In my previous two articles, I wrote about winter skincare and summer skincare and for African American Children in transracial adoptions. I will now address how to take care of hair that is different from your own.
Generally, Negroid hair works in the opposite way as Caucasoid hair. While a black person’s hair loves oil, a white person’s hair will hate oil. I have actually joked that you could rub a black person’s hair together with a white person’s hair to get a perfect oil balance in each, as the black person’s hair will absorb the excess oil from the white person’s hair.
Here are the basic instructions for black hair care.
Washing: Wash the hair of your Adopted African American child once a week, provided the hair is kept in its natural state and not processed. Do not use harsh shampoos that strip all of the oils from the hair. Pert, for example is one of the worst shampoos for a black person’s hair. It should only be used when the hair has been loaded down with conditioners, maybe once a quarter. Purchase shampoos for dry hair instead. I recommend Tresseme, Pantene, and Aussie brand shampoos. For boys, you can use shampoo/conditioner combination shampoo. For girls, I recommend you purchase shampoo and conditioner separately. In fact, purchase two bottles of conditioner for every bottle of shampoo.
Adding moisture: As an African American with typically kinky hair (unprocessed), my hair needs moisturizer every day. You will need to add moisture to make your child’s hair manageable and to prevent breakage. Many people recommend hair grease, but beware of products with petroleum. It only clogs the pores and slows growth. Use light oils and conditioning creams instead. My husband prefers Isoplus products for his hair, and I prefer lotion type products like Africa’s Best Organic Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion. Use just enough of these products in the child’s hair to make it tearlessly comb-able. If the hair feels wet, or greasy, you are using too much. Use a towel to remove the excess.
Combing: If you have ever wondered why the majority of black women have short hair, well here is your answer. Our hair is fragile and breaks easily. This is why proper moisture is so important. When combing African American hair, do not use a fine toothed comb. It will literally break hair and pull it from the scalp. The curlier or kinkier a child’s hair is, the wider the teeth of the comb should be. In-shower combs work best. Your African American child’s brush should be made from natural bristles and only used to smooth hair after if has been combed.
Stay tuned for advanced African American Hair tips for chemically treated hair, long hair, and extensions.
Oh, and buy a book or two on black hair care.