How to French Braid Black Hair

Black women were French braiding their hair long before it was called a French braid. Women wore what was called invisible cornrows in their hair as part of a cultural hairstyles and because this hairstyle was beautiful and easy to maintain in black hair. With the influx of easy styling options like relaxers and perms, braiding has become less popular and so the art of braiding has suffered. Fortunately, this skill can be learned quite easily.


Instructions

Step1:Prepare your hair to braid. Moisturize or oil your scalp and hair before beginning the French braid. This will give the hairstyle great shine and make it easier to braid. Brush your hair with a good bristled hairbrush to remove kinks and tangles. After brushing your hair thoroughly, brush the sides in and upward motion to create a Mohawk hairdo. The cool thing about black hair is that in most cases the hair will stand up and hold this shape, making it easier to create the French braid.

Step2:Start at the front of the scalp and gather a 3-inch wide by 2-inch section while separating it into three parts. Hold the outside sections in each hand between the index fingers and the thumb. Hold the center section by wrapping the middle finger of the left hand around it.

Step3:Take the section of hair in the right hand and cross it over the center section taking hold of it with the middle finger of the left hand. You will drop the section currently held by that finger as you pick up the new section.

Step4:Using your free right hand, you pick up an inch thick section of hair with your index finger and grab the middle section you previously dropped with your thumb. This is your new right section.

Step5:Repeat the last step, this time leading with your left hand. Cross the hair you are holding in your left hand over the center section and grab it with your middle finger of your right hand dropping the middle section. This will free your left hand to pick up a section of hair and the middle section.

Step6:Continue Steps 4 through 6 while alternating hands braiding all the way down the center of the head. When you get to the end, braid any remaining hair and secure it with a band or hair clip.

How to Grow Long Hair in Black Female

How to Grow Long Hair if You Are a Black Female

1. Have an experienced hair care professional or stylist trim your split ends.(Please note, a "trim" or "dusting" removes between 1/8 to 1/4 inch of hair.) If you have badly split ends, an inch or two may need to be removed, but it is healthier for your hair in the long run. Remember, trim only for split ends-- otherwise have 1/8 inch trimmed every 8 to 12 weeks: hair grows just one half inch per month and if it is cut more frequently, you will not see any length, since it is being cut as often or more than it is growing.

2. Wash hair as needed depending on your hair type and health. This could be every three days with products that do not contain alcohol or harsh sulfates and are pH balanced. Do not over-wash (once is usually enough), as over washing can cause a dry condition, which will ultimately lead to breakage. While washing, massage your scalp. This will reawaken sleeping follicles and promote thicker healthier hair.

3. Use a regular moisturizing conditioner after every wash, but deep condition at least every week. One week use a moisturizing deep conditioner. The next use a protein or reconstructing conditioner. Doing so will make your hair healthy and strong.

4. Use a daily moisturizer or leave-in conditioner as black hair is prone to dryness. Apply the moisturizer (without petroleum jelly, petrolatum or mineral oil) to the hair from roots to ends and gently massage in. Do this daily or as your hair requires--you want your hair to feel soft and pliable.You may have to experiment with what works for you but Black Hair Creme Moisturizer, Doctor Miracles,Carrot Oil Cream

5. A light oil (olive, soybean)applied sparingly may be used on your hair after applying a water-based moisturizer in order to seal moisture into the hair shaft and give your hair a nice natural shine. These oils can also be used to relieve a dry scalp.

6. Avoid using blow-dryers as much as possible when drying hair as the excessive heat causes dryness, damage and breakage. Air drying hair is the best method. If the volume of your hair is increased with air drying you can do one of two things: first: apply moisturizer,then air-dry-- this will decrease the volume without causing damage; or second - apply moisturizer and use a dome or bonnet dryer on a cool or warm setting. Never use the highest setting!

7. To get your hair to grow long, you also need to comb it carefully. Be sure to use a wide-tooth comb with no seams and comb it gently from the ends first, as combing from the ends will detangle hair as you comb higher and higher. Never comb from the roots to the ends until your hair is completely untangled.

8. Avoid daily and/or excessive brushing of your hair, as black hair is fragile. Excessive brushing can strip the hair of its protective layers. If you trying to smooth your hairline, brush gently, use a soft boar bristle brush, and make sure your hair is completely dry and moisturized.

9. Make sure you also wrap your hair with a silk/satin head wrap or bonnet before you go to bed at night. Without this protection, your loose hair will move about as you sleep putting stress on your hair, drying it out, and causing split ends.

10. Treat your hair from within by taking a multivitamin. Use a hair vitamin that will increase your hair growth rate and lenghthen your natural anagen (growth phase). Also drink at least eight cups of water and eat healthy foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables and nuts, and by exercising regularly to provide good circulation to the scalp.

11. Relaxing - Now this is where all of your washing and conditioning treatments can either pay off or be sabotaged by damage. First of all, do not relax your hair more than once a month. Be careful not to relax hair “bone straight.” This robs the hair of its natural elasticity and causes it to break easily. Assess your hair before attempting to relax it. It may only need to be washed, moisturized, and straightened with a heat tool. If you must relax it, choose a mild relaxer or use a "press" creme supposedly it's organic and better than normal relaxers it only needs to be reapplied every 3 months and the hair won't break if you stop using it; ask your local hair dresser that deals with black hair about it.

12. Applying the relaxer: It is best to have someone else apply the relaxer because they have a full view of your head. Before you begin, rub a generous amount of scalp protectant in your hands and apply to the entire hair shaft. Petroleum jelly can be used. Pay close attention to the ends of your hair when applying the protectant. This is to protect hair that has already been processed. Next, apply the relaxer using the manufacturer’s directions. Follow the timing chart so you do not over process your hair. Be sure to wash out all of the relaxer with warm water. Apply a neutralizing shampoo and wash and rinse at least three times. If there are still traces of relaxer in your hair, continue to wash until all traces have been removed. Once all traces of relaxer have been removed, apply the neutralizing shampoo to the hair again. Leave the neutralizer in for 10 minutes. It is very important that you leave the neutralizer in for 10 minutes. Do not skip this step. Next, the neutralizer can be rinsed. Now you can apply the protein treatment, and then follow with the moisture treatment as previously discussed.

Growing Black Hair

Growing beautiful black hair is actually fairly simple and easy. It only takes a little common sense and time to achieve that long beautiful length that you've always wanted. After reading this article you will no longer look towards the so-called "guaranteed" hair growth products nor will you rely on wigs, and hair extensions to add length to your hair because you will know how to actually add length to your hair naturally. So lets look at some hair facts about our hair so we can begin to learn how the hair grows and what we need to know to keep and add length!

Hair Facts

1. All hair including black hair grows an average of 1/2 inch per month.

2. African American hair is the driest hair type in all the races on the planet

3. Hair is dead. Not alive!!

Now we will take a look at some of the myths and mistakes that black women believe to be true. These myths will be revealed so you will now be able to take a common sense approach to growing your hair long, strong and beautiful.

Hair Myths

1. Clipping the ends makes your hair grow - FALSE

2. Hair food and vitamins make your hair grow - FALSE

3. Washing your hair too much will dry out your hair - FALSE

4. Braids make your hair grow. - FALSE

The first myth: "Clipping your ends will make your hair grow". This myth is ABSOLUTELY false! Clipping the ends does nothing, but makes the hair look neat. It does not prevent breakage nor does it promote hair growth. I mean use common sense! How can cutting the hair make the hair longer? In reality this only makes the hair shorter and prevents women from adding length.

The second myth: "Hair food and vitamins make your hair grow". Another false myth. Hair is dead so why does it need food or vitamins? Nothing will make your hair grow faster. Hair grows an average of 1/2 inch a month. Greases, hair food greases, or pills will not add length to your hair.

Myth 3: "Washing your hair too much will dry out your hair". FALSE! Black hair is the driest hair on the planet and we need moisture to prevent breakage so how can washing it dry it out when water is moisture? The only way you will dry your hair out through washings is by using harsh shampoos. Use a pH balanced shampoo that is geared for your hair type instead and wash your hair weekly.

Myth 4: "Braids make your hair grow". Once again another lie. Braids will NOT make your hair grow. It can promote damage if braided too tightly or give hair a rest, but it will not make your hair grow.

So now you know some facts and how to approach growing your hair in a sensible manner. Growing black hair is not about what products you use or how often you visit the salon. It's just common sense! Maintaining the proper moisture balance and keeping your hair well conditioned is the key to long beautiful black hair!