5 top tips to care for Afro-Caribbean hair
Afro-Caribbean hair to most people is highly attractive, full of character and vibrant, but it comes with its own special needs. At the same time, of all the different hair types it is also the most vulnerable to damage. This is because Afro-Caribbean hair is very fine – add to that the fact that along its length there are a number of twists (the curls) which make the hair weak and more likely to break than the average hair. Those wonderful curls are great but it can also be oh-so frustrating when they tend towards getting tangled. More problems are on the horizon when you try to disentangle it as a heavy hand can bring the hair loose and before you know it you are looking at little patches of hair loss.
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The simple comb is so important
The first place to start is with the right comb. A wide tooth comb allows for much more flexibility. When combing be gentle and start from the ends and work down to the roots. This prevents putting too much pressure on the follicle.
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Give your hair roots a rest
Traction hair loss is a common problem with Afro-Caribbean hair and is usually due to the popular hair styles such as braids, cornrows and dreadlocks. The simple solution for this, other than taking care with combing, is to give you’re a hair a rest when using the above styles. They are the kind of hairstyles that may be left in for long periods and this is when they place a strain on hair follicles, so wear the styles for short periods or just when you are out and loosen them when you can.
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Is this alopecia areata?
There is no reason why you would be more likely to suffer from alopecia areata than if you had any other type of hair, but the symptoms of this condition do resemble those of traction hair loss. So don’t go making any quick assumptions. If you see patches of hair loss, the first port of call is your doctor to clarify for certain the source of the problem.
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Conditioners
Conditioners are essential and great for keeping Afro-Caribbean hair at its best. They need to be used before and after shampooing and are subsequently called pre-conditioner and post-conditioner. Heavy oily types of styling products don’t always bode well with Afro-Caribbean hair.
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Moisturise your hair
Afro-Caribbean hair can be very dry so you need to put back that essence. It is likely to be less greasy than most types of hair but you will need to be washing it at least two times a week. A few drops of Jojoba oil or Argan oil is useful to massage into your hair after each shampoo.
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