Director, actor, and author Eriq LaSalle is known for many things. He first gained fame as a doctor on the long-running show, ER.
Another one of his most famous characters was Daryl Jenks, the greasy hair heir to Soul Glo, in the iconic film, Coming to America which is now over 35 years old (wow!).
But it was his role as Dr. Peter Benton on ER that his work behind the camera made him too busy to return to the highly anticipated sequel.
La Salle is currently an executive producer and director of shows like ‘Chicago P.D.’ Plus, he often directs episodes along with being heavily involved in crossover episodes with ‘Chicago Med’ and ‘Chicago Fire.’
The 61-year-old is also an author of a number of thought-provoking books. All can be found here.
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But it was behind the scenes of the show ER that Eriq took a stand to push for more Black-on-Black loving relationships.
"During that time, you would mostly see black relationships in one of two ways: either we were fighting or we were having sex," explained Eriq. "There was no in between. I wanted it to be shown that we as Black people can have the whole 360-degree relationship that white characters were having."
https://youtu.be/5dqFGpFgNb4
And he was right. After his urging they brought on a Black woman character that finally brought balance and the entire well-rounded relationship Eriq was pushing for.
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Yet, in Coming to America, Eriq's character was obsessed with his hair and making it as full and as curly as it could be. Interestingly enough, the actor actually has been known to cut, shave and "do" his own hair.
So, what are Eriq's real-life tips to help black men maintain their natural hair health?
1. Shampoo: Using only a small amount of shampoo can prevent your hair from become brittle or dry due to the loss of your hair's own natural oils. Shampoo no more than once or twice a week, and try to chose a shampoo that is SLS-free.
2. Moisturize: Moisturize regularly with a rinse-out conditioner, and/or with natural oils, such as...
... jojoba oil, castor oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil. Moisturizing will help make your hair soft and prevent a dry scalp...and flakes.
3. Style Wisely: Black men need to choose a hairstyle that makes their appearance more unique, and that they will also be able to easily maintain.
4. Know What To Avoid: When choosing a product for your hair, avoid alcohol and other drying ingredients. Instead, opt for products that are rich in natural oils and moisturizers.
