SAVANNAH, Ga.—College isn’t always easy and wash day isn’t always either. African-American students share challenges, tips and tricks for maintaining hair in college.
Q: How has maintaining your hair changed since entering college?
“I was told to have my hair in like a very short, like shaved way,” Jermaine Allen said.
“I never had the experience to be able to experiment with anything, so I’m trying something different now.”
He’s felt more free since coming to campus. He plans on trying out waves and a fade in the near future.
Karmen Grant also spoke on challenges during her first year.
“Well my first year was kind of tough, adjusting to doing my hair in the dorms, rather than in the comfort of my home, which I was used to, and I wasn’t taking the best care of it.”
She has since adjusted her hair routine.
“I kind of got into the groove of having, like a better routine and being more comfortable doing my hair here at the dorms, and I’ve been experimenting with more styles and just taking better care of it this year.”
Krissy Mcleish had a different set of challenges.
“In the area, I haven’t found any, like good beauty supply stores, so I tend to go on Amazon a lot more than I usually do and go to Walmart,” Mcleish said on the availability of black hair products.
“My future plans for my hair is to do a big chop this weekend. And I plan to just take care of my hair, let it grow out naturally. I do plan to oil it weekly, wash it bi-weekly, and do like hair treatments more often.”
She plans to continue exploring local hair stores.
Q: Do you have any hair products or brands you swear by?
“I love the brand As I Am. I feel like they can never do me wrong but they are expensive. So I do Aunt Jackie’s too, she’s pretty good too, for like a cheaper end product,” Amaya Bacon said. She referenced both her favorite brand and her more affordable option.
“I think it’s called Taliah Waajid. I’m pretty sure it’s in a brown like bottle and has like green trees on it or whatever, but I love that stuff,” Lo Easterling said about her favorite brand as well.
“I really like Shea Moisture. They do really good with my hair. My hair feels really soft after and like stays soft for like, a good minute. So I like that brand a lot,” Anyia Lynn said.
Q: Do you have any hair care tips for other black students?
“If you have black hair, like dreads, make sure you oil it. I oil it a lot,” Toron Boreland said, referring to those with locs.
He then reflected on his own hair. “I moisturize my hair. I wash it. I love my hair. Never cut it.”
“Use Bantu Knots. Bantu Knots are kind of underrated. I feel like you can wear them out, then when you take them out, it gives people this like beautiful afro, like it’s amazing,” Jason Brundage said. He encouraged students to try out the new style.
“I think that everybody should embrace their hair, their natural hair and its natural state,” Ryan Folley said as a message to her fellow students.
