LOVE YOUR CURLS GIRLS!

Black textured hair in its natural form is the most unique hair texture that there is! Despite its uniqueness, the hair is very versatile and can be styled in a number of ways. Actually not all black hair textures are exactly the same. There are many variations, from the most tightly coiled, kinky textures to loose flowing waves, and anything in between.

 Styling Ideas For Natural Black Hair

Most natural black hair types have a lot of texture. This adds to the versatility in styling methods. Freshly shampooed natural hair can be twisted while wet, then finger-combed when dry. A little moisturizer massaged throughout will add shine. The result will be a head full of loose coils. For tight, springy coils, a generous amount of creamy moisturizer is applied to small sections of wet hair and combed through. Each section is then rolled on drinking straws or small curling rods. The patron is then placed under a hair dryer, and when hair is completely dry, the rods or straws are removed. Hair is then styled with the fingers. Larger rods will produce larger coils.

Braids, Locs, and Twists

Black hair is the perfect texture for these styles. The tightly curled texture helps braids, cornrows, and two-strand twists hold together better than straighter hair. The result is a longer lasting style. Hair can be shampooed while in these styles, but care must be taken to keep them looking good. Because black hair “shrinks” as it dries, wearing a stocking cap while the hair is drying will help minimize that shrinkage. When hair is about 75-80% dry, it can be tied down tightly with a satin scarf and left to dry the rest of the way naturally.

Locs are very versatile and can grow to great lengths because of the low amount of maintenance and handling that is needed once the hair is fully locked. Combs and brushes are not required. The hair will just need regular shampooing and re-twisting of the roots every couple of months or so.

Low Maintenance Short Cuts

Some of us prefer to wear our natural hair short and easy to care for. Many black women of all ages have been seen with boyish cuts of short to almost no hair at all, all without sacrificing their femininity. These confident women want to just be able to shower, shampoo, brush, and go just like the men in their lives! These women are often just too busy to waste a lot of time styling their hair. For versatility, some women may add bright colors to their closely cropped locks such as platinum, red, or burgundy. To stay well groomed, short cuts must be maintained at least weekly or bi-weekly, depending on how short the hair is.

Caring for Natural Black Hair

Black textured hair may look strong, but it is really quite fragile and breaks easily. Most natural black hair types respond best to styles that do not require frequent brushing and combing. Styles that can be done with a minimum of these styling methods seems to grow better and look healthier. Styles such as braids and twists can stay in for awhile before they need to be re-done, giving hair a much needed rest. However, breakage can occur if braided or twisted too tight, or if braids are removed too roughly. Styles that can be finger-combed are much kinder to the hair, therefore leaving it much healthier.