8 Black Hair Care Tips You Didn't Know You Needed

With so many products and websites to choose from, it can be tough to figure out which black hair care tips will work best for you. To make things easier, here’s a list of eight black hair care tips that even the most experienced natural hair stylists don’t know about but should! From how to get your hair to grow faster to how to reduce shedding and breakage, these are all great tips from some of the most knowledgeable natural hair stylists in the industry. You don’t want to miss these!

1. The best type of diet for your hair

There are a lot of factors that can affect your hair growth and health. Diet is one of the most important things you need to consider when thinking about how to care for your hair. Start by eliminating junk food from your diet and replacing it with fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. These foods not only provide you with the nutrients you need for better hair but also help reduce inflammation in your body which is a common contributor to hair loss.

2. How to properly deep condition your hair

1. Avoid using too much shampoo or conditioner, because it can make your hair dry and brittle. 

2. Try to avoid heat styling as much as possible- this is the number one thing that will damage your curls and kinks. 

3. Always use a deep conditioner at least once a week- it will help with frizz and split ends!

3. Best ways to retain moisture

Moisture is king in the world of black hair care. Here are some ways to make sure you're maintaining your moisture levels.

-Apply a deep conditioner or deep moisturizer weekly, at least once a month, or as often as needed. 

-Use products with natural oils in them such as argan oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. 

-Use products with humectants such as glycerin and honey that attract water to the hair shafts and increase moisture retention. 

-Make sure you're using a heat protectant before using heat on your hair - this will help maintain your natural oils and keep your scalp healthy.

4. Natural hair masks are great at retaining moisture

You should also use a natural hair mask every week to help retain moisture in your hair. There are tons of great hair masks out there, so we've listed some of our favorites below! 

Protein-rich deep conditioner: This type of mask is great for dry hair because it helps repair the cuticles and restore protein balance in your strands. Our favorite deep conditioners are SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque, Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Original, and L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repairing Protein Recharging Mask.

5. Lighter products are better if you can find them

1. Avoid products that contain artificial colors, like henna and indigo, which can cause breakage and damage your hair more than they help it. 

2. When trying to figure out the best product for you, always go with lighter products. Darker ones are usually thicker and heavier on the hair, which can lead to breakage over time. 

3. Condition your scalp before shampooing by using a conditioner or mask that has a creamier consistency than shampoo because it will be gentler on the hair follicles and will hydrate them more effectively. 

4. Use a detangling spray if you have natural hair so you don't end up ripping at your strands when combing through knots in wet or dry hair.

6. Use heat protectant products (every time!)

1. Use heat protectant products every time you use heat on your hair. There are many different types, but a few common ones include shea butter and other natural oils. 2. Keep your hair in protective styles as much as possible. This includes wearing braids, using head wraps (scarves) to cover your hair, or pulling your hair up into a bun or ponytail when it's hot outside or you're working out. 3. Use cold water to rinse the shampoo out of your hair instead of hot water if you want to avoid shrinkage and breakage from too much heat exposure. 4.

7. What NOT to do with your natural afro/curly/kinky textured hair

1. Do not use heat tools to style your natural hair. 

2. Do not use any kind of chemical-based products or relaxers on your hair. 

3. Do not use a comb on wet, dirty hair because this will cause breakage and detangling may be more difficult. 

4. Use conditioner every time you wash your hair in order to avoid dryness and frizziness, which are caused by a lack of moisture and nutrients deep down in the hair shafts. 

8. Use strong oils like coconut oil regularly

If you are looking for a natural, healthy alternative to the expensive products you see in stores, try using oils like coconut oil. Not only will they help your hair grow thicker and stronger, but they are also great for your scalp. Oils have been shown to stimulate hair growth as well as reduce inflammation on the scalp. In addition, other popular oils that work well for black hair include avocado oil and tea tree oil. These two oils can also help with dandruff and dryness of the scalp.

If you don't want to use natural oils, there are some good alternatives out there such as ORS Designing Solutions Restorative Treatment or SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Grow Longer Shampoo.