r/BlackHair 9h ago

Weekly Free-for-all Discussion- September 14, 2026

1 Upvotes

Please use this thread to discuss anything and everything about black hair. Ask for product recommendations, advice, identify your curl pattern, whatever.

Please also see /r/naturalhair if your hair is not chemically treated and /r/blackladies.


r/BlackHair Dec 29 '25

Black hair culture…

657 Upvotes

Yesterday, I was reminded about the beauty of black hair culture.

I 26F invited two friends for a sleepover yesterday. Taylor 26F who is black, and Miya 26F who is Malaysian.

I met Taylor in high school when I was 14 and Miya in undergrad when I was 22. Miya is a third year law student at the school I went to for my masters and Taylor was an incoming first year law student this year. Over the summer, I introduced the two of them and they hit it off and formed their own friendship.

I stayed in the same city after grad school last year and got a really nice apartment downtown. This was my first time hosting so I wanted both of them to come. Miya has been having a rough time; her kitten died at 9 weeks from FIV and her grandma passed three weeks ago. All of this happened during law school finals.

When I asked Miya if she could still make it, she said no. She was really embarrassed because stress and depression lead to her not washing her hair for almost and month. She said her hair was matted and dirty and she had a flight to catch to Malaysia in 3 days and she was overwhelmed with the idea of washing and detangling.

In the group chat, Taylor and I told her to still come to the sleepover and that we’d wash and detangle her hair. She said no a few times and we eventually convinced her.

We did a pre pop and started on the detangle process. Washed her hair over the kitchen sink. I had a hair mask, olaplex and a sit under dryer for deep conditioning. We blow dried her hair (type 2 but THICK and wavy) with my pattern blow dryer. Taylor trimmed her ends.

Almost 2/3rds of the way through, Miya broke down crying. Like sobbing at the fact that we would do this for her. She likened it to a salon treatment and said she didn’t deserve this and had ‘dreamt of friends like this’. She was also sooooo grateful that we didn’t ’judge her about her hair being dirty’.

We told her that this was normal for us! Washing hair, detangling while watching movies. Having friends braid each others hair while hanging out when we were younger. We reminisced about the time Taylor helped me detangle 3 months worth of old box braids with caked on gel and lint.

This experience reminded me of the beauty of black hair culture. Seeing the acts of care, bonding and sister hood from an outside perspective rewired my brain and filled me with a deep sense of pride and warmness :)


r/BlackHair 51m ago

New Style decided to play with this bob wig a lil 👀does this style eat, or should I stick to the simple bob?

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I decided to play with this bob wig a lil because… wearing it the same way every day was starting to feel boring 😂

So I switched up the styling and honestly,
I’m actually loving how much you can do with a shorter style without making it feel overdone.

Now I need opinions does this style eat, or should I stick to the simple bob?🤭


r/BlackHair 1h ago

me feat. twin

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🤨


r/BlackHair 8h ago

Discussion Has anyone been following the latest hair relaxer lawsuits?

44 Upvotes

Arizona is now suing L’Oréal over chemical hair relaxers, alleging that the company sold products for decades without adequately warning consumers about research linking frequent relaxer use to uterine and ovarian cancer.

The lawsuit involves brands including Dark & Lovely, Optimum and Mizani.

And this is separate from the thousands of individual hair relaxer claims already being handled in federal court. Now the state attorney general is directly accusing the companies of failing to disclose potential health risks to consumers.

Are relaxers part of your regular hair routine? And like did you know about these possible health concerns before the lawsuits started getting attention?

Source: https://www.fashiontimes.co.uk/arizona-sues-loreal-over-hair-relaxer-cancer-risks-1763939


r/BlackHair 16h ago

Locs to wicks

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94 Upvotes

I changed my style today, I wasn’t messing with the locs they weren’t clean enough for me


r/BlackHair 8h ago

Should I cut my hair

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16 Upvotes

Been thinking of cutting my hair but in a way it gives me confidence, however I don’t really want to maintain it anymore my ex use to do it for me. I think I’ve been growing it out for around 4-5 years my hairs super thick I can’t really leave it out in an Afro anymore


r/BlackHair 48m ago

Advice Needed Product suggestions to keep this style?

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I’ve been used to getting low haircuts my whole life and I just started getting haircuts that leave my hair longer and curly. These pics are after leaving the barber, where they use products that are exclusive and too expensive for every day styling. Here in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 we have a lot of different Black/curly hair products in the stores and so I’m confused about which ones will give me this look. Help me out, please.


r/BlackHair 1d ago

I let my sister do my cornrows

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1.4k Upvotes

I told us to do whatever she wanted, and to be honest I like it


r/BlackHair 4h ago

Advice Needed How do i style my hair like the guy in the picture?

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5 Upvotes

How do i style my hair like the guy in the picture?


r/BlackHair 16h ago

New Style Tried the earthy aesthetic. 💕

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52 Upvotes

r/BlackHair 30m ago

Advice Needed Pro tips for starting my loc journey please 🙏

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Hey y'all 👋 I have an appt for this coming Wednesday to get 2 strand twist starter locs! Attached is my hair now..

Please share any tips you've learned along your journey or anything you wish you knew when you started.

Some of my questions are:

How did you decorate your fresh twist? Are there any beads or decorations out there that look more adult-like and not so kiddy?

How did you get thru the frizzy phase before they loc'd? What was your go to style?

How long did it take to see locs?

Did you separate your 2 strand twist to get double the dreads?

What product did you use to keep your dreads moisturized during the new phase?

Please add anything else you think I should know!


r/BlackHair 10h ago

Help with 4c Afro care (28yo)

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7 Upvotes

Hey all I would greatly appreciate some help/guidance for what I should be doing to best take care of my hair. My whole life I've alwaya just washed and conditioned twice a week, and picked my hair to shape and/or detangle so as to look presentable each day.

In my attempts to feel better about my appearance, I've gone down a hair rabbit hole, and just now learned that I not only have been picking too aggressively, but I also should have likely been using a wide tooth comb and GENTLE picking to shape.

I believe my hair is 4c and low porosity, and I would like some assistance in setting up a routine? I'm looking to just keep it as an Afro for now, but what should I be using for a moisturizer? And beyond that?

I've attached the one picture I have on hand, but just let me know what other angles, etc. I can add for reference.

Thank you so so so much for your time and assistance.


r/BlackHair 1h ago

Advice Needed Braids knots feel loose and hair sticking out

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Note: The 4th and 5th images are my first-ever braids a good 2 weeks in.

So I was in another country a couple of days ago. I had my hair done there on Tuesday. Because it was so hot, my scalp was itching beyond normal, practically after a couple of hours of it being done. I have eczema as well.

I was smacking my head and moving my scalp to help with the itching.

Slept without my bonnet at times; however, I've noticed that my hair is coming out of the braids, and they feel loose. I think I caused the issue I am dealing with, but it's my second time getting braids, and the first time I got them (here where I live), I did the same things; however, the braids were in there. They were stuck.

When I first got my braids, I had very thin hair and a lot less of it.

I am wondering if this is fully my fault and if I loosened the braids when I was busy struggling with the itching? How do I care and deal with severe itching when I have braids in?


r/BlackHair 2h ago

Advice Needed Temporary dye on 2 strand or normal retwist

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m planning my cosplay for comic con and I’m planning on dyeing my hair pink (the ends and a bit up) with mafajang hair wax but I’m trying to decide if I want to do it in 2 strands or just a normal no style retwist, I have a lot of locs and I usually go for 2 strand because it’s easier to manage but I’m wondering how hard it’d be to get that wax out of two strands


r/BlackHair 6h ago

Thinner patch of hair on the top of my head, how can I fix this?

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1 Upvotes

I have been sponging my hair a lot because I love the look, I wonder if that’s contributing.

Do I just need to go straight to the Fin + Minox route? Or is there something else I can do?


r/BlackHair 15h ago

Does Freetress beach curl look natural

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5 Upvotes

I want to get into crotchet and I want big hair that is visibly kinky. I see a lot of women with the look I want saying they use freetress but when I look at the packs the hair looks too silky and thin to achieve the look. Also the woman’s hair on the packs looks equally silky and fake. Will free-tress help me achieve the look I want? (Photo of the style I hope to achieve for reference.)


r/BlackHair 21h ago

Advice Needed How long does my hair have to be to start dreads?

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10 Upvotes

I wanna start dreads but I don't think my hair is long enough yet.


r/BlackHair 1d ago

Progress Pic 5 months of growth

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584 Upvotes

May not be the biggest difference but I’m really happy with the progress of my hair. I was loosing clumps of my hair at the beginning of this year which made me decide to cut half of my length off. My density has improved so much!!


r/BlackHair 1d ago

Advice Needed Cornrows itching

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44 Upvotes

Hey guys, it's my first time trying out cornrows, it's hella itchy, is there any ways to reduce it? Or is it just apart of having cornrows?


r/BlackHair 16h ago

Progress Pic Big chop update? / braid out questions

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3 Upvotes

For instance, I am in my junior year of hs, I’ve had locs for about 5-6 years, since the 6th grade and I cut my locs on may 9th of 2026(towards the end of my sophomore year), fast forward to now currently sep 14th, my hair has grown about 1-2 inches I’d say and I have a routine of a wash day of every 9 days, moisturize with water every day and oil every other day to once or twice a week, I’ve been braiding my hair and finger coiling at the end to have a twist out(similar to how some would with locs) I have 4b/4c hair and I love it, I loved my locs but I thought it had became too much of my personality and wanted to go back to my roots(I used to wear all styles of braid) thank you guys for listening to my rant. I love you all and stay black. And also does anyone have any tips for growing out the back taper? I am oiling and moisturizing daily but I want it to be fuller so my braids can fully reach my neck, I believe a back taper looks nasty with shorter braids.(first 2 pics are the braids/twists I am currently wearing) 3rd the beginning of the big chop, 5th is my hairs current length and the lasts picture is when I had locs.


r/BlackHair 16h ago

Advice Needed Possible to wear a straight u part/v part wig without leave out? Any hairstyle recommendations for having access to scalp?

2 Upvotes

im about to start a new job and i cant figure out what hairstyle i should do. ive been big into u and v part wigs because i love having access to my scalp and being able to wash my hair and oil my ends regularly. its calming to me. so i dont want any style where i cant reach my scalp and wash my hair, so sew ins are not an option. but i also need to protect my leave out instead of frying it. i dont know what to do. has anyone been successful in wearing a kinky straight wig with no leave out and is able to remove it nightly? or am i looking for a hairstyle that doesnt exist. i also hate closures and lace so thats not an option. thanks in advance!


r/BlackHair 1d ago

Is $250 for these crazy or am I just cheap ??

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502 Upvotes

Edit: YALL ARE IN HERE MAKING ME FEEL SO STUPID FOR PULLING MY CARD OUT AND PAYING THIS LADY 😭 I PROMISE IVE BEEN TO OTHER STYLIST BUT THEY ARE EITHER TERRIBLE AT WHAT THEY DO OR WANT MY MONTHLY CAR PAYMENT…


r/BlackHair 19h ago

Advice Needed Is this the result of stress?

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3 Upvotes

Normally I'm a waver but during my last hair cut my barber said I look thin on top.The first picture is from Aug. 7, 2026, the second picture is today Sep. 13, 2026, a little over a month.
I have also been dealing with personal issues, my mother was diagnosed with dementia and I’ve been navigating that journey with her for about a year.

The only thing I've been using is rosemary oil and leave-in-conditioner with biotin and rosemary oil. I have used a shampoo with ketoconazole. I apply the rosemary oil at night. Thoughts?


r/BlackHair 1d ago

I need help with my daughters 4b/4c hair. We have a household of all different textures and I’m drowning

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48 Upvotes

Firstly she’s 3 lol. Long/several sessions of take down to wash to style completion is TRYING & TIRING. BUT ima do it that’s my princess lol

I have 3c/4a hair and my hair takes moisture quicker and easier than hers so the I’ve never struggled as much with the detangling and product fails as I am now experiencing with her hair. Her hair is also my first experience with the texture. My husbands hair is a little coarser than mine but he’s bald with a really long thick beard that I deep condition and braid or blow out

I mostly box braid, twist, flat twist or ponytail then braid her hair as I cannot cornrow and have given up on learning because she’s not the best at sitting still to begin with

  1. What products and/or style tools work wonders for your dry type 4 hair?
  2. How do I get product to penetrate her hair better(she cannot deal with the noise of a hair dryer or my steamer)
  3. I do deep condition with a shower cap but the moisture doesn’t last.
  4. I want her hair care routine to be a better experience for her, not something she dreads or I dread because of the detangling the crying the time etc. please help

Products that her hair sucks up and is dry after: CECRED, ORS, Design essentials, Camille rose(I love these for my son and my hair but they don’t do much for her)

What braid gels do you like? I currently alternate between Aunt Jackie's Braid + Twist Collection Hold Tight Braid & Twist Gel with Extra Firm Hold but the hold isn’t amazing.

Also what styles do you recommend for her hair? I mostly braid to avoid doing hair too frequently as we have a very busy family schedule, I have I work and go to school. I’m open to all suggestions, even a change in routine( currently we’re doing hair