5 Hair Struggles Every Black Woman Knows Too Well -And How We Fight

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2. Breakage Everywhere

Why it happens: Breakage is often a mix of external and internal factors. Dryness, rough detangling, over-styling, or holding onto split ends all weaken strands. Food and vitamins matter too — low protein, iron, Vitamin D, or zinc levels can make hair fragile.

How it feels: It’s heartbreaking when your sink and comb have more hair than your head. You feel like all your effort is wasted and wonder if your hair will ever grow. That stress can make you even more protective and anxious about your crown

how to fix your breaking hair:

Detangle gently — fingers or wide-tooth comb only.
Sleep with a satin bonnet or pillowcase to prevent friction.
Trim ends every 6–8 weeks.
Eat iron-rich foods (spinach, beans, eggs, salmon) and consider supplements (Biotin, Vitamin D, Zinc) if recommended.

Product Suggestions:
🌱 Natural: Weleda Revitalising Hair Tonic
🌀 Black Hair Care: Jamaican Black castor oil

Final Thoughts

Black women’s hair is a gift — strong, versatile, and creative. But our crowns come with challenges that test us emotionally as well as physically. Dryness, breakage, shrinkage, protective styles, and heat damage are struggles we all face.

The beauty of our journey is that with knowledge, patience, and the right care, we can overcome these struggles. Remember, sis: your crown is beautiful whether it’s in twists, curls, braids, or a puff. What matters most is that you love it, protect it, and wear it with pride. 👑

✨ Stay tuned for our next blog: “10 More Hair Struggles Black Women Face — and How We Overcome Them

5. Heat Damage Heartbreak

Why it happens: Heat tools like flat irons, blow dryers, and hot combs break the hydrogen bonds in your hair shaft. Over time, excess heat permanently loosens curl patterns, weakens strands, and causes split ends.

How it feels: Heat damage can feel like losing a piece of yourself. You step into the shower after a silk press and watch in horror as your curls don’t bounce back. The regret, sadness, and the thought of doing a big chop again — it’s heavy.

How to repair damaged hair
- Limit heat to once a month (or less).
- Always use a professional-grade heat protectant.
- Experiment with heat-free styles like flexi rods, roller sets, or braid-outs.
- If curls don’t return, trim gradually or embrace a fresh start.

Product Suggestions:
🌱 Natural: Natural Shea & Argan butter shampoo
🌀 Black Hair Care Olive Oil Nourishing Sheen Spray

4. The Joy (and Dangers) of Plaits, Braids & Weaves

Why we love them: Protective styles are part of our heritage and culture. They save time, give us versatility, and let us rock everything from waist-length braids to sleek weaves. For many of us, getting plaits or braids is more than a style — it’s a bonding ritual, a confidence boost, a break from daily detangling.

The danger: Protective styles stop being protective when they’re braided too tightly, use heavy extensions, or stay in too long. They can lead to traction alopecia, scalp irritation, and breakage.

How it feels: It’s devastating when your edges thin out or your scalp hurts. Many women feel embarrassed or even ashamed when wigs go from being an option to a necessity.

Fix:
- Speak up — tell your stylist “not too tight.”
- Moisturize your scalp with light oils while in styles.
- Wash your scalp gently even with braids.
- Rotate styles and give your hair breaks.

Product Suggestions:
🌱 Natural: human hair braids
🌀 Black Hair Care: Dexe Black Hair Shampoo

3. Shrinkage Playing Games

Why it happens: Shrinkage is actually a sign of healthy hair — it shows elasticity. But it can make hair look up to 70% shorter than it actually is, which can be frustrating if you’ve been working hard to grow your hair.

How it feels: Shrinkage can play tricks on your confidence. You might feel like your hair isn’t growing, or worry about how you’ll be perceived in professional spaces. Sometimes it pushes women to straighten their hair just to “prove” their length.

Fix:
- Stretch hair with braid-outs, twist-outs, threading, or banding.
- Blow dry on cool or low heat with protectant.
- Embrace shrinkage for volume and fullness — it’s uniquely ours.

Product Suggestions:
🌱 Natural: Green People Daily Aloe Shampoo
🌀 Black Hair Care: Eco Styler Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Styling Gel

1. Dryness That Just Won’t Quit

Why it happens: Black hair naturally tends to be drier because of its curl pattern. The tighter the coil, the harder it is for natural oils to slide down from the scalp to the ends. On top of that, harsh shampoos strip moisture, climate changes dry hair out, and lack of hydration in our diet makes it worse.

How it feels: Dryness is frustrating. You spend hours on wash day, only for your twist-out to feel brittle by day two. You stress over products, worry your hair looks dull, and sometimes even question if your hair can ever be healthy.

Fix:
- Moisturize daily with a spray bottle of water + aloe vera.
- Seal in moisture with the LOC/LCO method (liquid, oil, cream).
- Deep condition weekly with honey, shea, or avocado masks.
- Drink plenty of water and eat hydrating foods like cucumber and watermelon.

Product Suggestions:
🌱 Natural: Evolve Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir
🌀 Black Hair Care: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Strength & Shine Leave-In Conditioner

Sis, let’s keep it real — our hair is beautiful, powerful, and unique. But if you’re a Black woman, you also know it comes with its own set of challenges. Our coils, curls, and kinks make us stand out, but they also demand special care and patience.

From dryness that just won’t quit to heat damage heartbreak, these struggles are more than just “bad hair days.” They affect our confidence, our routines, and even our emotional well-being. And yet, through every twist, braid, and silk press, we find ways to protect our crown.

Here are 5 hair struggles every Black woman knows too well, why they happen, how they make us feel, and real solutions that actually help.