Routine hair care regimen enhances African American men’s appearance and style
SUN Spotlight On: FAIZON THE BARBER AT PROMISE HAIR GALLERY
Owner: Kee-Kee Ross
2039 South 7th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
215-755-0112
Appts: Sunday, By Appointment Only; Monday, Closed;
Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Specialties: A Full-Service Beauty Salon
Barber Services offered by: Faizon The Barber
Contact: 267-225-FAIZ (3249); Email: FAIZTHEBARBER@gmail.com ;
Facebook: faison7st,BARBER; Twitter@Barber7st
By Leah Fletcher
Modern African American men may wear their hair in a variety of styles from long flowing dreads to low fade haircuts. Regardless of the style, one of the areas requiring some detail is a routine hair care regimen. A standard maintenance program adds sharpness and a clean-cut appearance to any style, whether long or short.
For African American men, hair care can be pretty simple if the hair is kept short. However, longer hair may require more time and upkeep. Regardless of how you wear your hair, following a hair care routine is the best way to keep your hair looking good daily, according to Quin Faizon, known professionally as Faizon the Barber, of Promise Hair Gallery, located in South Philadelphia.
Standard Hair Care Routines
If your hair is short (less than several inches) and natural, daily care requires little more than a product of your choice and brushing and/or picking. “A short Afro is easy to style as long you have a basic cut already in place,” explained Faison, a certified barber and barbering instructor.
According to Faison, close or short, tapered haircuts are the hairstyle of choice for many modern black men. Some may shave their heads totally bald or go with a very close shave. Short, blended fades and 360 waves are another popular hairstyle. Such styles would be similar to the look of African American men like Jamie Foxx or Shemar Moore. “This type of style works well in business and various social settings,” said Faison,” It provides the individual with a more clean-cut, sophisticated image.”
The natural or “Afro” hairstyle has been around for decades. The Afro, noted Faison, is still a major part of African American fashion for men and women. The Afro can be worn in a big curly hairstyle, or in a smaller version, not more than 3 or 4 inches. “Most younger black men prefer a smaller Afro with a sharp lining, additionally, this hairstyle may be well tapered and blended on the sides,” said Faison. Like the shorter haircuts for black men, the Afro is relatively low maintenance, he added.
Barbering professionals advise men to begin their hair care at night with a hair cover, such as a wrap or “doo rag”. These covering should be satin or smooth materials that are better for keeping hair moisturized. To preserve waves they recommend wrapping the hair with a doo rage at night.
In the morning, Faison advised, applying natural oils or oils sheen to your hair. For close-cropped cuts, brush in the direction you want it to go. For a style, like 360 waves, brush in specific patterns, from the crown toward the back, front and sides of your head.
If your hair is a little longer, pick it out, beginning at the ends of your hair and working your way toward the roots. Follow up with a gentle pat all over to keep your Afro nice and round.
Caring for Dreadlocks and Braids
Braid and deadlocks are a good option for African American men who prefer to wear their hair at a longer length. If you choose to keep your hair braided, you may include a multitude of designs and patterns. Dreads consist of matted portions of hair that are interwoven together, allowing the hair to grow free, Braid and dreads may be kept at short lengths, which is helpful if you work in a corporate setting where longer hair may be frowned upon.
If your hair is very long and styled dreads, your daily care routine might be minimal. Keep your hair covered at night, but all you have to do in the morning is remove the cover and shake out your dreads. If you prefer wearing your hair in a braided style, apply oils to your scalp and cover your hair at night.
Visiting Your Barber
It’s important to visit your barber on a regular basis to keep your hair the length and style you prefer. If you wear a short Afro, make an appointment every week or two. The longer your hair, the less often you need it trimmed, but you will need to the barber to trim the hair off of your neck and to line the edges to keep them neat to promote a more clean-cut image.
Selecting Products and Tools
Professionals advise that you shampoo and condition your hair about once a week with moisturizing products. And, use natural oils, oil sheen and pomades to style hair. The best tools to use on black men’s hair include natural bristle brushes, in soft to medium firmness, plastic or metal picks, and wide-tooth combs.
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