How to take care of afro hair (includes a homemade mask recipe)

There are different opinions on the subject of proper care for very curly or afro hair. What is the best routine to care for afro hair? How to untangle it?

Lucky people with curly hair or Afro hair can be obsessed with finding the right care product, but many specific curly hair products are not recommended due to their chemical-laden composition. Its excessive use can irritate the scalp, cause itching and even dandruff. Here we tell you how to take care of it with natural products and we give you a recipe for a homemade mask for afro hair.

Why does the hair curl?

The reason is genetic. The hair fiber comes out with curl and volume directly from the scalp, due to the fact that disulfide bonds attach to keratin chains in a certain way. The thickness of curly hair is usually less than that of straight or slightly wavy hair. Being finer, it is easily damaged, and often looks like dry, careless hair.

But curly hair also has advantages: offers more volume and body, even in those with alopecia. It also takes longer to get dirty with the scalp’s own fat.

How to prepare afro hair before washing it

Because of its shape, curly hair tangles more than other types of hair. That is why we must be careful, especially with brushing. So that it does not get tangled we must protect it very well with nourishing oils or even with masks.

An option when going to wash afro or very curly hair is apply a “pre-poo” hot oil treatment (before shampooing) to untangle curls before washing hair.

For it, divide your hair into four or more sections.Then, take the first section and fix the others with hairpins.Heat some argan oil in a bain-marie. Massage the oil strand by strand. Detangle your afro hair carefully with your fingers from the ends to the roots from the hair, carefully loosening each knot. Wrap the hair in a warm towel and let the oil act for 30 minutes before washing it well.

The advantage of a pre-poo is that the oil makes it easier to detangle your afro hair. The oil film seals the hair cuticle. This keeps curls supple and makes detangling easy. If you were to detangle in the shower, your hair could break more easily.

Another option is to massage the argan oil directly into the hair without heating it. and wash as usual after about 30 minutes.

The third option is to use the mask for afro hair that we present below, instead of argan oil, as a method of preparation and detangling before washing the hair.

How do you wash afro hair correctly?

Now it’s time to remove the oil with the wash. For this it is recommended Use a certified natural or organic shampoo, free of silicones that alter its natural form, parabens, and sulfated detergents.

After shampooing your hair, an acid rinse is recommended. A mixture of a liter of cold water and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar is a great conditioner for afro hair. Other advantages of an acid rinse are:

Have a antibacterial effect and strengthens the hair roots.reduces dandruff and the itch.promotes circulation blood on the scalp.Provides shine and facilitates combing.Regulates the pH value of the scalp.

Apply the mixture after shampooing your hair. You don’t need to massage the scalp, you just have to rinse the hair. And don’t worry about the smell, it dissipates very quickly.

Masks for afro or curly hair

By Marcela Burgos

Homemade hair masks for curly hair are often called cold butters or balms. They are a semi-solid, creamy, unctuous and homogeneous mixture, basically made up of vegetable oils, butters and oleates.

They are used as masks before and after shampoo. Its function is to protect, repair, nourish, lubricate and moisturize the skin and hair with a melting texture, leaving a silky touch.

Whether you like a chantilly cream-like consistency or a mousse, cold-fried shortenings offer a rich and protective texture. They are ideal for dry, weakened, frizzy hair, with open and damaged cuticles.

They are used in a small amount that you warm in your hands and apply to lengths and ends, restoring moisture. Softens and hydrates hair: it is ideal for treating dryness and brittleness of Afro hair.

The butters create a layer that protects from the aggressions caused by the sun’s rays and fights the dryness of the scalp. Some vegetable shortenings have anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

They seal afro hair very well, which tends to dry out more than any other type of hair. Thanks to its properties, the shea butter It is ideal for sealing hair without leaving a greasy or stiff feeling.

The main ingredient of a nourishing hair mask is vegetable butter. To achieve a creamy and unctuous consistency, a vegetable oil or a synergy of vegetable oils and oleates is added and, in addition, the antioxidant.

Homemade mango leave-in mask recipe

This nourishing mask for afro hair helps to style the hair, give it shape and prevent frizz or frizz. Sapote oil stimulates growth and strengthens.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of mango butter 2 tablespoons of sapote oil (if you don’t have it, use 3 tablespoons of coconut oil) 1 tablespoon of coconut oil 30 drops of grapefruit essential oil 1 vitamin E capsule

Elaboration:

Place the mango butter in a bowl and begin to beat until creamy, add the tablespoons of oil one by one and beat between each addition to achieve a whipped cream consistency. Finally, add the essential oil and vitamin E; beat to integrate. Pour the butter into a wide-mouthed jar and label it. The butter lasts more than 6 months in a cool, dark place. In the fridge it can last a year.

Application:

Take a small nut of product in your hands and distribute it through the hair before styling. You can shape the hair with your fingers. You don’t need to rinse it.

How to prevent your afro hair from breaking

afro hair it is very delicate and tends to break easily if neglected. If you have hair breakage, then no care can help and you will have to cut the ends.

We give you Some tips on how to avoid breakage of afro hair:

Is better let your afro hair air dry and do not blow-dry on heat. As a general rule, Avoid chemicals like texturizers.To sleep, tie your hair into a palm tree and put on a satin cap or a silk scarf. Alternatively, you can sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. This is how you minimize tangles in your afro hair.