Hair Tip of the Day #6

Use mayonnaise to restore vitality and sheen to your strands.

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A mayonnaise hair treatment is an effective hair conditioner that can help restore vitality and sheen to your hair. It contains oil, vinegar and egg yolk, which are all natural conditioners and cleansers that help in adding luster and shine to the hair. Mayonnaise is especially recommended for dry and overly damaged hair.

Simply apply a liberal coat of mayonnaise on your hair, making sure to cover strands from the root to the tips. Leave on for at least a half hour, then wash normally.

Note: When doing my protein treatments, I tend to mix one egg in with the mayonnaise. You can try this, or just try using the mayonnaise by itself. It's up to you. 

via NaturallyCurly

Whole Foods Special: Giovanni Products 2 for $11

This week at Whole Foods, 

Giovanni hair products are on sale 2 for $11. 

Carrega's Corner: Workout &/Or Payment Plan?

By Christina Carrega

[Source]

Went to the gym today! YAY!

As I walked in I had my hair in a bun and was ready to hit the treadmill, elliptical and other weight machines.

It took me a while to make use of my multi-gender facility since I was use to going to a women's only gym.

I couldn't help, but notice the few African-American women who seemed motivated to be in the gym, but didn't want to move too much and God forbid break a sweat.

Sporting their beautifully patterned silk hair scarfs that covered their wraps which trapped the heat that is trying to escape their body causing them not putting 100% into the workout.

I remember those days of not caring to work out because of the worry of sweating out my perm.

Never more quoth the raven.

Although I have discovered the importance of health the older I get, I can't help but worry about the woman who aren't taking care of themselves just to maintain a luxury that only fancies their features.

In Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair, the Emmy Award winner, interviewed women who would spend thousands of dollars on Remi hair before going grocery shopping, paying bills and rent.

Is this truly what beauty has become? Something woman have to get a second job just to maintain?

Carol's Daughter Weekend Exclusive

This weekend, Carol's Daughter is

giving away a FREE 2oz. bottle of Hair Milk with any purchase over $40.

Use Promo Code: MILKWE @ CarolsDaughter.com

Hair Q&A: Can I Co-Wash My Hair Daily?

Q: Can I co-wash my hair daily?

A: One of the biggest questions I had after immediately cutting my hair was wanting to know if I'd be able to co-wash it daily. I understood the concept of a Wash & Go, but wasn't use to the concept of actually washing my hair everyday. Could my hair take that? Well, there was only one way to find out. I ended up co-washing my hair everyday with Aussie Moist Conditioner & my hair absolutely loved it. As my hair is slowly growing, I find myself not wanting to wash it daily because now it takes even longer to dry so I've cut my daily washing down to 2-3x a week.

So with that being said -- my best answer is it's really up to you. I know if you're going through a TWA phase, washing your hair daily can be totally refreshing as you can just wash & go. Plus, with it being short this is a great time to really experiment with different products and find what your hair likes and dislikes. Just be sure you're using a conditioner that is water soluble so you don't have a lot of build up.

Let It Rain: Welcome To Party Over Hair

By Christina Carrega

[Source]

The aroma of well-seasoned smoke from the jerk chicken pan in the air, wind is blowing in your hair and you don't even mind that a storm cloud is brewing. Its the most overwhelming feeling of "I don't care" that a woman can feel -- not worrying about her hair getting wet.

No more running under a store shelter.

No more buying $5 umbrellas that break as soon as the wind gust 10 miles per hour.

No more worrying about being late because you refused to leave the subway station until the rain ends.

And...No more wearing embarrassing plastic bags on your head to poorly escape the unexpected storm.

However, the transition from chemically straightened hair to relieving it to its natural potential is an exhausting revelation. If only you can skip explanations of what you're doing to others in your everyday life.

"What are you doing to your hair?"

Who hasn't heard that question more than once. Actually, there is no real way to answer this because YOU aren't doing anything to your hair for the first time in your life.

You're letting yourself live -- finally.

Well, not really.

That statement is a bit over dramatic, because every natural needs shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, creams, sprays, gels, mousses, lotions, deep conditions, hot-oil treatments, etc to assist in producing the correct style -- for you.

Whether you're debating on going natural by gradually trimming the permed hair off or you're adventurous and pulled an Amber Rose, we welcome you to the Party Over Hair.

Summer 2011 Hair Regimen

Between my hair starting to grow out & the high temperatures we've been facing this summer, I had to modify my hair regimen from the spring when I was sporting my new TWA. So here's my modified Summer 2011 Hair Regimen that keeps my hair moisturized & protected from the harsh summer heat.

• Co-wash: Instead of co-washing daily like I did in the Spring, I now co-wash about 2-3 times a week using Aussie Moist Conditioner. Once I finish co-washing my hair I apply Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner. 
• Deep Condition: I do a regular deep condition about once a week -- I like to usually get this done on a Tuesday -- using Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. As of lately, I've been experimenting with homemade deep conditions so I've been using the Organic Root Stimulator every other week almost. 
• Daily Moisture: For daily moisture, I use Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Conditioning Milk along with my homemade Spritz that is a mixture of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), Purified Water, Vitamin E Oil & a few drops of Honey. 
• Nightly Routine: I tend to two strand twist my hair at night using either Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Style Coniditioning Milk, Kinky Curly Original Curling Custard or nothing being as the moisture that I put in my hair earlier during the day is still holding strong. 
• Shampoo: I have yet to shampoo my hair since I've gone natural. I wouldn't recommend this for most, but for my hair it seems to be growing just fine without it. So instead of using shampoo when I feel its time to completely wash my hair, I do an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) wash. As far as brand of Apple Cider Vinegar, I just picked up the store brand at my nearest C Town. 

Whats your Summer Hair Regiment? 

DIY: Hair Growth Deep Conditioner Recipe

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To speed up hair grow, nourishing the scalp and clearing away of impurities is imperative. If you suffer from hair loss or thinning hair there are many natural organic herbs and oils out there to help. Try this hair growth Deep Conditioner recipe:


Ingredients:

• 3-4 Drops Peppermint oil
• 1 Tsp. of Olive oil
• 1 Egg

Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Massage mixture into hair and scalp.Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

Walgreen's Special: Shea Moisture Products - 2 for $16.99

This week at Walgreen's, both online & in stores, 

Shea Moisture products are either 1 for $9.99 (which is usually their normal price) or 2 for $16.99. 

Sale ends 7/31/11. 

Hair Tip of the Day #5

Drink Green Tea & Cranberry Juice For Hair Growth & Health.

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Drinking cranberry juice and green tea will boost your body’s immune system, keep your hair shiny, and skin clear as they contain antioxidants that contribute to overall good health. After a month or so on your new healthy routine, you should see an increase in your hair’s growth rate and an overall healthy glow.

via NaturallyCurly

Hair Type Classifications

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One of the important things when going natural is being able to correctly identify you hair type. Knowing what type of hair you have will make your whole journey a lot easier as you're able to find products that cater especially to your hair type. When I first when natural back in April, I was completely confused about this hair type classification system & didn't realize that your hair could consist of more than one hair type as mine does.  So I did some research & I found this great article on NaturallyCurly that pretty much broke down the types for me. The hair types include: Hair Type 2 (a-c), Hair Type 3 (a-c) & Hair Type 4 (a&b). I'm going to breakdown Hair Type 3c & 4a & b, since these seem to be the most common types found within our African American sisters.

Hair Type 3c - Curly Kinky 

• Type 3c hair has tight curls in corkscrews with the circumference similar to that of a pencil or straw. The curls can either be kinky or very tightly curled with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. The very tight curls are usually fine in texture.
• Hair Type 3c Celebrities: Heather Headley, Alicia Keys, Jada Pinkett-Smith

Hair Type 4 - Kinky 

• Type 4 is kinky or very tightly curly with a clearly visible curl pattern. The circumference is usually crochet needle or even smaller. The hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile. Type 4 hair can range from fine/thin to wiry/coarse with lots and lots of strands densely packed together. This type of hair has fewer cuticle layers than any other type of hair, which means that is has less natural protection from the damage you inflict by combing, brushing, curling, blow drying and straightening. This hair type is known to shank up to 75% of the actual hair length.
• Two types of 4 subtypes:
• 4a: Tightly coiled hair that, when stretched has an "S" pattern much like curly hair. It tends to have more moisture than 4b & has a definite curl pattern.
• Hair Type 4a Celebrities: Macy Gray, Monique Coleman, Leela Jameas 
• 4b: Has a "Z" pattern, less of a defined curl pattern. Instead of curling or coiling, the hair in sharp angles like the letter "Z"; has a cotton-like feel to it.
• Hair Type 4a Celebrities: Esperanza Spalding, Jill Scoot, Erykah Badu

A few tips to keep in mind for your 3c &/or 4a/b Hair:

• Use styling creams, butters and oils for type 4 hair
• This hair type needs extra moisture and tender-loving care because it can be fragile
• Detangle hair with a lot of conditioner in your hair and use a comb or detangling brush
• Let hair air dry or use a hood dryer
• Do not use a brush or comb on your dry curls
• Reduce tangles by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or wrap hair in a satin cap

via NaturallyCurly

5 Hair Care Mistakes Most Naturals Make

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By Jarmelia of DIY Hair Care Blog

1. Joining Bandwagons
What's a bandwagon? It's going out and trying techniques and new hair tools just because others are doing it. Every month there is a new bandwagon; co-washing, no-poo, baggying, Tangle Teezer, and others are all bandwagons. While these techniques can be beneficial; if what you're doing isn't broken don't try to fix it. Try only following techniques that solve a problem you currently have with your hair.

2.Hair Typing
Yes, it's nice to feel like you're a part of a group but honestly, hair typing is purely aesthetic. Yes your curls can look like someone elses but, it takes more than knowing your hair type to really figure out what your hair likes and doesn't like. You can learn a lot from people who don't have the same hair type as you do.

3. Throwing Away Products That Work
Don't go and throwaway that "tried and true" leave-in just because, you've now learned about mineral oil. Trust me, when you're having a bad hair day, you're going to be looking for that tried and true product. Again, if it isn't broken don't fix it.

4. Black People, Black Hair, Black Products
Please, kick this notion to the curb. You may have more in common hairwise with someone who is not the same color as you and actually learn some great tips from other curlies. Lots of natural hair ladies use Dove, Suave, Loreal, Aussie Moist, Garnier Fructis, with much success and these aren't marketed for "black hair". Just find products that solve the problems you're facing with your hair.

5. Natural Is Easy As 1-2-3
No, natural hair doesn't have to be difficult but, we all have our days. Don't go natural thinking that you won't have any bad hair days or even months! Natural hair has it's learning curves.

By keeping the 5 tips above in mind while on your journey it will save you a lot of frustration, there's is nothing like experiencing excessive breakage or slit ends and having no idea where they came from and how to stop them. If you keep your regimen consistent, you will get consistent results.

Going Natural: Ava Marie's Natural Hair Journey

By Ava Marie Warden of Im Living With Fibromyalgia

With a fresh bleach job and faux hawk, in July of 2006, I decided I was done with the creamy crack. There was no real reason for me to go natural; but there was no real reason for me not to.

With mutts for parents, I always thought hair was supposed to be long and full of bouncy spiral curls, like mine. Not in my family! Everyone had relaxers so I begged and pleaded to get one. My cousins warned me, "You have good hair! You don't need it." But of course, I just wanted to fit in. Getting my hair washed and blow dried was a 6-7 hour process, not only because I had so much thick, curly hair that tangled very easily, but because my mom had absolutely no idea how to manage it. She grew up getting relaxers, and I was her only child, so her experience was close to none.

Fed up, she took me to the salon and I got my first relaxer at the age of 10. After the typical breakage I was warned about, and experiencing no noticeable growth from constant cutting. Eight years later was the last time I patted my head to prevent itching, got a sugar burn that eventually got picked out if my scalp, and had a relaxer.




I've been natural for 5 years and counting. This is is probably the only real commitment I've kept thus far and I'm damn proud of it. Having natural hair is about going with the flow. Shake it out and embrace it. If you don't love it, then who will?

How To Prevent & Recover From Heat Damage

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A few of my friends who are natural or in the process of going natural have at some point in their journey experienced heat damage. Some of them were at the time unsure of what to do and even those of them that have overcome heat damage always question if there were better steps they could have taken to handle the situation. Well, I happened to find a great article on Moptop Maven's site about hair damage and how you can not only recover, but prevent  heat damage.

By Nicole of Moptop Maven

In the beginning of my hair journey, my hair was extremely damaged. The heat from my flat irons, blow-dryers, and pressing combs left my hair lifeless, thin, and full of split ends. Instead of cutting my hair off and starting over, I developed a sound routine and began nursing my hair back to health.

Heat damage also affect your curl pattern as well, leaving your hair straight in some portions mimicking relaxed hair. Here are are a few tips and tricks to help you prevent and recover from heat damage:

First let's start off with preventing heat damage:

Invest in the proper tools:

Golden Supreme Heat Tester: One of the best purchases I have made to date, this handy tool allows me to check the temperature of the pressing comb, which ensures that it is at the proper temperature each time I pass the pressing comb through my hair.

For those that use the napkin method [if the comb tinges a napkin with a yellow tint, it is too hot] keep this in mind: Even though your pressing comb isn't hot enough to tinge your napkin, it may still be too hot for your hair type. This is why investing in a heat tester is ideal. Because I have very thick coarse hair, I use the medium high temp rating on my heat tester. If you have finer hair, you will need to use a lower setting. Experiment with your heat tester to see which setting yields the best results.

Towel Dry Hair Thoroughly Prior to Air Drying: Blow drying your hair while soaking wet stretches the hair which can lead to loss of elasticity as well as brittleness. Use a microfiber towel to lightly squeeze out the excess water [don't rub the towel on your head, as it can cause splits and breakage] prior to blow drying.

Exercise the 6-10 Inch Rule: When blow-drying your hair, it's best to hold the dryer 6-10 inches away from your scalp/hair to prevent excess drying. It's also very important to keep the blow dryer moving so that your hair dries evenly and most importantly retains moisture.

Blow-dry your hair until is 75% percent dry, then allow the hair to air dry naturally or with the assistance of a hooded dryer. Utilizing this method also helps the hair retain additional moisture.

Regular Protein Treatments: If you relax, or use heat regularly it is especially important for you to implement protein treatments at regular intervals. Protein treatments are designed to fortify the hair preventing breakage, as well as correct any issues with elasticity. This is key as chemical and thermal services [pressing, flat ironing] can weaken the structure of your hair causing excessive breakage and shedding. Some of my favorite protein treatments are: Sebastian 2+1 and Dudley's Hair Rebuilder [awesome]. [once every six weeks is recommended]

Watch Porosity Levels: Hair that is overly porous absorbs more heat [and chemicals] versus hair that is less porous and occurs as a result of cuticle damage. This means that your are more likely to experience heat damage if you don't maintain the correct porosity levels. You can use products like Porosity Control, Cellophane's, and even Henna Treatments, as they all temporarily fill in the gaps along the hair shaft which restores normal porosity levels. [once every six weeks]

Use A Heat Protectant: Heat protectants are designed to absorb heat [which helps protect the hair], and help prevent the drying damaging effects of thermal styling devices. These products help seal the cuticles which eases combing and protects the hair shaft, as well as eliminates static charge. Spray this on towel dried freshly conditioned hair prior to blow-drying. I recommend Brilliant Damage Control by Aveda, it is absolutely excellent.

Recovering From Heat Damage:

Find A Happy Medium

If you have heat damage, chances are you have used excessive heat or thermal devices improperly. The key to recover from this set back is to minimize your use of heat for about 3-6 months so that you can actually see the extent of the damage. Over time, you may notice that you gain some of your curl pattern back as a result of improved elasticity and the overall health of your hair. This does not mean that you will not have to cut any hair, this just means that you need time to fully assess how much hair needs to go.

To put this in perspective, upon starting my hair care journey, I had about 8-10 inches of "bone straight" hair. After about 6-8 months, I noticed more of a curl pattern and only about 2-3 inches of "straight" hair versus the 8-10 I started off with. You may recall back in July I trimmed my hair; I cut about 2.5 inches all over which was the last of the heat damaged ends. In a lot of my recent pictures, I have more defined curls vs the older pictures I posted when I first started the site. This is partly attributed to finding better products as well as devising a regimen that allows me to have hair that is properly hydrated, nourished, and fortified [with protein treatments].

As the health of your hair improves, you will start to notice a difference in your curl pattern. This is why certain shampoo's and conditioners are able to enhance your curl pattern, as they are formulated with products to help impart moisture, and temporarily correct issues with elasticity. It is very important that you focus on the elasticity of your hair when caring for it, as this plays a major role in your hair's ability to stretch and revert back to it's natural state.

What To Do If You Have Heat Damage?

• Completely cut out your use of heat for at least 3-6 months if possible [highly recommended]
• Deep condition hair once weekly [20-30 minutes] with heat to replenish the moisture levels, repair damaged areas, and improve combability.
• Use a reconstructor [a conditioner formulated for damaged hair] once a month to fill in damaged areas along the hair shaft, improve elasticity, and bind areas of the hair shaft together [Dudley's Hair Rebuilder is amazing]
• If you must style your hair using heat during this recovery period, opt for air drying in lieu of blow drying, and always make sure to use a heat protectant.
• After about 3-6 months, begin to take note of any changes in curl pattern. If there are areas that aren't reverting [this depends on the extent of the damage] you can decide at this time whether to cut the hair gradually, or wait another 3-6 months to note any reversion.
• When you make the transition back to using heat, try to limit your thermal styling sessions to twice a month with no touch ups in between. Also use the prevention methods listed in the beginning of this post.

Rite Aid Special: Aussie Moist & HEHH - 2 for $5

This week at Rite Aid, 

Aussie Moist & Herbal Essence Hello Hydration are 2 for $5 until July 30th. 

Check your local Rite Aid to see if it's participating! 

Carrega's Corner: Hairy Asses

By Christina Carrega

[Source]

Nothing makes my blood boil more than ignorance and uneducated comments from people who think they are making a statement to try and be funny or sound politically correct.

On Twitter:

"Whatsup with everyone going natural... If my boo cut her hair its over."

On Facebook: 

"I wanna kno if I'm wrong! My girl! Says she's cuttin her hair! Sooo I said no! I Iike long hair! So she said she's gonna do it anyways! So I said go ahead cuz u won't be seen with me if it looks bad! Only @ nights.. And she's dead tight @ me..smh I can't win..."

Both of these horrendous comments received heavy comment traffic, of course, the Facebook one was more of a discussion since you can type more than 140 characters, but come on men.

What's up with men and hair?

Is it really a big deal if their girlfriend decides to do anything with their body? Well, first of all, if you ain't put on a ring on it then shut up and even if they did take those vows, still shut up.

Its just hair! Hair that will grow back.

Making the decision to go natural or cutting your hair shouldn't have to become a Who wants to be a Millionaire? debate or the final answer on Jeopardy. No life line should be used or a pact should be made with friends. Its not only corny, it makes the woman look co-dependant and not an independent that she should strive to become or claim to be.

Honestly, if my boyfriend, husband, fiancé ever fixed his mouth to threaten our relationship over some hair, that just shows me where his head was at in this relationship -- non-existent.

Free Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher Sample!

I'm all about sharing the wealth. 

For a limited time only, 

you can receive a free Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher by signing up here. 

Hair Tip of the Day #4

Use Black Jamaican Castor Oil for thin edges. 

[Source]

Is you hair growing lovely, yet your edges seem to remain thin? Try spreading a small amount of Black Jamaican Castor oil on your edges. For best results, I'd recommend using it daily, however you can use it as often as you'd like. You can follow with a wash or leave it in over night with a shower cap. You can also try putting a warm towel around the hair where you applied the oil for a deeper penetration. If you do this consistently, you should see results within a few weeks. You can also mix this oil with other oils, such as olive oil, jojoba oil coconut oil, etc. for more hair treatments.

Interested in purchasing Black Jamaican Castor Oil? 
Try BeautyofNewYork.com since the products are currently on sell! Let us know if this works for you!

5 Attributes of a Successful Transitioner

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By Danielle of Long Natural Hair Care

Transitioning from relaxed hair to your natural hair texture can be a very rewarding and interesting journey. Alternatively, it could be a frustrating and depressing mission. When transitioning, you are dealing with two very different textures on each strand of hair. You are focusing on an end date of your transition, and you are dreaming about your natural texture. The further along you are in your transition, the more of a texture difference you experience. This is not an easy journey, but it is a very attainable one. In order to be a successful transitioner you must have the attributes that help you reach your goal.

Successful Transitioners Must:

• Be gentle
• Be patient
• Be open-minded
• Be flexible
• Be observant

Let’s explore the reasoning behind these transition-friendly attributes, shall we?

1. Be Gentle:
Raking a comb from root to tip is going to a) hurt like hell, b) compound tangles and c) break and snap your beautiful hair. During your transition you will have two very different textures on your head, with very different likes/dislikes. One thing both textures have in common is the need for a gentle touch. Gently comb hair from tip to root, and gently brush, manipulate and style your hair. This will avoid breakage and the turmoil involved with knotted tangled masses of hair.

2. Be Patient:
Your hair is not going to grow out overnight. Sorry. But it will grow. And it will grow at approximately ½ inch per month. While dealing with the two textures on your head may seem like an eternity, it’s only for a predetermined amount of time. (One that YOU chose, mind you) And during this time, your only job is to relax, and keep both textures healthy. If you find yourself in the mirror every day with a ruler to your new growth…I urge you to braid your hair up, or get a weave, or somehow put your hair “away” for a bit. Patience is a virtue….best learned while waiting!

3. Be Open-minded:
So many of us have been getting our hair relaxed so long that we have totally disconnected with our natural hair texture. We’re conditioned to get a touch-up as soon as the “nappy” roots begin to peek out. Many women transition with visions of loose hanging curls or tightly coiled afros in their minds eye, while their natural texture may not be able to accommodate those styles. It is important for transitioners to be open-minded about what their actual texture will be so as not to be disappointed if their texture is not the one of their dreams.

4. Be Observant:
Are you paying attention? Did you notice how your natural roots and your relaxed hair responded to your last deep conditioning treatment? Are you losing more hair than normal when you detangle? Is your hair drier? What are the differences in the feel of your natural versus relaxed hair? Transitioners must be extra observant in order to effectively manage both textures. Being observant helps you keep your hair healthy and have a successful transition because you will…..

5. Be Flexible:
Paying attention to both textures is key in flexibility. Being flexible is key in retaining two healthy textures on your head. If you’re flexible, you’ll quickly change up a product that doesn’t work well for one of your textures and avoid damage. You’ll also switch up styling options that no longer work for both textures. You’ll need to have a variety of styles that allow both textures to coexist happily. This means you’ll either make the relaxed ends curly or the natural roots straight.

If you’ve got these five attributes, you’ll have an easier, more rewarding transition and reach your goal with less stress. Good luck on your journey.

Check out Danielle's Youtube Channel!

DIY: Honey Brown Sugar Scalp Massage

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Today I really have been looking for articles & recipes geared towards the scalp. Whereas, I used to neglect my scalp before I now realize keeping it moisturized & clean promotes for great hair growth. Nowadays, I can't keep my hands out my hair & try to give myself a scalp massage every chance I get, usually without oils -- anytime I put my hand in my hair, after briefly playing with the curls I do give myself a quick hair massage. Nonetheless, I stumbled across this hair recipe from K is for Kinky, which is filled with great articles & homemade recipes. Definitely going to give this a try tonight! The results to come soon!

By Kurlybella of K is for Kinky

You’re going to think that you are supposed to eat this but I don’t think you should. Though the idea of a scalp massage may seem foreign to you, don’t worry, it makes your scalp feel so good. I suggest using a finely ground brown sugar and to rub the scalp very softly.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsps of brown sugar
• 2 tbsps of your favorite conditioner (You can also substitute yogurt, shea butter, mango butter or coconut milk)
• 1 tbsp honey

Mix together and apply to scalp. Massage to remove buildup and impurities. Rinse thoroughly.
This works sooo well for hair that has buildup – you know, when you scratch your scalp and you have gunk that comes off in your fingernails? It helps to clean the scalp without stripping it and making it feel tight and dry.

Managing That Itchy Scalp

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Every few weeks my scalp gets very, very itchy and I used to freak out unsure of what to do. I've never been one to grease my scalp, simply because I was so used to getting my hair done every Sunday that my scalp really never had time to 'itch'. So once I went natural & starting having this problem -- honestly didn't know what to do at first. I asked my best friend & she told me about doing an ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) wash, which I tried & worked! What I've started learning about my hair is that since I don't use shampoo on a monthly basis, by the end of 4-5 weeks or so my scalp becomes 'dirty' even while I'm cowashing it daily. The moment is begins the itch I do my ACV wash & it's bye bye to an itchy scalp. Since I'm in the process of still finding the right shampoo, I still do my ACV wash after cowashing my hair. So during my research days, I found other treatments that cure the itchy scalp, as well as getting rid of dandruff. Listed below are a few treatments I found to help you with your itchy scalp which most recommend using with shampoo -- it's really your choice. I haven't & still get great results, but I'm sure the results will get better once I start including the shampoo.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water. Shampoo, or condition your hair and pour this mixture on your scalp and hair. Massage your scalp with your fingertips. You can now leave it the mixture for 10 minutes and rinse it off. Most people prefer to leave the mixture in their hair. Your hair will have a slight smell of vinegar for some time only -- mine pretty much lasted the whole day, but it wasn't too strong where it was a bother. This is one of the best home remedies for dry itchy scalp relief.

Peppermint & Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil and peppermint oil can be used as a itchy scalp remedy. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil or peppermint oil into a cup of warm water. Pour this mixture over the scalp after shampooing, this will help relive itching.

Lemon or Lime Juice
Using Lime Juice: Take a glass of fresh lime juice, diluted in water. Use this mixture to rinse your hair for the last time while washing it. This will not only remove dandruff and cure itchy scalp but also give a natural glow to your hair.

Using Lemon Juice: Rub some lemon juice on the scalp while wet & rinse the hair after a few minutes.

Oatmeal
Take 1/4 cup oatmeal and soak it in water for 20 minutes. Mix well and then strain the liquid in a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil and 5 drops rosemary and mix the liquids well and apply them on your scalp and leave it for 10 minutes.

Jojoba Oil
Warm jojoba oil is useful in moisturizing the scalp and hence easing & soothing Itchy Scalp due to dryness.

Do you have any remedies for itchy, dry scalps?

Carrega's Corner: Momma or Kids Say?

By Christina Carrega

[Source]

Got to love the hustle and bustle of the New York City MTA. All kinds of people on this 2 train. Hispanic, African American, Caribbean, Indian, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, European, Asian, Hasidics. The elderly, middle aged, the cougars, the sugar daddies, the B-Ballers and wait, what is that. No, no, I am not seeing this. That is NOT a newborn baby with some damn extensions in her hair.

This child doesn't even have a full head of hair yet and her mother got four Yaki braids on her baby's tender scalp. Sigh! Pound: IOFFICIALLYCANT.ORG

How young is too young to put extensions, weave or a perm into a little girls hair?

Now lets start by saying that not all African-American girls require a perm, weave or extension, no, its not a rite of passage for us and if you get or have one it should be your choice and not something forced upon you.

Allegedly, there are only three types of hair textures, Caucasian (European) Straight or wavy, Black (African) Course or curly hair and Mongoloid (Eastern Asia) Straight thin hair and as far back at the Thomas Jefferson days, cultures have reproduced with others to create life. This caused people to have more than one kind of texture and type of hair.

Throwing a perm into a young child's hair not only gives the chance of chemicals seeping into the scalp, but it destroys the natural follicles from growing the way it wants. It's like telling a homosexual to be straight, but he or she can't because they were -- in Lady Gaga's voice -- born this way.

Sowing, gluing or clipping extensions onto the scalp of an impressionable little girls hair -- in my opinion -- sends the message of who you are isn't good enough and this is what you need to look better. Little girls don't know where they like the color tangerine over orange since their life experiences are not as broad as their adult parents. They only know what they are taught and if they are taught that what grows from them isn't presentable or doesn't look good and that this Yaki or Remi hair will do them justice then what kind of message is that for their self-esteem.

Here's I little back story:
In my freshmen year of high school, everyone brought their junior high school year books to school and this one girl who wore a sown in wig, showed everyone her class picture along with baby pictures and I couldn't help but noticed that she didn't have one picture showing what her real hair looks like.

So, being the person I am, I asked, "Have you ever seen what your real hair looks like?"

She replied, "What do you mean?"

I cautiously said, "Well, [girl's name] all your pictures from the time you're a baby have you in extensions or wigs, what does your real hair look like?" and she looked at me and said, "This is my hair, my momma bought it for me."

Needless to say the question turned into an argument and that girl was never my friend again, but really she never walked outside of a hair salon or her home with her real hair.

In college, she reached out to me on Facebook and said, "Look at what my real hair looks like, can't believe I wore those stupid wigs and weaves all those years."

She has such gorgeous, full hair and she never knew it because her mother only showed her that a weave or wig was all that looked good for her.

So again, I asked, How young is too young to put extensions, weave or perm into a little girls hair?

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Conditioning Milk Review

Size & Price                              
8 oz, $10 (Although Walgreen's tends to have sales on these items!)

Ingredients                                
Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Isopropyl Myristate, Sugar Starch, Silk Protein, EssenQal Oil Blend, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Caprylyl glycol, Sorbitol Esters, Algae Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf and Equisetum Arvense Extract, Daucus Carota SaQva (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).


Product Claims                         
Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk detangles, conditions and controls curls, while restoring body and shine for thick, curly hair. Contains:

• Coconut oil: Hydrates and protects hair from heat and chemical damage
• Silk protein: Reduces breakage, strengthens hair, adds smoothness an silkiness
• Neem oil: An age-old ayurvedic oil that strengthens hair and provides brilliant shine

Suggested Use
Apply as a no-rinse protective and styling cream to damped, towel-dried or dry hair as needed.

The Verdict                                
First, let me say I absolutely love the smell of this product. It leaves my hair smelling so good. Second, this is definitely my go-to moisturizer when I'm dealing with two or three day hair. This was also my savior during my trip to Vegas a few weeks back when I had to deal with that scorching heat. Shea Butter does exactly what it says it adds moisture to your hair while making it feel ultra soft. I'll use this periodically throughout the day when my hair seems to dry up quicker than normal. This instantly adds back the moisture and body to my hair -- allowing it to feel light and bouncy. When doing my two strand twist at night I mix this with my EVOO spritz and I wake up the next day with soft, bouncy curls. This once again is another product I purchased back in April, and it still is lasting me to this day. I use about two quarter sized portions a day and it will leave my hair feeling moisturized for hours. Now that we're dealing with this extreme heat I'm noticing my once a day is now up to two times a day -- but even still once this is applied to my head the dryness is instantly gone!

Recommend This?                   
Definitely! This is a really great moisturizer, especially for those with thick curly hair as well as those who constantly face dry hair, like I experience during the hotter months. This product is definitely for you & for $10 it's well worth it. 

All About Henna

Although I haven't tried it yet, I've been getting a lot of questions regarding coloring natural hair with Henna. So until I have one of my lovely guest bloggers write up a lovely review & tutorial of Henna, I figure we could still be enlightened on the subject matter.

By Nicole Hollis of Hair Liberty

Henna is a plant that grows in the hot, dry climates of the Eastern hemisphere. For decades, women from North Africa, India, and the Middle East have used henna to stain their hair, skin, and nails. The red henna dye is contained within the leaves of the plant. After the plant is harvested, the leaves are dried, ground and sifted into a flour-like powder. In the last few years, henna has become a popular treatment option for African American women seeking more natural remedies for their hair. Here are the most frequently asked questions.

Is henna safer than commercial hair dye?
Yes, but it's very important that you only use 100% pure henna. Low-quality henna mixtures may contain additives like PPD to make the dye stain stronger and darker. Dye additives may cause allergy problems or react with chemicals that have been previously applied to your hair. Unfortunately, the FDA has approved henna for use as a hair dye, but does not regulate its safety. So, the seller of the henna is the only person who really knows the purity of what you're purchasing. Mehandi.com and LUSH Cosmetics are two suppliers known for high quality.

Henna is gentler on your hair than permanent hair color because it only deposits dye onto the surface, not inside the cortex. The effects from henna are most similar to semi-permanent hair color. Both are safe enough for fragile African American hair.

Can I get the same color results using henna as with commercial hair dye?
Maybe. Pure henna leaf powder can only produce a red to orange-red color. Different crops (depending on location) produce different levels of red, ranging from auburn to cherry. If you see henna advertised as producing black or brown shades that means the henna has been mixed with some other herb or product. For example, henna is commonly mixed with cocoa powder to produce reddish brown.

Since henna is a depositing dye, it cannot lighten your hair...only bleach can do that. If your natural hair color is dark black, henna may not show up at all or it may produce a red shimmer.

If your natural hair color is dark brown or lighter (including grey), you are likely to see a color change after your first henna application. The color should be subtle, but it will increase in intensity after every treatment.

If your hair is bleached or relaxed, your hair is more porous. Porous hair absorbs chemicals more easily and the henna dye may absorb into the hair cortex instead of just coating the outer shaft. The color may still be subtle, but definitely noticeable in direct light.

Henna is a very inexact method of coloring your hair. If you really want a substantial change in hair color, you're better off visiting a professional cosmetologist.

Will Henna loosen natural African American coils?
Sometimes. A quick Internet search produces thousands of results on the subject. The only thing we know for sure is that everybody's experience is different. If you want to loosen your natural coils, you can definitely experiment with henna. Any effect will be gradual. Most women who report looser curls say that it took 3 or more treatments to see any difference. However, if you truly wish to transform Type 4 coils to looser curls, a chemical treatment (applied by a professional cosmetologist) will deliver more significant and uniform results.

How do I get the most out of my henna treatment?
First, purchase your henna from a reputable supplier (see above). To get the most value for your money, choose pure henna with high dye content. Typically, 100 grams of pure henna only contains 2 or 3 grams of dye. The rest is just ground up henna leaves. So, for the most effective treatments, you definitely want the highest dye content available. Ask your supplier which henna they recommend to cover greys because that usually means maximum dye content.

When working with pure henna, the liquid that you use to help the dye release can impact the treatment results. An acidic liquid will help the dye release faster. Aloe vera juice is a great choice because its pH is low enough to smooth your hair's cuticles without making your strands stiff or dry.

Henna hair treatments have been done by North African and Indian women for decades with little to no instruction. Unless you're really hoping to achieve curl loosening or a color change, feel free to experiment by adding Ayurvedic herbs to your mix (supplier websites usually offer plenty of recipes). When attempting to change your curl pattern or hair color, keep it simple and just add an acidic liquid. A batch of high dye content henna can quickly become low dye content if you add too many oils and herbs to the mix.

If this is all sounding like too much guess work, try one of the pre-mixed henna bars from LUSH. They combine henna, lemon juice, cocoa butter, and herbs into one firm block that you just have to melt in a bowl of water.

The biggest advantage with henna is that you can do it yourself. Your henna supplier will give you all the instructions you need for a successful treatment. Whether your hair is natural or relaxed, a properly applied henna can add shine and softness to your hair. You can't count on any other benefits, but feel free to try it a few times and see what you get!

Hair Tip of the Day #3

Dilute Your Shampoo.

[Source]

Put about 4 tablespoons of shampoo into an applicator bottle (large) and fill it up with warm water and shake.

Buy an applicator bottle from the beauty supply store. ( I bought mine for $0.99)

Benefits:

• You get more bang for your buck.
• Loosens the shampoo; helps spread product throughout your hair easier
• Allows you to target your scalp
• Less concentrated; less of your natural oils being stripped out of your hair (LESS DRYING)

Don't like your shampoo watery? Add a pinch of salt and watch your shampoo thicken!

via ReignElle

DIY: Deep Conditioning Treatments Good Enough To Eat

By Alyssa Hawkins of NaturallyCurlly

Who would have thought that items that taste so good in your mouth would also make the best deep conditioning treatments? The key to these great recipes is remembering that they are for your curls and not your stomach (at least until you have finished the recipe)!

You’ll notice that these recipes have a lot of similar ingredients because these are what have worked the best for so many curlies thus far. Try them out and see which base product makes your hair feel the softest.

Special reminder: For some curlies, protein can actually dry out your hair. If you have find that happening, it might be best for you to try a different treatment or alternate between one of these and another one that doesn’t contain as much protein.

Sweet Avocado

The recipe:

• 1 avocado
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Honey

Avocado is great for deep conditioning. It can also be used for a quick softening, conditioning and moisturizing mask. The use of honey on hair is talked about everywhere. Honey by itself isn’t sufficient enough to provide the conditioning necessary, but when combined with other products it can make your hair feel softer and provide smooth hair.

Baby Banana

The recipe:

• Organic banana flavored baby food
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Honey

Banana is another great kitchen item that can help give you that soft hair you have been wanting. The key to this recipe is getting banana baby food instead of using an actual banana. When using a whole banana, if you do not blend it well enough or strain it, it can leave pieces of banana throughout your hair. You would then have to shampoo and condition your hair several times to get them out and that would defeat the purpose! When you use the baby food it’s already strained and liquefied so it can mix easily as well as still provide you with a great conditioner. Not to mention you have the great scent of banana and honey to accompany you throughout your day!

Cucumber & Egg

The recipe:

• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 egg
• 1/2 an eggshell’s worth of extra-virgin olive oil

Cucumber is a natural refresher so it’s no wonder that a great treatment would include it. It’s a great finishing touch to a deep conditioning treatment. Eggs are also great to give your hair a great smooth finish. An important thing to remember when trying this treatment: NO HEAT (including hot water)! The heat can literally cook the egg into your hair and that just spells disaster for everyone. Your hair will also smell like egg unlike banana, the smell of eggs cooked into your hair is not pleasant.

Fruit Salad

The recipe:

• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 avocado
• 1/4 cantaloupe
• 1 tbsp. yogurt
• Any oil

You might be hungriest after making this one so leave some fruit aside for you to enjoy while this treatment goes to work! The fruits in this treatment all work great together to give you soft hair that also will smell just as great. If you are worried about using the banana, substitute the banana baby food so you can be sure to avoid the chunks. If you have no fear of the actual banana, be sure to blend it well and strain it before mixing it with the other items. This recipe will make your hair smell fantastic and it will provide you with a great, healthy snack.

Do you have any homemade deep conditioning treatments you use & would recommend? 

Carrega's Corner: Admission Is Free

By Christina Carrega

[Source]

"Would you ever do that? I just couldn't," whispers a teenage girl with the 18" Yaki B2 ponytail to her friend at the Utica Avenue B6 bus stop.

"You ain't lying, if I did that, my hair would look like a mat," replies her friend sporting a bargain-priced lacefront from Jamaica Avenue, Queens.

"She's brave because I'd never do that," Yaki B2 said about the girl with a short, spiked hair cut since she just cut off all her permed hair.

How many times have you caught people giving your questionable stares in the streets? It could be your paranoia, maybe or maybe not.

Doesn't it make you wish you had a pamphlet to hand gawkers about, "The wonders of what their hair could look like without the weaves, perms or extensions."

Just like their doubting thoughts, us naturalist cannot recruit those to this side of the experience. Its a choice to be a natural just as much as it is a choice to be a sla...Um, I mean, to perm, weave or extend their hair.

Please excuse my somewhat bias tone about hair straighten, believe me, I was once an advocate for the perm, extension and wig.

So, I digress.

Becoming a natural takes patience with the texture, time for it to grow and extensive experimenting of products to find the right ones for you.

Of all these wonderful things to look forward to, keeping the health of your hair up to par is the most important.

• Regular hair cuts are needed every 6 weeks. This rule applies for ALL hair types.
• Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. Keep your hair moisturized its very important in the prevention of breakage and split ends.
• If you have styles like braids or double strand twist, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, use rubber bands to hold the ends. It will cause tremendous breakage, I learned my lesson the hard way. Use cloth based hair bands, they come off smoothly opposed to the rubber band's snap and pull.
• To use hair grease or not? This is a personal debate I'm having right now. I generally don't use it because it makes my hair feel heavy and forces me to want to wash it the next day, but if you need to use a hair grease make sure the first ingredient is not petroleum. For hair to grow, your scalp needs to breath and if the petroleum-based grease is clogging it, it is unable to grow. I'm learning that drinking those recommended eight glasses of water a day helps with your scalps health as well. So its up to you to grease it or not.

More tips to come soon. Stick around Hair, the Party is just getting started.

Do you have any advice for females that just went or about to go natural?

All About Hair Conditioners

The thing that surprised me when I first went natural was that you do not wash your hair with shampoo.. Well, at least not as often as I was once bamboozled into believing. When I used to wash my hair with both shampoo & conditioner, I'd never really allow the recommended time to leave conditioner in a chance. By the time I got to the conditioner portion of my hair wash my arms were fatigue from having to spend the last thirty or so minutes washing my shampooed hair at least three times. So once I went natural, I stumbled across this great article from NaturallyCurly breaking down what exactly conditioner is & why is was so important.

by Tonya McKay of NaturallyCurly

Most of us with curly hair are pretty well-versed now in the need for our hair to be very well hydrated and conditioned. But what exactly does this mean? There are so many products on the market that claim to be the solution for our dry, frizzy tresses, but which do we really need? Plentiful also are the words used by marketers and hair care experts when telling us what we need for our hair to be healthy and beautiful. Among these are humectant, moisturizer, emollient, detangler, reconstruct/repair, and color protecting. What do these terms really mean, and what ingredients should we be looking for if we desire some of these properties?

There are numerous types of conditioners available in the marketplace, so we will examine some of the more common categories. My hope is to aid the consumer in understanding what the proposed benefit of a particular type of conditioner is and also what ingredients can be expected to help achieve the desired outcome.

Types of Conditioners:

Moisturizing
Moisturizing conditioners are ones that help retain and/or add moisture, i.e. water, to hair. These types of conditioners rely heavily upon the properties of ingredients such as humectants, fatty alcohols, light oils such as aloe or jojoba, and frequently vitamins such as panthenol (which also act as humectants). Oils or polymers that form an occlusive film on the surface of the hair are also often found in these products, as they aid in moisture retention in the interior of the hair shaft.

Some ingredients you might see in a moisturizing conditioner:

• Glycerol
• Propylene glycol
• Panthenol
• Erithritol
• Sodium PCA
• Hyaluronic acid
• Sorbitol
• Fructose
• Fatty Alcohols
• Polyquaternium polymers
• Cationic Surfactants (Cetrimonium Chloride, Dicetyldimonium Chloride)

Deep Conditioners
Deep conditioners, repairing conditioners, and reconstructors all generally have a few properties in common. They contain significant amounts of proteins, hydrolyzed proteins, and amino acids, which can penetrate through the cuticle and absorb into the hair where they can add strength to the existing complex protein-based composite inside the hair shaft. These ingredients can also adhere to the surface of the hair and act as patches over areas that have been depleted of protein.

Well-formulated deep conditioners also contain oils, esters, or fatty acids, called emollients. These ingredients help to soften the hair and add elasticity to it. This is especially important when proteins are being used, as they can make hair very hard and brittle.

Hot oil treatments contain only or mostly oils, which penetrate into the hair after topical application by placing the client under heat. Some people enjoy the result they get from treatments such as these. However, the use of heat on hair should always be undertaken with caution, in my opinion.

Key ingredients in deep conditioning products:

• Proteins
• Hydrolyzed proteins
• Amino acids
• Plant oils
• Mineral oil
• Silicones (dimethicone and derivatives)
• Esters (glyceryl stearate, isopropyl palmitate)
• Fatty acids (coconut fatty acid, stearic acid, lauric acid)

Acidifying
Acidifying conditioners have a pH in the range of 3.0 – 4.0, rendering them slightly more acidic than most other conditioners (which are typically formulated to have a pH in the range of 4.0-5.0). These types of conditioners have a few benefits. Acidifying rinses or conditioners lower the pH of hair to or slightly below its isoelectric point (estimated to be at a pH between 3.0-3.7), which is its ideal state. At the isoelectric point the cuticle is tightly sealed, the keratin proteins possess no residual electrostatic charge, and the hair shaft is thought to be harder and in the state most protected from the environment.

Some ingredients used in acidifying conditioners:

• Behentrimonium chloride
• Stearalkonium chloride
• Amine oxides
• Cetrimonium chloride
• Citric acid
• Ascorbates
• Citrus extracts

Detanglers and Leave-in Conditioners
These types of conditioners are generally lighter than moisturizing and deep conditioners and contain a greater amount of water in the formula than do other products. Heavy oils and proteins are not typically part of these conditioners, but instead they rely upon lighter ingredients.

Detanglers and leave-in conditioners work by depositing small amounts of materials on the surface of the hair that act in a variety of ways to minimize friction when combing. Humectants are often used in these formulations for their moisture attraction and retention properties. Other ingredients are selected because they neutralize residual negative charge at the surface of the hair (cationic polymers, cationic surfactants). Some of the ingredients are included because they form a smooth film on the surface that provides lubrication and eases the force required for combing through the wet hair (dimethicone, amodimethicone, fatty alcohols). Silicones have an added benefit of leaving a smooth, highly reflective film on the surface of the hair, which imparts a high amount of gloss and shine.

Typical ingredients found in detanglers and leave-in conditioner:

• Amodimethicone
• Cyclomethicone
• Propylene glycol
• Panthenol
• Botanical extracts
• Glycerin
• Glucose/Sucrose
• Panthenol
• Cetrimonium chloride
• Polyquaternium-11
• Fatty alcohols

Color Protecting
Color protection conditioners typically will contain moisturizing agents, protein (or derivatives thereof) for filling in gaps left by damage from the coloring process, oils or fatty alcohols, and compounds that act as UV absorbers. Both UVA and UVB radiation can cause damage to hair and loss of color, so many products will try to include ingredients that can absorb in both regions. UVA protection is critical for those with chemically colored hair, especially red hues, as it is most susceptible to these rays.

UV absorbing ingredients found in hair care products:

• Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
• Benzophenone
• Polymers, such as Polyamide-2
• Salicylates
• PABA
• Dimethylparamidopropyl laurdimonium tosylate

Thermal Protection
Some conditioners are designed to protect hair from heat damage that can occur when blow drying or styling with flat irons and curling irons. These products almost always rely upon the thermal insulating properties of silicone polymers.

Ingredients that protect from thermal damage:

• Dimethicone
• Dimethiconol
• Amodimethicone
• Cyclomethicone

Many conditioners will combine different categories of ingredients, in order to have multiple attributes. Many leave-in conditioners will have sunscreen additives in them. Color protection conditioners may also contain silicones meant to impart gloss and also provide added protection against heat damage. Daily conditioners may include proteins or protein derivatives in order to combat day-to-day damage. So, when choosing a product, really look at the label and determine what the major components are and what you can expect the primary function of that product to be.

The role of conditioning agents, emollients, moisturizers, humectants, and proteins are to fill in the gaps where structural damage has occurred to the surface and interior of the hair, to bring moisture into the hair or to increase moisture retention, to impart suppleness and elasticity, and to provide lubrication along the hair shaft. All of these functions help to minimize mechanical and environmental damage that occurs through daily combing, styling, washing, and exposure to the elements. Thus, conditioners are powerful and essential products that make the hair more attractive, softer and more manageable, and less likely to incur new damage. As the hair is protected by daily use, new hair can grow in and remain healthy and strong, so while conditioners may not be able to truly repair and reconstruct a damaged hair strand, they do indeed provide much benefit.

Which conditioners do you use that you'd recommend to others? 

5 Curly Hair Tips That Will Change Your Life

By Alyssa Hawkins of NaturallyCurly

[Source]

Deciding to go natural is only half of the battle. Getting your curls to look their best can often be much more difficult and just plain frustrating. We put together a list of 5 curly hair tips that will completely change your life and the love you have for your curls.

1. Stop Straightening
Curlies in numbers agree that the hardest part about being natural is simply doing it. We are often accustomed to changing the texture of our hair, so it is hard to quit and embrace how we look with the hair we were given. Once you can put down the straightening tools and products, you can embrace who you are and work to get the best possible curly version of you. Say “goodbye” to heat damage!

2. Deep Conditioning
Moisture is key when being curly and one of the best ways to get moisturized curls is through deep conditioning. Conditioning daily is important, but deep conditioners are made specifically to penetrate your hair’s many layers and give your roots the moisture they need to stay frizz free.

3. Trims Every Six-Eight Weeks
The length of time that you can go without a trim depends on the length of your hair, but most stylists will suggest that you come in every six to eight weeks. Once you get in the habit of getting your hair trimmed on a regular basis, you will notice your hair looking healthier; something many curly girls strive for.

4. Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase
Second day hair is not something every curly girl can get, but one way to improve your odds is by sleeping on a satin pillowcase. Just as you don’t want to use a typical towel to blot your curls, you want to take that same care at night when you are rolling all over the place. The right pillowcase will reduce your frizz in the morning as well as keep your curl pattern intact.

5. Use a Sulfate-Free Shampoo or Co-Wash
While all of these habits are extremely important, this one will make such a huge difference in your curls that you’ll never go back to your old ways. If you shampoo in order to cleanse your hair, switch to a sulfate-free shampoo like DevaCurl No-Poo since sulfates can be drying and damaging to the hair.

Some curly girls are lucky enough that they need no shampoo at all and can get away with only using conditioner (co-washing). If you are not sure if you fall into this category or not, spend one weekend finding out. Your curls might love you for it and you can put that money you typically spend on shampoo towards other great products!

Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel Review

Size & Price                              
32 oz, $4.99 +Tax

Ingredients                                
Water, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PVP, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydrxymethylglycinate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Olive Oil, Fragrance, Blue #1, Yellow #11, LOVE & PRIDE

Product Claims                         
Ecostyler Olive Oil Styling Gel is made with 100% pure olive oil for deep down conditioning while maintaining maximum hold. Contains UV Protection and helps your scalp regulate its natural moisture system. For all hair types. Alcohol Free. Leaves no flakes, no tack. Anti-itch.

Suggested Use
Apply to dry or wet hair. Work desired amount through hair and style.

The Verdict                                
I actually have a love/hate relationship with this Eco Styler. When my hair was a shorter TWA than it is now, this product was amazing. I'd only this once I've just finished washing my hair & this is usually the last thing I apply have sealing in moisture with my EVOO. When my hair was shorter, it definitely made my curls pop & added a shiny gloss to my hair. Yet, as my hair has begun growing I'm not that much of a fan as I used to be. Nowadays, I don't like the way it makes my hair feel when I apply it on top of my moisture. When my hair was shorter, I never really noticed the 'dull grey' look I get once applying it to my hair -- but then again I feel like maybe it's the way I'm applying the gel as I apply the quarter sized drops of gel to my palm before rubbing it in my hair in circular fashion. It is true to it's word though -- & definitely holds everything in place. I spent a few weeks not using on my actual hair & just on my edges & that worked out just fine. Although I would notice by the end of the day, my edges would feel a little sticky and there are still flakes, nothing major. While not using the product for a while I realized, EcoStyler definitely helps with keeping the volume in my hair. Without it, my hair shrinks at a faster rate than with it. Overall, I respect the product for what is it and what it does. Some days my hair looks great with it, some days not so much. I just personally have to work on techniques when it comes to using this product.

Recommend This?                   
Definitely. It's a great product to have while trying to maintain your TWA. It will definitely help make your curls pop, as well as add shine. Definitely a great product to have under $5. 

Stretch That Conditioner

[Source]

Although I luckily don't have to deal with the hassles of long natural hair, I know a lot of my friends do. I witnessed my best friend go through nearly half a bottle of conditioner in one wash on our trip to Vegas. I stumbled across this article from Curly and Young explaining how you can get more bang for your buck by stretching your conditioners. All my long hair natural ladies -- take note.

via Chelsea of Curly and Young writes;

Now I don't know about y'all but I try my hardest to stretch my products, especially when they are expensive or ordered from online. So what do you do when you love your conditioner but its in an 8oz bottle and your hair requires a lot of it? Well here's how to get more bang for your buck with your conditioners;

Add Oils To It
Adding oils to a conditioner will not only increase its volume but create more slip. The oils will coat the hair strand allowing your detangling session to be less work.
Also the addition of oils will act as a light oil rinse as the oils will coat the hair strand so upon rinsing you will be left with softer hair.
Lastly you can take the time to use your oily conditioner as a DC. Simply leave it in for a little while longer with a shower cap and allow the heat from the shower to do the work.

Pre-Poo
If you are using your conditioner as a detangler then pre poo and detangle your hair prior to cleansing. This means that you will have less tangles and therefore need less conditioner when you hop in the shower. And I don't need to tell you that if you use less you save more

Add Water
You could thin out your conditioner prior to using. However, BEWARE. Do not mix all of your conditioner with water at once. Mix small batches and use immediately!! The reasoning behind this is that beauty products have a careful balance of preservatives in them to prevent them from going bad. By diluting the product you, add bacteria to it from your water if it is not distilled and affect the balance of preservatives. Then, couple this with the warm conditions of your bathroom and you have created a lovely breeding ground for bacteria in your conditioner bottle.

I would suggest keeping a small bottle on hand to mix a small amount of your conditioner and water to use in the shower. Also throw away excess conditioner mix as it will begin to smell as the bacteria grows or refrigerate it if you plan to use it within a day or two.

Note: This tip goes for all of your home mixes. If they contain ingredients that aren't things like butters and oils please use preservatives (grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E, etc.) or keep them refrigerated.

Hope this helped to keep your tresses beautiful whilst keeping cash in your pockets!


Do you have any other ways to stretch your conditioners?

DIY: Tropical Deep Conditioner

By Kurlybella of K is for Kinky

[Source]

This tropical conditioner is all natural and will leave your hair feeling very soft.

Ingredients:

• 1 peeled and mashed avocado
• 1 cup coconut milk or cream

I suggest using Chaokoh Coconut Milk for a few reasons. First, it’s super cheap at around $1 a can and it’s much thicker than most brands and has a uniform creamy texture — what most kinky girls like in their deep conditioners, thus you get a milk and “cream” in one!

Directions:
Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk in a small bowl. Heat in microwave for approx. 45 seconds. Stir. Test temperature. Massage mixture into hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap for 20 to 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse out.

For deeper conditioning put a hot, damp towel around your head over the shower cap (which you can use saran wrap in place of).

The deep treatment should be applied from root to end for normal hair and half-way through hair for oily hair. Tor normal hair, once the treatment is applied, it should be separated into sections and massaged into the scalp.

Why avocado?
In earlier times, avocado pulp was used as a hair pomade to stimulate hair growth. Its oil is still used today in several hair and cosmetic products. Avocado oil penetrates hair follicles with emollient oils, nourishing vitamins, protein and amino acids to promote healthy sheen and fuller, stronger hair. The mask offers a hydrating effect that is perfect for warding off the effects of summer heat.

Why coconut milk?
Coconut milk contains proteins, which strengthen hair and can help to minimize breakage. It also has properties which protect hair and scalp from UV rays.

Using coconut milk for improving hair growth is another simple home remedy for hair loss that some claim to offer results. It serves to nourish the hair and promote the growth of new hair. In addition, it keeps the existing hair in a healthy condition.

Options:
If you can’t get your hands on coconut milk, you can substitute the natural coconut for one of the coconut based conditioners, such as Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner or Suave Naturals Conditioner Tropical Coconut.

Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner Review

Size & Price                              
8.5 fl oz, $7.99 from Ricky's NYC

Ingredients                                
Aqua (Purified Water), **Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, *Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, *Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, *Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, *Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Leaf Extract, *Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, *Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Flower Extract, *Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, *Equisetum Arvense Extract, *Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Cetyl Alcohol (plant derived), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Citric Acid (corn), Phenoxyethanol, Grapefruit Seed (citrus derived), Fragrance (Includes Essential Oil).
*Certified Organic by Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency.
**Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International

Product Claims                         
Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner with PureOrganic Technology*
*Contains a blend of organic oils, ripe-harvested from renewable plants at the peak of their freshness, cold pressed and refrigerated immediately to ensure maximum purity. Infuses each individual strand of hair with vitamins, nutrients and protein for strength and vitality.

• Restores strength, luster and nourishment to abused hair
• Moisturizes & builds body
• Detangles for easy comb out, easy styling

To create condition and style, you need to go directly to the source. Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture conditioner penetrates into each individual hair to provide exactly what's needed, every time. This leave-in treatment uses enriched proteins to repair hair as you go through the day. It also plumps hair so it feels thicker, more bodified. Styled. Weightlessly. By infusing each strand with proteins, hair goes directly to style.

Suggested Use
Apply to freshly shampooed, towel-dried, damp hair and comb through to distribute. Do not rise. Air dry or blow dry for body.

The Verdict                                
After switching over from the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner, this Giovanni Leave-In worked miracles on my hair. The moment I applied it on my hair I could instantly see the difference from that of the Cantu. This product leaves my hair feeling soft for hours on end without having that heavy, oily feeling to it. Another great thing about this Giovanni Leave-In is for me, I don't have to apply that much for it to work it's wonders. Once I finishing washing my hair, I'll apply two quarter sized amounts to my palms and rub it thoroughly throughout my hair. This product mixed with EVOO will have your scalp feeling moist all day. Periodically when I do decide to detangle my hair, the comb slides right through. This product does exactly what it claims to do -- from adding moisturizing to restoring strength & luster. This has become a product I absolutely cannot live without. Plus, I purchased this product back in the end of April and I'm still on the first bottle still -- so I say the $8 was well worth it.

Recommend This?                   
Absolutely! I'd definitely recommend this to those with dry, brittle hair as this instantly softens & moisturizes your hair & will keep it moisturized throughout the day. This is just an overall great Leave-In Conditioner to try. It will leave your hair feeling light and bouncy without that greasy feel.