Black Hair Magazine for Natural and Relaxed African American Hair - blog. » Jordan Etters

Caring for Microbraids and Easy Removal

Jordan Etters — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:57:15 +0000

How to Easily remove and caring for Microbraids

Micro braids are a beautiful way to protect your hair from heat and the everyday stress we do to our hair. This can only be achieved if they are cared for the correct way. The main things to take into consideration are the size of the braids, cleaning, moisturizing, oiling, and when to take them out.

Hair loss and difficulty removing braids are two of the biggest complaints with micro braid wearers. Here are some helpful steps to ease both dilemmas. The first thing to do before you even get braids is to access how healthy you hair is. If it is breaking off easily, brittle, thin, or has split ends take care of these before you get you braids. Get a deep condition the week that you are going to get your braids, and a good trim. If your hair is breaking off and brittle do not get braids till your hair is at a healthier state. You may need to seek a professional hair dresser for more assistance on getting your hair back to health. Make sure you use a braid spray such as African Pride or African Royale. These sprays do not contain alcohol or oils that will cause build up. I do recommend that you do not saturate the hair with the sprays because too much of a good thing is bad. Do not let products build up around your braids because it will make the braid get stuck in the hair and you will lose hair due to pulling the braid out.

When removing braids some people prefer wetting their hair and some people prefer their hair to be dry. When you wet the hair it allows the braids to slip out more easily than dry. BUT if you are like me and you just end up making a mess of things do not wet your hair. I find it easier to get my braids out when my braider has not put any knots in my braids and when it is time to remove them they just slip out. If you clean your braids on a weekly basis you will find that the braids come out easier.

Here are the basic steps to caring for micro braids:

Talk to your braider about the size of the braids you want. The bigger they are the less time you will spend on removing them.
Clean the braids with dry shampoos like Organic Root Stimulator’s Herbal Cleanse
Another way to cleanse the braids is to use a small amount of shampoo, put your hair in a high pony tail, and rinse your scalp under the shower head. (Make sure the water is very warm so the shampoo will dissolve the oils.)
MOISTURIZE with a braid spray. DON’T use creamy moisturizers.
Oil the scalp with herbal oil such as Africa’s Best herbal oil.
If you use straight hair for your braids get a detangling brush and brush from the ends towards the roots. (Don’t pull hard if your hair is tangled)
Using a detangling spray or water will help get the tangles out.
Clean the scalp and hair at least once weekly to prevent build up.
Do not leave the braids in longer than two months without getting the edges redone.

Having micro braids are easy if you are short on time, live where there is lots of humidity, want to get away from heat damage, or if you are looking for a new style.

Until next time..take care of those beautiful strands! :)

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Organic Root Stimulator Herbal Cleanse “Dry Shampoo” Review

Jordan Etters — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:05:33 +0000

Caring for your scalp is essential for healthy hair, and ORS Herbal Cleanse “Dry Shampoo” is a must if you have braids. I have a chronic itchy scalp and no matter what I put on my scalp it still itches. Part of the reason my scalp is dry and itchy is because my hair is very thick which makes it hard for my scalp to breathe.

ORS Herbal Cleanse “Dry Shampoo” is the cure for my scalp problems while I am wearing braids. This dry shampoo is really helpful if you have any family members that are in the hospital or nursing home that cannot get up to wash their own hair. If you are currently wearing dreads or starting your locs this shampoo is great for your hair also.

The “Dry Shampoo” has a very thick, aromatherapy like, smell of lavender. It is more of a gel than a liquid and it has a light purple color and contains lavender and basil oil. You can feel the tingle once it is applied to the scalp and it is a nice refreshing treat for your scalp. It also has an applicator tip that is very useful in applying the product to your scalp.

ORS’s Directions:

To Cleanse Hair
- Apply a small amount to a cotton pad or towel.
- Apply with downward strokes down the lock, braid or twist to freshen the hair.
- Remove remaining product and residue with clean towel.
To Cleanse Scalp
- Apply a generous amount to the scalp.
- Massage into scalp and let sit for 1 minute.
- Take a towel and vigorously rub the scalp to remove remaining residue.

For Deep Cleaning
- Saturate hair with Herbal Cleanse and wrap hair with a warm moist towel.
- Leave on for 15 minutes and wipe out residue with towel.

My Once Weekly Directions:

1. Use a face towel and saturate it in very warm water.

2. Put your hair into four to eight parts.

3. Moisten your scalp to open the pores, and apply the “Dry Shampoo” with the applicator tip.

4. If you have braid or locs make sure the product is applied to each row of your braids or locs.

5. Leave on the scalp for 5 to 15 minutes and remove with a very warm saturated towel or spray very warm water directly on the scalp and remove with a towel.

6. Apply your choice of oil to the scalp.

Ingredients: Water Aqua , Alcohol , Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) , Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine , Wheat Amino Acids , FD&C Blue No. 1 (CI42090) , Kola Nut Extract Cola Acuminata , Nettle Extract (Urtica Dioica) , Lavender Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia), Basil Oil (Cocimum Basilicum). As with any product read the warning labels and directions.

Product rating 5 out of 5!

What the heck is Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine? According to Spafinder.com, THPE causes the skin to microcontract—the same result produced by splashing it with cold water. (Mulberry leaf, zinc, and copper salts can also produce this astringent effect.)

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Help: Why is my Hair so Tangled?

Jordan Etters — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Help: My hair is tangled! I asked why my hair was so tangled in a thread on BHP. As of yesterday I am 25 weeks post relaxer, whooo Hooo, and I have noticed that my hair is getting extremely tangled. Most of the knots were occurring around the crown of my head, and the relaxed hair tangles more easily than the natural hair. Here is the question I asked on the forum,

“My hair is 5 months post relaxer, and I am having lots of trouble keeping my hair detangled after I wash and condition my hair. I haven’t had this problem until this month and I use a detangling comb by Goody. No matter how much I detangle my hair it somehow gets tangled towards the roots after I style it. Does anyone have any tips and know which combs or brushes are best?”

I got angry at my hair and consulted Black Hair Planet’s forum, and most of the women said that I needed to detangle while my hair had conditioner in it. Well I was detangling with conditioner in my hair with a detangling comb made by Goody. This is the link to the thread if you want more information about detangling transitioning hair. (Help: My Hair is Tangled )

These are the best responses that I received:

Naomimaxine replied, “You should try detangling hair while it still has conditioner in it, like if you are doing a cowash, use a denman brush, and detangle your hair when rinsing it out.”

Leentora replied, “I had this problem when I stretch for 6 months last year and even now that I am 7.5 months post, what you need to do is ensure that if you use a shampoo it is a detangling shampoo that is step one and the other thing that I discover is that the tangle occurs as there are two different hair types on your head now so you need a good moisturizer to keep the natural hair tamed and tangle free, the one find that helps and make the combing a breeze is Kids Organics Shea Butter.”

I did switch to a Conair detangling brush this week and I used VO5 Moisture Milks Moisturizing Conditioner which helped tremendously! The VO5 moisturizing conditioner is extremely moist and aids in the detangling process because of the moisture. The Conair brush will fill my needs till I get my Denman brush. Also I will be doing a review over my Denman in a couple of weeks after I order it. Detangling transitioning hair is the most tedious parts of going natural, in my opinion. If you do not want to lose your hair please detangle from ends to roots very carefully without applying tension. If you brush through your hair too fast you will end up seeing clumps of hair come out and a sore scalp will result. This YouTube video was my inspiration on detangling my hair because this woman lost hair at the crown of her head because she was not detangling properly. Detangling is a top priority in natural hair care and please take care of your hair like delicate lace.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Proclaim Cholesterol Review

Jordan Etters — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:49:22 +0000

So I went to Sally’s looking for a cheap deep conditioner, and I found this brand for $1.79. I thought I was really getting something because on the jar it claims to soften dry, brittle hair, moisturize, reduce combing friction, and is enriched with Aloe Vera. The Proclaim Cholesterol went on my hair like a paste. I applied the cholesterol after I shampooed my hair, and no matter how much I sprayed water on my hair it just did not go on any smoother. Surprisingly it rinsed out of my hair very well, and made my hair feel smooth.

When I applied my usual styling products the smooth feeling of my hair left. My hair felt just like plastic and as if someone applied a waterproof top coat. I was not satisfied with this product at all, and if I could find my receipt I would get my little $1 and cents back.

It passes the smell and look test in the jar, but after it is applied and washed out it fails the smoothness test. I will try to jazz this product up a bit and wake up my conditioner(click the link for more info on how to wake up your conditioner by Amina) . Maybe this product has hope after all, and it is just a base for a great conditioner! As with any beauty items use this with caution and follow all of the directions.

Ingredients: WATER ,STEARIC ACID ,PETROLATUM ,MINERAL OIL ,CETEARYL ALCOHOL ,POLYSORBATE 60 ,PEG-150 STEARATE ,STEARETH-20 ,ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOL ,ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE ,DIMETHICONE ,CHOLESTEROL ,TRIETHANOLAMINE ,PHENOXYETHANOL ,FRAGRANCE ,DMDM HYDANTOIN ,HYDROXYCITRONELLAL ,YELLOW 5 ,YELLOW 6 ,BENZYL SALICYLATE ,LINALOOL ,AMYL CINNAMAL ,HEXYL CINNAMAL.

Product Rating: 1 out of 5

Ingredient Rating: -5 out of 5 because of the Petrolatum and Mineral Oil.

What is Stearic Acid? According to Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews it is derived from the fat from cows and sheep and from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters, etc. Most often refers to a fatty substance taken from the stomachs of pigs. Can be harsh, irritating. Used in cosmetics, soaps, lubricants, candles, hairspray, conditioners, deodorants, creams, chewing gum, food flavoring.

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Too Many Hands in Your Hair

Jordan Etters — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:34:24 +0000

This is something my mom and grandmother used to tell me when I was little. They used to say, “Don’t let everyone touch, comb, or style your hair because it won’t grow anymore.” I was clueless about that saying all the time, but I would never let a bunch of people touch or do my hair too much.

I understand that saying now that I am older. It is not the fact that the hair will not grow anymore, but it will break off if too many people style the hair. I know now that everyone is not capable of doing someone else’s hair even if they are a beautician. Sticking with a stylist that knows your hair and knows what products will work on it will make a big difference. If you are constantly going to different people letting them do stuff to your hair it will eventually break off. I have seen the effects of this common practice although not on my hair, but my sister’s hair. Getting to know the person that does your hair is a big deal because they know what you like and what you do not like done.

If you do not like what anyone does to your hair and you just cannot seem to find a stylist; do it yourself. You can be your own hair stylist with time, patience, and education. What you will need are a couple of weekends out of each month to start with. Let someone trim your ends every 6-8 weeks to rid the uneven or split ends. Do that till you feel comfortable with cutting your own ends. Relaxed heads may not want to try applying the relaxer at home, but it just depends on your comfort level. Natural heads don’t have to worry about putting relaxers in their hair, but maybe some permanent color. Doing all of these things to your own hair is not impossible you just have to take the time to educate yourself. If you get discouraged just think about all the money that you will save on going to the salon. Doing your own hair and not having to wait for the next available appointment will pay off. I am not bashing the beauticians, but I know there are people that are never satisfied unless they do it themselves.

Even though this saying told to me when I was young, sounds like an old wives tale; it is very much in effect now. Not being able to grow healthy hair is a big problem for many women. Keeping this simple saying in your mind can ensure that healthy hair will be on your head and not your floor. When you see that your hair is not holding up to its full potential asses your hair and what has been done to it. Think about who is doing your hair and if that is the only person touching your hair. Having too many hands in your hair is a real factor in hair breakage and loss.

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Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Conditioning Spray Oil Review

Jordan Etters — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:19:43 +0000

The Palmer’s brand can be a nice staple in anyone’s beauty cabinet. This olive oil spray is a high quality product for the low price I paid for it. The conditioning spray oil is made with certified organic extra virgin olive oil with vitamin e. The oil is light weight, and has a fresh, flowery, perfume scent. Palmer’s produces quality products, but you have to look at their ingredient lists carefully because the hair dresses may have mineral oil as the first ingredient.

You can use the olive oil formula on relaxed, transitioning, and natural hair. It is superb on relaxed hair when you are in need of shine and protection from the environment and everyday styling. Use on transitioning and natural hair after using a water based product to seal in much needed moisture. I’m not sure of the exact price of this product, but I know it is under five dollars at Wal-Mart.

If you are looking for a good smelling and high quality oil I highly recommend using this product and keeping it as a staple in your beauty cabinet. It is easy to use just spritz on the hair at any time. Even though the olive oil formula is light weight do not over use. You do not want your hair to be oily and untouchable.

Ingredients: Canola oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Fragrance(Parfum). May Contain Green 6 (Cl61565). *Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Do you ever wonder what some of the ingredients mean? Here are two ingredients I looked up.

Isopropyl Myristate- Wikipedia states, “Isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired. It is also used as a pesticide-free treatment against head lice which works by dissolving the wax that covers the exoskeleton of head lice, killing them by dehydration.”
Tocopheryl Acetate- According to Wikipedia it is known as vitamin E acetate, and national-skincare-authority.com says, “Potentially contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems.” This site and other sites state that this substance is used in many of the toiletries we use every day such as: facial moisturizers, body washes, shaving creams, conditioner, lipstick, foundation, deodorant, and many more beauty items that we have become accustom to.

Like I always say use every product with caution and follow the directions.

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Green Tea Hair Repair from Your Pantry

Jordan Etters — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:09:03 +0000

Green tea is one of the best beverages, besides water, to put into your body. The most natural and chemical free way of getting the benefits of green tea is to brew it. Green tea is the only tea that undergoes minimal processing and oxidation. This method makes green tea contain more of the disease fighting nutrients. Commercially bottled green tea does not offer the same benefits as brewed green tea because it requires many preservatives so it will have a long shelf life. Green tea is especially rich in an antioxidant named epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Antioxidants are molecules that slow down the damage by the by-products from oxygen in our bodies. These by-products are called free radicals EGCG has been studied and shown to stop the growth of cancer without the side effects of surrounding tissue damage. This beverage has many more healing properties than just cancer prevention such as: tooth decay prevention , cardiovascular health, it assists the aging process of cells, weight loss, reduces the bags and darkness under eyes, and many more studies will show green tea’s powers.

I love to drink green tea in the mornings with my breakfast, but I love to use it in my hair even more. My favorite brand of green tea is Salada because it has a nice rich taste and smell. It only costs $3.99 for 40 bags. I thought if green tea can do wonders inside your body then it won’t hurt to find out what it will do on the outside. Now there are many kitchen remedies that will take your hair out, and that is why I take precautions when using new products.

Directions & Preparation: This green tea rinse can be used after y0ur shampoo as a conditioner or after your conditioner as a rinse.

Be sure to wash out the conditioner or shampoo thoroughly before applying for the best results.
Use 1 tea bag for every cup of water you use.
Brew the tea bags for 3 to 5 minutes in hot water or if you cannot wait for the water to cool, then warm the water in the microwave till it is warm and brew for 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour on the hair and make sure you massage your scalp, and that it saturates every part of your hair.
Leave in for 3 to 5 minutes and rinse.
Style and dry hair as usual.

Immediately after applying the rinse, your hair should feel smoother than normal. I have noticed that green tea puts a natural coating on each strand of hair. Do not worry, it does not stink or leave a filmy substance on your hair. Green tea will not weaken the bonds or alter the hair; it just smoothes the hair and makes it stronger. Green tea can be used on relaxed, natural, and transitioning hair. Just remember to use this product with caution like any other product. Looking for all natural products can be very difficult and costly sometimes, but sometimes you can find the best remedies for your hair in your own kitchen.

Ingredients: Green Tea

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Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream Review

Jordan Etters — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:23:04 +0000

When I first heard of Cantu it was when my mom used to put the relaxers on my hair. Now I’m transitioning to natural hair, and I have been on the look out for products that make my hair soft and that go easy on my college girl budget. The first Cantu product that I fell in love with was the oil sheen spray because it smelled so heavenly. The Cantu Shea Butter Conditioning Cream has an even more heavenly scent in my opinion. The Cantu Leave-in Cream makes my hair very soft and I love to use it when I roller set or bantu knot my hair.

This cream is very light, non-greasy, water based, and has a yogurt like consitency. I like to use it while my hair is still wet. It allows my waves to pop out when I put my hair up in a pony tail. I have never experienced my hair being dry or flaky since using this product in June. The only time I had a bad experience with this product was when I added gel to it. The gel altered the chemistry of the prodcut and made it clump up. The product can be purchased at Wal-Mart and it is around $5. It comes in a 16 fl. oz./ 473 mL jar, and I have noticed that I don’t have to use a lot when styling my hair. Cantu Shea Butter has become one of my staple products because I have had some of the best results with it.

Here are a few things you should not do while using this product:

Do not use with any kind of gel because the two products do not mix and they clump up in naturally curly hair. If you do use gel make sure your hair is wet and you only use very little for your edges or to smooth your hair into a pony tail.
Do not use on your scalp because you will get unwanted buildup. Remember this is ment for your hair, and if your scalp is dry please use oil.

This product works best on wet or damp hair, and I also noticed that it makes my relaxed hair look amazing in roller sets. I have never used this product under a hair dryer or blow dryer, I have only used this when air drying. So I wouldn’t know the affect heat has on this product. As with any product pay attention to the warning label and its directions. Overall I love love love it!!

Ingredients:Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Panthenol, PPG 1 PEG 9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Lanolin Oil, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone 3, BHA, BHT, Zea Mays Oil (Corn), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

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The Going Natural Blues

Jordan Etters — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:30:23 +0000

Ok, so let’s say you have been going natural for a few months, and you’ve been trying different hair styles and testing different hair products, but nothing is working out for you. All you want to do is go to Wal-Mart and buy a no-lye relaxer of your choice. But wait!!! Think about this whole time you have been growing your hair out, and the little curls or kinky coils that have magically popped up. The few months that you have taken out of your life to commit to natural hair will be taken away in less than 15 minutes. Never again will the hair you grew out revert to its natural beautiful curls. Once you perm that hair you will be ready to get those curls back.

People can give you the “Going Natural Blues” also. If you live below the Mason-Dixon( the South) line like I do then you have most likely gotten ignorant comments from a few black people. (I will not say a lot of black people because all of us aren’t like that.) They probably say, ” Ohh your hair is going to be nappy because you don’t have that “good hair.” Some may say, ” You have to be mixed to have natural hair, and black people need to put perms on their hair.” If you let those comments stop you then going natural isn’t for you, and maybe it was just a phase you were going through. There will be people that do not know any better and you have to educate yourself enough about natural hair so you won’t get discouraged.

The best solutions to the “Going Natural Blues” is patience, confidence, and good hair care routines. Your patience will be tested by your hair and other people , your confidence may be put down by rude comments, and practicing good hair care routines will insure that you hair is healthy, neat ,and clean.

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Vitamin Shampoo Energizing Drangonfruit Kiwi Review

Jordan Etters — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:22:52 +0000

When I go to the store I usually go to buy a specific product, but I always come out with something different or more than I intended to buy. This time I found a sulfate free shampoo by Vogue International based in Tampa, Fl. Don’t be fooled because this product is not by Glaceau, the Vitamin Water makers, although this shampoo line looks just like it. I love the smell of the Energizing Dragonfruit Kiwi, and it comes in a lime green bottle which is a plus because I am a fan of bright colors. I bought this shampoo at CVS Pharmacy and it was $4.99 with my CVS card or $6.99 without my card. So I was like why not try it because it was on sale, and it’s sulfate free. I just wanted to see what all the hype was about with the sulfates. This product is what most black people would call a “white people’s hair product” so now you should know which aisle this shampoo is located. Lately I have been trying to find the difference between white hair care products and black hair care products. The Vitamin Shampoo did not amaze me like I thought it would have. I guess I wanted the rabbit to jump out of the hat! The shampoo is thick, creamy, and lathers really well. It just seems a little dry the first time I applied it, and then the second time I put it on my hair felt moist. This is exactly how it felt when I shampooed my hair yesterday. It cleaned my scalp really well though, but I just did not fall in love with it. Maybe I had high expectations for this stuff because on the label it says,” it’s like an energy drink for your hair”, and it contains vitamins: B, C, H, and E. I should have left it where it was because I have never heard of vitamin H. Overall the shampoo smells really great and made my hair feel smooth on the second wash.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Disodium Laureth Sulfosucconate, Cocamidopropyl, Betaine, Dimethicone Copoyol, Cocaminde DEA, Glycol Distearate, Parfume, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-11, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coconut Oil, DMDM Hydantonin, Coconut Milk, Silk Amino Acids, Egg White Proteins, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Dragonfruit Extract, Kiwi Fruit Extract, Yogurt, Vitamin A, Vitamin C.

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