Special Hair Challenges for African Americans

African Americans face some special challenges with their hair because, unlike Europeans, the individual shafts of their hair are flat and roll into tight curls with a tendency to frizz. Consequently African American women tend to use chemical relaxing agents on their hair with regularity, making moisturizing and conditioning an absolute must.

While smooth, sleek latest hairstyles are more difficult for African American women to achieve they are not impossible thanks to relaxers and to implements like flat irons. The upside of the tighter quality of African American hair is that it responds well to braiding and weaving and will hold sculpted styles that are almost impossible for European hair unless the hair is practically lacquered into place.

African American women should tie up their hair at night or sleep with a scarf or cap to help prevent tangling and breakage. Most do not need to wash their hair more than once a week with deep conditioning only once a month. As little heat as possible should be applied to the hair and avoid alcohol based hair sprays and gels. Minimize the amount of "product" in your hair as much as possible.