African American Shampoo
There are enough hair care products available in even the smallest stores that choosing the right one can cause a real headache. Fortunately, many of todays products feature labels that identify the hair types that will benefit most from the individual product.
One reason there are so many products from which to choose is because there are so many hair types and textures and each one responds differently to different formulations.
For the black woman, there are any number of African American shampoo and conditioner products that are designed to enhance the beauty of only African American hair. Even though there are some specific ingredients and techniques to become familiar with, it bears remembering that everyones hair is different, even within a given ethnic group.
Most African Americans have hair that is tightly curled and coarse, which also means its very dry. Oil glands in the scalp produce a substance called sebum, which travels down the hair shaft, lubricating the hair. When hair is tightly curled, as it is with most black people, the oil doesnt travel far, leaving the hair dry, brittle, and easily broken.
When shopping for a good African American shampoo, its always a good idea to look for a salon-quality product produced by a reputable manufacturer, one who is known to be familiar with the needs of African American hair.
Creamy shampoos that moisturize are the best. Read labels and choose products that contain shea butter or coconut and macadamia nut oils. These products will coat the hair shaft which means the water inside will be trapped, leaving the hair softer and more pliable, less easily damaged.
After shampooing, use a deep conditioner designed to be left on the hair. On the label, look for products that contain stearyl or cetyl alcohols, methicones, panthenol, silicone, dimethicone, and essential oils such as avocado and jojoba.
One very important step to include in your African American shampoo regimen is to limit shampooing to once every five to seven days. More frequent shampooing will only increase the hairs natural dryness.
If the hair needs in-between shampoo attention, merely rinse the hair with water and apply a creamy leave-in conditioner. This will spruce the hair up until shampoo time.
When choosing African American shampoo products, become familiar with the labels. And remember that a product designated for curly hair doesnt necessarily mean African American curly hair. Choose only hair care products made for African Americans.
