This week, Madame Noire’s resident natural hair care expert Anu Prestonia offers advice on basic hair care for natural black hair that can apply to many curl patterns. Read Anu’s advice and leave your comments below.

Hello Ms. Prestonia,

I was wondering if you’d be willing to address the very basics of hair care–how often to wash it, what to do with your hair after you get out of the shower, what kinds of shampoos, conditioners, and oils are best, etc — and if you know any additional tips for mixed women, I would be eternally grateful. All my mixed-heritage girls and I have struggled with what to do with our hair, especially how to let its natural beauty shine. If your mama isn’t black, it’s a safe bet that you have absolutely no knowledge about what to do with black hair. I’m pretty confused myself, even just when it comes to washing my hair! I have no idea what shampoo to use, and I’ve heard everything from “never wet your hair” (which I assume applies to relaxed/flat ironed hair) to “wet your hair everyday and spritz it if it needs a little moisture.”

Right now, I wet my hair every day and put conditioner in it every day, but I only shampoo it every week and a half. Problem is, I feel like my shampoo strips my hair! What’s the word on good shampoos and conditioners?

My African friend also has me putting Moroccan hair oil and leave-in conditioner in when I get out of the shower. She tells me she even does mayo hair masks at home, but I’ve always been skeptical about that kind of thing.

Also, how often should I comb my hair, since I wear it natural and I’m trying to retain my curl pattern, especially in the front of my head where curl pattern isn’t so great? (And I assume you comb in the shower with your conditioner in?)

This is probably a lot to answer, but at least in my experience, I’ve been surprised to see how impossible it is to just find an article that tells you the basics of black hair care. Please help!

Thank you,

Lina

With the surge of black women sporting natural, kinky and curly styles, several questions have been raised. Of the most are uncertainties in the workplace and corporate environments. Then there are some from society as a whole.

These are just a few of the assumptions people make about girls with curls:

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