Whether it is Kinky, Wavy, or Curly, there is no doubt, that African American hair is one of a kind. We are the original Afro wearers, dread lock rockers, and braid wearing queens. Our hair in our natural state has us looking like beautiful Goddess Queens straight out of Africa. But what is “our hair” What is African American Hair? Many African Americans, Black, Bi-racial Sista’s and Brothers don’t even know how to take care of our hair let alone know what our hair really is. We generally have three types of textures for our hair which is Kinky, Wavy, or Curly. Even if you are mixed, you still fall under one of these three types of hair textures. So what is African American Hair? Our hair? Lets get educated.
What is Hair?
Hair is a slender,then, thread-like fiber composed mostly of protein. This protein is also referred to as keratin which is widely used as marketing tools for hair loss and breakage products.
Hair has three layers; The Cuticle, the Cortex, and the Medulla.
The Cuticle
The Cuticle is the first layer of hair and also the protective layer. The Cuticle consist of overlapping layers of cells which provides a tight seal to protect the cortical layer. If the cuticle is “breached” or damage by improper hair care, the cuticle is no longer protecting the cortex and the hair begins to split, which leads to hair breakage, and ultimately leads to hair loss.
The Cortex
The middle layer,also known as the Cortex, provides color, texture,and strength to the hair. And because some parts of the cortex layer are thin in Black people’s hair, we are more susceptible to damaged hair from normal daily hair styling. You ever ask your Grandmother how her hair grows so fast and she says “Child leave it alone and it will grow.” Well this is technically true for Black’s with thin cortex’s because the less we mess with our hair, the more it grows because of its thin cortex layer. This is also why many black women, men and children hair grows faster when the hair is braided up or in a low maintenance hair style.
The Medulla
The Medulla,and no I’m not talking about the Mudella Oblongata (ha ha ha)is the innermost layer of the hair and is only present in large,thick hairs.
Our Hair Textures
Every racial or ethic group has hair follicles, different groups have different types of hair follicles. For example; Why Asian and Whites might have straight hair follicles, Blacks and Hispanics have curved hair follicles. Curved hair follicles produce wavy or curly hair which brings us to our different hair textures and types.
Kinky
The “Kinky” texture type of African American hair is usually the most difficult to deal with and style. Why? Well mainly because of improper education for caring for it. Kinky hair is usually very thick and course and referred to as “Girl, you need a perm in order to comb through this crap.” Kinky hair usually is the first to get chemically altered by a perm or a relaxer. Click Here to Submit your natural hair photo(s)Kinky” Type.
Wavy
The “Wavy” type of African hair is usually the type that turns into a wavy/curly soft or thick fro’ when shampooed. Usually blacks with wavy hair can do the “Wash and Go Look” and can get away without putting a perm or relaxers in it. Click Here to Submit your natural hair photo(s)”Wavy” Type.
Curly
The “Curly” type of African American hair usually falls in between the same line as the “Wavy” type hair. It really Depends of your hair type and texture to see how the “Curly” Type will play. Usually blacks with “Curly” hair will get a spiral curl look after shampooing it. Click Here to Submit your natural hair photo(s)”Curly” Type.
Despite our different types of hair textures, the main goal is to protect our cuticle layer of hair to obtain optimum hair health,hair care, and hair growth.
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