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

Trimming Natural Hair

Amina — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:48:21 +0000

How to Trim Natural Hair

Many think that the gateway to healthy, trimmed ends is through straightening our curls and coils first. However, natural hair may be trimmed without straightening the hair at all. Keep in mind, trimming your natural hair does not have to be a difficult task. Although some like to press the natural hair out anyway, I trim my Type 4 hair easily with the use of a couple of techniques that do not require heat.

Plait and Trim – Put the hair in plaits and allow the hair to stretch out. Take the plaits down, one at a time, and trim off as much hair as desired. The plait and trim method makes it easier to trim the hair by relaxing the curl/coil.

Search and Destroy – Search for knots and/or split ends on the strands and then clip them using your shears, one at a time. This method allows you to retain as much hair as possible by just eliminating the damaged hair. I do this method at times when I don’t want or need a full trim.

Twist and Trim – Twist the hair and cut off the very ends of the twists.

Stretch and Trim – Part small sections, one at a time. Stretch the hair by gently pulling on it, applying a small amount of tension. Next, trim the ends of the hair with your shears, section by section.

Top Five Products for Natural Hair 1) My all time favorite product is Liv by summit....

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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.

How Our Diets Affect Our Hair Raise your hand if you’re struggling to keep your New...

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Wash n Go Relaxed Hair

Dena — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:29:29 +0000

Wash n Go Relaxed Hair

How do you achieve the wash n go for relaxed hair? Well, the closest that I’ve come to attaining this style is to utilize a couple of great products and two strand twisting my hair. Don’t get me wrong, you will have to put some work into this if you are relaxed. It is not as simple as it sounds. Technically, you are not washing and going. There is a bit more involved. I couldn’t imagine washing my relaxed hair and just going, as I am certain that it would end in disaster. I think it’s safe to say that when relaxed ladies want the wash n go look, they want it to appear as “natural looking” as possible.

Here are the steps that I took to pull it off: (Allow a couple of hours to air dry)

I co-washed with Crème of Nature Healing Chamomile and Comfrey Healing Conditioner.
I applied Soft Sheen Carson Anti Breakage Therapy leave in conditioner.
Next I used my wide tooth comb to detangle.
I applied some Smooth n Shine Polishing Silk Style wrap lotion. (a good moisturizer will do)
I parted the hair into several sections, and two strand twisted each section.
I allowed it to air dry for a couple of hours, while doing house chores.
I took the twists down and the finished result is a wavy/crinkly look.

Be sure to maintain the style by twisting it in a few sections at night. You don’t have to do as many twists as you did initially. Apply some moisture and seal your ends, as well. Enjoy!

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How to do a silk wrap

Julia — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:24:03 +0000

Silk wraps are very popular with African Americans but can be done and used by mostly anyone. Silk wraps can be done easily at home and can save you from a costly salon service. You can save that money and do this within an hour. The first thing you would need to is to get your favorite smoothing deep conditioner and shampoo. Apply it and a make sure you dry your roots completely. If you have them, get some good hot rollers because they seem to work the best. Make sure they are the larger ones. Blow dry your hair. Remove your rollers and get your setting lotion or leave-in conditioner(I like got 2b hair). Some like castor oil to moisturizer their hair, I can’t recommend this because I haven’ t personal tried it. Don’t add to much because it will have your hair weighed down. Okay now that we have done that, get a plastic wrap, put it on your head, and sit for twenty minutes under your hooded dyer. After you take the wrap off your hair should be shiny and smooth. Sleep in a silk like scarf to keep it soft and moisturized. That’s it!

Here is a great video silk wrap tutorial

Click here to view the embedded video.

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How to use jamaican black castor oil

Julian — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:33:30 +0000

How to Use Jamaican black castor oil

Black Castor Oil tips

Hair Care

Apply to hair like hair grease for moisturizing purposes
Massage into scalp for healthy hair growth and scalp problems
If you have dry, perm and colored hair, add 3 tablespoon black castor oil to your favorite conditioner. It adds extra moisture to your hair and seals it in.
Use for hot oil treatments: warm three tablespoon castor oil and massage into hair then put on heating cap for half hour. Or massage 3 table spoons of black castor oil into hair, put on heating cap then go under dryer for 10 minutes.

Skin Care

Massage into skin to moisturize dry skin and to help prevent skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, itchy skin, rash etc.
Massage into dry, chapped feet

Aches and Pain

Warm and/or simply massage into areas where you are experiencing discomfort

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How to grow black hair long

D. Evertte — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:04:15 +0000

How to Grow African American Hair Long

Moisturize! As Jan Brady popularized “moisture, moisture, moisture!” Without proper moisture, African American hair is prone to breakage. In addition, because of dry scalp, there is less oil production, which hinders hair growth. These are the reasons why American African hair seems to take too long to grow. With the right and effective moisturizing, you will dramatically see your tresses lengthen in no time.

Shampoo and conditioning

With the right shampoo and conditioner, your hair will get ample moisture lock up. Keeping your hair and scalp clean at all times will promote oil production. A dirty scalp blocks the pores hindering the glands to produce the natural oils needed for a healthy hair.

Deep conditioning is very vital in moisturizing hair. Do this at least once a week. Deep conditioners with protein in them have proven to be very helpful in moisturizing, strengthening and protecting the hair.

Leave -in conditioners are also a must. Use this instead of other styling products like gel or mousse. Leave-on conditioners help lock moisture in for a longer period. There are different leave on conditioners in the market. Choose one that is best for your hair texture. Some products may weigh down on fine textured hair. Women with thick and coarse hair, on the other hand, might need heavier creams to penetrate their hair follicles.

Heat styling tools

Heat styling tools are very damaging to hair that is already dry and fragile in the first place. Blow dryers, flat and curling irons contribute greatly to hair breakage. Avoid using these items if you want to achieve the length you desire. If this is totally unavoidable, then try to use it less often. Do not set the temperature too high. Regulate it to the lowest possible degree. Try it and see the difference for yourself

Nightly moisturizing regime

The best time to moisturize your hair is while you sleep. Apply natural creams or oils to your hair and scalp right before bedtime. Wrap your hair with a towel, scarf, beanie, or whatever you are comfortable with. Leave the cream on overnight to get maximum results. Jojoba, olive oil, and coconut oil are great natural oils that have proven to be very effective in moisturizing and rejuvenating dry and dull hair. You can make your own homemade concoction using these oils, which are relatively easy to find.

Hair care routine

Make a daily, weekly, and monthly hair care routine and stick to it. Consistency is the key! As long as you maintain and lock moisture in, your tresses will grow to the length you desire in no time.

Perming and relaxing are also major causes of hair damage. Stay away from it as much as you can.

Lots of TLC is needed by African American hair. Use a wide-tooth comb for wet hair and avoid brushing it too often. Use a leave-on conditioner daily and moisturize your hair further at night. Avoid coarse pillowcases and if your budget permits, invest in satin pillowcases to lessen hair breakage when you sleep.

Avoid the use of hot water when washing your hair and squeeze your hair gently with a towel after a bath. Rubbing hair with a towel is also one of the leading causes of hair damage since hair is more fragile when wet.

Achieving long hair is not impossible, establish your routine and stick with it! Happy Hair Growing!

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How to Straighten African American Hair

D. Evertte — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:55:32 +0000

Straighten African American Hair

More often times than not African American hair is curly and frizzy. But with modern technology, African American women now have the choice to have straight hair too. There are many ways to get the hair straight.

Many women, or men for that matter, simply use a blow dryer to straighten the hair. This may be time consuming and quite tedious, but if done properly you get a healthy looking, bouncy straight hair. However, it might be quite impossible to get really straight results with a blow dryer.

A flat iron has also been one of the most popular tools in straightening curly hair. It works exactly like a curling iron but it does the opposite effect. It is less time consuming than a hair dryer. Never use a flat iron on wet hair. Doing this will cause the hair to break and may leave serious damage to the hair follicle. Be mindful that the flat iron can have extreme temperatures and create extreme damage to your hair. A heat protectant is strongly recommended.

A straightening comb is used when there is no flat iron available. This has to be the oldest technique used to straighten hair. Make sure you get a wide-tooth comb to avoid tangles. There are straightening combs that are electric but some you have to heat over a stove. This is not really recommended for extra curly hair due to its tangling effect.

Chemical straightening products and hair relaxers are widely sold in the market today. Before you purchase one, make sure you do some research on which one is best for you.

For any styling technique, make sure you use a wide-tooth comb. Chances are you will be experiencing a lot of tangling of the hair while straightening; a wide-tooth comb will lessen the chances of tangles. Besides, your hair is already undergoing a brutal treatment, a wide tooth comb will help in lessening the stress.

Remember, though, that heat styling tools and chemical straightening products can be very harsh and stressful to the hair. Use these tools and products as seldom as possible. Also, when choosing a hair relaxer and chemical straightening products, make sure to use the gentlest on the market. Check the labels and see which of them has the most natural and organic ingredients.

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How to Obtain Thicker Relaxed Hair

D. Evertte — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:50:54 +0000

Obtaining Thicker and Healthier Relaxed Hair

Obtaining healthy and long African American hair is relatively easy. As long as you have enough dedication and you stick to the routine, you will have healthy, long, and beautiful tresses in no time.

If you are suffering from thin and dry hair, it is not advisable to shampoo daily. Wash your hair once a week. Daily shampooing and conditioning aggravates the hair’s dryness, making it more prone to damage and hair loss.

When trying to achieve healthy hair, do not forget to take care of you scalp too. The scalp plays a very big role in getting healthy hair. This is where the natural oils of the hair are produced. Oil the scalp regularly, using natural oils, preferably at night where you can leave it overnight.

Use products that will moisturize your hair effectively. Go for organic and natural products. These products are the gentlest, and they do not contain any harsh chemical ingredients that cause more damage to your hair. Giovanni has a line of hair care products to choose from that are all natural, perfect for thin and permed hair

Choose shampoos and conditioners that are gentle yet provide maximum moisture. Some products do not agree with permed hair, always check the label. The best products are those that clarify, moisturize, and enhance. You would be lucky if you find all three benefits in one product. If you cannot find one, then I suggest you use Giovanni to clarify and condition, then follow it up with Dr. Miracle for growth stimulation.

Strengthening and protecting your hair is also of utmost importance. Protein is an active ingredient in some shampoos and conditioners that does wonders in protecting and strengthening the hair. Silicon mixes and olive oil have also been proven to help in this area. These products will help in thickening your thin permed hair, at the same time providing the necessary protection it needs from further damage.

To get maximum results for healthy hair, using a leave in conditioner will help considerably. Also, try to use cholesterol products for deep conditioning twice a week. Cholesterol helps in enhancing body and luster to the hair. As stated earlier, do not shampoo daily, but you can use leave in conditioners as much as you want. If you have extra dry and itchy scalp, you may wash your hair without shampoo and instead just use a mild conditioner. After rinsing off, style your hair as usual and apply a leave in conditioner.

To get maximum moisture, consider hot oil treatments. Hot oil treatments can be done at home with the perfect hot oil cream. Better yet, apply it to your hair before entering the sauna or while in the shower. The steam will help in speeding up the effect of the cream. L’Oreal hot oil treatment and Dr. Miracle’s tingling oil are best for permed hair.

Styling permed and thin hair can prove to be a problem. Stay away from heat styling items, the use of rollers will be less damaging. Heat is permed hair’s worst enemy!

Always remember to manage your hair gently. Use a wide-tooth comb whenever possible. Use clarifying products once a month, moisturize every day, use only products that are gentle and harmless (free of harsh chemical compounds), you get best results from leave in conditioners if left overnight, and remember that natural and organic products the best products to use for thin and permed African American hair. Use growth-stimulating products to achieve the desired hair length faster.

You too can have healthy permed hair, consistency is key! Happy Hair Growing!

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How to Care for African American hair

D. Evertte — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:44:20 +0000

Caring for your African American hair can be a task! We all know that it is more than a notion to have healthy and beautiful hair.

Here are some tips on how to care for African American hair

Shampoo and condition your hair at least 1 time a week. Too much shampooing and conditioning tend to make your hair dry and it strips your hair of natural oils.
Moisturizing creams that contain natural oils help in making your hair more manageable and less prone to tangles. Use natural oils like jojoba, coconut oil, and pomegranate seed oil. These oils help in enhancing the production of sebum which is the natural oil produced by the glands of your scalp.
Manage your hair as gently as you can. Remember that your hair is extremely fragile. Harsh brushing strokes can cause your hair to break or fall off. Always use a wide-toothed comb in handling wet hair. Brush your hair with a brush that has soft and natural bristles.
If you need to style your hair daily, use a cream that will not clog the pores of your scalp. Avoid using commercial greasy products that contain mineral oil and petroleum as these products may cause blockage of the scalp’s pores hindering natural oil production.
Using a hot oil treatment can be very effective in moisturizing your hair. It also helps lock in the moisture for a longer period of time. Consider doing this at least once a month. You need not spend on costly service salons to do this. There are effective hot oil creams on the market that you can purchase and do it at home yourself.

Also, if you frequently style your hair remember the following: Braiding can cause a lot of damage so remember to keep your hair amply moisturized. Use deep conditioning shampoo and moisturizers to keep moisture locked in. Use hair products with protein to help strengthen and protect hair follicles. Take down the braids when you wash and shampoo your hair to completely cleanse it of all residues. Try to avoid using heat styling items such as flat and curling irons, if this cannot be avoided, then take a break from it as often as possible.

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How to Perm African American Hair

D. Evertte — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:41:37 +0000

How to Perm African American Hair

Getting a relaxer for the first time can be quite terrifying. After receiving a relaxer for the first time, damage is more prone. So, before you go through the process, make sure you are equipped with all the necessary information. Here are some steps you can follow in order to get the best results in perming your hair:

First, you have to know what your hair type is. This would be helpful information in deciding which strength of perm you will use. The strength of a perm varies from normal, regular, and super. If your hair, for example, is extra fine, you might want to opt for a milder strength, which is not as harsh as the other strengths.
If you have decided on which strength is best for you, do a strand test first before you proceed to the next steps. Apply a small amount to a couple of strands of your hair from root to tip. Leave it on for the recommended time. After, check if you are experiencing itchiness in your scalp and see if there is any damage done to the hair strands applied. If there is none, then you are all good to go!
Do not apply the perm directly without giving some protection to your skin.
Apply some Vaseline to the surface of your forehead and ears. After which, you can now partition your hair into four sections. Start from the middle, run a comb through your hair from front to back. Part those partitions again horizontally from ear to ear.
You are now ready to apply the chemical. Before you do so, remember to put on some plastic or rubber gloves, perm can be very harsh to the skin. Apply the cream evenly to all partitions with a fine toothed comb. Always start on the top and work your way down. Do this until the entire hair area is evenly covered. After which run the comb through your hair and you will notice the straightening take effect. Do this as gently as you can, remember your hair is very fragile to start with. If your hair has already been permed before, you need not go through the entire process. Just apply the cream to the new growth and smooth down that particular area with a comb. Watch that demarcation line, as not to cross the relaxed line!
The time needed to complete the perming process will depend on the texture of your hair. 10-15 minutes for fine hair, 15-20 minutes for normal hair, and 20 -30 minutes for extra thick or coarse hair.
Once done, shampoo and rinse your hair thoroughly. Make sure that you get rid of all traces of the perm. Check out the label of the perm, as the directions of different perms vary on the cleansing instruction. Some of them provide a color code wherein it is easy to spot if you have totally rinsed the perm off as it will change color to notify you. Pat (don’t rub) your hair dry with a towel and style it as desired.

Here are some more helpful tips to remember before you consider perming your hair.

If you are determined to perm your hair, it is wise not to shampoo at least 24 hours before application to get maximum results. Also, do not scratch your scalp before use.
It is not advisable to perm bleached hair.
Do not leave the application longer than the time required to get your hair permed. Leaving it on longer will destroy your hair follicles and may even cause it to burn
Do not forget to use gloves; perming creams can be very harsh to the skin.

Relaxing your hair is a life decision that takes some thought and consideration. If you go for a relaxer, you may simplify your life, but you must consider the possible damaging effects as well.

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