I love seeing Afro-Latinas embrace their coily/curly hair. I feel like I'm seeing more and more women going natural these days, but because our culture is often so unsupportive there aren't a lot of places to get information on how to take care of those beautiful locks. The same even applies for Latinas who like to relax their hair. Because Afro-Latina hair tends to be drier than most textures, it's super important to keep it healthy and moisturized at all times!
Readmore ¿Qué más? Curly Qs: How can I transition from chemically relaxed to my natural curly hair?
So whether you're going au naturel or prefer styling it straight, here are eight hair tips every Afro-Latina should know. FYI: Most of these tips work for chicas with curly or wavy hair too!
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Get the right cut
This especially applies for the girl whose rocking her natural curls. To avoid frizz or an awkward out-of-control shape, get your hair cut by a stylist who specializes in curling hair. Layers can help keep curls defined, bouncy, and tamed!
Stop using shampoo
It doesn’t matter if you relax your hair or not, you should avoid using regular shampoos at all cost! Many of them contain sulfates, silicones, and even waxes that can strip hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and sometimes even causing breakage. Switch to a cleansing conditioner instead, like Pantene Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner ($5).
Protect your hair from heat
If you're using hot tools on a regular basis, make sure you're applying a heat protectant product to damp hair before blow-drying and styling. This helps prevent damage and breakage. Try blowPro Heat Is On Protective Daily Primer ($18).
Do a hair mask
Because your texture is prone to dryness, it’s imperative you do deep treatments as often as possible. Apply a conditioning mask to your hair at least once a week. I love Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner ($11). Leave on for at least 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing out.
Use leave-ins
Leave-in conditioners are your BFFs! You can add some to natural curls to keep them moisturized and bouncy, or you can apply before styling hair straight for smooth sleek results. Try Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Leave-In Moisturizer ($20).
Use a wide-tooth comb
Don’t EVER brush your wet strands using a regular hair brush. A wide-tooth comb easily detangles strands without causing breakage or disturbing your curl pattern. Try Bath & Body Works Detangling Comb ($5).
Protect your hair at night
Regular cotton pillow cases can dry out Afro-Latina hair and also create frizz. Keep your strands protected by switching to a silk case, or sleeping with something like Stay On Satin Edge Hair Bonnet ($3).
Be careful with color
If you relax your hair, be careful with hair dyes. Perms already contain strong chemicals that combined with hair coloring treatments can lead to serious breakage and thinning. Stay away from bleach and consider a gloss color that's going to be a lot easier on your strands. I recommend the L’Oréal Paris Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color ($6).
