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

Is Transitioning to Natural Hair Worth It?

Amina — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:52:48 +0000

Is transitioning to natural hair really worth it? I say – YES! Reflecting back on my journey of transitioning to natural hair was the best decision I could have made. Although there may be times of discontent and discouragement, in the end, natural hair is beautiful. Most of all it is beautifully yours!

Natural Hair is Versatility.

Natural Hair is Beauty.

Natural Hair is YOU AND I; it is US.

Here are excerpts from Women of the BHP Forum as to why they decided to go Natural…

“I decided to go natural when my hairline fell out about 1 and a half years ago.” -Mahogany

“I went natural because straight hair cramped my style. I have a bold personality that some say commands attention, but my hair was just so flyaway and thin.” -Vermelha

“I went natural only because a texturizer was not working for me”-Mikajin

“I decided to go natural because I wanted to be free. Being natural is so relaxing and free” – Swestbrook

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Top Five Products for Natural Hair

jaelkirkwood — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:25:56 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

1) My all time favorite product is Liv by summit. This product is great for protective hair styles such as braids and two strand twists. Since that’s all I usually wear, this product is apart of my daily regimen. Liv will have your hair feeling as soft as it did when you were a little girl. My hair despises grease. Sometimes it’s difficult to find black products that won’t weight down my hair or leave an oily residue.

For example this past month I got my hair in box braids. The African women braiding my hair had a large jug of blue grease and after she finished my hair she greased my scalp. Let me tell you, I have never had an itchier scalp! It was horrible. I couldn’t wash it out since my braids were fresh. I had to just wait until it wore out. With Liv, I can use it as often as I’d like on both my hair and scalp.

Sally’s Beauty Supply describes Liv as the ideal daily conditioner for hair that is dry or brittle due to chemical processing, over-exposure to the sun, or excessive use of blow dryer, hot curlers, and other implements. They say this light, non-greasy formula is leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable.

It is extremely important to read the ingredients in the products you use. The ingredients listed in Liv are Water (Aqua), Petrolatum, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidium) , Beeswax, Cetyl Esters, Peg-75 Lanolin, Polisorbate-60, Sodium Borate, Sorbitol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance (perfume).

2) Product number two is IC Hair Polisher Heat Protector Straightening Serum. This product has so many benefits! Not only does it protect your hair from heat treatments and styling, it also moisturizes you hair, leaves a great sheen, and smells incredible! I absolutely adore this product! I use it every single day without fail. Although I rarely use heat in my hair, living in a place where the sun is constantly blazing on my hair, it’s great for protection. Also because I wear a lot of twist outs I like my curls to have a shine to them. It makes my dark black hair shine in the sunlight. I would recommend this product to any one and everyone! This one that all hair types can use!

Sally’s describes this one saying, “Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Heat Protector Straightening Serum creates a barrier between heat appliances and your hair so you can style it without the fear of causing serious damage. It will add shine to your hair and moisturize it without leaving a greasy residue and heavy build up. Keep this serum next to your favorite heat styling appliance.” I have to agree completely!

Ingredients for this product include Cyclopentasiloxane , Dimethiconol , Cyclomethicone , Dimethicone , Cyclopentasiloxane , Dimethiconol , Dimethicone Crosspolymer , Amodimethicone , Phenyl Trimethicone , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate , Fragrance.

3) Silk Elements Mixed Silk Leave-In Conditioner is the third product I can’t go without! I never heard of this product until I was looking for a new leave-in one day with my grandmother. I simply asked one of the employees what her best recommendation would be. I didn’t know that one question would uproar a debate amongst the entire store. Suddenly every woman started telling me how fabulous this product was and how I have to try it! So I decided to give it a whirl and after the first use, I was hooked! This product had given my hair so much moisture! Although it worked great with my two strand twist, it worked wonders when I flat ironed my hair! I would definitely recommend using this product with styles using heat, blow dyers, flat irons, curling irons, ect.

“Silk Elements Mixed Silk Leave-in Conditioning Creme is specially formulated to leave curls bouncy, vibrant, and healthy-looking. Defines, tames, and hydrates natural curls and waves. Great as a daily detangling, shine enhancing and nourishing treatment that restores manageability and style.”, is how Sally’s is defining this product.

The ingredients are WATER ,AMODIMETHICONE ,WHEAT AMINO ACIDS ,STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE ,GLYCERIN ,CETEARYL ALCOHOL ,POLYSORBATE 60 ,METHYL GLUCETH-20 ,GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE ,ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE ,HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE ,SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL ,CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OI ,OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL ,SILK AMINO ACIDS ,HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN ,DMDM HYDANTOIN ,METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE ,METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE ,YELLOW 5 ,YELLOW 6 ,FRAGRANCE ,ALPHA ISOMETHYL IONONE ,BENZYL BENZOATE ,BENZYL SALICYLATE ,CITRONELLOL ,HEXYL CINNAMAL ,LIMONENE ,LINALOOL.

4) My fourth favorite product is one that my sister introduced to me. She’s relaxed so I hadn’t paid her products much attention, but this one stood out. I was visiting her for the weekend and had forgotten all my hair products at home. I was wearing two stand twist and planned to take it the next day for my birthday dinner. She was using Palmer’s Olive Oil Hair Conditioner Spray while flat ironing her hair. She told me I could use some so I sprayed it on top of my two strand twist and massaged it in. My twists had an instant sheen and the next day when I took them down they were full of moisture and still shined! This product is a must have for people that wear a lot of protective hair styles!

Palmer’s website says “Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Conditioning Spray Oil, a luxurious natural spray oil, helps condition hair and scalp with its special formulation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Vitamin E. This easy to use spray oil is ideal for braids and weaves.” This spray can be used for several styles and naturals, transitioners, and relaxed women can use it!

Main ingredients include Carola Oil, Isopropyl, Myristate, Olea Europea Fruit Oil, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocyl, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Fragrance.

5) My fifth and final must have product is Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Maybe you want to stop using that shampoo that strips you hair! This is the perfect option for you! The no tears formula is created to gently cleanse baby’s delicate scalps without harming them with rough chemicals. Why not treat yourself to that same care! I use this product when I’m not using my Suave naturals and when I feel my scalp is extremely dirty. After I use it, each strand of my hair feels purified. I highly recommend this product to anyone who’s hair is sensitive to shampoo like mine is.

The included ingredients are Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Fragrance, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid, Yellow 10 and Orange 4. May also contain: Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide.

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Natural Hairstyles 2011

Amina — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:31:21 +0000

Natural hairstyles in 2011 will continue to be innovative and interesting. I forecast captivating natural hairstyles that shall draw the attention of naturals and relaxed heads alike.

The TWA:

More and more are still going natural, but not all ladies rocking the TWA are newly natural. I’m beginning to notice the TWA on ladies everywhere. Many will boast about the low-maintenance. Career women to artsy, stylish students find comfort and flare in the tailored TWA! Go ahead Girls!

Cute, Curly Styles

Cute, simple, curly styles are beautiful. They are effortless, yet the style can make anyone look like a million bucks! Try out a cute twist out, coil out, bantu knot out, or roller set to achieve a lovely curly coily style this season!

Mohawks

Whether the mohawks are braided, shaved on the sides, sculpted, or pinned up, the rocker chic look that ladies have bee sporting from the runways to the streets will definitely be a big hit yet again in 2011!

Dreads/SisterLocs

Some of the most elegant and unique hairstyles in 2011 will be made out of dreads and locs. The locs can be as versatile as natural hair itself.

Big Hair

Big, voluminous hair never goes out of style! Plenty of these styles will be spotted out and about.

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Is There A Cure For Thin Ends?

Alesha — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:25:18 +0000

To cut or not to cut—that is the question. If you take pride in caring for your hair, especially ensuring its growth, it can definitely discourage you to see dry and damaged ends. When confronted with this problem, what is the best solution? Are there really cure-alls such as split end menders, or special oils or conditioners that will repair hair? To understand whether or not we can treat thin and damaged ends, let’s first take a look at why we get them to begin with.

Excessive Heat

One of the most common culprits is over-use of heat tools on our hair. Did you know that your strands can instantly heat up to 80 degrees when using a blow dryer? When you throw in a flat iron or hot press, this spells dryness and damage for your ends especially. Your hair produces sebum (a natural oily substance), which is supposed to prevent it from drying out, but those of us with curlier and kinkier hair patterns tend to not have our sebum reach the ends of our hair.

Chemicals

Whether it’s application of a relaxer or hair dye, any chemical process applied to the hair can cause damage as the structure of the hair is being altered. Usually in these types of chemical applications, the hair’s natural protein bonds are being weakened, broken, or re-arranged. This can definitely wreak havoc on your tresses if this is done too often or incorrectly.

Rough Handling

Also known as over-manipulation, sometimes we take for granted that hair can be fragile (especially when wet). When we grab, brush, comb or braid our hair without being careful, it can backfire on us and cause breakage and split ends—which equals thin or “see through” ends.

So What’s the Solution?

The first step would be to eliminate (or limit) the causes above which lead to dry and damaged ends. Although it helps to do deep conditioning treatments, hot oil applications, etc., these won’t guarantee that your ends will bounce back from the beating they’ve taken. Everyone’s hair journey and hair health is unique, so this is only one perspective and should be treated as such, but if your ends are beyond repair—don’t be afraid to consider a trim or cut. Not only will your ends be noticeably thicker, they will also be free of splits and even some previous heat damage.

In the end, make sure to research all of your options and go with the one that best suits you. It’s your hair, and you’re the one who has to wear it and live with it.

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Out and About: A Hair Travel Guide

Alesha — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:02:36 +0000

Many of us will be traveling this holiday season to spend time with family and friends. We may pack our suitcases with sweaters and warm socks, or maybe dress clothes for a party. However, when it comes to packing what we’ll need for our hair, we don’t necessarily bring along everything we should. Whether you encounter rain or snow, or will be away for a few days or a week, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Bring Your Own Grooming Tools

This is especially important if you don’t plan on hitting up a salon during your visit. If you’re wearing a wrap, don’t forget your scarf and hair clips. A brush, comb, bobby pins, and hair bands can help keep your hair in a simple and tame style, especially if you’ll be wearing hats or trying to protect your hair from harsh weather. You can create a ponytail, or even add a few hair accessories to dress up a bun. If you’ll be using any heat styling, be sure to bring along a mini flat iron or electric hot comb.

Bring Products That Won’t Get Flagged

Many of us, to our dismay, have experienced jars and bottles of hair or body products confiscated at the airport. To avoid this, you can buy pre-packaged products (shampoo, conditioner, gel, etc.) that comply with traveling standards or buy empty bottles from your local drugstore, which you can fill up on your own.

Have an Emergency Bag

How many times have we been out all day only to realize when we see our reflection in a mirror that our hair had evolved into something completely different? A small bag (like the size of a mini makeup bag) where you can keep “emergency” items for your hair can be a lifesaver. Have in there a small mirror, a moisturizer, gel or smoothing product to tame wild hairs or edges, and the bobby pins and hair bands mentioned earlier can go in there as well. Carry this in your purse, so that it’ll always be with you. Don’t be afraid to get creative—just think about what you’d want to have access to if a gust of wind or a haze of raindrops hit your hair.

Whether you’re natural or relaxed, or weaved up or not, it’s helpful to bring along a few items to take care of your tresses when the occasion calls. Traveling itself can be hectic, yet we still take the time to ensure we pack the right clothes and shoes—so why not also devote that same amount of effort into what our hair may need?

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Sew-In Weave – A Protective Style for Natural Hair?

Amina — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:21:08 +0000

Sew-In weaves, when installed correctly, may be one of many protective styles to ladies with all different hair types and textures. Naturals in particular may find sew-ins to be convenient and versatile styles, allowing the real hair to be untouched, while weave is manipulated into many different styles. Sew-ins are a good way to avoid the heat, the elements, and other things that could be taxing to the strands.

In order to get a sew-in weave put in, your hair must be put in cornrows or braids. Sometimes, hair is left out, to provide more of a natural look. Other times, a full sew-in is installed, where all of the hair is hidden and tucked away in braids. A full sew-in has often proven to be more of a protective style than the partial sew-ins where hair is left out. Because you do not have to worry about blending the different textures between your weave and your natural hair, the full sew-in may be the best option for those wanting a true protective style.

No matter which way you choose to wear it, a sew-in is an option for protective styling!

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Budget-Friendly Hair Care

Alesha — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:11:55 +0000

We all love to pamper ourselves every now and then with luxurious shampoos and conditioners, but sometimes high-end products don’t fit with our budget. So how can you get a salon treatment without breaking the bank?

Go to your nearest grocery store or farmer’s market and…go natural!

Some of the best hair care products currently on the market have incorporated the benefits of natural ingredients and you can often get these in their raw natural form. For example, shea butter is a natural fat from the nuts of the African shea-karite tree and is well known as an effective moisturizer. Shea butter quenches thirsty hair (and skin!), relieves dry scalp, and can even be mixed in with your crème hair conditioner to increase softness and elasticity.

If you like hot oil treatments then a few tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil will do the job. Both of these oils are rich in fatty acids and have intense moisturizing properties. In addition, coconut oil has been scientifically proven to reduce shedding and hair loss from daily grooming when used on a consistent basis.

If your hair is feeling weak and you need protein, then try coconut milk (usually found in the Asian food section of your local grocery store). You can use it alone or add it to any conditioner and apply to your hair as a treatment. This will benefit your tresses by strengthening strands while at the same time leaving them shiny and soft to the touch.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) makes a great hair and scalp cleanser as it removes the buildup accumulated from using chemical products. Just mix one part ACV with three-fourths part water and apply to hair like a rinse. It will restore the pH balance of your hair and will also close cuticle scales and leave your hair feeling smooth.

With all of these benefits present in natural and everyday items, you may want to try them even when you’re not restricted by a budget. Great hair doesn’t always have to cost as much as a new purse, and why should it? Just grab your ACV and your olive oil, and create your own salon experience at home.

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Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel Review

Dena — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:39:00 +0000

All that I can say is that I am so pleased that I’ve found this product! I’ve blogged about all of my unfortunate and unpleasant experiences with gels in the past. This review will be nothing similar to those. I have finally found a product that has fantastic hold, while maintaining softness!
The claims of this product:
* Contains 100% pure olive oil
* No flaking, no tack and anti-itch
* For use on any color hair
* Alcohol-free

What they say is true! There’s no flaking, or drying. Since this gel contains no alcohol, it really does keep the hair from drying.

I’ve used this product when putting my daughter’s hair in a ponytail or bun. In the past, when I’d brush her hair back with lotions or other gels, she would come home from school and the edges would be totally frizzy. I couldn’t wait to see what her hair would look like when she returned from school after using this gel, especially after reading all of the favorable reviews on BlackHairPlanet Forum. Well, she and I were both pleasantly surprised and relieved that her hair was still, soft, shiny and in place. What a God send the Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel has been for my daughter’s natural tresses!
Be sure to check out Amina’s account on how this product can help to define curls: Defining Curls with Eco Styler

This will be a staple in my daughter’s hair care regimen!

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Tweaking Your Heat Regimen

Alesha — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:25:53 +0000

You pick up your blow dryer, switch it on and…zap! You’ve just evaporated the moisture in your hair and raised its temperature to 80˚C—which means your hair cuticles will crack like dry skin. Whether blow drying, curling or flat ironing, overuse of direct heat will take a toll on our hair.

Although one of the advantages of African-American hair is that we’re able to wear diverse styles, when it comes to heat application many of us are rightly concerned about heat damage. This is especially true for relaxed hair, which has already been weakened by the chemical straightening process.

So how do we limit our heat or even maintain a no-heat regimen? For starters, there are alternatives to certain heat styles. Instead of using a curling iron, you could try a roller set. Heat minimalists also wrap their hair to avoid daily heat straightening. Do you want to rock perfect waves? Try a braidout or twistout. And of course, the all-mighty bun is a simple hairstyle that can be instantly glammed up with a trendy hair clip. Whichever you choose, remember you’re still going to need a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, like Butterfly Beauté’s Peppermint Daydream Shampoo and Conditioner, to keep your hair hydrated and healthy.

If your lifestyle or personal grooming choice requires using more direct heat, be safe about it! There are plenty of heat protectant sprays and serums available to create a barrier between your strands and the heat to minimize damage. Try not to turn up the heat settings on your tools to the highest number, and always remember that crackling and sizzling is bad sign and your hair is in trouble. If you use heat one week, try skipping the next so that you’re not using heat too often.

The key to beautiful and shiny hair is a combination of healthy practices and quality products. Heat tools can be used to create different styles from sleek to wavy, but can have its drawbacks if we’re not careful. Whether you go no-heat for a few weeks, a few months, or for a lifetime, these techniques should always be available in your arsenal on your hair journey.

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Avoiding the “Bad Hair Day”

Amina — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:09:20 +0000

Avoiding the “Bad Hair Day”

I tend to think that natural hair cannot be “bad”, because we are working with the texture and beauty that the Lord gave us. However, most of the kinky curly girls out there know the struggles that may come with a style that has gone wrong or maintaining that crisp look that your cute style has on the first day. Maintaining second day hair may seem to be a difficult task; however, there are some steps that we can take in order to preserve the beautiful hair that we initially put so much effort into. Avoiding a bad hair day does not have to be so hard for naturals, despite the myths that surrounds our styling efforts.

‘Bad hair’ can be easily turned into nice hair with a few easy simple gestures.
When your attempt to do a wash-and-go fails on short notice, pack on the moisture and either pull it in a bun or throw on a cute headband and keep it moving!

For voluminous styles, we do not want flat hair the next day. Sleep on a satin pillowcase; don’t smash your hair with a scarf or bonnet.

When a twist-out or braid-out goes sour, you can put it in a poofy pony.

Messy Bantu knot-out? Fluff it up for a voluminous look or put a small amount of styling gel on it and re-knot the hair. Take it down in about 10-20 minutes without manipulation and enjoy the new look!

With most styles (especially those that you would like to tame), you can just use a hair band (Goody Ouchless are my favs) and revamp the style. They allow you to create ponies, puffs, buns, and more by keeping them in tact. Even when my hair starts to look wild and untamed, I can easily save the ‘bad hair day’ with the use of a handy headband!

What are your tricks to save and maintain styles that may have quickly gone wrong? How do you avoid a bad hair day?

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