Hair Colour for African Hair

Hair coloring can be exciting and fun as we all know. Getting a new hair style and adding color can often make you the envy of the neighborhood. Compliments about one’s hair often lift the mood and brighten the day. There are many options available when it comes to choosing a hair color. Some of the options can be harmless and some can be potentially dangerous especially for African hair. Hair color can offer beauty and radiance as well as irreversible damage to any hair type.

 

African women are blessed with hair that can sometimes be difficult to manage. To ease this problem many opt to chemically process the hair. With these processes extra care must be given to hair. Coloring hair in addition to a chemical process can cause further damage. Relaxers and permanent hair color break down the protein bond in the hair shaft, leaving the hair in a vulnerable state. Hair then requires extra maintenance to replace moisture and suppleness. When hair color is applied it robs the hair of extra moisture.

 

You should try to get a hair color that doesn’t contain hydrogen peroxide in its base. Hydrogen peroxide is used as a bleaching agent and is extremely drying. This can lead to dry brittle hair. Permanent hair color should not be added on the same day as a chemical treatment. They should be done at least two weeks apart. It is preferable to relax the hair first and color after. Chemicals tend to strip hair of color so pre-treatments are very beneficial when coloring hair. Wash your hair with a protein conditioner after having it chemically treated. This helps build additional bond and strength within the hair shaft. Immediately following a color a deep conditioner should be applied to restore moisture that was lost.

 

However not all colors are as dangerous as permanent colors. There are also semi permanent colors and rinses, but these are more of a coating than a penetrating color. If she uses a rinse, an African woman would not get a lighter color than her natural hair. Rinses limit you to your own natural shade range. Also rinses are semi permanent thus they will fade more and more with each consecutive wash. The advantages however of using a rinse are that it does not penetrate the shaft and can be done immediately after relaxing. Another safe and semi permanent hair color is henna. This is a natural dye that is plant derived. It contains no peroxide and ammonia and can be applied to hair immediately after chemical treatment without adverse effects. Henna however is limited in colors; the main ones being black, indigo and clay red.

 

Ladies, colors should be also used according to skin tone. Warmer reds and cinnamon tones are best for brown toned skin and violet and plum tones for skin that has more indigo tones. The only time super light hair colors like blondes are permitted is if you wear your hair very, very short. The reason this is acceptable is that with short hair, should the hair become damaged it can be allowed to grow out and the damaged hair cut away in a matter of months. Whether you decide to color your hair or not make sure to remember that your hair adds to your beauty and the main goal is to have healthy, beautiful hair.