Beauty Find: African American Hair Care

If you’re African-American or of an ethnic background that gives you coarse, thick, kinky, or curly hair, it can be tough to find good product. Most stuff in the drug store actually does more damage than good.

Synthetic oils, silicones, harsh chemicals, and over-styling all fry the hair yet seem essential to looking good. I have four companies I rely on to keep my hair beautiful: Mia Simone’s Boutique, Curls, Miss Jessie’s, and Oyin Handmade.

For basic shampoos and conditioners, any of the products we mentioned for Curly (S|C) or Dry hair (S|C) will work for kinks and curls. I especially love the selections from Mia Simone and Curls. Conditioner Washing is recommended for ethnic hair as it minimizes damage and maximizes moisture. Be sure to read our Hair Repair post for products that will keep hair healthy when transitioning from a relaxer to a natural style.

The biggest concern for relaxed hair is breakage and dryness. To cut down on both, natural oils can help. Mia Simone’s Scalp & Hair Oil Therapy will nourish hair from root to tip, helping it grow and keeping it hydrated. Oyin Whipped Pudding is also excellent for this, and feels like whipped butter on your hands (yet is never greasy in your hair).

Transitioning to a natural hair style will make it healthier, but brings new styling challenges. For naturally curly hair, try the products we mentioned for holding curls. If you don’t need a lot of hold but do need curl integrity, Mia Simone’s Styling Souffle is perfect. It’s fabulous for keeping locs and waves hydrated and healthy, too. If your hair doesn’t curl the way you like, then Miss Jessie’s products are the way to go. They have step-by-step instructions on their website for creating coil-outs and twist-outs. Their products are great for fingerstyling as well. Plus, they give hair much-need moisture.

Remember, natural or relaxed, kinky, curly, straight, or loced, keep your hair and scalp moisturized, use SLS-free cleansers, and minimize the number of chemicals and synthetic products you put on your hair.