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

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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Let’s Talk Combs and Brushes

Alesha — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:04:24 +0000

Alright, ladies—we’ve talked about natural hair products, salon visits, and heat usage, but what about combs and brushes?

While paying attention to products we use on our hair, it’s easy to overlook the tools we use to groom our hair. Until I started researching healthy hair care, I was unaware that synthetic brushes made with harsh plastic material were contributing to dry hair and breakage. The plastic bristles do not absorb the hair’s natural oils and when you brush through the length of your hair, the oils never reach the ends—which happens to be the driest part of your hair.

As for combs, my mindset used to be “Why use a wide tooth comb? I need to comb out all the knots!” However, using small tooth combs or rattail combs (when your hair isn’t straightened) won’t do you any favors. Many plastic combs are not seamless, so there’s the risk of snagging and breaking your hair as you comb. If your hair type is curly, kinky, thick or coily, then grooming with a small tooth comb will damage your hair because of coils and knots getting caught in the comb’s teeth.

I haven’t quite gotten to the point of styling with my fingers, so if we’re in the same boat I’ll share with you what I’ve found out. One of the best types of brushes to use is a 100% boar bristle brush. It’s natural, absorbs oils (which means it will distribute those absorbed oils through the length of your hair), and is very close in texture to human hair so it is not harsh like its plastic counterparts. When you want to comb, try to find a seamless wide tooth comb (there are even ones made with all natural material!) and detangle with either an oil or conditioner in your hair. This helps cut down on unnecessary breakage and ensures you don’t have a hair setback. Never use a small tooth comb on dry hair or when your hair is curly, and remember to always be gentle! Treat your hair as you would delicate skin.

You don’t have to spend an hour in your local beauty supply comparing brushes, and you definitely don’t have to buy anything expensive. The key to having the right grooming tools is to understand your hair type, what it needs, and whether or not that brush or comb will be easy on your tresses.

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The Layered Look for Long Hair

Lisa J. — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:48:10 +0000

The Layered Look for Long Hair

Sometimes, it seems that longer hair is more difficult to style than shorter. However, if you have long hair you have a variety of options for styling your hair. It can be placed up in a ponytail or bun, or it can be left to hang. If you are looking for more of a distinguished look, you may want to consider styling your hair in layers. The layers give definition and a bit of grace back to the longer style. Where once the longer the better was the thought on hair, today, more and more people want a bit of free movement in those locks. Layers can add just that free movement.

Layering your hair can add a new dimension to hair styling. You can add volume to thinner hair, or add style to flat straight hair. Layering the hair is perfect for those with straight or slightly wavy hair. This is because curly hair does not allow the hair to fall into the layers. When a curly head of hair is layered, that drowning look associated with long, heavy curls is removed and the hair is able to move gently around the face.

Layering hair lends itself to many styling accents. You can add highlights to the layers to make them stand out more. You can have certain layers cut to shape the face, or add a bit of funk to your hair. The sky is the limit when it comes to the cut and the placement of layers in all lengths of hair.

When it comes to choosing the right layered hair cut for you, try visiting a salon and asking about the specific cuts and angles associated with layered hair styles. It is always a great idea to browse through some hairstyle books for some suggested looks. Before choosing your layered cut, you may also want to try on some wigs. You can see precisely how the style looks on your face.

One of the most common layered styles involves hair framing. This hair cut is named because it puts layers along the face. It defines your face and allows the hair to flow downward. This technique is accomplished by cutting the hair with a razor allowing the layers to flow smoothly. The back can be layered or can be in a traditional U or straight line shape. This hairstyle can be done with long bangs or no bangs at all. This is a very popular hair style that adds dimension to other wise straight long hair.

When sporting a layered look, you must maintain the style by keeping the layers curled. I suggest rolling the hair at night in order to avoid putting too much heat on your hair. Sometimes when layers are not curled, they give the effect of an unkempt hairstyle.

Choosing a few layers for your mane can mean a move from dull and heavy, to light and airy in just a bit of time and a few geometrical cuts. Your hair, your style, your layers are now the hottest choice!

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