Afro-centric hair has many pros and con from the coils, naps, thickness, to the volume. The texture is one of a kind and there are major steps to master healthy hair. Natural hair is already tedious to maintain and style, but there are a few tricks to grow hair thicker and styles that’ll grow it faster.
Nighttime Routine:
Getting into the habit of twisting/ braiding your hair every night will protect your hair from breakage and make the process in the morning easier with an untwist/braid and go. There are three kinds of twists to choose from, two-strand, three strands, and Cuba twist if you are crafty.
Credit to Youtuber Marrica Evans. #FlauntYourFro
In the tutorial, Evans showcase step by step instructions on how to twist your hair at night, and have a flawless finish in the morning.
Protective styles:
The amazing plus for afro-centric hair is how versatile it is. Hairstyles choices are versatile and limitless. Afro-centric hair texture can endure heat, pressure, and chemicals. And protective hairstyles reduces the process of manipulating your hair, allows growth, and protects the ends of your hair.
Here are some protective styles:
These are called singles. Despite the popularity of the name box braids, these have been around for decades, protecting roots. Singles are the style that lasts up to three months depending on how you care for them. This hairstyle is a guarantee hair grower.
Knotless braids are the new trend for the culture. Unlike singles, there are no knots at the root of your braid. The issue with singles is the heaviness and painful process. Knotless braids allow you to embrace your hair without waiting days for the tension to go down, and the strains of braids will not have a build-up of oil and dirt.
Twists are the unique protective style due to the different forms it comes in. The different categories include Passion twist, Senegalese twist, and rope twist.
Cornrows are a great style for a getaway or to get for the time being. This style comes in different sizes and patterns that allow you to personalize them for any occasion. The hair growth in this style is rapid.
How to maintain braid/twist styles:
- Wash your braids
- Keep your scalp moisturized
- Protect your hair at night with a scarf
- If you want to keep the style in longer just get the edges of your hair redone.
Crochet has to be the most versatile out of all the styles due to the different hair weaves and patterns you can add to the cornrow style. This style is created with a latch hook and your imagination. You can add Marley hair, pre braided weave or kinky hair.
Everything you need to achieve these styles:
Latch Hook
Cornrows
Treatments are an essential part of maintaining healthy hair, this prevents breakage and repairs damage. There are different types of treatments for every hair type with different benefits. Regular protein treatments are great for strengthening hair and elasticity. At-home treatments with mayo, eggs, and oils. Keratin treatment, and deep conditioning treatment.
Oils help promote growth by applying it regularly to the scalp to keep hair moisturized. A list of oils that grow natural hair is castor, almond, coconut, jojoba, rosemary, avocado, and lavender.
Wash day is important for growth, and the way you wash it impacts hair growth also. When shampooing and conditioning hair make sure you are brushing your hair thoroughly with a detangling brush.
After going through your routine of washing your hair and adding leave-in conditioner make sure you detangle your hair.
Trim
Getting a trim regularly will make hair grow healthier and getting layers will give your hair the allusion fullness
Heat
Not applying heat to your hair will increase the rate of growth of your hair.
Aloe Vera contains an enzyme called proteolytic that repairs skin cells that are on your scalp.
Find the products for your hair
Afro-centric hair has different conditions that help the follicles grow, but each hair type is different and the methods that work for you may not apply to the next person. Testing out different shampoos, conditioners, detanglers, oils, and gels are important in your hair journey.
Things to try:
Rice water treatment
Hair growth treatment
Steams
Vitamins
Eating more vegetables and fruits