Black Hair Structure

Is there anything different about black hair that makes us require products that are different? The truth is that all hair is made the same way. The only small difference is in the way those components are put in structures that make the hair. The structure of this hair makes it naturally vulnerable to breakages and dryness. This is the reason that black hair needs a different kind of treatment than any other hair type. The hair also has two times the amount of cuticle and that gives it the feeling of some hardness it has, and for that reason the oil that is secreted by the scalp does not get to reach the hair very easily.

Woman with two curlers on top of her hair

The parts that make up your hair are:

It is important that you know the parts that make up your hair because it will help you in understanding how to better manage it.

• Cuticle: this is the outer layer of your hair and is made up of scales which interlock with the cells of the hair’s inner root to firmly keep it held in the follicle. This is some thin layer that is colorless. The black cuticle is twice the thickness of that of the white.
• Cortex: this is the middle layer and is composed of cells that are tightly locked together. These are the bands that give the hair elasticity and strength and they are receptive to chemicals. And as result of that they can easily be managed or influenced and as well damaged by dyes and relaxers.
• Melanin: the substance that determines the color of your hair and is held in the cortex and the more of it you have the darker the color of your hair.
• Follicle: That is what hair is called before it emerges outside the skin. They are composed of many elements such as carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The condition of your hair is an indication of the balancing you have of these elements whether they are sufficient or not.
• Sebaceous glands/sudoniferous glands: these are sweat and oil glands that are attached to the hair follicle. The sebaceous glands open and close continuously to release some wavy oil into the hair follicle and finally to your scalp.

How does a relaxer work?

Relaxers work by breaking down your hair because they break the bonds that actually give your hair the strength and for this reason the hair gets to straighten. This makes the hair to be weaker than natural hair. They also deplete the hair of sebum, that natural oil. When that is combined with heat it becomes a recipe fro trouble for your hair. For this reason a lot of care needs to be taken whenever you are relaxing your hair.

Does this mean we are against relaxers?

Not really, your hair can maintain its good health if a high quality relaxer is used and maintained properly. However the fact is that your hair will be slightly weaker than if it had been left in its natural form.  These are problems that we can manage as long as you are aware of what is going on with your hair.

What do I look for in a stylist to put in my relaxer?

You need to get someone with hair that is done so well that you like it and find out where it was done. If they can let you touch their hair the better still so that you can feel if it is healthy. You need to ensure the stylist is a professional and knows how to handle you r hair before you make an appointment. If care is not taken you easily end up with damaged hair, a bald head and even a permanently disfigured head. Especially when you are doing a perm, you do not want a messed up perm and mind you a perm is actually permanent.

Before she begins:

Your hair stylist should be able to check your hair and your scalp before she begins. This is to make sure that your hair is not weak or that you do not have any cuts, scrapes or even sores as this will not allow her to put the perm on. If your hair is already weak then a perm is likely to make even much weaker. And a scalp that has sores will let the perm be absorbed and this could potentially cause problems much later.

She will also need to check if you have any allergic conditions as well as choosing a perm that is good for your type of hair. Some ore more reactive than others so the right one needs to be found from the word go.

What is my hair type?

Does it really matter if you know your hair type or not? Well not really but when you know what your hairstyle is you should be able to choose the right products that are made specifically for your hair type in mind. There different types of black hair and each one of them needs to be treated differently.  So when you can do your best to know your type and the products you buy will then be the right ones and you will have less trouble managing your hair.

What are the hair care basics?

Your hair is actually a collection of fibers and they need to be treated as gently as possible just like you would treat a new fine silk blouse. If you want nice and great looking hair then you better learn how you need to treat it. Because of the structure of African hair it is prone to breakages and drying and this makes it more difficult for oils to get their way from the scalp to the ends of the hair. When you relax your hair you get to weaken it and in the process you reduce the ability of the scalp to oil it naturally. The points where the hair curls and twists are also the points where breakages are most likely to occur.