Helpful books
Natural Hair Care & Mental Health
We all have questions about natural hair: how to moisturize it, how to grow it longer, how to define our curl pattern, the list goes on and on.
Of course there are some great blogs out there – like this one – that are beneficial and should be frequently visited to help move you further along in your natural hair and self-care journey.
There are also some amazing natural hair care books that are readily available, highly informative, and, thankfully, relatively inexpensive. Additionally, most of these publications are available at Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble and easy to purchase. Below is a list of natural hair care books that can help you with your natural hair journey.
And while taking care of our hair and physical appearance is excellent, it is also vital to take care of our mental health. So, I have also included a list of books that can be beneficial when seeking solace during downtimes. Books about mental health can help you to understand your mental health a little better, so I’ve rounded up some of the best out there for you to try.
NATURAL HAIR BOOKS
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The Science of Black Hair
This ultimate consumer textbook on black hair care is designed to examine black hair on a deeper level. With its light academic style it is truly the last hair book you'll ever need.
The Black Woman's Hair Bible
The Black Woman's Hair Bible is the complete 'How-to' on Black hair care and maintenance. Complete with helpful tips and DIY's.
If You Love It, It Will Grow: A Guide To Healthy, Beautiful Natural Hair
It's finally here, a book that takes a holistic approach to natural, afro-textured hair care!
Chocolate Hair Vanilla Care: A Parent's Guide to Beginning Natural Hair Styling
This book covers basic hairstyles and techniques, from learning to part naturally curly hair to styling cornrows and twists.
Milady Standard Natural Hair Care and Braiding
This book is designed to be the training resource of choice for individuals committed to nurturing textured hair and providing excellent natural hair care salon and braiding services.
Grow it Kinky: How to Grow Healthy Kinky Textured Hair
Grow It Kinky is the ultimate guide to natural hair care for both seasoned and newly naturals.
The Ten Hair Commandments For Girls With Curls
This book highlights the need to become a more informed consumer and shows the connection between identification and avoidance of harmful hair care products.
Thinking about making the journey back to natural? Here's your roadmap.
The Science of Transitioning was written exclusively for those who are chemically relaxed and considering the natural journey.
Grow It: How to Grow Afro-Textured Hair to Maximum Lengths in the Shortest Time
Grow It walks you through a simple six step process to help you understand which actions contribute to gaining healthy length and which actions do not.
Mental Health BOOKS
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
This book shares techniques to lessen anxiety, fight depression, curb anger, boost memory, sharpen your focus, and deal with the feeling of being stuck..
Hope and Help for Your Nerves: End Anxiety Now
Do you ever feel like a prisoner to your thoughts? If you can’t seem to snuff out the flames of intrusive thoughts, there’s a book for that.
Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women's Workbook
“Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women’s Workbook” helps to provide a gentle approach to healing and recovery after abuse and trauma.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb was used to being the therapist in the room until she experienced a crisis that led her to change roles and sit on the therapy couch.
Loving Bravely: Twenty Lessons of Self-Discovery to Help You Get the Love You Want
A psychologist and relationship expert, introduces the idea of relational self-awareness. Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses in relationships, you can build a better foundation to love yourself and others.
Mental health impacts every aspect of our lives, whether we’re aware of it or not.
Mental health books can be a fantastic resource and entryway to understanding psychology and how the brain impacts mood, behavior, and thoughts. No matter your situation, whether you are working through your own mental health journey, brushing up on your self-care, or generally interested in psychology. Reading books like the ones listed above may help.
While these books can provide helpful tools to deal with mental health and stressors, they are not substitutes for therapy. Therefore, when diving into a book about mental illness, it is always best to consult with a licensed mental health professional.
The information presented in this article and the suggested readings may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained crisis worker. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.