Afro Hair

[Curious79]

Hello everyone.  Does anyone here have afro hair and how do you deal with it?? I have got mixed race afro hair and had it braided for years.  For about the last 2 years, I have alternated between having my hair briaded or relaxed and straightening it.  My hair is now in such bad condition that I have just decided to leave it and not do anything to it to try and strengthen it and grow it.  Does anyone have any good tips or products that could help me out.  I am at my wits end with my hair at the moment!!!

[natalie_1982]

What about just tying it back and/ or using loads of coconut oil/ balm.

[gypsy]

i think you should get it trimmed to remove all the dead ends ,,then use a good shampoo and conditioner i have a mixed race friend and she uses the body shop brazil nut shampoo and conditioner ,,you can also buy anti frizz products in spray form and it may be best to just let it be free for a while after the trim,,also kelp tablets from health shop and nettle tea also from health shop are great boosters for the hair,,and will make it grow faster,,,gypsy

[Avispa]

Have a few inches chopped off. Like white hair it should grow stonger and more healthy. There are an amazing amount of products available for afro hair and a lot cheaper than the stuff we can get for ours. The best places I have found (my best friends children are mixed race) are Leeds or Birmingham, or anywhere else that has a high volume of black people (not meant to offend) to get these products.

[Ammy]

Hi Vittel, my hair is now pure afro because I made the decision about two years ago to stop relaxing due to the damage it was causing. I found a really good remedy in Dark & Lovely Deep conditioning cholestrol treatment. It detangles and conditions really well. Its about �2 and availiable in most afro-caribbean hair shops.

Other tips:

If you do continue to relax make sure you take good care of it as much as possible. i.e. go to the hairdresser often for regular steaming/ treament sessions. Also get it re-touched every 4-6 weeks.

Trim often

Wrap your hair when you sleep at night, ideally with a silk scarf to limit your hair tearing.

Get a good daily moisturiser, haven't tried it myself yet but shea butter is meant to be really good.

Good luck, looking after afro hair is hard work. Key words: Time and Effort!