African hair does not often get overly oily like Caucasian or Asian hair does when it is not washed for several days. Do not wash tangled hair, as this will make the knots even worse. Always untangle hair and then wash.
Conditioner will gently wash away sweat or other buildup while keeping the healthy oils in your hair. Make sure to use the conditioner on your scalp as well as down your hair shaft.
Try to find a moisturizer that contains essential oils, which are absorbed into the hair and moisturize. Avoid products containing lanolin or other greasy ingredients that sit on the surface of the hair and weigh it down. Spritz your hair with water, then apply the moisturizer, or find a moisturizer than can be used on dry hair. Use the moisturizer on all of your hair, but pay special attention to the tips of your hair, which are the oldest and driest.
Try to use a product that contains coconut oil, shea butter, or argan oil.
When you have partially untangled the knot, use a wide-toothed detangling comb to gently brush hair starting at the tips and working your way up the section, brushing down. It’s important to never try to comb or detangle knotted hair when it’s completely dry. Doing so is extremely difficult and will damage your hair. Dampening your hair and adding product makes the knotted section of hair more slippery so that the knot can come out easier.
Braids, including box braids and cornrows, are classic and stylish protective styles. If you don’t have long hair, you can braid synthetic hair in to give you extra length. Twists, including Senegalese twists and two strand twists are also good options for a protective style. Like with braids, you can also add in synthetic hair or even beads to add more to the look. You can also do updos such as bantu knots or buns.
Glued in weaves often rip your natural hair out when they are removed, whereas sewn-in weaves can be removed without any damage done to your hair. You can also wear a wig if you don’t want to have a weave put in. Simply put your hair up, put a wig cap on, and wear the wig.
If you don’t want to buy silk pillowcases, you can also wrap your hair in a silk or satin scarf at night.
