Black Women Hair Care – 7 Hair Facts You Should Know

Recently, I spent a few minutes  explaining to a friend  that cutting her hair regularly every month, won’t let it grow. Where on earth did that myth come from? She was also astonished to find that relaxing her hair every eight weeks was not something that she had to do. Apparently she was told that if she did not religiously relax her hair every time new growth appeared then her hair would fall.  A conclusion that she came to when her hair was nine weeks post relaxer and started to shed like crazy.

The problem with some of us is that we believe much of the hair myths that our parents or hair dressers told us.  Some of those myths are still alive today and unfortunately we are following these old wives tales and our hair pays for us following bad advice.  Let us take a look at some scientific hair facts:

Fact number one – Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body, second only to bone marrow. On average most hair grows at about half inch per month. This means that you gain a whole six inches of new hair growth in a year. Thirty five meters of hair fiber is produced every day on the average adult scalp.

Fact number two – It is normal to lose 100 hairs per day from the scalp. The natural life cycle of a single hair strand on your head ranges from two to six years. Ninety percent of scalp hairs are growing and ten percent are resting.

Factor number three – Cutting the ends of your hair cannot determine your hair growth. Why? Because hair is dead. The root of the hair is where all the action happens. The ends of the hair can split up to the root and that is the only reason why it would make sense to cut off the splits to retain hair  growth.

Fact number four  – If you maintain the ideal moisture and protein level in your hair it will not break. Hair breaks because it is dry or excessively abused. Most women complain about their hair not growing when in fact it is not the hair that is not growing but the handling of the hair that causes breakage.

Fact number five – Because of the tightly-curly, kinky hair that many black women are born with, structurally our hair will always need extra help from moisturizing or conditioning to retain our hair growth.

Fact number six – Moisturize your hair everyday as you would your skin. To prevent your hair from becoming matted and dry, you will have to routinely replace the moisture lost from everyday wear and tear.

Fact number seven – Stress and illness show up first in your hair.  Hence, hair breakage may stem from your mental state even if you are doing everything right to maintain your locks topically. Take steps to combat stress in your life and your hair will thank you for it.

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TIPS FOR PROPER NATURAL HAIR CARE DURING THE SUMMER

It’s very easy for naturals to neglect their hair during the summer months. We don’t want to spend hours on end washing, deep conditioning and setting our hair in styles, now do we? Not to mention that most people notice a change in their hair when the summer comes around. Products don’t seem to work, your hair may be drier–our hair starts feeling like it isn’t our hair anymore! It is important to figure out what it needs and why its changed. That’s why I’m here: to help y’all figure out the best ways to care for your hair during the summer!

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Whenever someone is having hair trouble and asks me for advice to fix it, this is always the answer I give them: MOISTURE! This is already a given, at least it should be (I’m wagging my finger at you furiously if you’re one of those people who only deep condition once a month). It is especially important for you to deep condition your hair during the summer months because while you’re out and about enjoying the wonderful sun, that wonderful sun’s rays are actually beating down on your hair, which causes it to be dry! If your natural hair is colored, it’s even worse for you because your chemically altered hair is already dry to begin with, so the sun can be even more damaging to you. Always moisturize and seal if your hair feels dry. Remember that the sun is NOT always your friend.

2. Different Hair Products

As I’ve mentioned before, your natural hair may change up on you as the warmer months come around. While I was transitioning and was on my usual natural hair video binge on YouTube, I never understood why there were videos titled “Winter Hair Care Routine” and “Summer Hair Care Routine”. Like, what? Don’t you just do the same thing all the time, no matter what time of the year? Truth be told, I thought these YouTubers were just reaching. Maybe they had run out of ideas and now they were just spewing nonsense about a whole change of products to use during the different seasons. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

If you’re hair doesn’t change at all, good for you! But if yours does, listen up!

During the winter months, when your hair is liable to be very dry due to heavy winds and frigid air, you’ll notice that most of the products in your arsenal are those that provide you with heavy moisture. Creams are heavier, oils are thicker and this all used to coat your hair strands to create the best protective coat that’ll fight against the winter air.

Now when spring rolls around, you’ll find that you’ll use these products less and less and when June and July is here, you may have stopped altogether. Why? Because now that it’s no longer cold outside, those heavy creams and thick oils are now weighing your hair down. Before, the cold was fighting against this coat of moisture, so the weighing down of products wasn’t very noticeable because a little of that coat would be gone each day (unless you moisture and seal every day to keep it there; good for you!) Now that it’s warm out, the sun is baking the laden of moisture you’ve put on your hair and weighing it down. Make sense?

How do you combat this? Change your products! I, for example, have switched my creamy leave-in conditioner for a spray leave-in. If spray leave-ins aren’t your thing, purchase one with a lighter consistency versus a thick one. The castor oil I used to coat my strands during the winter is now replaced with a lightweight oil, extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. Of course there are some exceptions (one of them found in the third tip), but for the most part, try to find products that will not weigh-down your hair as it does during the winter!

3. Protective Styling!

This tip may not apply to those who wish to wear there hair during the summer, but if you’re like me and can’t be bothered with your hair for the whole summer, than this is for you!

I got my first protective style ever last summer. They were Marley twists and I loved them a lot. The maintenance was not hard and the look was very different than what I was used to. For five whole weeks I had this style and it kept me from doing my hair throughout that whole time besides styling it every once in a while and doing a few things to make sure it looked decent.

Protective styling doesn’t always have to be extensions either! Buns, mini twists, mini braids and any kind of up-dos contribute to protective styling. Remember: if you can keep your hair in a style for a whole week or more without touching it up much, you are protective styling! By doing this kind of styling, you are free to do whatever your hair desires for the summer without having to mess with your hair. Naturally, if you aren’t using extensions, before you leave your hair alone for a week or two make sure that your hair is protected with enough moisture that will last a whole week. The whole point of this is to be able to keep your hands out of your hair for as long as possible, but to also not neglect your hair fully, a big no-no.

If protective styling isn’t your thing, don’t worry! I’ll have another post coming up soon with FIVE quick and easy summer styles that literally takes no time at all to do! In the meantime, comment down below and tell me the different things you do with your hair in the summertime! Also, what are your favorite products to use?

3 Magical Tips for Soft and Silky Hair

Have you ever looked at some people in complete awe, wondering what they do to maintain such gorgeous hair? “Must be their genes,” you say to convince yourself. Interestingly, though a lot is inherited through the genes, there are people who hamper their health by not keeping track of their diet and lifestyle. They adopt unhealthy habits and most often fail to pay attention to the importance of external care.
Today, your basic hair-care regime is of the utmost importance along with periodical herbal spa treatments to give your locks that extra dose of nourishment. Imagine all that sweat, smoke, heat and pollution getting stuck in your hair, ripping it off its natural radiance and health. While many may succeed at keeping their hair healthy, acquiring that natural radiance and bounce is not an easy task. No matter how long or thick your hair gets, the lack of luster, shine and softness will make it more damage prone.

The significance of natural ingredients takes precedence when it comes to hair care. No amount of artificial application will give you long term result over the sustained nourishment of natural agents. They are easy on the pocket and can be put together in a jiffy to give you the desired results.
1. Diet
Dr, Deepali Bhardwaj, a leading Delhi-based dermatologist emphasises on the importance of a well-balanced diet, “Your diet plays a vital role; what you eat reflects outside on your face, hair and skin. For healthy, shiny and lustrous hair you must not forget those green vegetables, protein, Vitamin C, Omega 3, 6, 9, primrose oil, and Vitamin E among other nutrients,” she noted.

According to Ayurveda, our hair and nails are the extension of our bones. The dhatus or tissues responsible for the growth of our hair and nails come from the bones. Therefore, micronutrients like zinc, magnesium and calcium – essential to bone health – come into play to ensure healthy hair growth as well. According to Ayurveda, a handful of white sesame seeds eaten every morning will meet your daily dose of calcium and magnesium. Your regular diet should ideally be a mix of 1200mg of calcium, 600mg magnesium and 60mg of zinc to ensure optimum hair heath.
2. Protection
“The first step to ensure silky, smooth hair is to avoid any kind of damage to your hair. External application or internal supply of nourishment will all go in vain if your hair is exposed to damaging conditions on a daily basis,” noted Dr. Bhardwaj.
Wash hair on a regular basis and avoid accumulation of sweat and dirt. Keep a check on dandruff or fungal infections. Make sure your head is not suffocated and enough air passes through it.
3. Nourishment
Hair Mask
“Applying a nourishing hair mask right after oiling your hair will give that added nourishment to your hair, which is much needed to make it soft and silky. Natural oils are usually great for softening the texture of your hair. Mahabhringaraj oil is ideal for oiling. You can even apply a combination of pure almond oil and castor oil or, sesame oil with olive oil,” shared a leading beauty expert, Suparna Trikha.

Take 1 mashed avocado and mix it with 1 egg, 2 tsp mayo, 2 tsp honey and juice of half a lemon. Blend it and apply on hair after oiling. Let it sit for 45 minutes and wash off with a mild, herbal shampoo.
Natural Shampoo
“Instead of using chemical-based shampoo, opt for a mix of amla, reetha and shikakai to cleanse your hair and give it an enviable texture,” added Ms. Trikha.
Take 100gm of amla phalli (raw dried amla), 100gm of reetha phalli, and 100gm of shikakai phalli. Soak overnight in water (2 litre), strain and use as shampoo.
External application of ingredients like eggs, yoghurt, avocado, natural oils, bananas and aloe vera has long been associated with rendering hair that spellbinding shine and lustre. Nourish your body from within by eating right. Stay away from artificial and chemical treatments and styling. Live natural, live smart.


Source: 3 Magical Tips for Soft and Silky Hair


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5 Foods as your DIY hair conditioners

Tired of having to spend tons of money on protein treatments and moisturizers? Have you ever wanted to make your own products but didn’t know where to start or what to use? Now you can.

All of these ingredients listed below can be used to make your own protein treatments, as well as some great coconut cream conditioners. So put your wallet away and enjoy some of these great tips to teach you how to make your own products!

Avocado

We love avocados. Not only because they provide your hair with protein, but also because they contain amino acids as well. Avocado is also great if you are growing out your hair and can help strengthen your lox while it’s growing!

Make sure the avocado is pulverized before applying for best results.

Yogurt

While yogurt supplies your hair with protein, it also supplies your hair lactic acid as well. The lactic acid strips the outer layer of your hair’s keratin, and makes your hair better absorb other strength building ingredients. For best results, apply before using shampoo.

Coconut butter

Coconut butter is known for providing your hair with all kinds of the same benefits as you would get if you were using coconut oil.  It helps keep your hair strong and healthy as well as make your hair smell wonderful!

Eggs

We recently published an article explaining that the protein and amino acids in eggs must be hydrolyzed in order to do your hair any good, but a lot of our readers replied saying that your egg and mayonnaise treatments work for you. We say, if it works for you, then do it! Some curlies like to use egg yolk as a serum to make their hair look healthier and shinier.

Mayonnaise

Mayo is packed with rich oils that work to lubricate and soften the hair strand. If you would like to hide the mayo scent, you can use a few drops of your favorite essential oil to mix in with it!

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Affordable and Effective Treatments for Scalp Clarifying or Hair Strengthening

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Give your hair the nutrients it needs with LaoFoYe’s treatment and have more time for a carefree lifestyle without worrying about your hair.