Nurture and Heal: Healthy Hair
Whereas
women with brown skin who are from different racial and ethnic backgrounds
have many of the same skin concerns, their hair concerns vary greatly.
Women of African, Asian and Latina descent have many different types
of hair with different hair care needs and hair problems. Some of their
hair concerns will overlap, whereas others will diverge.
It is important to understand the structure of the different
types of hair. Each individual hair is formed from a single hair follicle
that is embedded in the scalp. It is estimated that each of us has over
100,000 hair follicles on our scalp. The number of hair follicles varies
by racial groups with Asians having fewer hair follicles as compared
to whites and blacks. The shape of the hair follicle also varies among
racial and ethnic groups. Whereas Asians and whites have follicles that
are straight, the hair follicles of blacks and black Hispanics is often
curved. A curved hair follicle will produce a curved or curly hair.
The size and shape of the hair also differs among racial
groups. If you take a hair and cut it across (a cross section), its
appearance is different depending on your racial or ethnic group. Some
racial groups have round hairs (Asians), others oval shaped hairs (whites)
and still others have elliptical hairs (blacks). In addition to differences
in the cross sectional shape, there are differences in the diameter
of the hair. The diameter of Asian hair is the largest, white the smallest
and Black hair is of intermediate size. The intrinsic strength of the
hair also differs according to racial group. Asian hair is the most
resistant to breakage, white hair is intermediate and black hair the
most susceptible to breakage. The strength also varies depending on
whether the hair is wet or dry. For fragile black hair, it is less likely
to break during combing when the hair is wet.
Despite these differences, all hair is composed of three
layers: the innermost layer or medulla, the middle layer or cortex and
the outermost layer, the cuticle. The cuticle layer provides the first
layer of protection from the outside environment. Like the tiles on
a roof, the cuticle consists of overlapping layers of cells that provide
a tight seal for the vulnerable cortical layer. An undamaged cuticle
has a smooth surface, that is, the tiles all lie flat and in place.
Light will reflect off of these nicely overlapping tiles, producing
the healthy shiny appearance of normal hair. The fibers of the cortical
layer provide the strength of the hair. When the cuticular layer of
tiles become uplifted, displaced or broken, the cortex is exposed to
the environment. The cortical layer of the hair is then significantly
weakened and the hair splits or breaks. The intrinsic structure of the
hair in some people makes it susceptible to damage. For example, some
portions of the cuticle layer in Blacks are very thin. This makes it
more susceptible to damage from simple, normal styling as compared to
white or Asian hair.
For individuals with tightly coiled hair, many grooming
practices are designed to straighten the hair. These include the application
of heat to temporarily straighten the hair structure or relaxers to
more permanently straighten the hair. Asians have developed a chemical
straightening process that uses both chemicals and heat. The application
of heat and chemicals for straightening the hair decreases the overall
strength of the hair, and it also decreases the lubricants on the surface
of the hair shaft. Another important factor that dramatically decreases
hair strength and lubrication are hair dyes.
Hair of African-Americans, Asians and Latinas also sustains
damage in ways that you may least suspect. One type of damage is called
weathering. Weathering is in essence a wearing away of the outer layer
of the hair. Environment factors, including wind, sun, and cold dry
winter air all contribute to weathering. Vigorous combing or brushing,
the friction from hats and pillow cases also lead to weathering. The
use of inappropriate products on the hair, including hair sprays, gels
and mousses can increase weathering and at the same time reduce the
natural lubricants on the hair.
Hair Facts:
- Although we think of our hair as a living part of
our body, the hair shaft, despite its shine, body and texture, is
not a living structure.
- There are more than 100,000 hairs on the scalp and
it is normal to lose between 50-100 hairs per day.
- In healthy individuals, hair grows at a rate of 0.35
millimeters per day or 6 inches per year (black hair grows much more
slowly). Similar to our bodies, our hair passes through several growth
stages. The stages include: the anagen growth phase (3 years), the
telogen resting phase (3 months) and a brief catagen transitional
phase (2-3 weeks).
- The hair consists or three layers: the cuticle, cortex,
and medulla.
- The outermost layer, the cuticle is composed of a
substance called keratin. It is important to avoid damage to the cuticle
or hair breakage will result.
- The medulla or innermost layer of the hair shaft
is not always present.
- The cortex layer accounts for most of the hair shaft
and is responsible for the great strength of our hair.
Proper hair care consists of several factors. Cleansing,
conditioning, trimming, protecting and nourishing the hair are important
components of caring for your hair. As important as caring for the hair
is appropriate care of the scalp. If your scalp is dry and itchy, has
red or dark patches, or if bumps or scabs develop, you must see your
dermatologist for treatment. If chemicals are to be used, proper application
and maintenance must be instituted. It is important to avoid, if possible,
multiple processes at the same time on the hair.
The type of hair that an individual has depends a great
deal on hereditary factors. The hair may be straight, wavy, curly or
tightly coiled. Additionally, hair may be normal, dry or greasy. Take
the test below to determine your hair type.
Your hair is most
likely normal if:
- it is neither greasy nor dry
- it has not been permed or color-treated
- it holds its style well
- it looks good and healthy most of the time.
Your hair is most likely
dry if:
- it looks dull
- it feels dry or rough
- it tangles easily
- it is difficult to comb or brush
- it has been treated chemically (permed, relaxed or
dyed)
- it is dry to the touch and frizzy in appearance.
Your hair is most likely greasy if:
- it tends to be limp with excess oil weighing it down
- it looks flat and lacks volume
- it clings to itself and to your scalp
- it is difficult to manage because it does not hold
a style
- it gets oily soon after shampooing.
The fundamentals of caring for your hair include combing
and brushing, shampooing and conditioning, drying and possibly chemically
treating your hair (perming, relaxing or dyeing). Now that you know
the type of hair that you have, you can benefit from the following hair
care tips.
- Healthy hair care begins with a clean scalp.
The frequency of washing depends both on the type of hair that you
have, the hair style that you wear and the chemicals that you use
on your hair. In general,
- Shampooing weekly is appropriate for most hair
types
- Shampooing every-other-day or twice weekly is
appropriate for oily hair
- Shampooing every 10-14 days may be acceptable
for some women of African/African American/African Caribbean descent
- Under no circumstances is it appropriate or healthy
to wash once every three weeks or once every four weeks.
- Conditioning your hair after shampooing is essential
for healthy hair. Select a conditioner appropriate for your hair type
(dry hair, normal hair, chemically treated hair, etc.)
- Comb your hair immediately after washing with a wide
tooth comb, and with minimal pulling. For women with tightly curled
hair, there are fewer frictional forces placed upon the hair while
combing when it is wet.
- Only brush and comb your hair to create your hair
style. Over-brushing can lead to hair damage and breakage. Brushing
oily hair will make it look oilier. It is not healthy to brush one-hundred
strokes per day for any hair type.
- Minimize the amount of heat that is applied to your
hair, whether from blow drying or using flat irons, curling irons
or hot rollers. Consider a wet set and then avoid heat applied to
your hair for the remainder of the week.
- Trimming your hair every 8-12 weeks to remove the
damaged ends will lead to healthy hair
- Itching and flaking of the scalp may be a sign of
seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis. If it does not resolve with weekly
shampooing with a medicated shampoo, see your doctor.
- If you hair is relaxed, consider getting touch-ups
every 8-10 weeks. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions
and never allow the chemical to burn, sting or even tingle on your
scalp.
- Avoid the use of both chemical relaxers and hair
dye together. Select one or the other, but not both, for healthier
hair.
- If you notice hair loss or hair damage, see a dermatologist
immediately. Do not attempt to cover or camouflage the area with braids
or hair weaves because they often create more damage.
As women of color, each of us has our own unique type
of hair. It may be short, long, shoulder length, straight, wavy, kinky,
relaxed, dyed, locked, hot-combed or permed. The goal is to have healthy,
lustrous hair.
