Of all the hair types in the world, black/ethnic hair is perhaps the most challenging to care for. Each woman has her own take on what hair care should be in order to maintain tresses that are healthy, shiny and manageable but oftentimes the conventional methods used to get results only serve to contribute to the problem. Although the end results may look great, the methods themselves are usually anything but. However, there are ways to keep black hair at its best without doing any further harm to the health of the scalp and roots all the way to the tips.

Anyone familiar with black hair care knows that somehow, some way it involves heat and lots of chemicals - with the exception of women that prefer to go au naturale. Even though chemical relaxers, hot combs, curling irons and weaves get the job done, constantly relying on these tools and products still damage the hair. Whether you’re hoping to find new alternatives for black hair care or want to continue using these tried and true methods but need other ways to give your hair a break from time to time, there are other solutions for black hair that won’t cause further damage to your locks.

Tired of dealing with chemical relaxers on a regular basis? Then opt for flat ironing. With the right hair stylist, you can get the same look but without the need for chemicals. Although there is heat involved, the use of heated styling products protects the hair from any heat damage. As far as maintenance, simply make sure to avoid excessive sweating to prevent the roots from becoming curly again. Flat ironing is a simpler process compared to chemical relaxers that still gets you the same results.

Trying to minimize the amount of heated styling tools you use on your hair? While it may be hard to stay away from your curling iron, there are other areas of your hair care routine where you can cut out heat. Such as blow drying. Instead of trying to use a blow dryer with a pic attachment to completely dry wet hair, turn to the air dry method instead. Apply a moisturizing gel from roots to tips after blotting your hair dry with a towel, slick it back into a ponytail and put on a head scarf (this will prevent poofiness). Once the majority of your hair is fairly dry, then use the blow dryer.

Don’t want to deal with gluing or sewing in a weave? Purchase a set of good extensions and turn them into the clip-in type that’s customized for your scalp. Even though clip-in extensions are available for sale, they often do not look natural. Instead buy a pack of quality, human hair extensions as well as a pack of hair clips (any salesperson at the beauty supply store will know which kind to give you). If you know how to sew, the following will be a snap. After measuring and cutting the length of the weft for your layers, simply take each clip and use regular black sewing thread to attach the clip to the weft. Space the clips evenly. When you’re ready to wear the clip-in extensions, section your hair into two or three layers and snap the clips into place. When you’re done, you’ll have a head full of gorgeous hair that looks and feels natural. When it comes to styling, you’ll be placing the heat on the fake hair instead of your own, saving your tresses from heat and styling damage.

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