(ThyBlackMan.com) Look to grow out your ‘fro? Learn how to grow an afro and keep it in amazing condition with this helpful blog on men’s hair care and grooming tips.
The visual history of African-American hair is iconic. Hairstyles in African communities here in the U.S arch from ancestral culture.
That history plays a large part in black identity today. Learning how to grow an afro is part of that.
To buck against European standards of beauty, American descendants of slaves rocked afros. This movement started as far back as the 1960s and it’s making a new statement today.
Growing an afro reflects pride in your mane and your identity.
If you’ve tried to grow out your hair with no luck, no worries. Read this. Let us share some tips with you on how to grow an afro like a pro and keep it in top condition. 
How to Grow an Afro: Stop Overwashing Your Hair
Black hair has a natural, unique texture. Its intrinsic coarseness creates deep coils and curls that causes it to be dry on the regular.
For this reason, you should abstain from overwashing your hair. Most shampoos cleanse the hair but strip away its natural moisture. That’s a danger for African-American hair.
Wash your hair once a week.
Avoid shampoos with parabens and sulfates. Parabens in some shampoos cause allergic reactions and irritate the skin. Sulfates have toxic qualities that lead to hair loss.
Use a moisturizing shampoo that cleans but protects the natural oil in the hair.
Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!
African-American hair is naturally clean but also very dry. Natural elements like the sun and humidity can dry it out more than normal.
Moisturize your growing ‘fro every day. That’s rule number two for black men grooming an afro.
On top of using a leave-in conditioner, apply a daily moisturizer to the hair. Hydrators like black castor oil, shea butter, and coconut oil work well on African-American hair.
Massage a generous amount to the hair in the morning before styling it. Start at the scalp and knead the product through to the tips of the hair.
Dry hair is brittle hair. So hydrating the hair day to day keeps breakage away.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’…That Includes You
Believe it or not, over-styling and playing in your hair too much can damage it. Keep the comb, brush, other people’s hands, and yours at bay.
Do the very minimum to your afro when it comes to styling it.
African-American hair grows up and out from the root. That’s the added benefit of growing an afro. You don’t have to pick your hair out every day because it grows out that way regardless.
Yes, some textures are softer or more coarse than others, but the root truth is the same. The hair grows out towards the sun. Don’t damage the natural process by trying to train it to grow out in a different direction.
Use the pick once a week to do a width check and that’s it. Let your ‘fro grow its natural course.
Grow An Afro
The process of how to grow an afro is not a synthetic one. The beauty of African-American hair is its natural strength.
If you want to rock the healthiest ‘fro, don’t overdo it. Keep your coils moisturized and let nature take its course.
Want more lifestyle tips like this? Take a look at our weekly column and stay up-to-date with what’s happening in cultural news.
Staff Writer; Brian Poole
