Mixed race hair comes in many forms, from curly to straight short to long it is however when cared for and styled correctly some of the most versatile and beautiful hair. There is no set rule as to which mix or skin shade results in straighter more European hair or tighter curled hair, some darker skinned mixed race people can have straighter hair than a lighter skinned mixed race person, even some siblings will have different hair textures.
Afro/Caribbean hair including mixed hair can be vulnerable to damage & breakage the hair tends to be drier and more porous with the added possible stress of relaxers and heat styling exacerbating the problem. This means it needs specialized products that provide the extra hydration and protection the hair needs in order for it to look and feel its best.
There are many styles you can have with this type of hair: For a head of pretty ringlets you can wash hair and use products including leave in conditioners, comb through while still damp allowing to air dry, do not attempt to comb when the hair has dried or you will have an afro, This is normally the most natural styling technique for mixed race hair that is curly, It is non damaging to the hair but can be time consuming wetting and combing it every day and you may have to use quite a lot of product. If you do want an afro simply brush curly hair out when it is totally dry.
If you cannot manage the time and maintenance that your hair needs, or want to rest the hair to grow, in the meantime you can have a beautiful head of extensions in any colour and length this wont be maintenance free but the results may be more satisfying. Think Beyonce and Rhianna’s sometimes long locks! However we would still recommend that you intensively condition and care for your natural hair to assist the health and growth. We are experts in the field of extensions and have over twenty years experience. At a consultation we will determine exactly what you need to achieve the look you want.
Mixed race hair is half Caucasian so even though it may be curly it is very adaptable and as it tends to grow longer than pure Afro/Caribbean hair works very well straightened. This can be achieved by blow drying the hair with a round bristle brush and a good hairdryer over 2000 watts with the use of some protective heat styling product. If you are looking for a permanent texture change then the use of a relaxer of texture softener can also help you to achieve the straight look. Any kind of straightening will cause the hair to become drier so intensive conditioning at least once a week is recommended.
As conditioning is imperative for mixed race to look its best and combat any problems we are going to point you in the right direction and recommend some very intensive and effective conditioning products, these may be more expensive than ones you can buy readily on the high street but the benefits out strip this. You can use these exclusively or fit into your hair routine when it suits you or until your hair is repaired.
For very dry, damaged, brittle hair that is weak and on its last legs try the multi-award winning treatment by Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme this is a miracle in a jar it infuses your hair with much needed moisture helping the hair to regain its spring and bounce, It smells divine and the effects of this are accumulative lasting past the next wash, one of the most intensive conditioners we have ever come across.
Next but by no means least is the leading Parisian range with over 40 years experience in botanical hair care Phtytotherathrie. Patrick Ales the founder pioneered and created a product line specifically for black and mixed hair PhytoSpecific was born. Powerful botanical extracts have been examined from all over the world in their laboratories with a team of dedicated pharmacists and phytochemists specializing in biotechnology expressly concerned with addressing black/mixed hair needs. Needless to say this range is phenomenal from dry ends spray to nourishing shampoos and conditioning crème baths for the hair. One of their prime concerns was producing a solution to the relaxers which contain lye and chemicals so strong that In the recent documentary by Chris Rock ‘Good Hair’ a can of coke totally dissolved in the conventional hair relaxers. PhtytoSpecific have created a conditioning lye free relaxer also using plant botanicals.
Here is an effective homemade conditioner that doesn’t cost a lot to produce but is very effective at conditioning, is a 100% natural and fun to make.
Combine
2 eggs
2oz double cream
1oz castor oil
1oz melted butter
1oz purified water
Juice of half a grapefruit.
Apply the mixture to the whole length of your hair in sections. Work into your hair with fingers and massage your scalp for five-ten minutes with a gentle kneading motion. Leave in for twenty minutes (or overnight) covering your hair to enhance the penetration into hair shaft, this will also help to nourish your scalp and alleviate any dryness. Shampoo and condition as usual. Use this until your hair is sufficiently improved.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
