The afro, the signature “black and natural” hairstyle. For many “black” naturals, the afro is a sign of naturalness and to some, you just can’t be natural unless you wear an afro. What some fail to realize is that afros can be quite harmful for many women. Afros are also not the way “black” hair naturally grows.
Afros are a style. Which means to achieve a nice well shaped afro, you have to style and manipulate your hair. Combing and shrinkage are the key elements to getting a fierce afro. Shrinkage, for many naturals causes tangles.
Detangling is one of the main causes of breakage and split ends. The more tangles you have to work through, the more manipulation you have to do to undo those tangles.
So, is the afro worth it?
For many natural women achieving long hair means protective styling and wearing the hair in a stretched state. Wearing hair in stretched styles helps keep hair from tangling and also allows for easier moisturizing. Of course, this depends on your hair type. If you have a tighter curl pattern, afros, may not be the style for you.