Curly Hair Care: How To Care And Love Your African Hair
Afros are slowly but steadily gaining appreciation, as more women adopt them to erase discriminatory attitudes towards their curly hair.
While tightly curled hair was traditionally pressured to be chemically straightened, these days natural hair is being freed from long-standing societal pressures and allowed to flourish as it is . However, embracing African hair is not just about acceptance; Stylists say it requires regular maintenance and a healthy dose of TLC.
african essentials
There’s a three-step process to maintaining African hair during the Middle East summer, says Rim Yesaad, founder and chief executive of Curlshop.com, a Dubai-based online platform dedicated to providing natural haircare products for African and curly hair.
Afro Salon
For ladies:
Sisu Hair Salon, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Boho Salon, Al Barsha South, Dubai
Moonlight, Al Falah Street, Abu Dhabi
For Men:
MK Barber Shop, Dar Al Wasl Mall, Dubai
Regency Salon, Al Zahiya, Abu Dhabi
Uptown Barber Shop, Al Nasseriya, Sharjah
First come deep-conditioning treatments, which are essential to combating the moisture that strips hair. Another is to use leave-in conditioners and glycerin-free gels that can help hair retain moisture. And finally, she recommends using a light oil to retain moisture in the hair.
Leaving aside these haircare products, Yessad lists a diffuser, a good defining brush, a silk bonnet or pillowcase, a silk scrunchie and a volumizing pick as essential tools for both men and women who want to maintain their afros. want.
Yesad says he has personally developed a relationship with his hair by taking good care of it. “The more I leave it natural, the more curly it gets and I love it,” she says.
This type of hair should generally be washed once a week – this ritual is affectionately referred to as “wash day” for those with frizz. Kayleigh Benoit, founder of inclusive workout headwear brand Bind London, says that sometimes — especially in the summer — it’s important to let your African location live your life.
“On a very hot day my curls may not necessarily be as defined, but it’s about embracing different textures and letting the strands be as they are. Our hair makes the rules sometimes, so go with it and let it fall as it wants,” she says.
Benoit designs athletic scarves, wraps and durags for textured hair and emphasizes that people with Afros should not use cotton on their heads, as it strips away moisture. She says sweat also dries out curls, so hair should be kept up and away from the face and neck during a workout.
Like Yessaad, she also uses a bit of oil for her Afro, especially right before wearing any headwear.
hydrate your hair
In addition to investing in a good deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, gel, and oil, Benoit recommends keeping a small spray mist on hand to add moisture to curls when needed.
“In hot weather, the main thing is hydration, because when it gets hot the hair tends to get drier,” she explains.
Helen Debra-Ampofo, founder of online social media directory Afro Hair UAE, emphasizes that there is no one way to maintain an afro. “Our hair textures vary greatly – the key is to know your hair so you can find out what it likes and what it doesn’t,” she says.
With over 1,000 members, the Afro Hair UAE Facebook group recommends salons, barbers and products for people with Afro hair in the UAE, while creating a community of residents with similar hair care concerns.
According to Sajda Al Riyami, a model with Zanzibari, Omani and Moroccan heritage, braiding your hair is a popular protective style for African hair, especially during the summer months. She says her hair care regimen includes satin caps and heat protection sprays.
Al Riyami has been learning to love her natural hair since 2007. In a #throwback post on Instagram, she writes: “Fixing my curls means fixing the child inside me. When my roots are nourished, I naturally develop an interest in my roots. I hear the voice of my hair, I hear the voice of my ancestors.”
Sporting your natural hair instead of straightening it can be a way to authentically celebrate your culture and identity. “It’s a way for me to express pride in my heritage and where I’m from, and to break beauty standard norms,” explains Al Riyami.
love yourself and your hair
Yesad says seeing more Afros in mainstream media is not only satisfying, but also affirming for kids, who are more willing to accept and embrace their natural hair.
And while she’s seen more men and women in the Middle East embrace their men, the entrepreneur says it can still be challenging — especially in the professional world. She says, “I experienced this myself, when I was working for one of the largest beauty companies in the world, and once I was told to go back home and brush my hair ‘properly’ I went.”
Benoit agrees that while social media and increased visibility helps the plight of greater representation, there are also some environments that are not as friendly to African-Americans. “There are some corporate environments where people feel that wearing their hair natural will keep them from getting into a position or getting a promotion,” she says.
“There’s still that standard of beauty that is tied to whiteness, and I think that although we’ve made progress, we’ve still got a way to go.”
Updated: September 19, 2023, 4:24 am
Afro Salon
For ladies:
Sisu Hair Salon, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Boho Salon, Al Barsha South, Dubai
Moonlight, Al Falah Street, Abu Dhabi
For Men:
MK Barber Shop, Dar Al Wasl Mall, Dubai
Regency Salon, Al Zahiya, Abu Dhabi
Uptown Barber Shop, Al Nasseriya, Sharjah
Source: www.thenationalnews.com