Cardi B is known for switching up her hairstyles on a regular basis. From long straight styles to voluminous curls and colorful wigs, she keeps fans on their toes by debuting a new ‘do seemingly every time she steps out in public. However, underneath all the wigs and extensions lies Cardi B’s natural hair – hair that she has worked hard to maintain over the years despite constantly changing up her look.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into Cardi B’s natural hair, from its texture and length to how she cares for it behind-the-scenes. We’ll explore her natural hair journey, the products and routines she uses to keep it healthy, and how embracing her natural hair helped shape her iconic style.

Cardi B’s Natural Hair Texture and Length

Cardi B’s natural hair texture is straight and fine. While she often wears it straight and long these days, she has shared photos on social media showing that her natural hair has a very slight wave to it when grown out.

In terms of length, Cardi B’s natural hair reaches down to around hip or thigh length when left to grow without heat styling or coloring treatments. She has posted several “length check” photos over the years showing off her natural hair blowing in the wind or flowing down her back to prove that her lengthy locks are all her own.

Some key things to note about Cardi B’s natural hair:

Texture: Fine and straight, with a very subtle wave or curl pattern
Length: Hips to thighs when left to grow naturally
Color: Dark brown, nearly black
Embracing Her Natural Hair

Growing up in Washington Heights, New York, Cardi B faced pressure as a young Dominican woman to have long, straight hair. However, she has always embraced her natural hair texture and taken pride in her Dominican roots.

In a 2018 interview with Allure, Cardi B opened up about her natural hair journey and decision to stop relaxing her hair in her late teens:

“I stopped relaxing my hair when I was like 17 or 18. I just got tired of it. I wanted to see my hair in its natural state. I wanted to see how long it could grow. I was so used to having bone-straight hair, and I wanted to see my curls.”

By embracing her natural hair, Cardi B helped normalize seeing Afro-Latina women rocking their curls and coils proudly. She challenged Eurocentric beauty standards that said straight hair was the only “professional” look. Her confidence in her natural texture made waves in the beauty and fashion industries.

Cardi B’s Haircare Routine

While she often wears wigs, weaves, and hair extensions for performances, photoshoots, and red carpets, Cardi B puts in work to keep her natural hair healthy underneath. Here are some key parts of her natural hair routine:

Avoid heat styling as much as possible. Cardi B air dries her natural hair and only uses heat tools like a blowdryer or flat iron if absolutely necessary.

Moisturize daily. She slathers on leave-in conditioners, oils, and creamy moisturizers after washing to keep her hair from drying out. Coconut oil is a favorite.

Protective styles. When her natural hair is out, Cardi B often wears braids, bantu knots, or other low-manipulation styles to prevent breakage and damage.

Trims every 6-8 weeks. Getting regular small trims helps her hair maintain a healthy length by cutting off split ends and damage.

Shampoo 1-2 times per week. Over-shampooing can strip natural hair of its oils. Cardi B cleanses just enough.

Deep conditioning treatments. Once a week or every other week, she does a hot oil or deep conditioning mask for extra moisture and repair.

Limit washing when wearing wigs. If she has extensions or a wig on, Cardi B will sometimes go a week between washes to avoid unnecessary manipulation.

By sticking to a low-maintenance routine focused on moisture and protection, Cardi B has grown her natural hair long and maintained healthy strands underneath all her stylish wigs. Consistency is key for her natural hair growth journey.

Products Cardi Loves

When it comes to products, Cardi B keeps her routine simple with affordable drugstore finds. Here are some of her holy grail hair products:

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream – This rich cream is packed with shea butter and hydrates without weighing hair down.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil – Cardi massages a few drops of this nutrient-dense oil into her scalp and lengths for thickness and growth.

Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel – The budget-friendly gel tames frizz and defines curls without flaking or stiffness.

Aussie Moist Conditioner – This classic conditioner detangles and softens hair without stripping color or texture.

coconut oil – Raw, unrefined coconut oil nourishes hair and skin with fatty acids and antioxidants.

Keeping it simple with affordable yet effective products has helped Cardi B maintain her natural hair health over the years of protective styling. Quality trumps pricey products in her book.

Cardi’s Natural Hair Now

These days, Cardi B wears her natural hair straight and long for most appearances when not in wigs. She has said straightening it with a flat iron just once allows it to hold a straight style for weeks without re-straightening.

Her natural hair routine has paid off – she now proudly rocks hair down to her hips and thighs when letting her curls and coils breathe. Cardi B serves as inspiration that natural hair can not only be healthy but also long with the right care.

While she may switch up her look daily with colorful wigs, weaves, and protective styles, underneath it all lies Cardi B’s beautiful natural hair – hair that she embraced proudly on her journey to self-acceptance and redefining beauty standards. Her confidence in her natural texture helped shape her iconic style and made waves in the industry. Cardi B proves natural hair can be long, lush, and just as glamorous as any other look.