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.

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.

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.

Fake it till 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.

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4 tips to grow the perfect afro

Be ready to grow your curly hair

To grow an afro, you need plenty of curl length. This means that you must be willing to grow your curls to at least a medium length. Depending on your curly hair type, you will need a minimum hair length for your afro. Your hair grows approximately 1/2 inch per month so do the calculations according to your current hair length and curl type.

Ditch the comb

Stop combing now! From now on, thou shalt throw away your comb and use your fingers to groom your curls and puff them out. You can also use a pick to help detangle your curls and keep the afro in good shape. Conventional combs and hairbrushes will disrupt the shape and health of your curly hair and hence your afro so it is imperative to go the wide tooth comb/finger/hair pick way.

Get the right trim for your afro

To grow an afro, you need to start with your hair at the same length all around. This means that you must get a haircut for your curly hair that has any disparities in hair length corrected. Keep your afro moisturised

Curly hair in the range (coily, kinky, nappy) is predisposed to being dry due to the nature of the curl’s shape. You must battle dryness, which causes frizzy hair, at all costs. This means keeping your hair moisturised all the time by cutting down on shampoo frequency to less than three times per week, avoiding hairbrushes and conventional combs, and making sure you use a conditioner while avoiding gels and hair sprays.