African Pride Hair
Braid Spray + More Easy Ways to Make Your Protective Style Last Longer
It’s that time again. The time when you have wash-and-go’d your natural curls way too many times this month and you’re tired of cleaning an entire wigs worth of hair out of your shower every week from detangling your curls. Once you are over trying any of the supposedly “easy” hair tutorials online and you and your hair simply need a break, it’s time to opt for a protective style. Our long beloved box braids, twists, plaits, and lace fronts come back to us like a warm hug. These protective styles allow our hair to rest from the constant manipulation of daily styling and can even guard our hair from environmental damage. If cared for properly, they can even help your hair grow in length too. You might think that using a braid spray is enough maintenance as long as it has some nourishing ingredients like the extra virgin olive oil and tea tree oil found in our Olive Miracle Braid Sheen Spray. There is so much more, however, that needs to be done in order for a protective style to really benefit textured hair. It must be properly installed, maintained, and removed in order for it to protect your curls and coils instead of damaging them. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about each of these steps in order to ensure your tresses are in their best shape yet. Pre-Installation Care Many protective styles have a long install time, so you’re likely planning it at least a few days ahead. In the days leading up to your install, ensure your hair is ready for the entire process. Do a Deep Penetrating Conditioner Moisture Restore Treatment that will infiltrate the hair strands and strengthen them before they are manipulated into a protective style. Distribute the product evenly from roots to ends, detangle, cover the hair with a plastic cap, and apply moderate heat for up to 30 minutes before thoroughly rinsing. Since your hair won’t be properly washed for an extended period of time while it’s in the style, make sure your hair is fully free of any product build-up before installation. Reach for a hydrating yet effective pre-shampoo like our Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo to best prep the hair to get the most out of your usual cleansing. Starting with a clean base, especially a clean scalp, helps your hair to stay healthy through the duration of your protective style Correct Installation and Braid Spray Before applying your style, begin with a Prep & Leave-in Moisture Butter. This blend of black castor oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil prepares the hair for extended styles by providing long-lasting hydration. Keeping your hair moisturized in the style will help encourage growth and prevent frizz. If a stylist is doing your installation don’t be afraid to communicate when it feels too tight. A tighter pull will make the style last longer, but it’s not worth damaging your natural hair and your precious edges in the process. Your protective style should not be so tight that it’s giving you headaches. If you’re doing the job yourself, opt for an Extra Hold Braid, Loc, & Twist Gel that works hard so that you don’t have to pull as tightly. The style that you choose should also work for your particular hair type. For instance, if you have weaker hair, avoid jumbo or extra-long styles that are heavier on the head. Smaller twists or braids require less hair and last longer anyway. No matter the style however, it’s best to leave out your edges. The hairline holds the most delicate strands of hair and tightly pulling them into a protective style is a recipe for breakage. Leave your edges be and simply style them with a nourishing edge control formula. Once your install is completed, finish with our lush Olive Miracle Braid Sheen Spray to soothe and nourish hair. Continue using as needed to relieve any itching and prevent breakage. Moisturizing Protective Styles While your hair is tucked away inside a style, it still needs a bit of help to stay moisturized. Curly and coily hair is prone to dryness so it’s important to be regularly moisturizing the hair to help it fight breakage. Water is one of the best moisturizers for hair, so to get extra nourishment use a water-based product. Using products that contain water as a primary ingredient will help prevent heavy product buildup. Follow your leave-in conditioner with a blend of natural oils to seal moisture into the hair strands. You can either apply directly or mix a nourishing blend of oils with water in a spray bottle. Keeping Your Natural Hair Clean It’s obviously difficult to thoroughly wash your hair while it’s in a protective style, but we have to do our best otherwise the buildup will undo its great benefits. Use the moisturizing products and braid spray regularly. If your scalp starts to get itchy, flakes start appearing, or you feel greasy product buildup, then it’s time for a quick wash. Use a braid cleanser to gently clean hair without causing frizz. Apply to the scalp along your part lines and massage with your fingers or a cloth until clean and then rinse with water. A wash will soothe the scalp, refresh the hair, and help the style last longer. Continuous Protective Hairstyle Maintenance To extend your protective style you can go as far as to redo the perimeter of the hair if you have braids or twists. After about a month, you should see enough growth along your hairline and nape for a touch up. This will give the rest of your hair more time to rest and grow by keeping it in the protective style for longer. Similarly, whenever you manipulate the style into a bun or ponytail, be sure to coat your hands in a small amount of 5 Essential Oils to avoid any friction that would cause frizz and breakage. Continue to delicately care for your hair to keep it healthy and moisturized underneath the protective style. Learn to Love Your Curls in Any Style Once it’s been about eight weeks it’s time to return your hair to its regular state. Besides the dirt, grease, and product buildup in your scalp, keeping a protective style in for too long can also cause excessive breakage, tangling, and dryness. Don’t get impatient and roughly tug the hair out but instead, take your time and use a deep conditioning mask to gently remove buildup and knots without breaking or shedding. Once your hair is detangled, cleansed, and conditioned, admire your natural texture and curls and coils that are so amazing. Don’t let anybody tell you that just because you like to switch it up means you love your curls any less. Go ahead and rock any look with confidence knowing that your natural hair is beautiful no matter what shape it may take that day. It’s versatility is part of its strength, just like you. DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at care@africanpride.com
Learn more
Hairspiration: Bright, Bold and Beautiful Colors for Black Girls
They’re smart, bold, beautiful, talented and can’t help but to sparkle and shine Black excellence everywhere they go. Next to unicorns, Black women are truly the most magical creatures in existence. And what can we say? Apparently, game recognize game. Drawing inspiration from their mythical counterparts, here are a few of our favorite naturalistas, serving unicorn realness; proof that not only do Black girls rock, but they can rock any color of the rainbow. As you can see, there’s no reason you can’t experiment with temporary color, or switch up your usual steez, while playing it “safe,” with a brightly-colored wigs or weaves. Obviously, some of these may not fly if you work in Corporate America. But at the very least, that’s what weekends are for. So please, be your biggest, baddest, boldest self and don’t ever think that there are dreams, or colors, off-limits to you.
Learn more
Top Tips To Keep Your Natural Hair Moisturized
Have you ever noticed that it seems like almost all black women have beautifully strong biceps? Despite the internet jokes and memes that exaggerate, there’s some truth to it, and with very good reason. Here’s a hint, it’s all in the hair. There’s no getting around it, maintaining healthy, moisturized natural hair requires work. However, with the right routine, African Pride moisturizing hair products, and care, you can have great hair and strong arms. Establishing a natural hair care routine is the first step towards more beautiful, manageable hair. African Pride’s hair moisturizer products are specially formulated for natural hair to keep it nourished and strong. Our best-selling Moisture Miracle collection combines natural ingredients that work double-time to keep hair hydrated and healthy. Your coils don’t just need more, they deserve more. Understanding your unique texture and hair type will help you better care for your curls in the long run. But first, let’s dive deeper into why natural hair requires extra love. Coils are unique No two coils are alike. In addition to your hair’s unique texture, pattern, and density, other factors like diet and air quality can affect your hair’s natural state and how it responds to different products. What works best for your sister or mother may not work for you. There’s no blueprint for your hair, it’s often a combination of learning your hairs needs, and simple trial and error. Embracing your unique natural hair is a special journey. Spend some time with your natural hair to learn what it requires to be it’s most beautiful. Coils are thirsty There is a science to why natural curly hair is not only unique, but a bit more complex. The scalp for instance, naturally produces a sebum that moisturizes and protects hair follicles. Sebum and water moisturize hair by traveling down the hair shaft but textured and curly hair gives these moisturizing agents a harder time getting down hair strands. That’s why curly hair is more prone to dryness, making moisturizing products incredibly important to achieve and maintain happy and healthy hair. On wash day and in between styling sessions, make sure to give tighter textures a lasting boost of hydration with a few spritzes of our lightweight African Pride Moisture Miracle leave-in conditioner. Coils are needy Natural curls and tighter textures can be a little high maintenance. They want the good stuff (but really, who doesn’t). This means using natural, specialized products made just for our unique hair types. We must know when and how to use the right products if we want to keep our hair healthy and strong. For shampoo, opt for a gentle formula, like our African Pride Moisture Miracle Shampoo, that protects and nourishes hair without stripping agents like sulfates. Follow with our African Pride Moisture Miracle Conditioner that combines the natural conditioning benefits of honey and coconut oil with the restorative (and yummy-smelling) benefits of chocolate. 5 Tips To Keep Natural Hair Moisturized Now that we have a better understanding of what your unique curls need to live their best life, we’ve compiled our top tips for ensuring your natural hair is healthy and moisturized. Read on for our five favorite tips on how to keep your natural hair moisturized all year long. #1 Use a pre-shampoo A moisturizing pre-poo is the key to an easier wash day and consequently, healthier hair. A pre-shampoo works to gently detangle your curls while adding some much-needed moisture into strands to help protect hair during the washing process. This makes tighter textures, curls, and coils more manageable and less susceptible to breakage while wet. For best results, apply all over dry hair before cleansing. Use your fingers to gently detangle and comb through hair. Got extra dry or tangled hair? Leave on for up to 30 minutes to allow hair to fully absorb all the moisturizing benefits before you rinse. #2 Use a sulfate-free shampoo Since our curls are unique, they all require a different care routine. However, for most natural hair washing everyday is a big no. The reason? The more you wash your hair, the drier it will actually become. When you do schedule your wash day, pick a gentle shampoo formula that is free from sulfates. Our Moisture Miracle Shampoo removes dirt and buildup from your hair without stripping it of its natural oils. Maintaining your hair’s natural oils is integral to keeping your hair healthy and moisturized. #3 Deep condition After pre-pooing and shampooing your natural hair, give your coils some deep lovin’. No matter how gentle you are while washing, the process will strip hair of some moisture. Add nutrients and moisture back to strands through deep conditioning. Massage our Moisture Miracle Conditioner to wet hair for 10-15 minutes and gently rinse out. For an extra boost of moisture apply a targeted hair mask like our Moisture Restore Treatment, apply a plastic shower cap and let sit for 30 minutes. Deep conditioning not only ensures your natural hair stays moisturized, it will prevent damage, soften strands, and restore shine. For best results, deep condition once a week. #4 Seal in moisture The last thing you want to do after all that work is to have your coils dry out again. Plus, the more you seal in moisture, the easier wash days will become (and the better your hair will look in-between). Replace the moisture your scalp produces (and loses in between wash day) by massaging your scalp and strands with a nourishing blend of 5 Essential Oils or our Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil. This promotes hair growth and restores the natural nutrients your hair needs. Lastly, putting your hair in a protective style will help keep your coils healthy, strong, and looking fly. #5 Sleep on satin Quality sleep is crucial to your overall mental and physical health. The best way to ensure a good night’s sleep is to make your bedroom a sanctuary. Using a satin pillowcase or bonnet helps to keep your strands full of moisture as satin won’t damage your natural hair, cause tangling, or split ends. Bonus points, satin is also known to help your skin breathe. It’s one of the easiest ways to ensure you wake up flawless. African Pride Hair Moisturizers African Pride hair moisturizers are specifically formulated for every type of natural hair. Our ultimate goal is to keep your curls and coils hydrated, healthy, and happy. Our best-selling Moisture Miracle collection has everything your hair type needs to restore moisture, refresh dry or damaged strands and maintain lush, healthy hair in the long run.
Learn more
7 Ways African Pride Honey Can Transform Your Natural Hair
Caring for your hair can be a daunting task. Whether you’ve spent decades caring for natural hair or you’re just making the transition, the goal is the same: to keep your hair healthy and happy (in the easiest way possible). That’s where African Pride Honey products come in. Whether you’re a natural hair pro or a complete newbie, knowing what products and ingredients are best for your curls can be difficult. Like most industries, the beauty world is susceptible to buzzy fads, and trendy, chemical-filled ingredients. While following a trend can be fun (especially if it means a cute new purchase from Fashion Nova) unfortunately these fads tend to encroach on our hair products and leave us with formulas that may not be what’s best for our unique textures in the long run. For consumers it can be challenging to differentiate between what ingredients are merely trendy and what ingredients are truly effective. Usually the best place to find the answer is in nature. African Pride uses all-natural ingredients that are gentle on your hair but don’t sacrifice effectiveness. One of our favorite ingredients for natural hair care can currently be found in your kitchen, honey. While it may not be the most buzzworthy ingredient, honey has long been in the hair care game, gently nourishing scalps since Ancient Egypt. African Pride honey products utilize honey as a hero ingredient for its numerous scientifically-proven benefits. From added shine to gentle conditioning, read on to discover seven amazing ways honey can transform your hair. #1 Honey Moisturized Natural Hair Honey is naturally two things, an emollient which is a smoothing agent, and a humectant, which is a moisturizing agent. Both of these elements make it one of the best ingredients for natural hair and the perfect natural hair moisturizer. For instance, its emollient properties seal moisture into hair. Humectants take moisture from the air by bonding with water molecules and seal that moisture into the scalp and dry hair strands. Honey’s emollients also smooth hair follicles, which adds a shine that will keep your curls poppin’. These emollient properties especially protect against dullness caused by pollution, sun, or heavy styling to keep your strands glistening with a natural sheen. It’s these characteristic benefits of honey that make it an awesome product to keep in your hair care routine. #2 Honey Promotes Growth Natural hair tends to be dry and brittle, often making it prone to breakage. So it’s important that the ingredients in your hair products work double time to both nourish the scalp and stimulate growth. Trusted research has shown that honey promotes the growth of the skin cells that make up the scalp and hair follicles. Its emollient properties also wake up the inactive follicles and strengthen them, so your inches can reach their full potential. It can be a long, difficult process trying to grow your coily hair, but seeking out African Pride honey products will help keep your strands strong against breakage and nurtured for growth. #3 Honey Soothes Itchy Scalps If keeping your hair moisturized, growing, and strong wasn’t enough, honey also prevents scalp infections. Honey naturally has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that your scalp is protected from bacteria and less likely to experience infections, itchiness, or dandruff. If you tend to suffer from eczema or psoriasis, honey can even help lessen the severity of breakouts. This ingredient is especially effective for your dry scalp. Giving yourself a gentle scalp massage with honey might be a little messy (and sticky) but combined with warm water, this mixture will gently moisturize and heal any itchiness or flakiness found in your scalp. #4 Honey Adds Shine Since honey is a natural emollient, it can easily (and gently) soften hair. It works to smooth the individual hair cuticles resulting in less frizz and dullness. By moisturizing and locking in shine, honey helps to restore the natural luster of your hair. To get the most out of this ingredient, look for pomades, creams, and leave-in products with honey as a primary ingredient like our Coconut Milk & Honey Leave-In Conditioner. #5 Honey Cleanses & Detoxifies Honey’s natural anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties make it a great cleanser and detoxer for natural hair. It helps remove buildup from the scalp, unclog pores, and nourish the scalp. This is an especially great ingredient to use if you’re making the switch to natural hair.Opting for honey-packed products ensure your curls and coils are thoroughly cleansed and conditioned. For these reasons, we’ve made honey the hero ingredient of our Honey & Coconut Oil Shampoo. #6 Honey Deep Conditions Packed with plenty of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, honey has everything your hair needs to be healthy and strong. Similarly, it’s emollient properties make honey an amazing moisturizer. Next time you’re co-washing or conditioning with our African Pride Honey, Chocolate, and Coconut Oil Conditioner, leave on this nourishing formula for a few minutes to really soak up all its benefits. #7 Honey Adds Nutrients Similar to the food we consume, what we put in and on our bodies matters. This approach shouldn’t change when it comes to hair care. You make sure to take your vitamins and eat healthy, so it goes without saying that you should ensure your hair gets the same treatment. Other hair products tend to either neglect these nutrients or add them into products via synthetic chemicals. As a natural and safe ingredient, honey is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to give your hair the healthy dose of love it needs to thrive. The Best Hair Products With Honey Since honey offers so many benefits to your hair, we made it the star ingredient of our best-selling African Pride Moisture Miracle products. Honey enriches these formulas with its effective properties to give your hair the absolute best. Curly and coily hair needs extra care to ensure it is protected, moisturized, and strong. Our African Pride honey products give that extra moisture boost that’s game-changing for your curls. It’s not just a sweet treat, it’s a not-so-secret ingredient that can do wonders for your textured hair.
Learn more
5 Bad Natural Hair Habits To Break Now
We all do the best we can to take care of our natural hair, especially here at African Pride. But let’s face it, sometimes we can get lazy. The problem is that it’s dangerously easy to start forming bad hair care habits based on pure laziness. It’s why we don’t always take our makeup off before bed or why we throw dirty dishes in the sink and leave them sitting in there for…well way too long. Hey, we’re all busy, we get it! There are always going to be times when you just don’t feel like doing exactly what you know you should. It’s perfectly acceptable to be lazy from time to time, even when it comes to your hair. We’ve all had those days when styling our hair takes too much energy and all we can bother to do is throw on a headscarf. It’s fine to be lazy about styling your natural hair, but it’s not fine to be lazy about good hair care. You don’t need to be that someone who mixes their own deep conditioner masks at home or actually shampoos twice like the bottles say, but you at least need to quit the bad habits that are actually damaging your hair. Sometimes breaking bad habits is as easy as being mindful of how these lazy hair habits are impacting your hair’s overall health. Being busy and taking shortcuts can become commonplace but ingraining the importance of hair care into your daily routine, like brushing your teeth, will help shift your priorities. Below we’ve outlined five of the most common bad hair habits. But, simply altering your behavior will ensure your natural hair is happier and healthier in the long run. We promise your curls and coils will thank you. The Bad Habit: Under-Washing Your Natural Hair Okay we’ll admit it, the dreaded ‘wash day’ is enough to make anyone lazy. Why go through this process more than you have to? It becomes all too easy to keep pushing it off until you’re wondering why your curls are so weighed down and dull. With so many natural hair care ‘rules’ floating around the internet you might think it’s better to wash say, once a month. While that may work for some people, every curl is unique and this system may not be what’s best for your hair. Besides not looking great, an under-washed scalp leads to massive buildup which can clog pores and hair follicles, causing flakes and ultimately, slowing the growth of your hair. How To Fix It: Gradually start increasing how often you wash your natural hair. Set rewards for yourself to become more inclined to do it, ie: after you’re done washing treat yourself to a glass of wine or indulgent snack. Shifting the way you think about wash day from a chore to a self-care treat will make the routine less daunting.When you do wash make sure to use a pre-poo, especially if you’re going a longer amount of time in between washes or have just taken out a protective style. African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo detangles, conditions, softens, and protects the hair in preparation for cleansing and styling. The Bad Habit: Over-Washing Your Natural Hair On the opposite side of the spectrum, sometimes we can wash our hair too much. It feels normal when you jump in your morning shower to want to wash your hair. Plus with tons of articles and opinions out there about what your hair needs and how often it should be washed it can be confusing to know what’s right for you. Every time you wash your hair you’re putting it at risk for breakage and increased dryness. Curly hair is already prone to dryness because the shape of the strand makes it more difficult for moisture to travel down the hair shaft. Washing too much further dries out the hair because it strips away the natural oils that provide moisture. If you find your scalp often feels dry, tight, or itchy and you’ve been experiencing increased breakage and dullness, it’s safe to say you’re overwashing. How To Fix It: Start doing a little experiment. Try washing your hair once every two weeks and see how long it takes for your hair to become frizzy, greasy, or full of buildup. See how your hair looks and feels with different amounts of time in between washes and find the routine that’s most comfortable for you and your curls. If you live in cold, dry air and notice your scalp regularly feels dry even with less washing, start using our Moisture Miracle 5 Essential Oils formula to help keep more moisture sealed into the scalp. The Bad Habit: Skimping On Conditioner Okay you’re finally doing it, you’re washing your hair the perfect amount! But having healthy, fabulous hair doesn’t stop there. Unfortunately with natural hair, running a few drops of conditioner over your curls doesn’t cut it. Washing curls and coils makes strands more susceptible to breakage and can strip hair of much needed moisture. Even if you’re co-washing, your hair (especially your ends) still need that extra dose of hydration. How To Fix It: Because your hair is the most delicate and susceptible to damage when it’s wet, always gently handle hair like the precious item it is. Apply African Pride Moisture Miracle Conditioner from roots to ends after washing. While you’re letting your strands soak up all the goodness, complete your next shower task, be it shaving, washing your body, or simply taking a few deep breaths. Conditioning hair may be an added wash day step, but it will save you time in the long run. You’ll quickly find that in between wash days you don’t need to apply as many oils and creams to add back the moisture you lost while washing. The Bad Habit: Excessive Heat Styling When you’re washing your hair, you typically don’t use boiling hot water to rinse right? It seems obvious to carry that logic into your styling routine but when you’re having an off hair day and want to touch up your curls with a wand or blow dry your hair to get to work on time, it’s easy to forget. Since textured hair is naturally already more brittle and dry, using excessive heat can cause damage, dryness, breakage, and split ends. Similarly, using too much heat too often can eventually change your hair’s texture and make it more difficult for it to revert back to it’s natural healthy state. How To Fix It: Whenever possible, avoid using heat on your natural hair by putting your curls in protective styles and air-drying hair or using a cotton t-shirt to soak up the water. However, we get that this isn’t always a realistic approach. Your hair will be stronger when it’s less wet and you won’t have to apply as much heat. Towel or air-dry hair until it’s slightly damp, then blow-dry hair on a low or medium setting. For curling wands or flat irons, make sure hair is completely dry and be sure to keep your heat tools on a low or medium setting, typically never above 350 degrees. And don’t forget to always, always, always use a heat protectant spray when applying any heat to the hair. This puts a protective barrier between the heat from the styling tool and your delicate strands. The Bad Habit: Never Getting It Trimmed I get that we all want those long hair don’t care inches, but sometimes we need to say bye to those inches to be healthy. If your hair is already growing, getting trims won’t stop the growth, it will just make sure that you’re growing out hair that won’t be so damaged you need to chop it all off down the road. Split ends left untrimmed tend to divide into bigger split ends, causing more of your hair to weaken and thin. How To Fix It: Book that appointment girl! Trimming ¼ or ½ of an inch every 6-10 weeks will keep your ends healthy but ask your usual hair stylist what they would recommend based on your actual hair. We also recommend trimming slightly more in the winter months because cold, dry air tends to increase splitting. It might hurt today to see those locks get snipped off, but it will do a lot for your hair health in the long-term. Get An African Pride Moisture Fix A lot of work can go into keeping natural hair healthy, moisturized, and styled. You don’t, however, need to do a two-strand updo and a home-made protein treatment every week. These routine changes can definitely take your natural sheen, moisture, and length up a notch. Leaving too many of these bad hair habits unchecked can add up over time to cause some serious damage. African Pride’s Moisture Miracle collection will keep hair healthy and hydrated. So, keep it cute and protect your coils.
Learn more
The African Pride Curl Care Method: As Seen On The Real
In early 2020 African Pride made its debut on the emmy-winning talk show The Real. Our unique African Pride curl care guide, otherwise known as the #CoilyGirlMethod was featured in depth and we couldn’t be happier to represent natural hair care, especially for all our Type 4 ladies out there. We were thrilled to be featured on such a wonderfully diverse show with hosts who are as influential as they are authentic. The diverse co-hosts of The Real strive to be a trusted voice in speaking on topics that are culturally relevant to women of color. They have poignant, authentic conversations about beauty standards, the beauty industry, and the best products, while acknowledging that it’s more than just hair. We admire The Real’s commitment to talking about natural hair as any conversation about black hair must also consider the culture and politics that surround it. The Real had an awesome segment for Tamera’s first-time wearing her natural curls on the show titled “Don’t Touch My Hair,” and another “Let’s Talk About Natural Hair” featuring Remy Ma. The Real not only knows how to talk about natural hair, but they genuinely care about black hair care and how we navigate the political climate that comes with it. During our segment on The Real (watch it here!) we went into detail about African Pride’s 5-step #CoilyGirlMethod featuring our Moisture Miracle collection. We understand the needs of curly and coily hair and this tried and true natural hair care regimen will ensure your natural hair is healthy, manageable, and beautiful. Read on to see the African Pride curl care steps and get ready to make the most of your next wash day. African Pride Curl Care Steps: #CoilyGirlMethod Step 1: Detangle Unwashed Hair One of the most important steps on wash day is one that you might actually be overlooking or completely forgetting to do. Using a gentle pre-shampoo is an integral first step on wash day. This is the perfect way to detangle strands and prep your curls for washing. Incorporating a Pre-Shampoo into your wash day regimen also helps to minimize breakage and defines coils. This lightweight cream moisturizes and detangles hair using the natural benefits of Aloe Vera and Coconut Water. It works to condition, protect and remove tangles from natural coils; leaving hair soft and easy to manage during cleansing and styling. This is an especially important step if you leave lots of time in between washing sessions, are taking your hair out of a protective style, or need an extra boost of hydration. Step 2: Cleanse and Condition Curls After you’ve detangled your curls, get rid of all the product buildup in your hair with a gentle shampoo and restorative conditioner. Still skipping shampoo? Studies have shown that this can be damaging to your hair’s overall health. Maintain healthy, hydrated coils with our sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner duo that are infused with honey, coconut oil, and chocolate. This moisturizing combination removes dirt and buildup without stripping your strands of their natural oils. The easiest way to do this? Divide your hair into sections, shampooing and conditioning each section individually. This ensures every strand gets some love and makes the whole process much easier. Your hair will be left soft, shiny, and smooth. Step 3: Hydrate and Replenish Hair The last thing you want to do after all that work is to have your coils dry out again. But, the more you hydrate, the easier your future wash days will become (and the better your hair will look in between). Adding a rich Leave-In Conditioner ensures curls are hydrated and manageable. Sure you just conditioned your hair, but including this extra step is highly important to maintaining hair health. As you most likely know, natural hair is more susceptible to damage and breakage when wet. Similarly, when you wash your hair the process can strip away some of your hair’s natural moisture. A liquid leave-in conditioner provides the foundation of moisture that coily styles need and a nourishing blend of coconut milk & honey give hair an extra layer of protection against breakage plus long-lasting moisture. Step 4: Moisturize and Define Curls Not only does this step help define each unique coil, it gives strands extra shine, and provides extra moisture (in case that leave-in conditioner wasn’t enough). Whether you’re doing a twist out, braid out, or finger coils, our African Pride curl cream styler will provide tons of moisture and definition without all the frizz and flakes. One of the best things you can do after washing, conditioning, and applying leave-in conditioner is to put your hair in a protective style. Here you’ve got lots of options. Slap on a wig and call it a day if you want. If you’ve got the coin or the skills, try some cornrows or box braids. If you want to really show out with the inches you got, go for something like a flat twist-out or two-strand twist out. Step 5: Seal and Protect Hair Lastly, either during or after you’ve put your hair into a protective style, lock in all that good moisture and shine. Protect your coil definition with a restorative oil. African Pride’s 5 Essential Oils use a nourishing blend of essential oils, including vitamin E to replenish your hair’s natural nutrients, protect against breakage, and promote natural hair growth. Over the next few days (or weeks) your scalp and strands are going to dry out. You can repeat this step as needed between wash days to maintain your curls bounce, shine, and moisture. Your unique curls are a part of you and elevate your natural beauty. Caring for your curls is just as important as how you take care of the rest of your body. We’ve developed the #CoilyGirlMethod as an expression of self-love. Our individuality extends to our coils and we want you to look and feel your best, to celebrate your coils, your uniqueness,and show the world the magic within our tightly-coiled, curly hair. Wash day is so much more than just a day when you wash and care for your curls and coils. It’s a day when you set out a specific time to care for your hair. Try your best to not see it as work, but use it as a day of self-care, indulgence, and celebration.
Learn more
3 Must Haves For Healthier Hair
Curly, straight, braided, silk pressed: there is so much diversity among black women to celebrate but this is especially true when it comes to hair. Although we may differ in our unique hair texture, length, or curl pattern, the one thing we all have in common is our undeniable shared desire for healthy, beautiful hair. Let’s face it, as black women we go to great (sometimes extreme) lengths to help heal and restore our hair back to a healthier state. From hot oil and hydration treatments, deep conditioning, protective styling, and big chops to creative hair masks made from whatever is laying around our kitchens, we do it all. While these steps can definitely help textured hair to be stronger and healthier, what if we told you that the key to healthy hair went much deeper than a bi-weekly treatment? In fact, achieving truly healthy natural hair starts from the inside out. Think about it, we diet, exercise, and strive to drink more water at the start of every new year in order to tackle our fitness goals and get that beach body ready. What we eat and drink however, affects so much more than just the look of our abs and glutes, it also greatly impacts our skin, hair, and mental health. We’re not kidding. If you don’t maintain a healthy diet, fitness regimen or drink enough water your hair will suffer the consequences too. We’ve broken down the three must-haves for healthier natural hair that are effective yet easy to incorporate into your lifestyle and make a part of your everyday self-care routine. Plus, some of the best healthy hair products to work into your natural hair care regimen. How do You Know When Hair is Healthy? Before we get started, let’s dive into what having healthy natural hair actually means. Contrary to popular belief, having healthy natural hair is not about looks. Having frizz, dullness, and flyaways are not an indication that hair is unhealthy. To have healthy hair means much more than just how hair appears but rather, it’s about how it feels and behaves. You’ll know your hair is healthy when it can hold moisture, has a lot of ‘bounce back’ or elasticity, experiences shrinkage, and doesn’t experience breakage. 3 Ways to Get Healthier Hair In addition to maintaining a consistent and effective natural hair care routine and making sure you’re protecting your natural hair at night there are three easy lifestyle changes that will greatly benefit your hair as well as your overall well-being. To achieve a few key indicators of healthy hair, like holding moisture, promoting hair growth, and adding shine, start incorporating these healthy lifestyle changes below. Get More Moisture One of the easiest ways to care for your body from the inside out is to drink more water. In addition to the numerous health benefits drinking lots of water provides, it’s also linked to clearer skin and hydrated hair. We understand that it can be tough to continuously drink water throughout the day so try switching it up a bit by adding different fruits and vegetables. If you’re bored with plain water try coconut water. Believe it or not coconut water is more hydrating than regular water. It helps treat dandruff and dry scalp due to its hydrating and anti-fungal properties. If however, you’re like us who much prefer our coconut in a piña colada, try cucumber infused water or cucumber juice. Fun fact, cucumbers are known to contain 90% water. Other great ways to ensure your hair stays hydrated? Using a moisturizing pre-shampoo like our Moisture Miracle Pre-Shampoo. This works to gently detangle your curls while adding some much-needed moisture into strands to help protect hair during the washing process. This makes tighter textures, curls, and coils more manageable and less susceptible to breakage while wet.Similarly, opt for a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo like our Coconut Oil Shampoo that won’t strip your hair of the natural oils it needs to stay hydrated. Read more of our Top Tips To Keep Your Natural Hair Moisturized Promote Hair Growth One of the best ways to promote healthy hair growth is to improve your blood circulation. There are a few ways to do this. First by giving your scalp a relaxing massage using our Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil, second by reaching for natural hair formulas that feature Black Castor Oil (the primary ingredient in our Black Castor Miracle collection), and the third is you guessed it, exercise. Based on trusted research, incorporating at least 30 minutes of light cardio a day can improve blood circulation which ultimately stimulates your hair from root to tip. Not to mention working out, even if it’s just a brisk walk, is incredibly important to your overall physical and mental health. The fact that it will leave your hair thicker, longer, and healthier? That’s just a bonus. Add More Shine Probably one of the hardest things to add to your hair is more shine, especially in the colder winter months. But a very pretty-colored and sometimes smelly friend can hook you up. We’re talking about salmon. Fish, like salmon, is packed with something called omega-3 fatty acids, which is one of the most important ingredients for shinier hair. Taking vitamins and fish oil supplements are also a great way to get the nutrients your body needs to be healthy overall. For instant shine, reach for a lightweight cream like our Shea Miracle Curling Custard. This curl styling custard is non-sticky and non-flaky and it’s unique blend of nourishing shea butter and herbal oil extracts gives curly strands amazing manageability, softness, and shine. Our African Pride Braid Sheen Spray is another way to get immediate results (and itchy scalp relief). When looking for products to add shine to your natural hair look for ingredients like Soybean Oil, Flaxseed Oil, and Sweet Almond Oil. The best way to get shiny, healthy natural hair is a two-pronged attack. Treating both the inside and outside of your body. It’s important to remember that combining a sensible diet, increasing your water intake, getting active plus using the right natural hair care products. The best thing about this is that these three must-haves for healthier hair are easy and affordable. I mean, you don’t even need a gym membership to get your sweat on. It can feel overwhelming at first so start small. The next time you heat up oil for your hot oil treatment, cook up a piece of salmon along with it, grab a bottle of coconut water instead of a mango Fanta, during your late night gas station run (yes, they make mango Fantas), and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Your abs and your hair will thank you, we promise. DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at care@africanpride.com
Learn more
LOC vs LCO Method and What’s Best for Your Hair
Trying to decide whether the LOC or LCO method is better for your natural hair is like trying to decide who the Queen of R&B is. It’s all based on opinion and personal preference. Or is it? One thing is for certain, no matter your hair care routine, your go-to method, or the style you try, the bottom line is always the same; it’s what works best for your hair type and texture. We all have our own unique natural hair care regimen. We have different textures, curl patterns, densities, porosities, environments, budgets, and preferences. One thing we all can agree on however, is the importance of moisture. That’s where the LOC or LCO method comes in to save the day. Regardless of which method you use, the primary goal of LOC or LCO is to give your hair as much moisture as possible. We all know that natural black hair can be drier and more brittle, especially if you’ve got type 4 hair. Dryness is curly and coily hair’s worst enemy because these delicate strands are inherently prone to it and the potential breakage, dullness, and damage it can cause. We highly recommend the tried-and-true LOC or LCO method for natural or relaxed hair as an easy yet amazing way to thoroughly moisturize your thirsty curls and coils. Several of the African Pride products in our Moisture Miracle collection are perfect for using with the LOC or LCO method. But what products should you be using and in what order? How do you know which method is right for you? We’re answering all your questions plus, breaking down the differences between LOC and LCO. The LOC Method LOC stands for: Leave-in, oil, cream. This easy 3-step process is great for adding extra hydration to dry hair and tackling frizz. This process works by penetrating the hair shaft which helps repair the structure and integrity of the hair while also sealing in that much-needed moisture. The basic idea behind the LOC method is to hydrate the hair with a liquid, hold the moisture in with an oil, and seal it in with a cream. Each step contributes to keeping the moisture in the hair strands. First the liquid opens up the hair cuticles, which readies the hair to receive moisture. With the cuticles open, the oil can properly penetrate the hair shafts so that they can hold in the moisture. The cream closes the hair cuticle back up, sealing everything in and preventing moisture loss. Keeping the hair moisturized with the LOC method not only makes hair softer and shiner, but it also prevents breakage, dryness, and frizz. The LCO Method LCO stands for: leave-in, cream, oil. This is a similar 3-step process which follows a slightly different order. Ultimately, using cream before oil in this method will help to seal in moisture from the surface, making your curls feel lighter. However, if you have thinner hair this method might weigh your strands down. This method follows the similar steps as the LOC method except in this case you hydrate the hair with a liquid, add moisture with a cream and seal it with oil. LOC vs LCO Method While very similar, there are some key differences between the two moisturizing methods. Primarily, this has to do with the order you use the products. Switching up the order of products may not seem groundbreaking in any way, but believe it or not, the order you choose to use them can give you very different results. Both methods are easy 3-step and 3-product processes. Both methods ensure dry hair will get a healthy boost of moisture and shine. You can pretty much use the LOC and LCO methods interchangeably depending on the look you want to achieve or the hair issue you’re trying to combat. Using cream before oil in the LCO method will seal in moisture from the surface, giving your curls a lighter feel, while using oil before cream in the LOC method penetrates the hair sealing in more moisture within, weighing your hair down a little more. You can switch up the order of the oil in the LOC or LCO method to seal in moisture, or you can achieve the same level of moisture no matter the method by using moisturizing and sealing oils together. Most people are unaware of the difference between a moisturizing oil and a sealing oil (read more about that here) or how mixing them together can make hair regimens more manageable and easier to stick to. Be honest, we all want to achieve moisture poppin’ curls and coils as quickly and effortlessly as possible right? Which Method is Best for my Hair? Typically the LCO method is best for type 4A and 4B, fine/medium hair, and high-porosity hair since it has larger open pores that can absorb more product and avoid clogged follicles. The LOC method is better for type 4 (A, B, C), thin hair, and all porosity types. While your hair type can dictate which method you use, you can also pick the LCO or LOC method based on your hair goals. Let’s look at some hypothetical scenarios: It’s the middle of summer and tomorrow you have a full day planned with your girls; a day party, cookout and pool party before fireworks, which means a lot of sun and maybe getting your coils and curls wet. While the LCO method would result in a lighter and fuller look, keeping you cooler and more comfortable, the LOC method would cause you to sweat more and likely leave a glistening trail of cocoa-shea-butter-goodness running down your neck. We’ll say it for you, in this case LOC is a“hard pass.” Next up, it’s cuffing season. You finally decided to go out with the guy your friend has been trying to hook you up with and he wants to take you ice skating and to dinner. Sealing in as much moisture as possible is a must to ensure the cold doesn’t leave your twist out or up-do dry and dehydrated. By sealing in extra moisture, the LOC method, would keep your hair glistening under the moonlight or beside candlelight. The Best Methods For LOC or LCO Just because you’re switching up the order doesn’t mean you can’t use the same products. The first step will be the same, using African Pride Leave-In Conditioner. If your hair is dry lightly re-wet it with water or do this step when you’re fresh out of the shower. With clean, damp hair generously spray each section with leave-in conditioner. Make sure to show extra love to your ends as they’re typically the driest and most susceptible to breakage. Next, reach for your oil or cream. We love our ultra-nourishing African Pride 5 Essential Oils which combines castor oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, coconut oil, and olive oil to lock in hydration. When it comes to cream, our Flaxseed Oil Curling Cream provides non-flaking shine, moisture, and curl definition. No matter which method you choose, both LOC and LCO give dry, textured hair a much-needed boost of moisture. Plus, either method (depending on your hair type and need) helps keep strands quenched between wash days. Or, you can do the LOC or LCO method every time you do a wash and go style, typically every 1-2 weeks. The LOC and LCO methods are not only meant to be a hair care routine, but also a style. All our Moisture Miracle products are made to highlight the individual natural beauty of your curls to keep them cute, healthy, and bouncing until your next wash day. DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at care@africanpride.com
Learn more
How to Build a Hair Care Regimen That You Can Stick to!
Currently, one of the buzziest textured hair trends is the switch to going natural. This can mean eliminating wigs and weaves all together, or simply finding an effective natural hair regimen to keep your natural curls and coils healthy. Though, this change is much more than just a hair trend. There has been a shift for mainstream media to include more diverse content and stores to have more readily-available natural hair products. Similarly there’s been a major increase in influencers and celebrities alike gladly rocking their natural ‘dos. With all these improvements it’s no wonder why so many of us with curls and coils are excited to explore new ways to style our hair that go beyond the traditional weaves and chemical relaxers. Now is the perfect time to celebrate your natural hair and establish healthy ways to care for it. Building an effective natural hair regimen is as personal as it gets. Finding what products, formulas, techniques, and ingredients that work best for your unique hair type and texture means that finding an effective routine takes some trial and error. However, once you nail down that magic formula you’ll notice your hair is more hydrated, less frizzy or damaged, and easier to maintain. The other benefits? Natural black hair care can sometimes be a guessing game, having an established routine that is easily incorporated into your daily life will cut down on time, energy, and save money in the long run. While this routine will need to be personalized to you, your hair, and your natural hair journey, it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. We’re here to help you find the perfect regimen and products for your best hair yet. Let’s get to it. How to Get Started Tackling a new hair care routine is always trial and error. While you might diligently read articles, watch YouTube tutorials, or research the best natural hair products, the reality is that too often we find ourselves drifting back into old habits because of time, confusion, or we simply get discouraged. The way you start a new hair regimen can make sticking to it easy or near impossible. We try tons of new products, foams, gels, leave-ins, puddings, oils, we truly exhaust the spectrum of hair care products. While these styling or conditioning products might serve their purpose in initially giving us great hair, the combination of them often leaves our curls and coils stripped, dry and tired. Who wouldn’t get frustrated and fed up after putting in all of that work just to get the same results they’ve been used to? If this process sounds familiar it’s because it follows the same pattern as a crash diet. For example, you can immediately cut out carbs and sugar and be very strict about it, but you’ll be much more likely to cheat on that diet and have it fail long term. Instead, in order to build a natural hair care routine you can stick to, begin with an easy foundation and gradually build a realistic routine. It’s about making lifestyles changes that work with your everyday life. What is a Natural Hair Regimen? Skin care routines get all the glory. We all know those 3-step skin care programs, Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize, or some variation of that. A hair care routine follows the same idea in practice, it’s a dedicated routine to keep your hair healthy. But fabulous hair doesn’t just happen, it takes a little bit of work to determine what makes your hair happiest. Once you do that it’s easy to follow a few simple steps weekly or biweekly. The other benefit to having a structured hair care regimen is that it ensures consistent care. Once you nail down a routine you know exactly what, when, and how to make your hair look its best. This is especially important if you’re a natural hair newbie or transitioning to natural hair. So what should your natural hair care routine look like? Thankfully it doesn’t need to be a complicated, time-consuming, or expensive ordeal. You’re likely already doing several of these things but remember that you’ll need to tailor the order, technique, or products depending on your unique hair type and texture. Generally speaking, almost all natural hair regimens will follow these easy steps: Proper Cleaning Conditioning Treatments/Deep Conditioning Moisturizing Protective Styling Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps to make sure you’re building the most effective natural hair care regime for your unique hair. Proper Cleansing: Wash the Right Way In order to clear the way for healthy, growing curls, your hair and scalp need to be squeaky clean. While some naturalistas may opt to co-wash, washing hair with a gentle cleanser is integral to achieving and maintaining healthy, clean hair. A good sulfate-free shampoo, like our Honey & Coconut Oil Shampoo, works to gently remove dirt and buildup without stripping hair of its natural oils; using a blend of raw Honey & Coconut Oil to deeply penetrate and hydrate natural coils and curls, leaving the hair soft, nourished and with a natural shine. Co-washing alone won’t be able to achieve all this. Now that you know how to wash the question is when should you be doing it? The key is understanding how your hair reacts to being washed. In general most natural hair should be washed about every two weeks. However, this will most likely differ based on the time of year, your hair type and texture, and your lifestyle habits. Aim to wash every two weeks but experiment with what works best. Keep a close eye on your strands and consider washing less if they feel dry, brittle, or frizzy. Wash more if your hair feels greasy, dirty (or has an odor), and styling products don’t seem to work as well as they once did. Conditioning: Soften & Detangle Since natural hair tends to be drier, especially Type 4 hair, conditioning is an absolute must for healthy and hydrated hair. On every wash day you should reach for a daily or rinse-out conditioner. This is a lightweight formula you use everytime after shampooing. In addition to providing moisture, conditioning natural hair closes the hair cuticle making it smoother, slippery, and easier to detangle. We recommend our Honey, Chocolate & Coconut Oil Conditioner form nourished strands. This moisture restoring blend uses the natural conditioning benefits of Honey and Coconut Oil, with the restorative benefits of Chocolate (Cacao) to transform dry coils and curls leaving them hydrated. Another benefit of conditioning is that it prepares your strands for detangling and makes them much more manageable. Gently comb the conditioner through hair with your fingers and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. Gentle detangling is a very important step in your natural hair care routine as it helps lessen damage, frizz, and knots. That’s why you might want to detangle strands before you even shampoo your hair. Our Moisture Miracle Pre-Shampoo for example, uses the natural benefits of Aloe Vera and Coconut Water to condition, protect and remove tangles from natural coils and curls; leaving hair soft and easy to manage during cleansing and styling. Treatments & Deep Conditioning In addition to using a rinse-out conditioner, you should also integrate a deep conditioner into your hair care. This is an intensive moisturizing treatment that you should use every other wash (or about once a month). After shampooing (instead of using a regular conditioner) apply a nourishing formula, like our Deep Penetrating Conditioner Moisture Restore Treatment, leave on for 30 minutes then rinse out. This provides not just moisture, but vital nutrients that ensure your hair is at its healthiest. Our Moisture Restore Treatment for example, deeply conditions and hydrates extremely dry, damaged hair. Specially created with black castor oil, coconut milk and shea butter; this treatment deeply penetrates hair strands and restores moisture. You can also use this time (post-shampoo) to add in specialized and targeted natural hair treatments depending upon your hair’s current needs. For instance, if you have lots of product build-up, haven’t washed your hair in awhile, or have very hard/dry strands you might want to use a Moroccan Clay & Shea Butter Masque to detox and soften your hair. This detoxing & restorative clay masque uses the clarifying benefits of Moroccan Red Clay to remove impurities and product build-up while the Shea Butter replenishes moisture and strengthens the hair; leaving you with soft, hydrated, coils and curls. Moisturizing: Prioritize Hydration One of the most important elements in any natural hair care regime is moisture. Hey, it’s why we created an entire line of Moisture Miracle products that focus on properly hydrating hair. Waiting until your hair feels dry to moisturize it is exactly like waiting to drink water until you’re absolutely dehydrated. Instead, take a few minutes to moisturize your curls daily. There are several ways you can do this, spritzing hair with some water, sealing moisture with an oil, and spraying a nourishing leave-in conditioner onto strands. All work great and you’ll need to experiment with all three methods to see what works best for you. Keeping hair moisturized is integral to preventing breakage, damage, and other hair issues like frizz, knots, and growth. (Read more Top Tips To Keep Your Natural Hair Moisturized here). When searching for a moisturizing product be sure to read the ingredients carefully as water should be the first ingredient listed. We love our African Pride Leave-In Conditioner which is a lightweight blend of hydrating Coconut Milk & African Honey that works to replenish moisture, add shine, and soften strands; leaving hair manageable and naturally definedFor dry scalps, edges, or ends we recommend giving yourself a gentle massage with African Pride 5 Essential Oils. This unique combination of Castor oil, Grapeseed oil, Argan oil, Coconut oil, and Olive oil helps replenish natural nutrients, protect against breakage, and promote natural growth. This almost makes a great hair sealant. Protective Styling: Keep Hair Healthy Now that we’ve outlined what your natural hair care regime looks like, the final step is maintaining the health and integrity of your curls and coils until the next wash day. Protective styles are simply the best ways to keep hair moisturized, growing, and shielded from daily elements. This is especially important at night when you toss and turn and can end up causing damage to your strands. There are so many natural protective styles we love but we recommend keeping it simple! Stick to easy wash and gos, twist or braid outs, or high puffs. Use a hydrating curling cream like our Shea Butter & Flaxseed Oil Curling Cream to give coils and curls smooth, bouncy hold while providing definition, shine, and deep moisture. Almost all our Moisture Miracle products can, of course, stand alone to solve your different hair care needs or hair issues like dry scalp or breakage, but when you combine our Leave-In Cream, 5 Essential Oils, and this Flaxseed Oil Curling Cream, true Black girl magic happens. Staying on Track Inevitably, finding the right hair care routine will take a little bit of finesse. There will be some trial and error and you may have to slightly alter your routine based on the time of year (ie: extra moisture in the winter). Like a crash diet you don’t want to alter everything at once or put too much unrealistic pressure on yourself. Gradually make subtle changes and introduce new formulas and products to your hair. You also shouldn’t expect to see results overnight. Once you determine what regimen works best, consistently stick with it for a few months, we promise it will become second nature. To help keep yourself on track it can be helpful to take notes in a journal detailing your exact routine and the state of your hair. In the end you’ll be glad you took the time and effort to ensure your hair is happy, healthy, and hydrated. You can do it! DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at care@africanpride.com
Learn more
