clean, and neatly groomed hair
was something highly admired
and sought after. Hair groomers
possessed unique styling skills,
allowing them to create a variety of
designs that met the local cultural
standards. Hair was usually dressed
according to local culture.
I
n many traditional cultures,
communal grooming was a
social event when a woman
could socialize and strength-
en bonds between her, other
women and their families. Histor-
ically, hair braiding was not a paid
trade. Since the African diaspora,
in the 20th and 21st centuries it has
developed as a multimillion-dollar
business in such regions as the Unit-
ed States and Western Europe. An
individual’s hair groomer was usual-
ly someone whom they knew close-
ly. Sessions can include shampooing,
oiling, combing, braiding and twist-
ing, plus adding accessories. For
shampooing, black soap was widely
used in nations in West and Central
Africa. Additionally, palm oil and
palm kernel oil were popularly used
for oiling the scalp. Shea butter has
traditionally been used to moistur-
ize and dress the hair.
Tips For Women
How To care For Your Hair
Not wrapping hair in a silk scarf
“If you don’t wrap your hair before you go
to bed, while you’re asleep the pillow will
absorb the moisture from your hair and
come morning it will appear dry, leading
you to apply more products and heat in an
attempt to banish frizz.”
SOLUTION: “Wrap hair in a silk scarf. This
will help ensure the moisture is retained,
so you’re less likely to need to resort to
heated appliances and extra product be-
cause your hair will already be beautiful-
ly hydrated.”
Washing hair in hot water
“Piping hot water dries out the hair and
strips away moisture.”
SOLUTION: “Washing tresses in warm water
will still cleanse them effectively, plus it
will help seal and be much more gentle on
the cuticle, resulting in a happier head of
hair.”
Not having regular treatments
“Afro and curly textures can struggle in
the cold weather. What’s more, central
heating can dry out the hair, leaving it
dull and dehydrated.”
Black soap
69 | Colossium . December 2018
SOLUTION: “It’s so important to apply a
treatment every two weeks to rehydrate,
strengthen, protect and maintain hair
health with rich oil in-salon treatment.