Eighty percent of African-Americans have hair that's characterized as tight or excessively curly, and so requires particular maintenance, according to Mizani, a division of L'Oreal USA. Many women of color experience damage caused by excessive use of styling tools, lack of hair trims and conditioners, and the use of improper products. However, by simply avoiding these pitfalls, you can have the stylish, vibrant, healthy hair you desire.
Elasticity weakens at the bends of tightly curled hair. Therefore, combing, brushing, styling and chemical processes can be more stressful to excessively curly hair than straight hair. Two essentially important layers---the cuticle and the cortex---perform separately but work together to create healthy, shiny, resilient hair. Smooth cuticles aid in shine by reflecting light on each hair fiber. The cortex determines the hair's resistance and elasticity.
Problems African-American hair may be prone to include split ends---the result of hair wearing off the shaft, exposing and weakening the hair---and damage from heated appliances such as curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers, all of which can boil the hair shaft. Use products that coat hair strands to shield them from damage, such as Mizani Therma Strength Style Serum. It's heat-activated and the perfect tool to use for blow drying, straightening or hot curling.
Weekly deep conditioning treatments combat the damage done by styling products. Regular trims, varying from every 3 to 6 weeks, get rid of irreversibly damaged ends that keep hair from growing and reaching its full potential.
Wet hair is extremely fragile. Any pulling, combing or brushing can cause stretching or breakage. Never brush wet hair. Instead use a wide-toothed comb to de-tangle wet hair with minimal breakage.
Women of color should know that even natural styles require care. You'll want to protect curls against damage by applying a moisturizing styling agent or leave-in conditioner before you style or blow dry. A product like Pantene's Curls Curl Shaper Anti-Frizz Crème can help leave curls virtually frizz-free and shiny. Other frizz-fighting tricks include using a blow dryer with a diffuser and avoiding touching the hair when it's dry, which disrupts the definition of the curl.
When opting for color, choose one to match your skin tone. Complexions with warm undertones are best suited with coppers, chestnut browns and blondes. Darker tones may benefit from burgundies, mahoganies and cinnamons.
Because African-American hair has thick cuticles, dye requires more time to penetrate. Avoid damage by using semi-permanent or temporary treatments. Take care of your tresses after a color treatment with suitable products like KeraCare Moisturizing Shampoo for Color Treated Hair. And remember, shampoos and conditioners that contain lauryl sulphate can strip hair color.
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