Quantcast
Channel: Curly Nikki
Viewing all 4836 articles
Browse latest View live

Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss and Advice

0
0

by Michelle Thames of HappilyEverNatural.com

This topic is very emotional for me, but I felt compelled to share my story about my experience with hair loss after I had my baby last June, in hopes to help many who suffer from hair loss after having a child. It's something that you don’t want to think about, but it happens and it's okay-- natural, even. The day I saw my edges literally fading away, I cried! Like a baby might, I add! I was an emotional wreck with my hormones all out of whack, and on top of that my hair was falling out. I kept it under wraps though, because I was too embarrassed to let my readers or instagram followers see my hair loss.

Read On!>>>

I don’t have pictures that show my thinning edges. I was just simply too emotional to take pics. Every time I would wash my hair I could really see how short my edges were. I hid it from everyone. You are probably reading this like, “Wait, what? Her edges fell out? But her hair was still on point, tho".  I knew all too well, actually. I kept my edges very slick with the help of edge control and scarves to help lay down what little I did have!

I began researching about postpartum shedding and reading up on how to help your hair get back to its healthy state. I decided to give the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Line a try, what could it hurt right? OH MY! When I say my edges have not only started to grow to a nice length, my hair is noticeably stronger as well. I used the edge treatment especially, on my hair line. I also researched and learned that JBCO helps with hair growth as well. Here are a few of my tips and techniques I tried to help with my post partum hair loss.

JBCO- Known to promote hair growth, also helps thicken hair. I used this to massage my scalp.
Low manipulation styles- You all know I’m a lazy natural anyway! LOL so the bun it is! I wear a bun literally all week, I really only do my hair on weekends (insert crying laughing emoji)
After I stopped taking my prenatal pills, I opted to take a multivitamin
Wait it out- Take it day by day. I was told that it wouldn’t last forever and that my hair would get back to how it was soon.

Through this experience I gained even more patience. Even though I have been natural since 2009 I’m still on a journey, I’m always learning. Even though I was bummed at first I learned to accept that things happen and most of the time I can’t control them, and its ok :).

xoxo!

Did you experience Postpartum shedding or hair loss? How did you deal with it?

Dark Skin vs. Light Skin: A Candid Conversation

0
0


Shannon T. Boodram writes:

I have wanted to have this convo for a long time. While I am older and this issue affects me less than it did in the past, I know for many it is still a VERY sore spot and I hoped that some candid convo may help with the healing. I am looking forward to reading the comments like you wouldn't believe...

Watch Now!>>>


Kinky Does Not Equal Type 4 and Other Misused Terms

0
0


 by Amanda

With thousands of articles being published daily about hair care, terms can begin to overlap, be misused, and become confusing. Not understanding proper terminology can lead to purchasing the wrong products and misunderstanding what your hair needs. You may be buying products for coarse hair wondering why your hair is being weighed down. Maybe you are shocked at how thin your hair is when you straighten it. Ever bought a detangler that ironically had no slip? Well, here’s why.

Read On!>>>

Thick vs. dense

Whenever I see a head full of hair like Chime Edwards or Naptural85 my jaw always drops. How can anyone have that much hair? I watch Naptural85’s wash day tutorials and think only one of her sections is my entire head of hair. So when I meet people whose hair is equally as thin as mine, I am always perplexed when they say that have thick hair. Having thick hair and having dense hair are two different things. Density accounts for the amount of hair follicles you have: high, medium, and low. Thickness refers to the width of the individual strands, which can be fine, normal, and coarse. People with dense hair struggle to create two and three loops with their hair scrunchies when fastening a ponytail and when they straighten their hair, it is nearly impossible to see through. Want to know more about caring for your strands based on the width?

Thin vs. fine

If you are always picking your roots to hide your scalp with twist outs, braid outs, and Bantu-knot outs, then you probably have low or medium-density hair. If your hair always falls limp when you create those stretched styles, then you probably have fine strands. People with thinning hair do not have individual strands that are shrinking in diameter; they are losing hair follicles, which creates a lower density with a more exposed scalp. Not sure if your strands are fine or coarse? Compare the strands on your head to other body hair, as our other body hair tends to be coarse.

It is possible to have all combinations:

High density, fine strands like Chime Edwards
High density, coarse strands like Naptural85
Low density, fine strands Evelynfromtheinternets
Low density, coarse strands
and everything in between

Mistaking high density for thickness is probably the primary cause leading to breakage. It creates the misconception that one’s hair is stronger than it really is, which could lead to over manipulate, over processing, and too high heat when straightening.

Coarse vs. Type 4

All Type 4, coily hair is not coarse. On the contrary, it tends to be fine. Maybe people use coarse to describe how compact (high density) their afro-textured hair is or how it is prone to dryness, but using the term coarse to describe those attributes is incorrect. Think of salt and pepper. Coarse salt and pepper are larger than finely ground. Coarse hair is the strongest of the three, making it less prone to breakage, which is what afro-textured usually has a problem combatting.

Type 4 vs. kinky

Kinky is not synonymous with Type 4, coily, and afro-textured hair. Chemist JC from The Natural Haven defines kinky as hair strands that basically twist around themselves. She uses the visual of wringing a towel, but think of a towel being twisted so much that it curls; that's kinky hair. Afro-textured hair tends to be kinky but not all coily textures are, as it depends on the individual person. The nature of kinky hair makes it prone to breakage, as there are multiple weak points along the hair shaft.

Absorb vs. adsorb

This one can be tricky and primarily applies to deep conditioners. Products can absorb into the hair’s shaft and adsorb on the hair shaft. Absorb means to take in and penetrate while adsorb means to adhere. Not all ingredients penetrate the hair's cuticle and the ones that do penetrate at different levels. The ones that penetrate to the cortex are olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. The ingredients that do not penetrate tend to adsorb or adhere to the hair shaft, making a temporary protective layer. Most conditioners that call for heat usually have ingredients that adsorb to the hair’s cuticle, leaving the strands soft to the touch.

Sulfates vs. surfactants

Sulfates are surfactants but not all surfactants are sulfates. This is what Sister Scientist says about surfactants:

“Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are known to be some of the harshest surfactants due to their potential to be drying to the skin and hair…Surfactants are amazing compounds that we could not live without. We use them in hand soap, laundry detergent, and shampoos, but what you often do not hear about are the other types of surfactants that are in other products like conditioners and styling creams."

The other surfactants she is referring to are like cetrimonium chloride, dicetyldimonium chloride, and behentrimoium methosulfate (BTMS), which give us the slip we crave in conditioners and helps to close the cuticle.

Follow Christina Afrique here:
Byafrique and Instagram

Is there any other hair jargon you want more clarity on?

Jade Is Naturally Glam!

0
0

Tell me about yourself!
I am an artistic soul, a full time higher education professional by day (working in multicultural student success and access) and a writer / contributor for a variety of platforms by night & weekend. I truly love to laugh and drink tea. I blog on topics like style & style politics, womanism & feminism, faith & spirituality, social justice, (along with occasional “sheerly shenanigans” posts) over at JadeTPerry.com. My personal mission is to offer information, ideas, & counter-cultural narratives that will empower people to thrive and to lovingly and creatively challenge systems toward greater levels of inclusion!

READ MORE>>


Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I have been natural for my entire life. However, that doesn't mean that my journey was without complication. It took me a long time to learn how to really care for my natural hair. When I got to high school, I remember Chi irons were just becoming a big deal among my peer group. I bought one, tried it out, and absolutely LOVED it. I was obsessed with pressing and curling my hair, or using a really fine curling iron to achieve tight ringlet curls which I’d pull out with my fingers. It was great for a bit and then I realized an ENTIRE side (right side) of my hair just was not curling anymore because of my doing-the-mostness.

When I got to college, two things happened: 1) I got stressed… like REALLY stressed. I went through such a deep culture shock at that time that my hair literally started falling out. This is quite interesting now that reflect on the work I do within multicultural access and success in higher education / college student affairs. But I can remember that time being very trying for me emotionally and physically as I tried to work through the culture shock and stereotype threat that I was experiencing. 2) I went to college in a very rural, agriculturally based location and the water there was very hard. I was washing my hair and using the same products as I’d consistently used. I was trying not to do as much heat because of the heat damage. I tried product after product, layering them, conditioning, setting it, doing everything I could so that it could heal, but to no avail. Since I went to college in a predominantly White area, it was hard to find stylists who specialized in multicultural and natural hair care. But after about a year, I’d heard of a woman who’d moved from Philly (my hometown) who moved to the area and specialized in natural hair care. When I went to see her, she explained about the water being hard, clarifying shampoos, and more. My hair had been so damaged at that point that she told me she would need to cut it in a short bob.

After that cut, things really changed for me. I decided I was going to take a minimalistic approach with my hair so I could see what would nourish it. I also got really intentional about making connections with peer and family support to mitigate some of the stress I was feeling at the time because what’s true is that your emotional health does impact your physical health as well. I started doing an LCO method (before I knew what the term was), used a simple clarifying shampoo that the hairdresser recommended for me, and only went to the salon for a trim. Since becoming simpler with my regimen, I’ve seen a LOT of improvements and benefits and my hair has never been happier.

Had you always embraced your texture?
I started embracing my texture at a young age and that’s largely due to my mother. I remember when I started going to school and seeing other girls with perms I begged her for one. She always said no, and that was mostly because she’d experienced some texture damage in her youth because of a perm. But she was also always sure to show me images of women with various hair textures – she’d find books, magazines, dolls, all kinds of things.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? 
Overall, they’ve been very affirming which has been wonderful.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
I’ve always had a hard time with the curl pattern types because there are so many different curl patterns in my hair at a given time! On the right side, it’s about a 3b. On the left, it’s about a 3c. In the middle, it’s about a 4a. In the back, it’s around a 3b or 3c. It’s just… it does what it wants, where it wants. It’s very soft and I love that. However, it can get a bit limp and weighed down if I use too many products.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
So… when I was a kid I thought it was a good idea to let my cousin (same age) cut the rubber bands out of my hair. I’d parted my hair, put a rubber band on the top, then did a double strand twist with another band at the end. (Don’t judge me, I was young and it was the 90s). My cousin ended up cutting like 3-4 whole twists out! So, I had to do buns and ponytails for a bit after that.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I’m still trying to keep it simple; I’ve realized that’s what works best for my hair. So, I can’t really do too many products or my hair will get weighed down. I try to think about what I want my hair to feel like for that week and use products accordingly. I wash and condition once a week. I switch up my shampoos but lately I’ve been using LUSH cosmetic’s Jason & the Argan Oil Shampoo Bar. It looks like a bar of soap, which took some getting used to at first but I love the scent and the way it makes my hair feel. I’ll run that through my hair and scalp once, rinse, and then repeat. I’m currently using Organix Vitamin E Conditioner – I make sure that the ends are coated with that first. Then, I’ll use my detangling brush to smooth out some of the tangles, and follow up with a wide tooth comb for any tangles that were missed. I rinse and put my leave in (obsessed with Aveeno’s Leave-In Conditioner), cream (Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk), and coconut oil in immediately after. If I wait then the curls won’t be as defined if I’m doing a wash & go. After that, it really depends on how I feel. Most times, I’ll get the dryer out (without the comb attachment) and run it for about 5-7 minutes so my hair isn’t soaked. If I don’t feel like doing anything, I’ll put it in a few bantu knots, tie a silk scarf over it, and wrap it up with a colorful scarf – my scarf collection is intense. I do spray my hair every day to keep it moisturized with Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Refresher Spray.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My go-to for the summer is a wash and go or a high bun. My favorite hair style happens when my twist out turns out just right. I honestly get my hair inspiration based on what my hair wants to do that day. I know that sounds a bit odd, but I’ve come up with the best hairstyles when I’ve followed what my hair was naturally doing at that time. If I went to sleep with it pineappled, but I wake up, it’s stretched, and it all wants to flow to one side, then I’ll roll it & pin it all to that side.


Who is your curl crush?
Aevin Dugas – her fro is epic (and her makeup is always on point) and Laila Jean, vlogger on Fusion of Cultures!

How do you maintain your hair at night?
I tie it up and pineapple it with one of my perfectly stretched out headbands, lay down, and go to bed. It used to be way more involved.

How do you maintain healthy length?
Moisturizing and paying attention to the ends – getting them trimmed, making sure they aren’t too split, starting my conditioning process at the ends. Also, protective styling has helped me quite a bit!

What's the best thing about being natural?
I love the versatility and how you can experiment with so many different styles! I love that it makes you focus on taking care of yourself and what you are given. Lastly, I love the fact that for me, it affirms that the way my hair grows, is inherently good and inherently fly.

Where can folks find you on the web?
I blog regularly at JadeTPerry.com and Tweet occasionally @Jade_T_P!

Rinse Your Way to Moisturized Hair

0
0

 by Emilia Obiekea of Adorebotanicals.com

Wash day sets the tone for how my hair will behave during the week. This is true for many of us. I created this rinse to addresses my hair's needs. It is great for the hair from root to tip. Check it out.




(image source: istock)
 
Need
2 bowls

Ingredients
1 peel of a whole orange
1 tablespoon burdock root
4 tablespoons of hibiscus flowers
1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers
2 tablespoon of lemon grass
2 tablespoons of rose petals
3 cups of distilled water
 *If your hair is light in color or blonde the hibiscus can possibly stain your hair. Substitute the hibiscus with calendula/ additional chamomile flowers instead.
 
Steps
Combine all of the ingredients together.
Steep them in the hot distilled water. Leave it covered until the water has cooled.
Strain the infused water from the spent herbs. Discard/compost the herbs.
Pour liquid over the hair. Use another bowl to catch the rinse an it runs off of the hair.
Repeatedly pour the rinse over the hair. Be sure to massage the scalp between applications.
Do a final rinse with cool water.
(image source: canstock)
 
Why use these ingredients?
Lemongrass and burdock are very nourishing.
Orange peel has an astringent quality. It isn't drying and has great detoxifying properties.
The hibiscus, chamomile and roses are very softening.
Hibiscus is softening and has mucilage. Mucilage provides some slip nice slip to the rinse and a beautiful deep red color. It's beautiful!
(image source: istock)
 
Results
After rinsing you'll notice how clean and soft your hair and scalp feels. I absolutely love it! After using my rinse I don't need to moisturize my hair at all. I just seal in the moisture with Budding Butter Treat. It helps to retain moisture, gives the hair great sheen and doesn't way the hair down. Find out more here.

Give this a try and you'll love it too!

The 3 Most Basic DIY Hair Masks You Should Know

0
0


by Petra of Emily CottonTop

When it comes to my hair, I am the ultimate kitchenista. I just cannot justify buying a thirty dollar bottle of magic-protein-potion when I have a dozen eggs in the fridge. I have made a few hair masks in my time, some of which I just threw together out of experimentation, others I stole from hair blogs, magazines and the ideas from my girlfriends. Here are three of my favorite homemade hair masks to date:

Read More>>>



Honey, Eggs, Oil and Cheap Conditioner

This mask is always my very first suggestion to anyone looking for a quick protein fix. It is easy to whip up and all of the ingredients are most likely in your kitchen.

When you mix this mask, you'll use the whole egg- yolk and all.  The yolk is where all the magic is because it strengthens hair follicles and prevents hair loss. Other nutrients include vitamin A which prevents breakage, vitamin B12 for hair growth and other fatty acids that give hair that natural shine.

The recipe:

  • 1 egg ( 2 eggs if your hair is longer)
  • 2-3 Tablespoons honey
  • 2-3 Tablespoons of oil (any oil will do, pick your favorite kind)
  • Cheap conditioner – The conditioner is there for added moisture and consistency, so pick a moisture based conditioner, and add enough to make the mask consistent, you don’t want it to be a rinse.




Avocado, Banana, Olive Oil and Mayonnaise

It took me a while to add avocado and bananas to my hair. For some reason, the thought of them sitting on my head for hours at a time was just not appealing. The thing is, once you get all the ingredients in a blender and create the smooth paste, the ‘eww, that’s gross’ anxiety all goes away.

Bananas are a natural source of biotin, so the next time you head out to buy a six dollar bottle of biotin pills you might want to skip to the produce isle and get some bananas for fifty two cents! Avocados, much like eggs, are a very rich source of vitamin A and antioxidants all great for hair, especially if damaged. Another cool little fact is that it acts as a natural sunscreen and even though we never think about it, in the summer time, our hair gets a beating from direct sunlight. The mayonnaise restores moisture to the strands, does a little protein work and is just overall a great addition to any mask.

The recipe

  • 1/4th Avocado
  • Half a Banana
  • 2- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Mayo


Photo source: Emily CottonTop

Greek Yogurt & Honey

I hope you have some extra Chobani on chill because this mask is totally awesome. Greek yogurt, or really any yogurt is a great for hair because it restores moisture and strengthens the hair all in one shot. The enzymes in yogurt are also known to relieve an itchy scalp and combat dandruff. Though yogurt doesn’t need much help, if you add a little honey, you will increase the natural shine and luster of the hair. The mix for this mask is so simple a caveman can do it, just get enough yogurt to cover your hair in its entirety and mix in two tablespoons of honey, voila!

Have you done a hair mask lately? Share some of your favorite recipes!


CN Says:

I'll ride for my yogurt mask. It smooths, strengthens, and aids in the detangling process.  Despite the messy process, if time allows for it, I like to do one as pre-poo before each wash session.  

This post was originally published on April 2013 and has since been updated for grammar and clarity. 

Juliet Marz is Naturally Glam!

0
0



Tell me a little about yourself and your hair journey.
I'm Juliet Marz and I’m a Afro-Latina Hair Consultant/Influencer and a Hair&Beauty Blogger from Connecticut, but I now reside in New Jersey.  When I moved from Connecticut to New Jersey, I stopped going to the stylist who did my hair from ages 16-20. I literally stopped getting relaxers cold turkey and just wore my hair in buns for an entire year. I didn’t even know what transitioning was. I just stopped getting my hair done, and stopped putting heat in it. Eco styler gel was my best friend. One day, I came across the website naturallycurly.com and read a few articles and started to realize that I’d been transitioning for an entire year and maybe I should cut off my relaxed ends and go natural. So that’s just what I did, I bought a pare of sheers from Walmart and cut all of the straight ends off. I was scared but hey, it’s just hair. I’ve dyed & fried my hair since I was 14 years old so doing this didn’t scare me as much as having damaged hair for the rest of my life. After I cut my hair I went to Sally’s beauty supply and bought Beautiful Textures entire line of products. I researched day in and day out about all things natural hair. I didn’t like my hair in the beginning but once I started to learn more about MY natural hair and what it likes, I started to embrace it and even love it. I then started to help others build regimens and answer all the questions they had even if it was the middle of the night, I wanted to help. Going natural has been the best decision I’ve ever made and I would love to help others feel secure about their natural hair and not hide it like I did for years.


Read On!>>>

How long have you been natural? Have you always embraced your curls?
I’ve been natural since 2012 and I’m never looking back! No I haven’t always embraced my curls, as a child, my Mother brushed my curls out and put them into two pigtails.

What motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper& why?
I guess you can say I did the bigchop/minichop. I transitioned until my natural hair was touching my shoulders. I was always into big hair and I couldn’t achieve that look with dull, damaged, flat hair.

 How would you describe your hair?
My hair is pretty thick, I have very tight curls, most would consider them to be type 3b & 3c but mostly 3c. I don’t have any trouble with my hair matting, but I do experience a lot of single strand knots.

What do you love most about your hair?
I love how versatile my hair can be. One day I may want to wear it slicked back into a bun, next day maybe I’ll wear it big, the day after that I may want some tight defined curls. The hair styles are endless!


What has been the most memorable part of your journey?Has it been easy or difficult or both?!
The most memorable part of my journey is when I first cut my hair, I remember not liking how my hair didn’t frame my face and that I wanted instant gratification. That doesn’t happen when you first cut your hair. You have to slowly get your hair used to being in its natural state.

What are (or were) some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos?
I didn’t have any, all I wore were slicked back buns. They were everything during my time of transitioning.


What have your experiences been as a ‘natural.’ Any memorable reactions from family or others?
The only thing I’ve experienced is other people thinking my hair was a weave. My family didn’t really care, but I do remember my Poppy (father) saying that my hair reminded him of when I was a little girl with a head full of hair.

What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?
I switch up my products a lot so my hair doesn’t get used to one product but I do have a consistent regimen that I follow. I co-wash once a week, shampoo every 2 weeks with sulfate free shampoo, deep condition every 1-2 weeks, and I always do the LOC method. Sometimes I change it up maybe doing the OLC or LCO, I love them all. My all time fav product brands are Ecocobeauty (makers of Eco Styler Gel, Shea Moisture, and Cantu Shea Butter. I never stray away from these brands. I’ve been using them for years.


What are some of your favorite natural hair websites,YouTuber’s, or blogs?
My all time favs are SunkissAlba, HeyFranHey, and ItsmyRayeRaye

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
You may go through some hard times during your natural journey, but remember , you aren’t going natural, your returning natural. We were born natural and now we are just embracing the beauty we once knew. No matter the texture, color or length of your hair, we are all uniquely beautiful.

Where can people find you for more information?
Blog- JulietMarz.blogspot.com
Instagram- JulietMarz
Facebook- JulietMarz
Twitter- JulietMarzz
Tumblr- JulietMarz
Google+- JulietMarz
My 24 hour Hair,Skin&Beauty Tip Line-(203)-544-4933

Global Couture is trying to spread the word about embracing your natural hair. Love your HAIR, if it is wavy, curly, kinky or coily.
Are you naturally fierce? Email us to share your hair journey atglobalcouture@aol.com.

Can You Speed Up Hair Growth?

0
0
long afro hairPhoto Courtesy of Frédérique


Most women want healthy hair that grows faster. It is true. We are impatient. So if these questions have been on your minds, here are your answers.

Read On!>>>


How does hair grow?

Hair, which is made of keratin and has three layers, begins growing from the root (papilla) at the base of a hair follicle. The inner layer is the medulla, the second layer is the cortex and the outer layer is the cuticle. The roots are made up of protein cells and blood. The blood vessels in the scalp feed the root to create more cells and make the hair grow. Hair actually gets pushed up through our scalp near the sebaceous glands, which add oil (i.e. sebum) to the hair and keeps it moisturized. Hair is dead by the time it reaches your scalp. We are born with all of the hair follicles we will ever have and that are around 5 million on our entire body with 1 million just on our heads.  This means there is no way to increase the density of your hair.
Three Hair Growth Cycles
  • Anagen phase – the active phase is where the cells in the root of the hair divide rapidly and grows about 1 cm. every 28 days. Scalp hair is in this phase of growth for 2 to 6 years.
  • Catagen phase – when the scalp transitions from anagen phase your hair enters the catagen or transitional phase, and only about 3% of all hairs are ever in this phase at any given time. This phase lasts about 2 to 3 weeks where growth stops.
  • Telogen phase – this is the last phase and resting phase when your hair is released and falls out. About 6% to 8% of all hairs in this phase at any given time. There are about 25 to 100 telogen hairs that are normally shed each day. The hair follicle that remains will be inactive for three months before the entire process is repeated.

How fast does hair grow?

Ah, the question we all are dying to know the answer to! The most commonly accepted statistic is that hair on the scalp grows about .3 to .4 mm/day or about 3-6 in. per year. But the truth is, as with all things hair and health related, the answer is: it depends. "The rate of growth can be influenced by any number of variables," Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Clinic told Huffington Post. Those variables include "health, dietary habits, and endocrine function including thyroid, low iron or anemia...All of these have the capacity to influence hair growth and loss cycles."
In a study conducted between 1999 and 2003, 511 healthy volunteers (254 males and 257 females) where there was a comparison of African, Asian and Caucasian hair growth patterns. African hair was characterized by both low growth and low hair density, Chinese hair had low density and high growth rate and Caucasian hair was characterized by high density (Loussouarn, G., El Rawadi, C. and Genain, G. (2005), Diversity of hair growth profiles. International Journal of Dermatology, 44: 6–9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02800.xDespite those findings the article does explain that the findings are just too simplistic to draw strong conclusions and does indicate additional investigations should be conducted within each ethnic group.

So the simple answer? Three to six inches per year. But there are many contributing factors that can lead to more or less growth than that. Rather than focusing your energy on hair growth, we recommend you turn your focus to length retention.

Retention is just as important (or more important) than hair growth

Honestly, no matter how fast your hair grows, if you do not learn proper ways to retain much of that growth, then your hair will not reach longer lengths. Retention is preserving the hair that grows out of the scalp and keeping it healthy by keeping it moisturized and gently handling the hair to reduce breakage; this also includes trimming when necessary. There is no need to schedule trims unless you are coloring, straightening, not sealing, and caring for their ends. The ends are the oldest part of the hair, therefore making them fragile and the most exposed to damage, especially when wearing the hair loose.

Can you make your hair grow faster?

Biotin has become the go-to for hair growth stimulant, but do many actually know what it is? "These B complex vitamins (also known as vitamin H) are important in metabolism, helping your body to process energy and transporting carbon dioxide from your body's cells," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart. Biotin is all the craze for growing healthier hair, nails, and clear skin and we are seeing a whole new generation of supplement takers for this beauty benefit, but according to Dermatologist Dr. Richard Scher, it is not totally clear what role biotin plays.
According to Dr. Scher, "Biotin deficiency is rare and low levels may result in brittle nails and hair loss, however, hair loss and brittle nails may have multiple causes and taking biotin supplements may actually halt this process and even help to reverse it." Want another expert opinion? Check out cosmetic chemist Sister Scientist’s article Biotin and Castor Oil: Do They Really Work? Many of the NaturallyCurly editors have tried biotin, so to read more about how their hair (and skin) reacted, read We Tried Biotin, Here's What Happened.

Remember that it imperative to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, reduce stress, maintain a clean scalp, and follow your doctor’s order for a holistic approach to healthy hair. Supplements can be taken in addition to those things with clearance from your primary care physician.

Follow Frédérique (pictured above) here:
IGoByFrankie and Instagram

SHOW AND TELL- FIERCE FRIDAY!

0
0
Hola Chicas!
Fierce Friday is a way to celebrate our natural hair, displaying our dopest styles and best hair days... for inspiration and motivation. Wanna be featured? All you have to do is upload your favorite pics to Instagram with the tags #FierceFriday and #CurlyNikki. Be sure to share a brief description of the style, where you were headed, why you felt amazing, etc.!

Because why not?  #indynaturals #naturalistasinnap #productjunkies #naturalhairproducts @daricerene

Hello October. Be sure to keep those ends protected with this nasty weather among us. The last thing you want is to have a banging twist out and ruin it as soon as you step out of the house in the rain. Are you ready for protective style season? I know I am. Have a Blessed day @curlssodope


Now this is a true wash and go! I applied deep conditioner for about 20 mins with steam last night. Rinsed with cool water and sealed with EVOO. Rinsed excess oil away and slept with two loose twists. Woke up. Unraveled twists. Added a bit more oil all over. Shook hair. Slapped some Eco on the top to contain the most obvious frizz. And BAM. Wash and go! #washandgo @keebrifrye

"Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her." Lao Tzu |📷 @girlswcurls 




The face you make when you finished answering emails! #curlynikki #protectivestyles @kyrawilliamsbeauty


Old pic...good hair day!!! @beautywithindaw


Mane Crush Monday...I revisited the #permrods Friday night. My hair was semi blown out and I spritz it with water..added #edenbodyworks creme styler and rolled. Click link in the bio! @mymoneetv


#HOTD High bun. #naturallycurly #naturalhairdaily #naturalhairrocks #curlynikki #naturalhair_ #naturalhair @ilikeweirdos35


Rocking my Corn Rows for the next 2 weeks! #protectivestyles #curlbox #curlynikki #curlygirl @_itsgabrielleb

4 Reasons Why I've Abandoned the Black Salon

0
0

  by Ariane of BlackNaps.org

After reading Did Natural Hair Kill the Black Salon? on AlantaBlackStar.com and my own recent experience, I was inspired to share my thoughts. I can already see this being a wildly unpopular post, but oh well I am going to post it anyway! I have never been a huge salon person to begin with mostly because I never wanted to pay salon prices. At this point, I usually don’t go unless I want my hair trimmed or there is a certain style that I know I am not great at achieving on my own.

It should be noted that my experience is limited to my location (South Jersey) which is not at all particularly known for the best of the best natural hair salons. I am sure if I were living in NYC or ATL where there are a plethora of expert stylists, maybe my experience would be different. With that being said, that is why when I am asked by readers what salons do I recommend, my honest answer is I don’t have any.

Read On!>>>

 Here goes my reasons for why I am not a frequent customer of the black salon:

Lack of Knowledge

After I traded in my dreadlocks for a fro, for my first style I wore my hair straightened because the stylist said it would be easier to determine how much hair should be trimmed. After I wore my hair pressed for a week or two, I washed my hair and that is the first time I became familiar with heat damage. After cleansing, some sections of my hair remained straight and would not revert back to my natural texture. When I asked her about this upon returning to the salon, she said “There is no way that this can be avoided” and at the time I actually believed her. When I reflect about this now, I can’t believe she said this! Yes, there is a risk of damage every time you straighten but there are preventative measures you can take so the risk is greatly reduced. The truth is she used entirely too much heat and most likely exposed a section of hair to heat more times than necessary.

Terrible Detanglers

Anytime your head hurts when it is being combed, it is being done ALL WRONG. Surprisingly every black salon in my area that I have been to detangles my hair super rough and I cringe because I know in the process my hair is probably being broken off.

There was this salon I started to get comfortable with and then I eventually backed off. One day the stylist doing my hair was combing my hair all rough and complaining to another co-worker about how rough it was to get through asking for assistance. Shortly after that I found myself never returning there. Now when I need a trim or want my hair pressed for whatever reason, I actually go to Hair Cuttery…yes Hair Cuttery. My stylist there is Latina and does the best job detangling my hair. She never does it roughly, she goes through my hair section by section, combing from ends to roots. Never seems to have a struggle to get through it either. I also have not had heat damage using her. I think that is seriously sad! You would think black people would know black hair better than anyone else but sadly this isn’t always the case.

The Time

The Black Salon is infamous for long waits and essentially taking up your whole day. I do realize that styling black hair can be time consuming, which of course attributes to the wait. However, in many cases it is straight up disorganization.

I won’t lie I usually always find myself running late, but every time I happen to be on time for something for whatever reason it just doesn’t pay off. I ended up coming 10 minutes early to my appointment for my trial run for my wedding day hairstyle and I wasn’t seen until almost 3 hours after the fact!

This past weekend, I was in my best friend’s wedding and my hair appointment was scheduled a month in advanced. Before the styling began, I showed the stylist the hairstyle for the wedding. After she completed the style, I felt like it did not resemble the hair bun in the picture so I asked that she make it more full. She then told me that I am going to have to wait until she takes other customer’s first, so I then decided to leave, go home and fix it myself. I wasn’t spending my day waiting for her to make one simple fix! If the style resembled the photo and then I complained I could understand, but it didn’t.

I left the salon looking like this:

how i left the salon

I was much happier once I went home and fixed it myself. I was also pissed that I spent $45 for her to slick my hair back and throw a ponytail in my hair (something I could have done myself).


tweak to salon style

Granted the first style in the front it was just plain (not busted per say) and I personally hate my hair slicked straight back (that’s why  that pic looks like a mug shot, I absolutely hated it!) But the point was the bun had a more loose full style!

In comparison when I go to Hair Cuttery for my trims and occasional straightening I end up spending 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours tops!

The Cost

Yes, black hair is time consuming which is why I get that it comes at a price. However, sometimes some salons go too far. I have inside knowledge that a salon that I use to frequent purposely made a habit of telling their customers about the terrible shape their hair was in to sell other services. In some cases, they were probably just being honest and in others they were attempting to upsell a deep conditioning treatment. I understand you want to sell, but as a beauty salon your ultimate goal should be to leave your customer feeling good about themselves.

My Experience and My Opinion Only

This post if anything should be taken as constructive criticism and maybe used to improve the salon experience to revive the black salon. As mentioned previously, your location matters. In my area, there a good amount of naturals, but relaxers are still quite popular which is why salons in my area are most likely not well versed in natural hair care.

I am perfectly happy going to Hair Cuttery for my regular trims and occasions when I would like to wear my hair straightened. The majority of styles I like to wear are achievable on my own, my hair is in great shape and I just see no need for it.

I do realize that some people can largely benefit from a salon, as some people need time to learn how to style their own hair, if they find the right stylist they can provide a wealth of info and guidance. At some point I will even be looking to add resource section with reputable salons with authentic and great reviews.

How to Get Over Your Length Plateau

0
0

by Keora Bernard

It’s officially been almost one year and six months that I’ve been natural. I couldn’t be more enthused about the current condition of my hair and the things I have learned along my journey. However, like many naturals, I recently hit a growth plateau. In other words, my hair just didn’t seem to be growing (or retaining) at the same rate as it did at the beginning of my natural haircare journey. Here are some useful tips that can help naturals get over the hump:

Read On!>>>
Examine Your Routine. There is a saying that, “if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it.” I totally agree with this sentiment. However, the flipside of this notion is that if it is broke, then fix it. If something in your routine seems to not be working i.e. styling products, moisture regimen, protective styling, etc.…then you should figure out exactly what it is and either modify it or remove it completely from your routine.

Safeguard Against Breakage. When naturals say their hair isn’t growing they are oftentimes mistaken. In reality, all hair grows, even curly hair. Despite this, curly hair has more curves and bends which it make it particularly prone to breakage. This implies that while curly hair grows, it is breaking at the same rate. Find ways to minimize breakage and retain the length you’ve fought hard to achieve. My personal favorite methods are: finger detangling, protective styling, using a wide tooth comb, and adding an oil to my conditioner for slip.

Trim Those Ends. Being natural usually means our hair is in a much healthier state than when we permed our hair. Not only are we using products designed for multiethnic hair but we are no longer using chemicals, and very infrequently using heat. This means that our hair doesn’t need to be trimmed at the standard 6-8 weeks that many stylist recommended when we were relaxing. On the other hand, I still recommend doing a trim at least every four months, or three times a year. This will keep your spilt ends from turning into breakage.

Continue to Educate Yourself. I know some of you naturals may feel bamboozled by the thought of continually seeking out natural haircare information but this keeps you well aware of how to care for your natural hair. Reading that low porosity hair appreciates less protein and more moisture will prompt you to ditch your hardcore protein regimen and amp up on a hardcore moisture regimen.

Give Your Hair a Break. Many naturals prefer washing and styling their hair on a weekly basis. However, constant manipulation can result in weaker hair and more breakage. Longstanding protective styles can give your hair a much needed break. I remember installing twist with my own hair for about three weeks and noticing how my hair grew. If you want to keep your hair growing then give your hair a break every couple of months.

Sometimes, the simplest tweaks in our routine makes the biggest difference. For example, during the winter months, I like to moisturize my hair twice a day. This keeps my hair from becoming brittle and unnecessarily breaking. While your routine should remain the same if it works, make sure you change it if doesn’t. By being open-minded and proactive, you’ll be well on your way to long, healthy hair.

I’ve Become A Straight Hair Natural (without Heat Damage!)

0
0

by Shelli of Hairscapades

And I like it!! That’s right, I said it. I’ve been natural for 15 years, big chopped twice, and have nothing to prove. I love my natural curls. However, right now, I love the convenience and ease of straight hair a lot more! And, sometimes, that’s really all there is to it.

Read On!>>>

Anywho, with the arrival of the cooler and dryer air of autumn, it seemed timely for a straight hair post. So I’m about to share why I began straightening my hair regularly and how I have managed to do so for the majority of the last year without suffering heat damage (the latter of which always seems to be the mythical unicorn of the natural world ;)).


Anywho, I started straightening my hair around the 5th month of my pregnancy last year. When I realized that I could get at least 4 weeks out of straightened hair (sometimes 6), it was a no brainer given my increasing ungainliness and fatigue. When I had Wyntr in January, it again made sense as taking care of a newborn is two full-time jobs and I needed to give up my part-time (i.e. my hair on wash day). Then, as I was coming up on 3 months post-partum, I decided to straighten as a preemptive move to combat the threat of post-partum shedding. I figured that it would allow me to comb my hair between wash days in order to get rid of excessive shedding, making detangling easier when I did get around to washing it.

That’s the why. Following is the how. But first, two caveats. Number one: I do not care about having perfect hair 24/7. I don’t aim for bone straight hair and I live in a bun 99% of the time (Hello!! 8 month old!!). So, if you are looking for advice on keeping your natural hair straight and “laid” without heat damage … ummm … this may not be for you. Number two: I don’t have scalp issues, so I can easily go 4 weeks between wash days without excessive scalp build up/flakes.


PREPARE & PROTECT, PROCESS, PRESERVE 

Following are the steps I take and my products of choice. I don’t straighten my hair any more often than once every four weeks and if I can stretch it longer, I do.

PREPARE & PROTECT:
  • Pre-poo to moisturize (virgin coconut oil mixed with Aubrey Organics GPB and/or Honeysuckle Rose)
  • Clarify to start with a clean base (Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo)
  • Protein treat to strengthen (Sally’s GVP Joico K-Pak)
  • Deep Condition to moisturize (Sally’s GVP Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm)
  • Apply a leave-in* conditioner (small amount of Kinky Curly Knot Today mixed with aloe vera juice)
  • Apply a heat Protectant* (Herbal Essences Tea-Lightfully Clean Blow Dry Prep Mist)
*Note: I’ve found that it’s very important to use a leave-in and heat protectant that are light and don’t leave my hair tacky. This allows my hair to glide/flow once straighten and reduces the amount of lint and dust that it attracts.


PROCESS:

Choose one or the other (this controls the amount of heat used on the hair):
1. Blow-out slightly damp hair OR
2. Air dry hair stretched (in 2-4 braids) and flat-iron (usually dry one day and flat-iron the next.

-If blowing-out:
Use a quality tool (Conair Infiniti Pro 3 in 1 Styler with double comb attachment)

-If flat-ironing:
Use a quality tool with temperature control (BaByliss Nano Titanium Pro)
Use lower temperatures (280-320º max)
Take small 1″ sections
Gently comb section well using a medium to fine tooth comb
Two to three passes of the flat-iron on each section max

-Seal/Shine (Shea Moisture Raw Shea Reconstructor Elixir and/or Sally’s GVP Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum)

PRESERVE:
  • Never re-apply heat between washes (that’s a surefire way to cause heat damage).
  • Use heat free styling techniques between wash days: braids, buns, rollersets, curlformers, flexirods, pin curls, etc.
  • Bun, braid, pineapple, or pin-curl hair at night.
  • Use a satin bonnet or scarf and sleep on a satin pillowcase.
  • Use an edge control paste/gel (Ampro Protein Gel mixed with moisturizer – IKR??? Who knew?!; Curls Blueberry Bliss)
  • Use a terry-lined shower cap.
  • Forget the umbrella for the rain, use a raincoat with drawstring hood.
  • Apply a light moisturizer that doesn’t cause reversion, as needed (Wonder Curl Get Slick Hair Smoothie; Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter).**
  • Apply a light oil as needed to seal moisture/add shine (Shea Moisture Raw Shea Reconstructor Elixir and/or Sally’s GVP Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum).**
  • Oil scalp, as needed (Wild Growth Hair Oil).*
  • Exercise with hair bunned and use an open-ended wig cap under a sweatband. (I’ll admit, I haven’t worked out with any type of consistency since the baby and my work-outs have been moderate in intensity. But, thus far, this has worked for me.)
**Note: Again, it is important to use a light moisturizer and oil for maintenance to avoid tacky hair that attracts lint and dust. By reducing the amount of dirt the hair attracts, straight hair can be maintained for longer.

Finally, I do take a break between straight cycles sometimes with a stretched braid-out, twist-out, and even a WnG once! I also henna or henna gloss when I can. And those are my tips! Hope they help!


(p.s. My hair is the longest that it’s ever been and the fullest it’s been in a long time following this regimen.)

**************************************

Are you a straight-hair natural? What are your tips of the trade?

The Benefits of Olive Oil for Natural Hair

0
0
olive oil for hair benefits 
Photo by Mayo5 -- Getty Images


Olive oil and its production have been with humankind since ancient times and the olive tree has played an integral part in the life of the people of the Mediterranean basin since about the time of the third millennium B. C. Olive oil is the fat obtained from the fruit of the olive tree or Olea europaea. The tree has a life span of around 300 to 400 years. The method of producing olive oil has not changed in thousands of years. The olives are ground into a paste and then the oil is extracted through centrifugal motion with stainless steel. The first extraction creates extra virgin olive oil, where the oil retains the flavor, color, and nutritional value of the original fruit with the exclusion of chemicals and heat.

Read On!>>>

What’s the difference in olive oils?

There is a real science to how olive oils are graded by their extraction process and the acidity of the pressed oil, according to Dr. Timothy Harlan, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Tulane University states in an article by Gina Shaw on WebMD. Extra-virgin (EVOO), virgin, pure, and light are different olive oil grades that do not legally affect residents of the United States, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is not a member of the International Olive Council. However, in October 2010 the U.S. Standard for Grades of Olive Oil and Olivek-Pomace Oil went into effect and the USDA grading of olive oil is now based on flavor, odor, absence of defects, and acidity.
Grades of Olive Oil
These are the U.S. Standards for Grades of Olive Oil, according to Medical News Today:
  • U.S. extra virgin olive oil has an excellent flavor, odor, and a free fatty acid content of ≤ 0.8g per 100g (0.8%).
  • U.S. virgin olive oil has a reasonably good flavor, odor, and a free fatty acid content of ≤ 2g per 100g (2%).
  • U.S. virgin olive oil not fit for human consumption without further processing is a virgin oil of poor flavor and odor.
  • U.S. olive oil is an oil mix of both virgin and refined oils.
  • U.S. refined olive oil is an oil made from refined oils with some restrictions on the processing.

Which types of olive oils are best for hair?

EVOO and refined olive oil retain their nutritional value. Lighter formulas typically have chemical additives that can dry the hair out where as the pure olive oil is thick, provides intense moisture and shine. If you have dry or damaged hair, steering clear of the chemically altered olive oils is a must.

What are the benefits of olive oil on hair?

There are three main reasons to use EVOO on your strands: it will nourish the scalp, condition the hair, and improve the elasticity of the hair. Olive oil is the dream oil for dry and or damaged strands. It is ideal for coarse hair and for damaged, porous strands due to chemical processing. EVOO can actually penetrate the hair shaft and retain hair’s moisture because the richness of the oil is able to reach the cortex and moisturize the hair from within. This heavy oil is optimal for controlling frizz and should be used sparingly as too much can weigh the hair down and even makes it greasy.

It is perfect for the winter months where, as the hair is more prone to dryness. Olive oil will not repair split ends, but it helps smooth them and can decrease their rate at which they occur after a trim. Its primary chemical elements are oleic acid, palmitic acid, and squalene. All are emollients and have softening qualities.

How to use olive oil on hair

Here are a couple of DIY recipes to try for optimal moisture and a few products in case you prefer OTC for your olive oil boost.
EVOO + Honey Hair Massage
  • 4 Tbsp. EVOO
  • ½ tsp. raw honey
  • 2 bowls (one smaller than the other)
Fill the larger bowl with boiling water. Place the mixture in the smaller bowl and place in the larger bowl to warm the mixture; this method does not destroy the benefits of the oil from direct heat. Allow to warm before applying to scalp in circular motions. Allow to sit on the scalp for 20 min. before washing and styling as usual.
EVOO Pre-Poo Dandruff Fighter
  • 2 Tbsp. EVOO
  • 2 Tbsp. pure lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. water
Mix ingredients together before massaging into scalp. Leave on for 20 min. before rinsing and shampooing. Style as usual. This mixture can be used weekly to free up the flakes and moisturize the new, exfoliated layer of skin underneath.

Products with olive oil

Andreona Is Naturally Glam!

0
0

Tell me about yourself!
Hey there Queens! My name is Andreona, and I reside in Mississippi. I am a full time student, devoted mother, and wife. I have a strong PASSION for natural hair, reading novels, and poetry.

Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I transitioned for 11 months. My journey started off smooth sailing and then became a little rocky.


READ MORE>>

I was obsessed with watching natural hair journey videos on YouTube, and my mind was made up….I was going NATURAL!!! I tried every style that you could think of, and I educated myself on natural hair.
My initial goal was to transition for 2 years, but I was fed up with looking at those raggedy permed ends. I became more concerned with the health of my hair rather than the length, so SNIP SNIP I went.

Had you always embraced your texture? 
Unfortunately, I have not always embraced my texture. When I was younger, I hated my poofy, thick hair. I would abuse the pressing comb and flat iron. I allowed a “friend” to talk me into getting a relaxer at 19. The poofy, thick hair that I once had was now thin, weak, and breaking. I was fed up with the creamy crack and decided to stay away from both relaxers and flat irons.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? 
For the most part, my family was supportive of me going natural. My husband loves that I’m natural, but he was SHOCKED when I chopped it off LOL. At the time, many women around me did not understand transitioning. I was told to just BC, but I knew that was not an option for me.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair is thick, highly porous, and 3c/4a.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
The craziest thing I did was chopped my hair. It was bold and the shortest my hair had ever been.

What’s your biggest hair related regret? 
My biggest hair regret is not accepting my natural hair growing up.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I wash my hair weekly. My wash day is cray cray, but it works for me. I pre-poo with conditioner, detangle, section, and then I proceed to wash my hair. I shampoo my hair with Shea moisture curl & shine shampoo. Once I’m done shampooing my hair, I use Aussie moist 3 minute miracle deep conditioner. I dry my hair with a t-shirt and began to style my hair. I usually wear styles that will last for a week until it’s time for wash day again.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
It’s hard to choose just one. Lately my favorite hair style has been flat twist outs. I enjoy the definition that I get from the style, and I love how big it gets after a few days. I get inspiration from social media and YouTube.

Who is your curl crush? 
My curl crush is Mahogany Curls. I absolutely LOVE her hair!

How do you maintain your hair at night? 
I wear a satin bonnet nightly. It depends on the style my hair is in. I may pineapple my hair or rebraid my hair nightly to preserve a style.

How do you maintain healthy length?
I believe consistency is key. Do what works for you and your hair. I’m able to maintain a healthy length because I pay attention to what my hair needs. *Moisture *Low maintenance styles *Clip ends *Minimum heat


What's the best thing about being natural? 
The best thing about being natural is the versatility. I can be creative with my hair and try many looks.

Where can folks find you on the web?
Facebook: Kinky_Curly_Love
YouTube: Andreona McLaurin

The Best High Bun Tutorials

0
0

 by Charlene Walton of TexturedTalk.com

There is something about having your hair all pulled up that is so effortlessly chic... every girl can wear it with confidence. High buns, by far, are the quickest go-to for last-minute styling. If you haven’t quite mastered the high bun, check out some of the best natural hair high bun tutorials I’ve come across, which cover a variety of textures and lengths.

Natural Hair High Bun Tutorials

1. Up first is a tutorial by Sumetra Reed with a soft braided high bun. This style is great for relaxed or natural hair. Her tutorials are the best!


2. Don’t have enough hair for a bun yet? This tutorial by Jasmine Winters has all the steps covered. Maybe I’m late but I was just let in on the faux high bun style with Marley hair a few months ago and I’m in love! Can’t wait to try myself.


3. If you are not ready to add Marley hair to your puff, this video by YouTube Channel All That Ishh shows how to fake a bigger puff/bun by separating the hair in two sections. Very smart and easy to accomplish for short to medium hair as well.


4. Finally, if you have very long hair I adore this 5 minute lazy girl high bun by Ahfro Baang. It’s also something cute to try if you are wearing a sew-in protective style and need a last-minute fix for your hair.  



Which style of high bun is your favorite? Let me know!

4 Common Mistakes that Will Ruin Your Locs

0
0

by Sherrell Dorsey of OrganicBeautyVixen

I’m working a little backwards here folks. When I first started my locs I was young, bull-headed and all about instant gratification. So I turned my human hair kinky twists into locs and never looked back. That in-between stage? Nah. I skipped it. As my locs began to form I would slowly trim off the ends until all of the added hair was finally gone.

I listened a bit to those ladies who had taken the plunge before me. I skipped the beeswax, opted for a cream and washed my hair after 3 months of scratching away dandruff and funk. Despite living in New York’s hub of natural hair salons I wasn’t ready to spend the money or the time learning from some semi natural hair priestess on all of the complicated ways to loc my hair. It was just hair right?

Fast forward four years later and here I’m sitting with locs that look great on the outside but are clearly suffering from some initial abuse. While my locs are not a complete disaster I certainly regret not listening to the professionals. Now that I’m on my “get right” plan with my hair and really learning how to manage a healthy hair care routine, here are a few ways I caused damage to my locs without knowing:

Read On!! >>>



1. Washing Too Frequently
I never wanted to be identified as “Smelly Sherrelly”. Please don’t ask. Childhood trauma I guess. After that three month locking process was over I washed my hair every two weeks fearing that between sweat and product, I was going to build up that “loc” smell. Unfortunately, due to my incessant need for clean hair, my locs took extremely long to officially lock in and parts of my locs became thin. 

2. Not Moisturizing Enough
For some reason I became extremely lazy with my locs. I never oiled my scalp and out side of tossing on some Jane Carter Nourish and Shine moisturizer, my locs were ashy and brittle. To top it all off, 90 percent of the time I went to bed without a satin scarf. Poor locs. Someone should have reported me. 

3. Tying them in Knots
Did I mention I was trifling? When my locs started to thin towards the bottom of the loc I began tying them in knots to keep the length. I still have a few that look a little awkward. Instead of going to get them “repaired” by a loctician I didn’t feel like being bothered or spending the money. Don’t judge me. 

4. Coloring them Yourself 
In an experiment gone wrong, I allowed my cousin who was in cosmetology school at the time bleach and color a few of my locs in their early stages. Bad. Wrong. Painful. The color was great and I felt like a new woman but if my hair could talk it probably would have screamed in agony. Those few locs turned brittle and actually started to break. I did it again by myself and though I loved the texture the addition of color to my already dry hair wreaked havoc on my hair’s overall health.

I went to loc rehab and I’m finally taking the time to study what my hair needs, how to manage it and how to get it to glow.

Things You Should Do: 


1. Moisturize Properly: 
My new routine consists of weekly deep moisturizing conditioners, sometimes with steam and washing only with Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Conditioner. Olive oil and water are my go-to moisturizers and I have faithfully been rocking that satin scar folks. Okay, I admit, maybe one night out of the week I hit the bed sans protection (hair protection that is).



 Giving my hair some love. I treated my hair with Carol’s Daughter Monoi Hair Mask

2. Wear Protective Styles
Since I’m headed back to NYC and the heat wave is in full effect I’ll be rocking some protective styles that will keep the hair off my back and away from my face. I decided not to twist the roots. It took a full 24 hours to completely dry but looked shiny, healthy and clean of course!



After rinsing out the hair mask my hair was silky soft. 

3. Limit Styling and Manipulation
I’ve also limited styling my hair to give it a chance to breathe without being manipulated. No more curls, twists, braiding for a while until my hair has fully forgiven me. It’s a tedious routine but I’m up for the challenge. I want to see as much growth and prosperity in my hair as I do in my life.

Did you start off damaging your hair but now you’re on the right path? 

Sherrell Dorsey is an eco-glamour expert, writer, speaker, social entrepreneur and creator of the blog OrganicBeautyVixen.com - "A Brown Girl's Guide to Eco-Glam Living". Sherrell believes that going green with your beauty routine doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your fierce and fabulous style. Connect with her on twitter and facebook for all things beauty, green, eco-friendly, organic, sustainable and of course... Eco-glam.

This post was originally published in June 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity. 

How to Detangle Long, Type 4c Natural Hair

0
0
Photo Courtesy of Craving Yellow


Many naturalistas start off their hair journeys by cutting off their relaxed strands. As they rock their TWAs with pride, many begin to crave length shortly after and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Natural hair bloggers, the web over, are proving coily hair can grow just as long as any other hair texture. 

Read On!>>>
One of my biggest secrets to my long, Type 4 hair is simply focusing on the basics: moisturizing, sealing, and protective styling. However, I know that for many Type 4 naturals, this process involves an understated fourth aspect: detangling. Detangling is the process of gently separating the strands to remove any knots and shed hair. Since our strands tend to form very intricate tangles and knots, this process for many naturals is easier said than done. However, in order to retain length, it is important that we learn to embrace and manage them. Here are six essential detangling tips that I have picked up along my four-year journey:

Start with stretched hair 

Whatever you do, do not try to detangle a shrunken fro. You might end up in tears or maybe even with a pair of scissors. A dry shrunken fro is a detangling disaster. If you have worn your hair in a stretched style, it’s best that you detangle your hair in that state before saturating it with water. Stretched hair is easier to handle because our coils and curls are slightly looser at this point. You can stretch your hair using two strand twists or plaits. You might even try the banding method or African threading technique. Remember, stretched hair is less prone to breakage and single strand knots (ssk) or fairy knots. 

Section your hair into 6-8 parts 

This is an important follow-up to part one. If you’ve worn your hair in a stretched out style, simply unbraid and detangle each section before moving on to the next. If you’ve been rocking a stretched out fro, you probably want to gently use your fingers to section your hair into 6-8 parts. Braid up each section and hold it back with hair tie or a few bobby pins. When you are done, take down one braid, and completely detangle it before moving on. This not only ensures that each section is completely detangled, but also preserves your sanity.

Apply an emollient-based product 

Now, there’s lots of sway among naturalistas on this particular aspect of detangling. Some naturalistas rave about detangling products that add slip to their hair and melt away knots. These detangling products vary in composition, but most are water based. Other naturalistas say that a light oil will do the trick. I have found that whether water or oil based, adding product to my hair greatly aids my detangling process. I simply apply olive oil along the length of my slightly damp hair and proceed to detangle it. I leave the olive oil on overnight to serve as my pre-poo. I wouldn’t advocate for dry detangling, as the friction between my hair and my fingers causes unnecessary damage and breakage.

Photo Courtesy of Craving Yellow

Use your fingers first

There is a vast array of combs and detangling brushes available releasing knots. I have opted to use my trusty ol’ fingers. Brushes cause too much friction and prominent seams in combs can cause excessive damage. My fingers are more than enough when it comes to regular detangling. Detangling using my fingers takes longer than raking a comb through my hair, but it helps me to retain length. If I must use combs on my hair, I only do so monthly or quarterly.

Start from ends

This is absolutely crucial. The ends of our hair are the most delicate and prone to damage because they are the oldest. It is critical that you nurture your ends if you are serious about length retention. Remember, the oldest parts of our hair have suffered lots of mechanical damage already from simple wear and tear, so treat them like silk. Do not forget to moisturize and seal regularly with a moisturizer and oil or butter of your choice.

Be patient 

Detangling is a time-consuming affair. Make sure you allocate adequate time. It takes me two hours to fully detangle my waist length hair from tip to root. I fully detangle my hair once a fortnight, depending on my protective styling routine. On detangling days, I make sure I have my stash of movies on hold - this makes an otherwise exhausting process, more enjoyable.

How’s your detangling process? What are your favorite products or tools and how do you use them? 

Flat Twist-Out Tutorial on Dry Hair

Curly Coil Out on Natural Hair

0
0


Watch as Martina Hall aka BlessTress shows us how she gets bomb curly coil outs on her natural hair using her fingers! #LookAtDaFlickOfDaWrist

Watch Now!>>>

Annette Is Naturally Glam!

0
0

What was your journey like?
I tried to be a transitioner, but started to see too much breakage so I had to go ahead and cut it all off! Since I was wearing a Halle Berry cut, it wasn't too devastating. Well at first. I felt very unattractive and had no idea what to do with my new texture.

Had you always embraced your texture?
No, I definitely didn't always embrace my texture, especially seeing that I have 3-4 different textures on my head. I'm better with it now, but I still struggle with certain areas. And of course they are right in the front.

READ MORE>>


How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
Wow, this is a loaded question. My husband, who is Caucasian, encouraged me from day one. We were living in Cape Cod at the time so finding any products was pretty near impossible. I worked in a Dr.'s office and found that many of the patients loved it! They were amazed that it actually grew put of my head that tightly coiled and could not figure out why it grew up and out, instead of down. My family was pretty quiet, and didn't say much. To their credit, there was wasn't much they hadn't seen me do with my hair, from relaxers, to braids, to sew-ins..long short, pretty much everything. For any and every one who asked what I was doing with my hair now, I proudly said I was leaving it alone for a change. They always looked puzzled....always. Then I would proudly say, I'm going natural, I'm embracing my hair that I was born with.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair now, we'll I'd say it's fine, but very thick. I'm still learning about porosity, just when I think I've gotten it figured out....then nope, I don't. It has very loosely coiled sections, and some tight kinky areas that need extra TLC, and I make sure it gets it

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
Oooo, the craziest thing??? There really isn't one thing, so I'd have to say,dyed it blond for a bit, burned it off with a curling iron because I thought I needed it extra hot, wore braids while white water rafting. I'm sure there's more, but those things readily come to mind. Oh, most recently, I left my hair down, while I participated in visiting lemurs at the local zoo, they stayed in my hair so much, the other patrons hardly got to see them.

What’s your biggest hair related regret?
My biggest regret is that I ever started relaxing! I was 17, and prior to that was able to straighten my hair by blow drying. When I was told I could get it straighter, for a longer period of time, I decided to do it. My hair was to my waist and I cut it! Ughhh. The next 35+ years were relaxer after relaxer. Burning my forehead, neck, and ears over the years. Not to mention, my hair never was waist length again due to constant breakage. Oh to turn back the hands of time.

What's your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I am definitely a product junkie. Just when I think I've gotten it figured out, my hair decides it doesn't like those products and I move on. In the beginning I was ordering Komaza Care products and love them and their customer service. That was 3 years ago, and with the market being flooded with so many new natural products I find myself struggling to find the Holy Grail for my hair. Right now I tend to wash my hair every 4 days and go longer if possible. Washing for me means never using a shampoo, I cowash. Before I do, I always saturate my hair with water, then use a mixture of ACV/water, 50/50 and use this to remove any product build up. Next I deep condition. Some of my favs are Camille Rose Naturals, Algae Renew or Mixed Chicks or one of my many SheaMoisture products. I leave a deep conditioner on for 30 minutes and rinse. My cowash products also vary, here are a few favs, Mixed Chicks, Aussie Miraculously Smooth, As I Am Coconut cowash,
and monthly I like to do a clay wash that I make as instructed by Naptural85 on YouTube.
Then I wrap my hire in a tee shirt, hop outta the shower and apply KinkyCurly Knot Today, which is my favorite leave in. I have tried many, but I always seem to get an amazing result from this product. Next I air dry, most of the day and use a diffuser if it's still damp before bed time. My favorite twist out street is Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter and I also love their moisture mutter and Hair Milk. If I want more hold, I'll use KinkyCurly Curling Custard or Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker. It depends upon the weather and my plans for the day. At night I always spray with water, add a little SheaMoisture curling cream to my ends and pineapple my hair.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration? 
I usually wear my hair down, with some well placed twists that are random. I love many styles that I see, whether I see them when I'm out, or find them on the Web . I'd love to wear my hair up more because a pineapple is my favorite, but my edges are still fragile so I wear it down quite a bit.

Who is your curl crush?
I have a few different crushes. First would be Naptural85, she was who I found early on and watched her journey, Chime Edwards, Mahogany Curls, I Know Lee, Simply Bianca Alexa, Lipstick N Curls, just to name a few. I love many, but tend to follow those whose hair textures are similar to my own.

How do you maintain your hair at night?
Night time, it's always up in a pineapple after being moisturized as I mentioned earlier. As it has gotten longer, I find wearing a satin loc soc works very well. I also use a satin pillowcase just in case it slips off.

How do you maintain healthy length?
Moisture Moisture and Moisture. I also pay special attention to my ends, trimming split ends as necessary and using L'Oréal Damage Erasing Balm, which works wonders.

What's the best thing about being natural?
Everything about being Natural is awesome. I agree with a wonderful phase I see often, that we return to natural. I love that what I'm doing isn't only about being just who I am, its also about, no longer wanting to be who I felt others thought I should be. It's really about me, including my physical health. Its about embracing something I thought wasn't as pretty as straight hair. It's my life, my history. I have returned Natural, and have no intention of doing anything other than make the most healthy choices I can. I love that rain and humidity don't determine my wardrobe. I've said it before, I don't run in the rain anymore, I dance in it! I stroll, with my head up, and a smile on my face!

Where can folks find you on the web?
I'm on Instagram as Sinclairsilva and Facebook as AdamNAnnette Burda

Viewing all 4836 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images