Within the past few years, many African-American women have made the transition to wearing their natural hair texture. However, there’s a lot of discussion within the black community regarding what is considered to be healthy natural hair.

The health of natural hair should always start with the scalp, as it is impossible to have healthy hair without a healthy scalp. It is important to make sure that the hair follicles are taken care of, and not irritated by dirt or excessive pulling on the hair. Healthy scalp is one that is free of dandruff and inflammation. The scalp should be a few shades lighter than the skin tone of your face as it receives less sunlight. It is important to speak to your dermatologist if you notice any excessive red inflammation on the scalp, as well as rashes, cysts, hair loss, scaling, and an infection of the hair follicle, which is known as folliculitis.

It is important to keep the scalp and the hair moist. Moist hair should feel soft, and if the hair does not feel soft and moisturized, you can apply a refreshing spray/mist (water based product) in order to give it a soft and shiny appearance, which will also improve the health of the hair.

A lot of black women tend to discuss the shrinkage of their natural afro. Many do not realize that shrinkage is healthy for the hair, as it signifies that the hair stands are absorbing the moisture that is needed for healthy hair. Dry and damaged hair tends to lose its curl pattern, and as a result of this, the hair does not spring back or experience shrinkage. On average, healthy hair should be able to stretch up to 30% of its length before breaking. This type of elasticity indicates that the hair is healthy. However, if the hair breaks easily, it is possible that the hair is damaged, dirty, or that the hair has retained too much protein.

Aside from shrinkage, many black women wonder about the rate in which their hair grows. Of course, this is the result of the individual’s genetics, but it also depends on the time of year and the hormone levels of the woman. Hair that is damaged, however, does not grow as fast as moisturized hair with a clean and healthy scalp.

A means in which the hair can be tested for good health, in terms of growth and limited hair loss, is by grabbing an amount of hair that is equivalent to the circumference of a straw and seeing whether or not more than two strands of hair fall out. Consult with your doctor if excessive hair loss is experienced.

Those who have fully transitioned, most likely will have hair that curls at the end and holds a distinct curl pattern which aligns with their natural texture. Healthy and fully transitioned natural hair is less likely to have frizz and split ends. Lastly, whether you are new to being natural or you’ve been natural for many years, it is important to always be consistent in caring for your hair.