Can a White Person Use Black Hair Products? Learn Why You Can

Have you ever wondered if you could use products that were specifically designed for black people and vice versa? Yes? Then you’re not the only one. There are a lot of people out there who want to know the answers!

Marketers try to cater to a specific good as well as possible, but this doesn’t mean that others can’t use the products… But are they effective you might ask? That’s what you’ll find out today.

Hair of different ethnicities all are different in texture and how you should take care of the hair, but there are also a lot of similarities

Read on to find out if a white person can use black hair products! 

Can a white person use black hair products?

Yes, white people can use black hair products. Marketers design their “black hair” products to a specific audience, but that doesn’t mean that people with white hair can’t use the products. Both white and black hair can benefit from the products as long as the formulation, claims and ingredients benefit their hair.

The hair follicles and hair texture of black hair is generally more fragile when compared to white hair. That’s why products that are specifically “designed” for black hair, are often gentler for the hair than products designed for other racial groups.

So, when choosing your next hair products, I want you to look at what your hair needs instead of what the product is geared towards. It’s often the better practice to find the product that best suits your needs. It doesn’t matter if the product was originally geared towards other racial groups.

Look at the ingredients, claims and formulation instead of for who the product is. That is going to help you greatly in the long run.

What’s the difference between black people’s hair and white people’s hair?

The difference between a black person’s hair and a black person’s hair is in the details.

All hair, whether straight, wavy, curly or frizzy, is essentially made of the exact same thing. Each strand of hair is made of 3 layers. the cuticle, cortex and medulla (and a protein called keratin is the hair’s main component).

However, the shape of the follicle creates the shape of the hair. The hair of Afro Americans grows from an oval follicle and the hair of a white person varies in this. In fact, a white person’s hair grows from oval follicles as well as round ones (as is the case with Asians).

Due to the fact that a white person’s hair is thicker than a black person’s hair, this also ensures that a white person’s hair is therefore stronger.

There is also a difference in the speed of hair growth. In fact, a white person’s hair grows at a rate of about 1.2 centimeters per month (and has the greatest thickness of any hair type).

For an afro American, hair grows at about 0.9 centimeters per month.

What does really matter when choosing a hair product?

Whether you go for a product for black hair or a product for white hair depends mainly on how your hair and texture are put together. So it does not depend on the color of your skin. 

So, as you know, an individual’s hair often varies in thickness, density, porosity, curl pattern and hair texture.

So those are exactly the factors that you should pay attention to when choosing your next hair product.

Below is more information on the different factors that go into choosing a hair product.

hair texture

Your hair texture is also something you should pay attention to when choosing the right hair product. As you now know, hair texture varies by ethnicity (and person), which is why I’d like to let you know how different hair textures can react to products made specifically for people with black hair.

straight hair

straight hair is not necessarily the best hair texture to try a product made for black hair on. 

If you have thick, damaged or coarse hair, you may well benefit from the moisturizing properties of black products.

PLEASE use a lesser amount in that case. Be careful with how much you put in your hair. you want to avoid at all times that it may reinforce the issues with your hair. 

Therefore, start with a small amount of a product to see how your hair reacts to it. In addition, you can also go for products that are lighter or are made for washing out as well.

Wavy hair

Wavy hair is already closer to the texture of black hair and will therefore benefit more from a product made for people with black hair.

Wavy hair is more likely to feel dry and suffer from this more often than people with straight hair. Want to embrace your wavy hair and make it look as beautiful as possible? Then go for a product for black hair that enhances curls.

These types of products will allow you to add more definition to your wavy hair, get rid of frizz and allow your natural texture to be fully appreciated.

Note, again the advice to start with a small amount of product. Wavy hair can quickly become oversaturated from heavier products. Therefore, don’t use too much and preferably lighter formulas as well.

Curly hair

As you might imagine, curly hair is very close to people with black hair and will therefore get the best results with a product made for people with black hair.

Regardless of your ethnicity, natural curls will always be more likely to be somewhat dry, and more prone to damage compared to other hair types.

As you undoubtedly know by now, products for black hair and are often designed to get strength and hydration into the hair. Since it is difficult for curly hair to get the natural oils from the scalp to the hair, your curls will benefit greatly from a product for strength and hydration.

However, you will still have to be careful not to smear an overly heavy product into your hair. Use a light product rather than one that has to do heavy work (especially if your curls are light and fine.

Thickness

The thickness of your hair refers to the thickness of a hair strand. You either have thick, medium or fine hair and that is exactly what you should consider with products.

If you have somewhat thinner hair, then you will probably benefit more from a product made for black hair than if you have very thick hair.

Do you have thicker hair and still found a product that is perfect for you? Then be mindful of the amount of product you use in your hair.

porosity

You probably found the term “porosity” when searching the web for answer on if white people can use black hair products. But do you know what is means? In basic terms, porosity is a reflection of your hairs’ ability to retain moisture. So, the porosity of your hair determines if the product that you’re using are able to penetrate the hair follicle.

Even though porosity is not tied to a hair type, there’s evidence that black hair has a tendency for higher porosity hair. this is more related to the way tighter curls of black hair keep scalp oils from spreading along the strands, but when you want to use a product for black hair, you need to know this.

If you know that you have low porosity hair, using a product for high porosity hair will probably overdo it for you. 

The best advice I can give you is this: read the product ingredients, and ignore what the label says. If you have high porosity hair and are looking for a product. You tend to be safe when you choose for products with ingredients like: example, aloe, chamomile, lemon balm, and apple cider vinegar.

As said before, know what your hair needs, ignore the labels and find a product that best suits your needs.

curl pattern

As said earlier, although porosity plays its part, your curl pattern also plays a role in which hair product to choose.

If you have tight curls, and you choose a “weak” product, then the product can’t easily cover the curls and break through to nourish your hair like it should (and vice versa).

So, choose a product that best suits your curl pattern. If you have fine waves, you should focus on products that won’t weigh your hair down.

If you have major tight curls, you aren’t going to get anywhere when you choose too-weak products.

I’ll say it again and again… Know your hair, know your products.

The benefits of black hair products for white people

The benefits of black hair products for white people are found in the fact that you can use a wider range of products. There’s no magical thing about black hair products (other than that they sometimes have a different solution). The fact that you can choose from a wider range of products that can suit to your needs is the added benefit. No more listening to what labels say. Just use the product that is perfect for your hair.

What products can white people use

There are some products that are better suited for white people hair than others. So, to help you in your quest, below you’ll find a couple of products that are almost always amazing for your hair (no matter if you’re black or white)

Shea Moisture products

The Shea Moisture products are made with ingredients that are fair-trade and nature-inspired. the Shea moisture products are an excellent example of products that are catered towards ethnic hair types. However, the products work great to restore and moisture all curl patterns (no matter your skin color) hair textures and porosities. 

But, there is a disclaimer… If you’re someone with thing, straight hair, you might not benefits much or at all. 

Thank God I’m Natural products

Thank God I’m natural products, or TGIN, is a brand of hair products that is specifically tailored to the dry and curly hair people. The products are suitable for all hair types though and can help you enormously when looking for a nourishing, non-drying hair product.

Carol’s Daughter products

Carol’s Daughter products are a wide range of products that are suitable for every hair type. The best thing about Carol’s Daughter products is the fact that the focus on natural ingredients. Even though the products are catered towards people with ethnic hair textures, there are white people who tell me lots of amazing stuff about these products. How it helped and nourished their hair just the way they wanted to.

What products should white people try to avoid?

As said earlier, it isn’t a matter of avoiding “black hair products”. It’s about avoiding products that aren’t a good fit for your hair. So, if you have tight curl patterns or high porosity hair, it might not be such a good idea to go for a product which is “weak” and designed for people with that hair type. It’s also not such a good idea to choose for an extreme product when you have low porosity hair.

Choose a product that best suits your hair. There are no products that white people should avoid. Only products that might not be good fit for their hair.

Why more white people should use black hair products

For me, it’s a case of finding the perfect hair product for your hair no matter what the label says. That’s why I think white people should use black hair products more often. Step away from what the label says it’s catered towards. Find out what your hair really needs and find a product that helps. It might just be a product that is catered toward black hair people that would revolutionize your hair.