When looking at ways to best look after your afro or curly hair, one thing is for sure – locking in moisture is crucial. Without it, your lovely locks become dry, dull, lacklustre and are prone to dandruff, hair loss and slowed hair growth.

Turning to the natural world is a great idea when trying to find ingredients that will best help your afro and curly hair. Some of the best, natural curly and afro hair products include avocados, jojoba, shea, almonds and even seaweed. Discover what these natural wonders can do to get your hair into tip top condition.

Avocado

Grab one of these next time you’re in the supermarket, and make your own high-protein hair mask. Both potassium and magnesium are present in avocados, and are thought to seal cuticle cells, which in turn promotes more lustrous hair. At the same time, the fatty oils present in avocados help promote a healthier scalp, too.

Manketti Nuts

Also known as mongongo nuts, oil from these velvety nuts has long been used in Africa as a soothing moisturiser, and when incorporated into a shampoo, it can give even the driest of curls a silky, lustrous finish.

Jojoba Oil

A natural oil extracted from the jojoba plant, jojoba oil is a must if you’re struggling with brittle hair. Packed with protein, it’s been found to protect the hair thread and improve resistance to breakages.

Shea Butter

A great product to use if your afro or curls are in need of some TLC, shea butter’s high fat content helps deeply moisturise dry, broken and dull hair, helping to get vitality and shine locked back in. Made from nuts of the shea tree, it couldn’t be a more natural product.

Babassu Oil

If you’re going to invest in one oil for your afro locks, then make it babassu oil. Oil produced from the seeds of this South American tree is thought to revitalise and protect dry and brittle curls, so it’s always helpful to have a little bottle at your disposal.

Argan Oil

Originating in Morocco, argan oil has been used for centuries and is regarded as an excellent moisturiser for both skin and hair. High in vitamin E, it can help with both dry and damaged hair, and can be used to protect your hair when using hair dryers, irons or other heat-styling products. 

Aloe Vera

If you’re looking for a good moisturiser for your afro, then aloe vera ticks a lot of the boxes.  Quenching the driest of locks like summer rainfall on parched ground, your hair will thank you for it. A good source of vitamin A, C and E, aloe vera also promotes great overall scalp health, too.

Almond Oil

Packed with vitamin E, almond oil gets to work right at the follicle level, promoting both strength and growth.

Ginger

Would you believe that ginger is one of the best afro products for hair growth? Its astringent qualities cleanse and also help to stimulate the hair follicle to give those locks a boost. Ginger is also a natural antiseptic which helps to clear up any dandruff that might have accumulated.

Olive Oil

We all know the health benefits of olive oil for our bodies, but is it good for your hair? The short answer? Yes! It’s been found to work best on thicker, drier hair and will give your curly hair a natural shine and help restore some of that lustre that might have gone missing of late.

Castor Oil

Said to increase the flexibility of hair – something that’s essential in curly and afro hair types – castor oil also cleanses a user’s hair, and can create a lovely, glossy finish. For the best results, try using castor oil twice per week.

Murumuru Butter

Made from the nuts of murumuru palm trees, murumuru butter is a moisturiser like no other. Its rich texture helps to lock in moisture and, with a kick of Vitamin A, it can really help those split ends, too.

Spirulina

Derived from blue-green algae, this superfood is as kind to your curls as it is to your body. Rich in vitamin A, B, iron and protein, it can help to give your hair a real boost.

Kelp

Sea kelp, normally found on the seashore, is a natural substance rich in iodine, potassium, phosphorus and iron. It’s thought to be beneficial to hair strength due to the vitamins and minerals it contains, making it an ideal treatment for curly and afro hair. Kelp is also seen as beneficial for scalp health so it has the added benefit that it will keep dandruff at bay, too.

Coconut Oil

If you’re trying to tame frizz, then a great natural moisturiser comes from the humble coconut.  Its high fat content absorbs easily into dry, curly hair and helps prevent breakages. 

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re considering trying a new hair product, look out for some of the ingredients above. By using one or more of these natural substances for your afro or curly locks, you’ll not only be giving your hair a treat, but looking after our planet as well. And what’s not to like about that?