Black hair grows in a special way. Its follicles start their curl pattern underneath the scalp and continue it once they break the surface. Our curl pattern helps to determine our hair texture (thus known as ‘kinkness’ to some). And when our hair is unhappy, it lets us know big time.

Consider these factors of Black Hair that not everyone may know:

Since our hair normally curls, it is hard for the sebrum (hair’s natural oil) to reach from one end of our hair strand to the other. Our hair tends to become dry and sometimes brittle and may end up breaking off once combed or brushed.

Because of that same curliness though, our hair can stand up to the elements better because at one point or another, a part of the strand is not directly subject to said elements.

Those of us with really thick hair sometimes can be a little ‘heavy handed’ when we try to ‘tame’ it. So we may cause our hair to be stressed by combing or brushing it harder than appropriate.

Hot oil treatments are excellent for our hair type (unless one is allergeric or just can’t stand the feel of oil on their hair). Since sebrum hardly gets a chance to be distributed along our strands on a regular basis, our hair drinks that hot oil up like it is its life blood and you can see and feel the difference almost immediately.

Our hair can grow just as quickly as anybody else’s, but if it is made up of tight curls, the length won’t show as prominently as some one with less curly hair. But the length will still be there.

We tend to not get lice as much as other races because of the hair oils, promades, grease, hair foods, etc. we occasionally use on our hair (sometimes on a regular basis). This is not to say Blacks can’t get lice because we can…I’ve seen it myself. But lice can’t survive nor can their eggs in that environment.

We don’t have too wash our hair all the time because our hair doesn’t tend to get weighed down with oils as much (unless we put it there ourselves).

Our hair is very dynamic. If we get a relaxer (to straighten our hair) and don’t leave it on too long, we can still take our locks anywhere from tightly curled to bone straight at our choosing. Versatility on a whim.

When we have a relaxer and our hair gets wet from the rain or swimming, it doesn’t ‘get nappy’ it reverts back to its original, beautiful state. All we have to do wash it and set it to get it straight again. Voilá.

So you see, black hair is just that…hair. It is a site to behold whether straightened and flowing or bobbing around free and fierce in an afro. It can be a bear to deal with and still be our crowning glory both at the same time. It is Beautiful.

Welcome to Black hair.