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

To Chop or Not to Chop?

jaelkirkwood — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:15:55 +0000

To Chop or Not to Chop

One of the most emotional journeys a black woman can go through is a natural hair journey. As black women there are so many factors we must consider before letting go of the creamy crack! The fear of being the odd one out and not knowing how peers will react is a constant delay. A lot of permed women have not even seen their natural hair since childhood and have no idea how to care for it. But out of all these worries, the most common fear black woman face before doing their Big Chop or “BC” is the fear that their hair will not grow back. This fear has evolved from the myth that African American hair does not grow and if it somehow does, it grows extremely slow. This is why black woman would rather hold on to the patches of damaged dry hair, that is slowly falling out anyways, rather than just letting go and getting a clean shave. The hysterical part about this rumor and fear is that it is completely contrary to the truth.

June 3, 2010 is when I did my big chop. I walked right into a barber shop sat where the men sit and had all my hair shaved off down to a buzz. A few days later I was on a regular girls day out, sporting my new hair-do, going to get my eye brows threaded. When I arrived the Indian woman, who had been threading my brows for about four months, greeted me with a unique enthusiasm for my new look. As I sat in the chair and waited for her to begin, she told me how in her homeland, back in India, it was a ritual for the women to shave their heads. She said, “The women shave the young girls’ hair so it can come back in thicker and fuller. By the time the girls reach age nine or so, they have already had their heads shaved at least five times.”

What got my attention about this story was not the fact that shaven heads had benefits, but the fact that we were speaking of India. India, the same place African Americans get the best weaves! At that moment I thought to myself if they don’t even come out with that hair we crave so much, why are we buying it from them? Why not do what they are doing and have the same results growing from our very own scalps? I was so intrigued by the idea that African American women could have this long luxurious hair that we’ve longed for since our ancestors were brought to America.

After doing some research I learned that I wasn’t the only person with this information. Natural Hair had become a movement. Chris Rock’s Good Hair movie opened the eyes of millions of permed women when he traveled to Chennai, India to visit the place where a large portion of the best weaves come from.

While researching Chennai I learned that Chennai is home to many Hindu families. Hubpages.com tells us that Hindus believe being seen clean shaven, they are then perceived as being devout. The head shave is a symbol of total submission to God which is why it is usually performed in a temple. But as the Hindu people reach a more modern and liberal time, the motives of some people to their sacred traditions are not as genuine. With hair being a big contributor to the economy, some people shave their heads with the knowledge that the hair wil grow back a better grade. They are no fools, making sure to begin head shaving as soon as the female children reach a year’s age.

So my African American beauties, the trick is out of the bag. Head shaving is the first step to that gorgeous crown of glory. So to chop or not to chop? I say go for it!

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How Our Diets Affect Our Hair

Alesha — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Raise your hand if you’re struggling to keep your New Year’s resolution to eat healthier or diet. Don’t worry—you’re not alone!

As you waver between steaming those veggies and grabbing a handful of fries, you not only have your body to think about—also consider that what you eat affects your hair. When you take in food, you take in the nutrients it has to offer. These nutrients are delivered to your hair, skin, and nails. Eating junk food isn’t going to provide important nutrients that hair thrives off of; therefore, hair can become dry or prone to breakage. Remember that healthy hair care isn’t just about the “Holy Grail” of conditioners, but it’s also about what you put into your body.

So what can you do to internally promote hair health? First off, remember to drink water and remain hydrated. Dehydration often displays itself with dry skin and brittle hair. Next, eat foods rich in iron and protein. Examples are salmon, dark green vegetables, and beans. Iron and protein are extremely important for stronger and longer hair. Your tresses are already made of keratin infused protein, and iron helps deliver oxygen throughout your body. It’s no wonder that people who eat plenty of food with these key ingredients tend to have a healthy mane.

Of course you don’t have to become a health fanatic in order to have shiny and strong hair, but it will help to incorporate more protein and iron-rich meals into your daily diet. Seek the advice of your physician if you plan to take supplements, and especially if you notice excessive shedding or hair loss.

Here’s to healthy hair growing!

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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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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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Aloe Vera Gel for Natural Hair

Amina — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:43:39 +0000

ALOE VERA GEL FOR NATURAL HAIR (repost)

Do you ever get tired of searching through forums and the net reading up on the latest “it” factor for moisture or growth? Are you exhausted after reading through the labels for hair care products? Do you need to tame the inner PJ (product junkie) in you from buying tons of expensive products that claim to fulfill your hair care needs? Well, look no further than today’s post! Aloe Vera Gel is an all natural alternative to many store bought/synthetic products; and it has been established as a very helpful tool in the management of our hair!

So, I have officially jumped on the Aloe Vera bandwagon! I have found it to be excellent for my coils and curls.

Aloe Vera Gel Benefits for Hair:

Detangles
Moisturizes
Activates Fresh Growth
Heals and Soothes Damaged Scalp from Scratches, Burns, Dandruff, etc.
Reduces Dandruff, Itchy, Scaly Scalp and Seborrheic Dermatitis
Balances pH Level (Porosity) of Hair
Tames Oily Hair
Defines Curl
May Serve as a Holding Gel
Prevents Excessive Hair Loss
Enhances Cellular Rejuvenation
Contains Natural Building Enzyme for Proteins
Anti-Inflammatory

After reading all of those pros, we see that Aloe Vera Gel isn’t just excellent for the skin or its internal effects on the body, but it’s great for the hair as well! I say it’s worth a try! I use the pure Aloe Vera Gel by Lily of the Desert. I’ve been using it for my entire duration as a natural, and I notice when I haven’t used it in a while. I haven’t had a chance to experiment with its growth properties on my hair yet, as I have been using it on the hair as a moisturizer not on the scalp (I’m trying castor oil for growth on my scalp thanks to the bhp Castor Oil Challenge). Some mix aloe vera gel with glycerin and rosewater for moisture. I have also heard of the coconut milk, aloe vera, and wheat germ oil combination for a growth shampoo.

I use my gel straight out of the bottle, though I’m not opposed to adding other ingredients to it to make a thrifty concoction. In addition, the aloe vera/shea butter/coconut oil combination is golden! I moisturize my hair with the Aloe Vera Gel, applying it directly onto the hair, then I seal with coconut oil. I strongly suggest sealing the AV gel with an oil in order to lock in the moisture.

Though I love Aloe Vera Gel, I would recommend that anyone who is willing to try it, use it with caution, as everyone’s hair and body does not react the same way to all products, natural or not. If you decide to try the Aloe Vera Gel, I strongly suggest that you use the all natural Aloe Vera Gel with no alcohols and/or little to no preservatives. A health food store is the best place to find such, although through a careful search at WalMart (and maybe even your neighborhood pharmacy), you will probably be able to locate it as well.

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Texlaxed Hair: A Healthy Hair Journey

Dena — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:10:48 +0000

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ashley, a long time BHP member, for an interview about her gorgeous texlaxed hair. Ashley is an aspiring songstress and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University.

Where are you from?
I’m from Atlanta GA.

How long have you had a texturizer?
I have had a texturizer since 2005 and I love it. It has gotten me more comfortable with the way that my hair looks and feels.

What are some of the benefits of having tex-laxed hair? Any disadvantages?
Well I used to have a relaxer and I noticed a huge difference in the thickness and texture of my hair.
My hair is a lot thicker and softer. I like having a texturizer because it softens your natural wave pattern and makes it more manageable, so I can straighten my hair when I want or wear it wavy.

What are some of your favorite hair care products?
My favorite products would have to be Aubery Organics.
I love Amla oil and pretty much anything thats natural.
But I also love Aphegee, Redken and Design Essential products.

What is your hair care regimen?
Vitamins with amino acids..wash when needed, I condition with my steamer. And I try to use heat as little as possible. I keep my scalp healthy and oiled. That’s pretty much the most that I do to my hair.

What is your secret weapon for keeping your hair healthy and looking great?
Ok..I have color in my hair so my secret weapon to keep my hair from breaking is Rosa Mosquta by Aubery Organics.
Or you can simply get a hot oil treatment with rose hips or Rosa Mosquta. Its a fruit from India that works miracles on your hair as well as skin whether its dry, scarred, or cracked.

What is one piece of advice you’d give to ladies new to their hair care journey?
Take care of your hair like it is your child. It is a never ending job but it’s fun and worth it.

What is your ultimate hair care goal?
My ultimate goal is to keep my hair healthy while growing it out longer, and to keep it looking good.

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Repair Split Ends?

Dena — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:45:27 +0000

How many times have I wrestled with the dilemma of whether to snip those ends or hang on to the wretched things? Well, what I have discovered is that I can save myself the misery of later on not only having to cut the stray ends, but even more of the hair that has been damaged as a result of not trimming.

I’ve heard the question asked before…”Will split ends stop my growth?” Well, that question in and of itself begs the answer NO!! How can the ends of your hair actually prevent what comes out of your scalp? Think about it. Logically, they have nothing to do with each other. The hair is going to grow regardless. But what happens is that your split ends will begin a vicious cycle of traveling and creating more damage to the good ends, leaving you with no choice but to trim all the way up the hair shaft.

Now, the next question that I often hear asked is “Which products will repair my ends?” Well the answer is NONE of them! Despite their claims, there is not a product on the market that can repair already split ends. Once those ends are split, you must surrender them in order to enjoy healthy hair!

There are some things that you can do to prevent splits in the first place. As always, keep your hair deep conditioned, moisturized, paying special attention to those ends, and sealing with an oil. This will ensure that your ends will not become split. Understand that avoiding split ends is a task that you must tend to with diligence, whether you’re chemically processed or natural. However, keep in mind that chemically processed hair is much more fragile and requires more pampering in order to remain healthy!

Take with you the wisdom of caring for not only your ends, but your entire crowning glory; And you will never have to face the challenge of whether to snip or save!!

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Hair growth with vitamins shampoos and conditioners do they work?

Lisa J. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:38:34 +0000

Can Vitamins, Shampoos and Conditioners Really Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

Since the average persons hair grows at a rate of about a half an inch per month, how can these products do what they say they do? And as Black women, do we need to invest in these quick fixes for our hair growth needs?

First let’s explore the basics of hair growth. Your hair has three stages during it’s life. It grows- which is the anagen phase. It rests- which is the catagen phase, and finally it sheds- which is the telogen phase. Every single hair strand on your head will go through these three phases. For the average person the growing phase is the longest. It can last anywhere from two years to six years. The other two phases are rather shor,t and should not even be noticeable if your hair is growing properly.

If you have naturally long hair, than you will also have a naturally longer growth phase. If you have a naturally long growth phase of six years, you will be able to grow hair faster and longer than a person with a two year grow phase. This is a predisposition determined by your genetics. The only time this can change is during pregnancy. Most women are mislead that this is due to the prenatal vitamins but it is actually due to the influx of hormones. This influx of hormones leaves the body shortly after birth and so will the long growth phase.

You can naturally lengthen your hair growth phase by using MSN vitamins. This vitamin is a naturally organic sulfonyl sulfur. This vitamin can be found naturally in many raw vegetables and fruits. The MSM provides the sulfur required to make collagen and keratin.

So can shampoos really make your hair grow faster? Well a scalp that is healthy and free from fungus and bacteria is a great environment for hair growth. But it can not promote your hair to grow. What these shampoos do is promote healthier hair that will be free from damages. Some shampoos can damage your hair. These shampoos contain sulfates that will strip your hair. This can lead to damaged hair and hair breakage. By allowing the hair to be more healthy it gives the consumer the appearance that their hair is growing faster when it is really that their hair is no longer breaking. To achieve this affect here are a few things you should avoid in your daily shampoo: Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, TEA Laureth Sulfate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

These shampoos should only be used to clarify your hair. This should be only used occasionally. A clarifying shampoo will clear the hair of residue allowing moisturizing and protein treatment to penetrate the hair.

The following sulfates are gentle and can be used safely on your hair everyday. Sorbitan Laurate, Decyl Polyglucose, Cocamidoprpyl Betaine, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.

Creating a healthy environment for hair is essential for overall hair health. When hair is consistently treated with chemicals that breakdown the follicles and the roots, unhealthy, dry and brittle hair is often the result. Keeping hair healthy can be as simple as reading the ingredient labels on your shampoo. So within reason, yes, some of these claims are true, but keeping a healthy and clean scalp and eating right are your best bets!H

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Hair Loss at Temples and How To Revive It!

Amina — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:00:23 +0000

Hair Loss at Temples and How To Revive It!

Hey everyone, now I know “I am not my hair” (we all know how India sang it, lol), but I sure don’t want to lose it! Some of us have issues with areas of thinning hair – I am no exception to that! I have had thinner hair in my temple area for as long as I can remember having hair. In my case, it’s hereditary (says the family dermatologist), however, I am sure that my lack of knowledge concerning the treatment and management of my hair over the years has contributed to this minor setback. Many of us who have experienced hair loss in the temple area have reached this point due to a number of activities. Thus the following list comes into play:

“Hair-Don’ts“:

Brushing the area too often
Pulling the hair back too often
Placing too much heat on the area of concern
Placing tension on the temple with tight braids, ponytails, extensions, etc
Using very harsh/strong chemicals for too long and/or improperly – relaxers, color, etc.
Utilizing the wrong/heavy/hard products – spritz, gels, holding spray, petrolatum, etc

After thinking of the lengthy list of “Hair Dont’s” and after being tired of creating that infamous “swoop” in order to cover up my “losses”(of hair) when wearing buns or ponies …I was left contemplating what to do to give that pesky temple area some life! First off I had to have a plan and stick to it!!! You must try some of these:

“Hair-Do’s”:

Cayenne pepper and olive oil treatment mix the cayenne w/EVOO (let mixture sit for at least a week) and massage it into the area, then shampoo out
Oil massages (use your favorite oil, i like coconut or castor the best) 2x a day for at least 5 min a time increasing the time as u get into the groove of things
Cut down on the sulfate containing shampoos – these strip the hair of natural oils sometimes making it more brittle and susceptible to breakage especially if the hair is not replenished with moisture & oiled properly
No longer do anything that is found on the above mentioned list (“Hair-Don’ts”) – it’s a BIG no-no!
Be consistent

Alright everyone, try things in cycles of at least 4 weeks or so, then you will have the ability to notice what works for your hair and what does not. Hopefully some of these tips will flow into your hair care regimen leading your thinning hair to blossom to its full potential. For most of us this will not happen overnight (or in a week). Don’t forget – Patience is a virtue, but it also means you have to wait! Concentrate on doing the right things with your hair now, it will definitely pay off later! Happy hair growing!!!

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Can Prenatal Vitamins Really Make Your Hair Grow Quicker?

Maria — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:08:21 +0000

Can Prenatal Vitamins Really Make Your Hair Grow Quicker?

Most women who have been pregnant have noticed that their hair grows quicker, thicker, and healthier when they are with child. Many have credited this growth with the vitamin supplements in prenatal vitamins. This is an old wives tale. It is actually the increase in estrogen that allows a woman’s hair to grow faster during pregnancy.

For nine months your hair will be locked into the growth phase allowing the hair to continue to grow when it may not have before. After birth when the hormones have returned to normal these women will think they are going bald, as their hair begins to shed and this new growth is sent back to normal paces.

The average person’s hair will grow a half an inch per month. If you have a short growth stage then you will never be able to achieve the long locks that others are able to grow. While vitamins, minerals, and a healthy diet with plenty of water can increase the rate of growth during the growth phase, there is little chance that the actual phase can be elongated.

Whether you will have long hair or not is a genetic factor that you have very little control over. If you have a long growth phase than you will be able to achieve these long locks. Some are able to stay in the growth phase for as long as six years. Others with short grow phases will only last two years and only are able to grow hair to their shoulders.

You may be wondering how you can grow hair long if you are not in that lucky gene pool with long growth phases. Well you can achiever longer lengths through the use of MSM vitamins. MSM is natural organic sulfonyl sulfur. This is a compound that can be found in raw fruits and green vegetables. This is a product that is not found in prenatal vitamins and can be added to your diet to grow longer lengths of hair.

You will have to ensure that you have the healthiest hair to have longer lengths of hair. You have to prevent breakages to ensure your hair will reach greater lengths. If your hair is breaking as fast as it grows then it will never reach longer lengths. Hair breakage most often occurs thanks to a lack of moisture and rough brushing and styling techniques. Hair brushes should never be pulled through the hair in rough bursts. Hair that is brushed while wet should be brushed with a careful hand; and hair should only be washed every few days to keep in the natural oils.

Diet and hydration will also play a huge role in the health and overall length of the hair. Keeping your body in line will reflect on your hair. A healthy body means healthy hair. But, ladies, unfortunately, the length of your hair will not be determined by the usage of a prenatal vitamin, though vitamins can make hair stronger and healthier over time

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