear the braids for a short time then give your hair a break before you put them in again. Cornrows are less damaging than individual braids.