Damaged Hair Care for the Black Woman

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Across various cultures, women often go to great lengths to make their hair look great. Black women may use harsh products to create fashionable styles – a practice that can damage and destroy the hair. Damaged hair requires special care to remove frayed strands and encourage healthy growth. To help repair your black hair, choose the correct products and styling techniques.

Hair Growth

Hair grows at about the rate of one-half inch per month. At any given time, about 10 percent of your hair is in a resting phase that normally lasts about three months. At the end of the resting stage, the hair follicle sheds your hair strand, replacing it with a new one. You may lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day. In some cases, health conditions or styling techniques may result in damage to your hair and subsequent hair loss.

Black Hair

Heredity can affect the appearance, growth rate and structure of your hair. Your black hair may feel coarse and emerge from your scalp in a tight, curly pattern. While your hair may grow at a rate similar to women from other cultural backgrounds, the curling pattern may make it difficult to grow out or style.

Damage

Black fashion trends often dictate the use of chemicals and aggressive styling techniques. Although chemical straighteners, thermal appliances and tight braids can enhance your appearance and create an attractive style, these products and techniques can wreak havoc on the health of your hair’s structure.

Repair

Your hair’s curly structure makes it difficult for the scalp oils to travel down the strands and moisturize the entire shafts, resulting in dry hair that is prone to breakage. Get regular trims to remove split and fraying ends. Use a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment at least once each month to help repair excess dryness. Consume a healthy diet that guards against nutritional deficiencies that can affect the health of your hair. Hair damage that includes balding may require medical attention to rule out possible health conditions such as scalp ringworm and thyroid disease.

Style

Select a style that works with your natural growth pattern and hair type, rather than fighting with your hair. Limit your use of chemical straighteners and thermal appliances. When treating your hair with chemical products, select a professional stylist to ensure a correct application and procedure. Avoid tight braids and cornrows to avoid pulling your hair from its follicles or causing splitting and breaking. Protect your hair from drying elements by applying a leave-in conditioner, wearing a scarf outside during the cold, winter months, and using a swimming cap when entering chlorinated water.