| Nowadays, there are masses of websites springing | | | | African American hair consists of a reduced |
| up offering black hair care advice from washing, to | | | | percentage of cystine, a protein synonymous with |
| twisting, to relaxing. Suddenly everyone is an expert. | | | | the hair diseases where the hair is extremely fragile |
| We find product junkies telling us what to buy. | | | | and frays. |
| Fanatics blogging about their hair care regimes. Books | | | | Irregularity |
| urging you to spend. Groups urging you to share. It is | | | | Black hair proteins are also laid down in an irregular |
| never ending and no wonder we get confused. | | | | fashion. This occurs deep inside the follicle bulb within |
| Everyones' mane is different. | | | | the scalp and also determines the tightness of the |
| Factors such as lifestyle, health, genetics, | | | | curl. Basically, the tighter the curl, the weaker the hair. |
| environment, porosity will all affect the end results. | | | | In addition, this irregularity creates weak spots all |
| Simply put, what works for me will not necessarily | | | | along the shaft of the hair. |
| work for you. So if you want to save time and | | | | Ellipsoid Follicles |
| money, read on, I will tell you the facts about highly | | | | Black hair grows from ellipsoidal follicles as opposed to |
| textured afro hair according to the research. | | | | the oval shape of Caucasian/Asian hair. In essence |
| The Research | | | | this means that the stresses working over the hair |
| Dating back to the earliest recordings of black hair | | | | also attribute to splitting. |
| care, a variety of methods for managing this hair | | | | As you can see, Type 4B hair is designed primarily to |
| were adopted. Documentation highlights the use of | | | | grow outwards for protection, not downwards. |
| hot stones; potatoes; lard, and lye, up to modern | | | | However there are many methods for combatting |
| day methods. But why is afro hair so fragile? | | | | the fragility. |
| Research shows that essentially while Caucasian, | | | | For example, conditioners can help enhance the |
| Asian, African hair have the same make-up, the | | | | texture and appearance. These contain many |
| structure of the proteins in black hair differ | | | | ingredients for example hydrolyzed proteins, such as |
| somewhat. Proteins are the building blocks of hair, | | | | wheat protein that have been shown through studies |
| providing rigidity, elasticity and strength. Together | | | | to penetrate the shaft and help strengthen hair. A |
| with water, these determine the overall mechanical | | | | healthy, balanced diet containing omega-3 oils, |
| properties. However, with afro there are three points | | | | sufficient proteins and plenty of water will also give |
| worth bearing in mind. | | | | you a head-start. |
| Cystine | | | | |
