7 Natural Curly Hair Books That are Worth Reading

So it has been 8 years or so since my last relaxer treatment and although the journey has had its ups and down’s, it’s a decision I am happy with. For me, my decision to go natural was simply out of need.

Prior to growing out my natural hair, I’d suffered from terrible scalp burns from relaxer treatments. There were so many scabs on my scalp from the harsh chemical, and my hair itself was a fried, damaged, thinning mess.

The final straw was after one particular trip to the hair salon where I literally saw about 40% of my hair shed after a relaxer treatment. It was awful!

I knew then that I would not be putting another relaxer on my hair. It was a scary decision to come to because I knew nothing about how to care for and maintain my natural hair. I had been relaxing my hair for most of life and sad to say I didn’t even know what my own natural texture looked like.

After going online and looking up some curly hair books dedicated to natural hair care in my local library, I felt inspired and liberated at the thought of finally starting the journey. It always helps to read from others’ experiences.

Going and staying natural has not always been easy. For decades we did not have the education, resources or products that catered to our hair type. Fortunately things have changed so much over the years.

The great thing is that now there are so many natural hair care books, products and resources out there. While it doesn’t make it any easier to manage natural hair, it certainly makes it easier to get information on how to grow natural hair healthy, long and strong.

Here are our picks of natural curly hair books to read

1) Better Than Good Hair by Curly Nikki

If you have any type of affiliation to the natural hair world, then most likely you have heard about Curly Nikki, the infamous blogger turned natural hair celebrity. Curly Nikki was among the first natural bloggers in the blogosphere and has grown the blog into a natural hair authority that attracts thousands of readers daily.

She recently released her ver own natural hair care book titled Better Than Good Hair which offers plenty of information for the transitioning, the newly natural and the veteran natural.

2) If You Love It, It Will Grow: a Guide to growing long afro-textured hair

This is a great read for those looking not only to learn about natural hair but about holistic beauty. It is authored by Dr. Phoenix Austin, a physician and natural hair enthusiast.

3) Grow It: how to grow afro-textured hair to maximum lengths in the shortest time

This curly hair book is excellent as a beginners guide to growing natural hair long and healthy. It is written in simple steps that are practical and easy to implement. The author, Chicoro, is a nationally acclaimed speaker who has been featured as a speaker at Stanford and other natural hair care blogs.

4) The Science of Black Hair: a comprehensive guide to textured hair care

If you are looking to learn natural hair down to a science, then look no further than this book. It is a highly technical read that breaks down the in’s and out’s of natural black hair from a scientific perspective. This book not only covers growing and maintaining natural hair, but also covers information for those who chemically treat their hair.

It is authored by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy, a trained health scientist, freelance writer and publisher. Her work has been featured on top editorials such as The Huffington Post, Essence Magazine, Sophisticate’s Black Hair, and Hype Hair Magazine.

5) Thank God I’m Natural–The ultimate guide to caring for and maintaining natural hair

This natural curly hair book has been hailed as the ‘natural hair bible’ by Essence mag. It not only provides information on how to care for and maintain healthy natural hair, but also includes hair product recipes, interviews with real women and celebrity advice. The author, Chris Tia Donaldson, is a lawyer and Harvard graduate with a passion for natural hair

6) Plaited Glory: for colored girls who’ve considered braids, locks, and twists

Braids, locks and twists are a huge part of maintaining natural curly hair. These styles are often referred to as protective styling as they help to prevent hair loss from split ends and shedding often caused by harsh environmental factors.

This curly hair book gives detailed information on how to use these protective stylings to grow and maintain natural hair. It is authored by Lonnice Brittenum Bonner, a natural hair enthusiast who is author of four other highly regarded natural hair books.

7) Going-Natural: How to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair

This book can be described in one word- inspirational. It not only gives readers insight on caring for their hair but also how to accept and love your natural hair texture.

It is chock full of product advice, inspirational images and hair care tips. It is written by Mireille Liong-A-Kong, who was inspired to write the book after suffering from relaxer induced alopecia, a hair loss disorder that disproportionately affects Black women.

Have you read any of these natural curly hair books, please share your thoughts in the comment box below