9 Vital Natural Ingredients for Afro Hair

Natural hair needs natural ingredients. Afro hair has texture and curl therefore making it more prone to dryness, frizz and breakage.

Here are the most vital natural ingredients that we should utilize to take extra care of our afro hair.

Water – Easily overlooked but H20 by nature is known for restoring hydration. If you don’t wash your hair frequently this can cause it to dry due to sulphates left in your hair from shampoos and conditioners. There is a common misconception that washing your hair makes it dry however this is not the case. Hard water could be an issue due to the minerals it deposits in your hair after you wash. Therefore, alkaline water would be the best alternative to avoid this issue from occurring.

Vegetable glycerine - This is not a common ingredient to look for in products however it is known for attracting and retaining moisture. This makes it a great ingredient to utilize if you are living in a humid climate. For best results add it to water in a spray bottle for instant hydration.

Coconut oil - Coconut oil in hair products is good however pure organic coconut oil is even better. This can be used as a leave in conditioner or as a hair mask. For deep conditioning use extra coconut oil and leave it in for a couple of hours over night.

Shea butter - Shea butter is a popular ingredient in hair products however it can also be used in its unrefined form. In natural form it is usually firm, but it melts easily and absorbs into dry hair very well. It should be a pale-yellow colour and usually when it starts to turn dark yellow or green means that it is too refined or possibly rotten.

Olive Oil - Perfect for hot oil treatments and for mixing with rinse-out conditioners. Use in small amounts, as it can feel heavy in your hair if used in excess.

Jojoba oil - Jojoba oil is remarkably similar to the natural oils that emulates from our scalp. It is light weight and won’t weigh your hair down. Great to mix a few drops into your conditioner or hair mask.

Avocado oil - Not only just avocado oil but mashed avocado can be used as a deep conditioning treatment. It is rich in fatty acids that can be used to replenish hair. It is quite a heavy oil so it is best for hair with coarse, denser textures.

Castor oil - The astringent oil is great for cleansing and detoxifying the scalp. Use it once or twice a week, but only a little at a time. Jamaican black castor oil is believed to promote thicker hair growth.

Aloe Vera - It can be a sun burn soother but also helps to retain moisture. Aloe Vera gel or juice can be added to homemade conditioning treatment. An aloe-based shampoo can also balance the scalps pH.