It’s official; the afro is back!!! The fro is no longer a hairstyle relegated to the 60’s and 70’s and reminiscent of the Jackson 5. It’s a look worn by everyday women like yourself who dare to wear their hair up and out rather than down. So if you’ve ever craved a fro that defied gravity, blocked out the sun, and made those around you green with envy you can get the look but you’re going to have to do some prep work first.
The Perfect Afro Puff
Moisturized Hair
The basis to any good fro is the hair that’s going to create it so if your hair isn’t on point then hold no hope for your fro being anything close to fabulous.
To achieve a dense, lush afro your hair needs to have a good moisture protein balance so that it has the strength and elasticity to be shaped without breakage. Also moisture is key for a shiny fro that will turn heads all the way down the block.
READ MORE: WORLD’S LARGEST AFRO GURU SHARES HER SECRETS
A Good Trim
Unless you’re an angel there’s no need for your fro to be surrounded by a halo.
Nothing ruins the look of a fro more than thin see through ends because it makes your hair appear unhealthy. So if you crave a full rounded look then before attempting this style you might want to give your ends a good trim beforehand.
But make sure you know what you’re doing if you plan on self-trimming because the asymmetrical, uneven, lumpy fro has yet to become a thing and frankly you don’t want to be the one to try to make it happen.
An Afro Pick
In order to master this style your afro pick needs to be your all and everything because it is the only way to get that perfectly rounded 360⁰ ball of awesomeness that looks smooth from all angles. But not all picks are created equally and some get the job done better than others. If you’re on the market for a good afro pick then here are some things you will want out of your pick;
Appropriate length teeth
A pick with too short teeth for a curly with long hair will do nothing to help get the hair in the middle of the head. Likewise if the teeth are too long for shorter hair then it could be cumbersome using it.
What it’s made of
Generally plastic picks tend to have more rounded edges which are less taxing on the hair than their metal counterparts which may have blunt ends. Also if you’ve ever accidentally scratched your scalp with the blunt end of a metal pick then you’ll really be able to appreciate a plastic one.
Fake It Til You Make It
If your hair has long since passed the stage where it reaches for the sky and now hangs downward don’t worry. You too can get in on the craze- you’ll just have to put in more work.
To create your fro you’re going to have to do your hair in a style that encourages shrinkage like a wash and go, rod set, bantu knot out etc. Once your hair has set and shrunk it will be easier to manipulate it upward and outward into a fro.
General Tips
Make sure you style your hair dry because wet hair will be simply be a nightmare to shape. Plus once it dries and shrinks it may do so unevenly.
If you’re really looking to get a BAA (Big A$$ Afro”> then you should stretch your hair prior to styling to show as much of your length as possible. To stretch your hair you could band it, blow it out or comb out an old braid or twist out. Also stretched hair will be easier to comb through and style.
To vary your style and add texture and interest to your hair you could try a curly fro by setting your hair in a perm, flexi rods, bantu knots etc. then picking it out.
Here’s hoping you have love, peace, and afrolicious bliss.
