Black men’s hair is already naturally curly and comes in many different types. However, the coils can sometimes be very tight. That means products have a harder time reaching the root, resulting in dry, itchy scalp, flakes, and difficulty in managing or styling the hair.
But you don’t have to add harsh chemicals to the mix to get looser-looking, hydrated curls. Instead, it starts with the right hair care and styling regimen. And that’s why we created our Natural Curls Kit at Frederick Benjamin. That way, guys with curly hair can have a great-looking style without permanently damaging their hair and scalp.
A Good Shampoo and Conditioner
The key to looser-looking curls is moisture. Therefore, you must have a shampoo that gives a deep clean without stripping your hair of the moisture it needs. That’s why we’ve infused our shampoo with active natural oils like spearmint, clove, and nettle to restore moisture to the hair and, most importantly, the scalp.
The same thing goes with our conditioner, a refreshing combination of natural oils with a creamy texture that soothes the scalp and softens the hair naturally. When you start your day with these, you make your hair easier to manage in addition to the light, fresh scent.
Moisturizers
After washing and conditioning, keep the hair damp and rub in a moisturizer like our Daily Hydrator. It’s a great way to add an extra layer of defense to your hair and scalp and keep moisture sealed throughout the day.
You can also follow up with our Sleek Water pomade to mold your hair into your desired look without the weight and residue of traditional grease. Our water-based formula makes applying the pomade to the hair and even easier to rinse it away at the end of the day.
How to Style Your Hair for the Summer
We always recommend a sponge brush to add some texture to your look. Just apply it lightly in a circular motion over parts of the hair you want to curl. Some hairstyles may take a bit longer to achieve at different lengths, but a sponge brush like our Twists sponge makes the technique easy and saves you time in front of the mirror.
Frederick Benjamin’s Daily Hydrator is a lightweight, grease-free styling crème that reinvigorates dry scalp and hair, leaving the scalp conditioned and the hair soft and shiny. If you’re looking for a product that does the same trick as gel but without the added flaky results, this will do the trick. In addition, the product contains spearmint, clove nettle, and hemp seed, which are needed for maintaining a hydrated scalp.
The second product to apply is our Water-Based Pomade, which provides a classic, sleek finish without the weight of grease. Our Sleek Water includes natural oils like hemp seed and grapefruit, which will thicken your hair and replenishes your scalp.
Both of these products are petroleum-free, mineral oil-free, and paraben-free.
How to Achieve These Five Summer Styles
Even though ladies love natural hair, wearing your hair off your face is important to stay cool with this heat setup. Our first style trend for summer 16’ can be seen on Omarion, The Game, and Chris Brown. Cornrows (not box braids) are a major trend for both sexes.
The Cornrows-Mohawk
Adding these braids to your Mohawk is perfect for staying cool and in-trend. When creating this style, add our Sleek-Water Pomade to your edges for a clean look while hydrating your scalp with our Daily Hydrator.
The Ombre
Our next style trend for curly hair can be seen featured on Chris Brown. Add a spin to your natural curls by giving your hair an ombre look. Ombre features one starting color from roots to the decided point, with another color (blonde, red, teal, etc.) transitioning down to your ends. Brown’s ombre is worn with a high-top fade and blonde ombre curls.
Be aware that color can damage your natural hair. Therefore, it is important to replenish your hair with oils and hydration, which the color’s chemicals can strip. Keep your hair hydrated by adding our Daily Hydrator to your hair routine.
Man Buns
Man buns are third on our list of natural hairstyles for curly hair. So whether you’re continuing with a high-top fade or have a full head of curls, you have the option to wear a high bun or low. First, apply our Daily Hydrator to your hair, followed by using our Sleek-Water Pomade to your edges. Man buns can be worn tight, pictured here, or messy, featuring natural, bold curls.
Free-Flowing Curls
Here’s another alternative to avoiding more heat on your face with free-flowing curls. Quincy has lately been seen sporting this style, while A$AP Rocky has implemented this look to his image. Like achieving cornrows, apply our Daily Hydrator to the hair and our Sleek Water Pomade to the edges. This look can be done with damp hair.
The Natural Look
Women love free-flowing natural curls, which is why this natural look is last on our list of styles for the summer. To achieve this look, apply our Daily Hydrator to your hair and then use a twist sponge to add more definition to your face. Continuing on-trend, this male is featured with a high-top fade and fresh shape-up. You can also grab our natural curls kit to care for and style your hair. With any of these options, your girl is sure to play with your hair.
How to Grow Your Hair for Winter
Many of us are fearful of growing our hair out due to past traumas – being told long hair is feminine. However, that falsehood needs to stay in the past. Men can, and will, grow out their hair whether society likes it or not. Often, these acts are celebrated (or even encouraged), which is great for a young man’s self-esteem and freedom of expression.
No different than a high bald fade or wavy caesar, your growth journey begins at the end of your comfort zone. Here are how you can successfully achieve those longer lengths, starting today.
Where It All Begins: Cleansing and Conditioning
Declaring you’re going to grow your hair out is easier said than done. It involves more than just the actual lengthening of the hair follicles; it begins and ends with your regimen. As with anything grooming, drastic changes are not recommended. Instead, we ask that you consult with a hair care professional (a.k.a, your barber or stylist) to give you the green light and keep you on task.
This also may mean consulting your significant other, mother, sister, etc. on what steps they use to gain their glorious lengths, and they will probably tell you this:
- Trimming is king! Eliminating those dead ends and stray hairs will prevent breakage.
- Attempt to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Not only will you hydrate your skin, the body’s largest organ, but you supply moisture to aid your health and scalp health.
- Switch up your diet! Include a few helpings of water-rich fruits and vegetables (like cucumbers, watermelons, and tomatoes), and reach for fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids to help keep hair shiny, full, and healthy.
Now that you have mastered the art of “it’s all about maintenance to maintain,” this should be a breeze since it follows your current regimen traditionally involves cleaning and conditioning your mane. However, here’s the deal: you must shampoo your hair once at least once a week.
Why once a week? Because you don’t want to strip the hair of its natural oils. This is especially important during the winter months and keeps your already dry scalp feeling hydrated and protected enough to withstand the elements of rain, wind, and snow.
When rinsing, use cool water instead of your typical lukewarm (or hot) temps to avoid frizziness and damage; this is especially true for those who are currently rocking locks or even braids. Then, after cleansing, a lot of time into your schedule for a good ole, deep conditioning.
This can be done while in the shower or afterward sitting in your favorite recliner, reading a magazine comfortably in your own space like the boss you are.
At the Start and End of the Day: Moisturize
After the cleansing and conditioning, it’s time for one of the most crucial steps in this hair journey: hydration. During the winter season, you have to take extra interest in what you’re putting on your scalp (and roots), so stick to what you know, our best-selling Daily Hydrator Styling Creme.
Keep in mind this will be your saving grace along with protective gear (like a winter hat or even a silk du-rag and...no judgment, all love my brothers!). So style as normal and repeat these steps daily to ensure you look your best, even if you are working or holidaying from the comforts of your home!
If you want to achieve long hair, you must treat it as a priority. It’s more than just growing it out and going about your day. You need to brush, comb, nourish, cleanse, style, and, most importantly, embrace your hair. You would need it as much as it requires you and during these cold, dark months, so make sure to treat it as such.
How to Deal with Dandruff in Three Steps
Seborrheic dermatitis, AKA heavy dandruff, is a common condition among men. So what exactly is it? Dandruff is skin cells renewing themselves in greater volume and frequency than normal. As new skin cells develop, the old skin cells push their way to the front and flake off. Dry hair tends to make skin cells renew at a more rapid pace.
For black men, hair tends to be less oily, which makes treating dandruff much more difficult. In addition, washing with over-the-counter medicated shampoos may cause the scalp to dry out to the point that dandruff worsens. So what can you do?
Moisturize
A healthy scalp is a moisturized scalp. So if you’ll be using a powerful shampoo, make sure that you’re balancing it with a moisturizing conditioner. Slower sebum (oil) production is one of the reasons why moisture is also needed throughout the day. So whether you’re using natural oils like jojoba or coconut or using a hydrating creme, you want to seal in the moisture as much as possible. Try to avoid products that contain mineral oils or petrolatum--they make your hair shiny but do nothing for restoring moisture at the root.
Check the Weather
For most guys, catching the weather report gives you just enough information to get dressed. But it can also help your hair. Extreme hold or cold can lead to an even drier scalp and make your dandruff worse, so opt for appropriate headgear before heading. However, if the weather is shaping up to be nice and breezy, pack something for the commute home just in case you encounter strong air conditioning--or a non-working one.
Be Conscious of Your Choices
It’s a vicious cycle. The more styling products you use in your hair, the greater the buildup frequency of washing your hair, the greater the likelihood that your hair will dry out, leading to more products. Keep things simple. Look for styling products that moisturize as they hold for a look that lasts all day without all of the extra gunk.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Scalp
You heard it here first: scalp care is the new skincare. Here’s why — a healthy scalp promotes hair growth which starts with happy, nourished follicles. Then, like a garden, you want to foster an environment where your hair can begin to flourish (not fail). And, even if you aren’t rocking much hair, you still want to give your baldie some much-needed TLC.
Don’t know where to start? We caught up with cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green to ask a few burning questions that have been on our mind for a while, touching on everything from hair loss to key ingredients to look for and what to avoid.
Read on to get the scoop on everything you ever wanted to know about your scalp.
Q: How Often Should I Shampoo My Hair?
Shampooing every day is no longer the standard in the hair community. Across the country, barbers and stylists have gradually embraced the anti-shampoo movement, opting not to shampoo as often, instead of using water and friction or even using conditioner (often called co-washing).
The primary reason for this shift is that sulfates (the things that cause all the suds in your shampoo) are also responsible for drying the hair and scalp. Sulfates strip away natural oils that protect the hair and scalp and seal in moisture. Unfortunately, that means hair becomes more coarse, more brittle, and less easy to manage and style.
If you wonder why you’re having to spend so much time figuring out your hair every morning, you might be shampooing too much. Of course, your hair type has a lot to do with what products you should be using and how often. But for most textured hair, issues like this are unfortunately very common.
Q: Is there a recommendation for how frequently to shampoo?
Cleaning your hair regularly is a good thing. The key is to allow your hair to recover naturally. Hair that usually hair a greasy feel results from the scalp producing excess sebum to combat dryness. Excess sebum can result in oily, shiny buildup and even acne on the scalp. That’s why we recommend shampooing your hair no more than three times per week and always using conditioner to replenish moisture.
Want a healthy alternative to treat dry hair and itchy scalp? Get Frederick Benjamin’s Invigorating Cleanser and Moisturizing conditioner today!
Q: What Should I Avoid to Reduce Further Hair Loss?
Many issues can affect the scalp, affecting hair growth, such as stress, chemical processing, coloring, and certain medical conditions. These issues can cause the scalp to become dry and damage the hair follicles. The health of the hair follicle plays a major role in the hair’s health, so when you have a clean, well-functioning scalp, you will, in turn, have healthy, strong, shiny hair that grows.
Q: What Causes Hair Loss?
There are many different types of hair loss. Hair loss can be caused by various factors like genetics, hormones, lifestyle, and stress. To treat hair loss, it is necessary to find the underlying issue or medical condition causing the hair to thin and fall out. Consulting with a board-certified dermatologist is the best way to diagnose the specific type of hair loss and formulate a treatment plan.
Q: What Makes Spearmint Anti-Fungal and Why It Might Be Good for Your Scalp?
Spearmint ( aka Mentha spicata) has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties. In addition, it soothes the scalp and prevents the build of sebum.
Q: How Does Clove Promote Hair Growth and Other Hair Benefits?
The essential oil of clove is great for scalp health. Cloves have antimicrobial properties which ease scalp irritation and boost scalp circulation. Thus, applying cloves to the scalp can improve scalp health, reduce hair thinning, and promote hair growth.
Q: How Does Nettle Combat Hair Loss and Promote Hair Growth?
This prickly leafed plant that can inflict pain upon contact can benefit hair growth due to its antioxidant and inflammatory properties. In addition, nettle is rich in minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and iron which are all beneficial to the health of the hair follicles.
Q: What about Hemp Seed Makes It Great for Your Scalp?
Hemp is rich in omega 3, 6, and 9, and hemp oil also contains fatty acids necessary for maximizing hair growth.
Q: What Are the Downsides of Petroleum Clogging the Scalp’s Pores
Petroleum also contains mineral oil that accumulates on the scalp, clogging hair follicles, which slows hair growth. It may make your hair look shiny, but it is a greasy product, not because your hair follicles produce moisture.
Q: What Are the Downsides of Using Mineral Oil on the Scalp?
Like petroleum, mineral oil can also clog the hair follicles and cause scalp irritation and hair loss.
Q: Do I Need to Incorporate a Scalp Scrub into My Routine?
Using a scalp scrub can help maintain a healthy scalp which will, in turn, facilitate hair growth. However, scalp health is also contingent upon external and internal factors. For example, the hair follicles need the right nourishment, and the scalp also needs to maintain the right pH balance. When all are in harmony, hair grows.
In addition to scalp scrubs, using the right hair care products is essential to scalp health—and creating a healthy microbiome. Also, there are treatments such as PRP (Platelet-Enriched Plasma) that is injected into the scalp’s skin. It can stimulate the withering hair follicles to become larger and healthier than before. If the hair follicles get stronger, then this can reverse the hair loss process.
Q: What About In-Office Treatments – Are There Things I Should Consider?
[I’m a fan of the] HydraFacial Keravive, which is packed full of growth factors to hydrate, nourish and stimulate the scalp in a three-step process. This rejuvenating scalp treatment is a facial for the scalp cleansing the scalp and stimulating circulation for healthier hair follicles.
Q: What is Malassezia and How Does It Harm Your Scalp?
Malassezia is a monophyletic genus of fungi. This fungus can be found on the skin surface of over 7 billion humans. The fungus is also associated with various skin and scalp conditions, including dandruff, atopic eczema, dermatitis, pityriasis Versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, and folliculitis.
Q: How Do You Balance the Microbiome on Your Scalp?
Maintaining a healthy scalp is essential to the balance of the microbiome of the scalp. The scalp is how the hair follicles get nourishment to keep healthy-looking hair, promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. However, dandruff, the buildup of dirt, oil, and product residue, can accumulate on the scalp, causing scalp issues such as scalp dermatitis, thinning hair, or hair loss.
The One-Stop Shop for All Your Hair Care Needs
At Frederick Benjamin, we wanted to create the most effective hair care products and make sure that they were healthy. That’s why we’ve removed sulfates from our formulas, replacing them with natural ingredients like spearmint oil and grapefruit seed extract that have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
That means you get the same deep clean without the damage to your hair. We’ve also reinforced our formulas with nettle and clove to encourage hair growth and stimulate a healthy scalp because a healthy scalp produces healthy, soft, and easy to manage hair.
We’ve created our hair care line to serve that exact purpose. See our full range of products here.
