21 Unbelievable Facts About Black Hair You Didn't Know!

Natural black hair refers to hair that has not undergone any change in texture by chemicals.

Our hair works in the same way as memory, and contains information about our bloodstream and body. These consist of drugs and minerals.

Do you know your hair type? There are many distinct types of black hair, and each one requires different care. In this article, we will discuss unbelievable facts about black hair that you probably didn't know!

We will also provide tips for taking care of your natural black hair. We'll cover everything from the history of black hair to the latest trends in natural hair care. So whether you have kinky, coily, curly, or straight hair, read on for the best tips and tricks!

Did you know that black women are the most influential consumers of hair care? According to a study by Mintel, black women account for 80% of natural hair product sales!

And that's not all, black women also spend more money on hair products than any other group. It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact period of time in history when black hairstyles came into existence.

They have been embraced with pride and celebrated by both women and men for many centuries. They have ultimately become an identifying factor at a first glance.

History And Origin Of Black Hair

Black hair is the most common type of human hair on earth. On average, black people have about 100,000-200,000 hairs compared to 40,000 for other races.

In the early African civilization, famous styles like dreadlocks, twists, and braids were symbols of family background, social status, and tribe.

Black hair is the only type of natural hair that needs its own specific type of shampoo! Coarse shampoos are best for retaining your locks' natural moisture and shine!

The original deadlock hairstyle was first adopted by the guerilla warriors movement in Ethiopia. They vowed that they would not cut their hair until their emperor was released. Over time, their hair started to lock.

The warriors were called dreaded due to the locks on their head from where the word 'dreadlocks' emerged.

Around the 1770s, good hair and bad hair were established. Long, light, smooth and soft hair was labeled 'good' hair, whereas black hair texture was considered 'bad'.

Around the 1800s came an electric straightening comb or hot comb. Women with curly or any other type of hair used this comb.

The first female, self-made millionaire of America, Madam CJ Walker, created the popular product 'Hair Grower' after experimenting with a variety of chemicals around the 1900s. She revolutionized the press and curl hairstyle.

Around the time of the 'Black Power movement' the natural afro hairstyle was the symbol of this movement. Numerous members started to embrace their natural hairstyles.

Around the '90s came the golden era of black culture. Black women on television started to wear wigs, perms, braids, cornrows, and many other natural styles.

Around the 2010s, the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, was spotted wearing a natural hairstyle. Soon, natural hair started trending worldwide. Many women started wearing their natural hair.

World Afro Day was created in 2017 by Michelle De Leon. Later, there were many sustainable hair products that were launched, like Dizziak, Mensah, Charlotte, and Afrocenchix.

There are several hair care methods for black hair to lock in moisture and protect against damage. As per AAD, or the American Academy of Dermatology, it is recommended to wash tight coils or curls only once a week or less.

Washing more than this will get rid of your care products. If a person faces scalp conditions, like dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, then they may have to wash their scalp more than once a week. For example, your dermatologist may recommend you wash your hair two times per week.

Curly hair tangles easily and may break if you comb it when dry. So, while the hair is still wet, you apply hair cream or conditioner, then divide the hair into sections. Gently comb through the hair from the tip to the root.

Over time, every type of hair will develop split ends. One basic maintenance tip for your hair is a regular trimming of the ends of your hair to keep it healthy.

How is black hair different from other hair types?

Black hair's biology is highly identical to other hair types. However, morphological differences in coils and elasticity of hair exist. Compared to silky hair, black hair has more fats or lipids. However, these lipids are barely bonded.

Did you know that black hair is more likely to become dry? This may be due to the natural oils that our scalps produce, which is why it's important to use a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

The history of black hairstyles dates back thousands of years with African tribes using braids braided into intricate patterns while they were still living nomadic lifestyles (that is, before settling down).

It can be damaging to black hair to wash it every day, stripping necessary oils from hair follicles.

Many black hair care products contain petroleum and mineral oil that can clog pores on the scalp. So, you can choose hair care products that have no ingredients that can harm your natural hair.

When you comb or brush through natural hair that is more curly, the curls are forced to straighten out. However, the natural hair resists this force, leading to breakage.

Black hair is unlike any other type of natural hair because it has low porosity, which means that moisture doesn't easily get into your locks.

Everything from curls to spirals has a typification known as the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. This was created to market a new hairline in 1990, from straight hair to tight coils categorized from one to four and A to C.

Shrinkage is a common factor with natural afro hair. When the hair dries, curls get tighter and a few people experience up to 20-30% shrinkage, and some even up to 75%.

Shrinkage varies from person to person, with products and styling techniques used as the main aspects. Shrinkage provides definition, and as the hair grows longer, the curl pattern gets looser and the hair becomes heavier.

One person may have more than one single curl pattern of the hair. The tightest curls are found at the nape of the neck. However, there will be different patterns and even some waves throughout the hair.

Regardless of curl pattern or hair texture, water is important to keep the hair healthy, it is also a great source of moisture. However, the main source of moisture is sebum.

Sebum and water move through the hair shaft and provide moisture to the follicle. When the water and sebum can not move through the shaft, it leads to dry hair, which happens frequently with black hair.

Tight curls restrict the traveling of moisture and sebum from moving freely through the hair compared to straight hair type in which it flows without restriction.

You can make use of natural oils like jojoba oil for both the scalp and hair. Then, use a warm towel to wrap your hair in and let it sit for half an hour. Alternatives for jojoba are emu oil, shea butter oil, and shea butter.

You can also damage your hair while you are asleep through movement. Some fabrics also absorb moisture from the scalp and hair. To reduce friction, you can make use of a smooth satin or silk hair wrap, and satin or silk pillowcases.

Texture, Structure, And Strength Of Black Hair

Black women have a natural hair texture that is often called kinky or coily. The diameter of black hair varies from 0.001 in (0.03 mm) in size at its finest point to about 0.002 in (0.06 mm) at its thickest point, which means it's not as strong as other types of black hair.

It is also more vulnerable due to the lack of cuticle layers protecting the strands.

Black hair also tends to be coarser than other hair types, so you'll want to use a conditioning treatment at least once a week.

Curly black hair can be prone to frizziness, so make sure you invest in a good anti-frizz serum or oil!

People with smaller curls or thicker hair will probably experience healthy hair growth upwards and outwards.

Lorrain Massey developed the Deva cut, which is a technique involving the careful cutting of curls when the natural hair is dry, allowing you to see how the hair falls to create the desired shape. This technique is a custom-fit for natural hair.

Due to its helix shape, sebum and moisture do not easily travel through black afro hair.

Brushing the hair daily damages the hair cuticle and shaft as it causes friction. Black women do not need to comb their hair every day.

Oil and serums are great for black hair scalps as it gets dry faster. You can use it daily to maintain moisture.

Black hair comes in many textures, from curly and kinky to straight and wavy. Curl patterns have been created for this reason.

Styling black hair takes a lot of effort and time, natural or otherwise. It also takes a lot of money.

Black women can use a shampoo that has a pH level of 6.5, which can benefit black hair as it seals water within the follicle, reducing sebum loss.

Moreover, many black women often use a lot of heat protectants to maintain their natural curls.

Black hair is thicker than blonde hair and so it is quite dense.

There are fewer hair follicles in people of African descent compared to white people. White hair has 120,000 follicles, whereas black hair has 90,000. This shows the scalp of a person easily, and hair loss is also more noticeable.

Once or twice a month, a black-haired person can get oil treatments or deep conditioning, in addition to using a suitable conditioner per wash.

Unique Facts About Black Hair

The average lifespan of a black hair strand is about six years. This means that you can cut your hair as short as you want and you will have healthy hair growth.

Black women are more likely to experience natural hair loss than women with other hair colors. About 40% of Black women deal with some form of alopecia, or balding, at some point in their lives.

Black women are more likely to suffer from scalp conditions than women with other hair colors. This is because the oils our scalps produce tend to be thicker and need more moisturizing.

Issues like dandruff and psoriasis are more frequent than those with other hair textures. Black women are the only group of women whose natural hair texture is classified as a 'type'.

You can find a number of ways to style the natural afro-textured hair, including braid styles and twists.

It is a myth that black hair does not grow long. Having long hair depends on genetics and health. Curly black hair can be weaker than straight hair. Every bend in the hair strand is a fragile point in the hair shaft.

Extensions are similar to weaves. You can add it through braids or hair glues as per its type.

One can tell the ethnic origin or race of humans by their hair cross-section. Very flat-shaped hair is of African-Americans, very round-shaped hair is of Asians, and oval-shaped hair is of Europeans.

Now that more people are wearing their natural hair, brands are now recognizing the diversity of their customers.

Weaves and braids done on hair can cause hair loss. These styles pull your hair strands, and continuous pulling of hair for prolonged periods can cause hair loss, which can either be non-reversible or reversible.

To avoid hair loss due to styles, you can make loose styles with braids or weaves, and by giving rest to your hair in between.

The credit for producing the first chemical relaxer is given to an African American, Garrett A. Morgan, from Kentucky. He was a sewing machine repairman.

There are many terminologies for natural hair: for example, breaking the cast, dusting, plopping, and pre-poo. Afro natural hair care has its own language.

Black people have more than 100,000 hairs, which is mid-scale.

You must choose the right shampoo for your scalp. Regular shampoos, or some anti-dandruff shampoos, will have harsh ingredients, like sulfates, which will strip natural oils from your hair, making it harder to comb.

After you have the right shampoo, make sure to gently massage the scalp, and instead of rubbing your hair, pat it dry.