How to Create & Maintain an Afro

To create an afro style your hair in several chunky twists with your favorite styling cream. Let your natural hair air dry before taking down the twists. Fluff your roots, using your fingers or a wide tooth comb. For a less defined afro, separate the chunky twists. 

Less defined afros can become drier quicker as the hair strands tend to be more exposed to the elements (i.e. sunlight, wind, cool air, etc.)

Using chunky twists to create an afro allows your hair to stay clumped together in thick strands. This will prevent your hair from loosing moisture quickly and from becoming dry.

An example of a less defined afro

NaturalChica with a more defined afro created by chunky twists
photography by dfinney photography

Below are four tips on how to maintain your afro.

via clutchmagonline.com

1. Wash your hair no more than once a week. This will prevent your hair from becoming dry and brittle. 

2. Condition your hair overnight. Get a conditioner cap and some oil – pure olive oil, grape seed oil or and jojoba oil – and add a generous amount to your hair at night before bed and put the conditioner cap on. Put your regular hair scarf over the bag for added moisture. In the morning, your hair should be soft and easy to comb. Add your regular moisturizer and seal. You can baggy every night if your hair if very dry and you should see results after two weeks.

3. Trim your natural hair regularly. When your Afro gets to the length you want, hit the salon regularly to get a trim to ensure that it is growing evenly and achieving the look you want.

4. Finger comb your natural hair. Rather than use a comb, use your fingers, or a wide-toothed comb. When choosing a wide-toothed comb, try to find one as wide as when you spread out your fingers.

How do you style your afro?