Showing posts with label hair health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair health. Show all posts
It pains me to see people being counterproductive. For example, there are women natural and relaxed that are feeling bad about their edges. It's all well and good when we joke about having our "edges snatched" but take it from me, when your hairline has density behind your ears, it's quite humbling.
Let me share a few things so others can learn from my trials and tribulations.
  1. Stop laying the edges down. When you Spackle your hair down and brush it so it's intertwined with your skull and then tie a wrap around it so tight your brain is seeping through your ears, you are cutting off circulation. It's very hard for the blood to flow from your heart to your head when it's so constricted. Try getting one of those hand massagers
    for massaging temples!
    you can find them in the skincare aisle or any chemist/drugstore.
  2. Stop with the heavy pomades on your edges. The hair at your nape is softer and breaks easily. Much like the skin on your face, it gets clogged. Be gentle and use a lighter oil. Pumpkin oil is good for hair loss. There's also Castor, Coconut and several other oils. Use what's best for you.
  3. Be aware of the cleansers you use on your face. We aren't born with a perfect circle for a face so it is worth noting that our temples are subjected to the harsh ingredients used to wash our face. This doesn't require a regimen of concealing your hair with a shower cap to wash your makeup off or cleanse your face, just be aware and look for dryness or brittle spots that may be a result.
  4. Be patient! Watching and stressing about your thin hairline will only cause you stress. Watching grass grow would be faster because we get very obsessed and anxious about our hair. Protective hairstyles, hydration, circulation, nutrition, and a few weeks of tlc and your edges will grow. If mine can, so can yours and I was a hot mess. I still have a long way to go, but straight edges and kinky hair? Right.
    I have baby hair and side burns....oy!
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In my quest to use up all the crap under the sink, I am again at my Silicon Mix.  I bought this product some months back whilst perusing another hair forum (some people never learn).  I heard this thing could take my dry damaged hair and turn it into fine silk like those Pantene commercials.  Sure, you don't believe everything you read, hear, etc., but these were reviews from people who have hair in ten times worse shape than mine, clearly it would make my hair at least softer?  It didn't.  I don't know what people are using on their hair that Silicon Mix would be the answer to world peace, but this stuff could be Suave humectant and would be much more impressive. 
Naturally, a fool and her money are soon parted, I bought the $8.99 plus shipping and handling size from Amazon for the 16 oz size.  I never go through all of that simply to get a small amount of product.  It makes no sense to spend the same amount in shipping and handling for a product.  That was then, this is now.  The directions state you leave the product on for 2-3 minutes and rinse depending on your hair's health.  Well, I kept the mess on for about half an hour with heat.  The mixture is less dense than pudding and has a queer scent.  It's not a scent I can put my finger on.  It's not floral, spicy, or anything significant, but it doesn't smell like chemicals either.  It doesn't have a clean, soap like scent either.  It's similar to Terax Crema, if you're familiar. 
INGREDIENTS : Water, Mineral Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerine, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethycone Copolyol, Cyclomethicone, Keratin, Ceramide, Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance.
This product calls itself an "Intensive Hair Deep Treatment" huge misnomer.  An intensive deep hair treatment doesn't have the consistency of runny pudding and will coat the hair.  This stuff sat on my hair and upon combing it through my hair (best way to deep condition and coat each strand), it still didn't feel as if anything intense was happening.  I will not repurchase this product.  I'm still shocked at the reviews, or maybe I've been fortunate enough to move LeKair Cholesteral (worked at the time) type of conditioning treatments.  I will blog my favourite intensive hair conditioning/deep treatments, because I think there is a lot of misinformation which is why so many women are bamboozled into believing their hair wont grow.  I will say this may be good on synthetic hair or to maintain human hair weaves/extensions, but other than that, this product was an epic "FAIL."
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It's too cold to do these pics, but there are so many unbelievers in the world.  Newsflash:  African girl grows her 4c hair (with chemicals) and defies her naysayers.  This is what I call my "trill talk" true and real.  I have never had long hair.  Yes, I went through a phase of wanting long hair.  But, I had it ingrained that "black hair doesn't grow."  Even white people believed black people hair grows to a certain length and stops.  Well, at that time, I hadn't known what I didn't know.  There were no forums, hair boards, and wealth of information like there is currently.  But, I promise you you can grow your hair to great "lengths" if you take care of your hair regardless of whether it is relaxed, natural, texlaxed, etc.  The rules:  You must be patient, you must be informed, you must learn YOUR hair, and you must have faith.  In the process of getting my hair to this length, I have been through many a sad day.  The last one was the day I took this photo, which was Sunday (wash day).  I wanted to shave it off and start over as a natural again. I miss having the fro, but what I remembered was, I didn't take the time for my hair in it's natural state.  It was a lot easier, but I got lazy.  There is a myth that natural hair is easier to care for than relaxed.  For me, that's false.  My natural hair may have been stronger, but it was a spiritual process and I had fewer people who supported my journey.  I could tell you how I had to wear a wig that looked like a hat on my head to my job and not one lawyer would take my case.  I could tell you I didn't get rude comments and the side eye at least twice a day.  People talked about me, my sexuality, my ... let's not give negative energy to the past and accept people are ignorant and when you don't know something, you use humor to hide your lack of understanding.  Well, the economy went on a free fall, I'd been terminated (there I said it) and needed a job so I texlaxed.  It was scary.  I felt bald, I thought I would open my eyes and have nothing on my head.  What's more, I had so much face!  Woah, who is that girl looking back at me.  Still have those days. 
So, here I am with my current waist length hair, and you know what?  I'm still the same me.  I don't get more dates, I don't feel more "black"  and I don't feel like I sold out either.  I feel like I learnt about my hair in one texture, and now know it in another.  I care for it, but there are still those days where I want to give up, but when those days happen, I post on the boards, write about makeup, watch something inspirational, THANK GOD for his mercy and continue to "do me."  I have had scalp burns, alopecia, psoriasis, burns from hot combs, flat irons, stress related hair loss and more, but let me encourage you to believe in yourself.  Hair is not who you are, but it's fun.  It's an accessory like everything else we don't need to survive, but I have learnt so much from so many strong women of ALL colors and I continue...that's my hairstory.
xoxo
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So, hanging around Sally's looking for acetone to get the New Year's Eve glitter off my nails (the only stuff that works) I saw this display for HairOne.  I thought it was for bikini wax or something because a) the display was near there and, b) the packaging.  The sales person came up and told me how great it was, blah, blah, blah.  I don't usually pay them any mind, as they are primarily useless, but they are just doing their job in trying to sell something for the day.  So, I listened to her mention something about this being a shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioner all in one.  It was also on sale for $10.99 plus tax.  So, I picked the one for dry & damaged hair because it usually has more moisturizing properties.  It come's in a 12 oz bottle with a pump which is normally convenient.  The amount of pumps is listed and is based on the length of your hair.  I used this in the shower and started by wetting my hair first.  I applied the seven pumps evenly through my hair and didn't really notice any sort of change.  It wasn't as silky as my regular shampoo, but this didn't lather, and is quite a thick product.  That's sort of a drawback of the pump, the product is thick; therefore, it would be better if it had a cap or came in a tub.  HairOne is sulfate free and doesn't have any detergents or harsh chemicals.  At $10.99 for a 12-ounce pump bottle, HairOne is much more affordable. A 16-ounce bottle of Wen sells for about $28 on QVC and on Wen's estore.  If you've wanted to try Wen Cleansing Conditioners but are put off by the high price, try HairOne.  It's a great alternative and for those people who are into doing the pre-poo's between their regular hair regimen, this product is great.  I will repurchase this and also recommend this to others.
xoxo
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Recently I had a discussion with a friend regarding natural versus relaxed hair.  I won't go into the debate, that would take another post; however, I can tell you how I care for my hair.  I've posted pics of the length ad nausea so, I'll just get to the details.
I wash and deep condition my hair once a week. 
I wear my hair in a protected style and only massage my scalp.  No other manipulations are done to my hair.
I use a set of products which has taken me more than twenty years to "discover."
I state I have relaxed hair, but I have to admit, I am one of the small percentage of women, whose hair does not completely straighten.  I have accepted this, and know a few others whose hair is the same.  I can put a relaxer on my head, comb it from root to tip (coarse/super) and it won't get my hair bone straight, I've even applied heat.
I have done EVERYTHING with my hair, blonde, black, blue, bald (yep), natural, braids, weaves, wigs, lace fronts, "natural relaxers" et al.
I think I've spent a fortune on hair products; however, as a child my mother didn't know how to care for my hair, I abused it, I had poor health for a good long time, and I truly believe God is taking care of my hair and I'm just the person physically taking care of it.  I have never had hair past my shoulders, I've had to get shots to stop stress induced hair loss and seen a dermatologist for alopecia.  I got shots in my scalp and if you are interested in what they were I would be happy to provide that information.  Currently, I use a bit of cinnamon and peppermint oil to stimulate the blood circulation in my scalp.  It's what works for me.
Of the six products, the most important for my is the Affirm Fiberguard Sustenance: it gives me the BEST slip ever, better than I received with Nexxus, which I have as a backup.  Aphogee has stopped the breakage, it is vital to my regimen, and I have to use it more than the recommended six week intervals.  Keracare shampoo for dry and itch scalp is the only shampoo which cleanses my hair and scalp without tangling it in the process.  There may be better, but I've used a lot and none work as well as this.  I depend on Joico for the Cuticle Sealer to seal and normalize the pH levels in my hair (apple cider vinegar smells too strong), the Kid's Organic Moisturizer is a back up detangler if when detangling, my hair is having a bad go.  I  will give reviews for each product, but this is my "arsenal" and it is possible to grow afro textured hair to your waist if you learn what works and how to care for your hair. 
For those who wonder about shedding, here is how much I lost this past week.

 
Also, I neglected to mention I also monitor the hair in the shower to gauge if there is an excess there as well.  I keep a journal in order to discern what's working, the amount of growth achieved, and the products used.
Hope this helped someone!
xoxo
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Hello Beauties,
Hope you had a great Saturday evening and Sunday is going to be filled with fun, pampering and preparing for the week ahead.
I was apprehensive to discuss this upcoming movie since the web has been buzzing about it in anticipation of its release. Well, after speaking with my girlfriend a few nights back about my hair woes and Tyra's challenge for "Natural Hair Day" I mentioned the Chris Rock documentary and she had no clue. Which was good for me, not everyone is a slave to the internet.
I am going to join Tyra, and figure out some way to wear my hair au naturel. I will use natural products and not color it until that day.
Here is what I'm working with. Note: I am wearing a hair tie and this is it natural, no product, no heat, no nothing. I will look a hot mess, but I love a challenge.
So...I don't know how or what I'll do as I am vain about my hair, admittedly. My partner will have to sign a contract, (no tugging, no pulling, no fussing about my product obsession, etc.) I care less about a prenup, but my hair? Too much money, time, and work and hopefully this film will enlighten me and help me to remember that I am not my hair. Who's with me? Can you let go of your hair obsession?

credit youtube

Good Hair Trailer!

by on 11:27 AM
Hello Beauties, Hope you had a great Saturday evening and Sunday is going to be filled with fun, pampering and preparing for the week ahead....
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