Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Immense Benefits of Aloe Vera for Afro-American Hair

Summer, more than any other part of the year, wreaks havoc on your hair. Drying out and making the hair frizzly, this can leave you with a tumbleweed clump of hair that you will surely not like. African American hair is naturally dry, that's just how it grows out of the head. A good reason for this is because unlike straight hair, natural oils take a long time to navigate through the curls and hardly get to the tips if the hair is even moderately long. Moisturizing hair is imperative to not only looking good but also staying healthy. Moisturizing has to be incorporated into your weekly, sometimes daily if you live in an arid place.

Aloe Vera gel

Among the best natural deep conditioners and moisturizers out there is Aloe Vera. It has been used for thousands of years as not only medicine, but also as a beauty product. Queen Cleopatra used Aloe Vera all over her body as part of her beauty regimen, thousands of years back. It has innumerable applications and one of them is moisturizing. Its natural make up and gel like consistency makes it perfect for use in hair.

Benefits of Aloe Vera

Listed below are a few ways in which you can incorporate Aloe Vera into your hair care program. This list is not conclusive and you can add your own ways and methods to use the 'plant bringing immortality'

Pre-wash

Rub Aloe Vera gel to the scalp before shampooing to get rid of dandruff scales and to restrict growth. Aloe Vera has the capacity to get rid of dead cells and bring back the pH balance to the head.

During Wash

The gel can be mixed with shampoo and used during the wash so that the drying out and resulting stiffness that is common after a shampoo wash can be avoided.

Post wash

Aloe Vera is a perfect post wash natural conditioner as well. It is rich in Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and keeps the hair looking fresh and healthy.

Although Aloe Vera has its long list of useful applications, there are a small number of people who can be allergic to it. This affects a very small percentage of the population and you being allergic is highly unlikely. If you do have an allergy or suspect an allergic reaction, speak to your doctor before continuing to use it.

Monday, July 28, 2014

How to Maximize Length Retention this Summer

Hair growing out longer and longer is a natural process and retention is something that should ideally happen on its own. The truth is that it does not work this way for a lot of people. This can be blamed on the amount of stress hair goes through in the daily grind. Styling, using chemicals to color, bleach and add effects to hair, harsh shampooing, hot or cold weather, pollution from daily commutes all play a role in damaging hair. While it is not entirely possible to completely avoid any form of damage to the hair, it is possible to repair and protect the hair.

Growing hair out to length and keeping it that way can be tough and in some cases, special care has to be taken to retain the length of hair. Here are some tips to hair length retention that can be of help.

Avoid harsh combing and detangling: be gentle

This is obvious but many seem to ignore the snapping of hair while combing. Even if it is done with a wide toothed comb, hair can break at the point of entanglement and even if only a few strands break, you will be damaging and weakening the surrounding hair as well. What you can do is use your fingers to disentangle hair. You will know where the knots are and can be gentle with it.

Moisturize

This is also very important. Natural scalp oils may not flow all the way down to the tips if you have really curly hair, so moisturize. There are water based, oil based, natural, leave on and numerous other deep conditioning and moisturizing products. Find one that works for you and work it into your hair care program.

Protect

Healthy hair does not only mean clean hair; healthy hair means there is life, with a bounce and a shine, so never hurt it, intentionally or otherwise. Protective hair styles are very important and apart from that, do not tie your hair too tightly or use sharp tight clips. A good rule of thumb would be that if your head head hurts after a new hair-do, it is a hair-don't.

Strengthen

Long or not, weak hair is highly undesirable. It is advisable to use a protein packed moisturizer every two weeks or so to maintain hair health. Protein helps in restoring and building broken and damaged cuticles in the hair. This can be highly beneficial in the long run, keeping hair healthy and lengthy.

So remember to be gentle with your hair at all times. Moisturize, protect and strengthen your hair  regularly with natural deep conditioning products.  

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Receding Hairline? Reasons for your Edges Breaking

Breaking edges is something a lot of Afro-American women have to deal with. Contrary to the popular belief, it is not always the result of chemical treatments. There are naturals who have the same problem, the common denominator being that everyone wants to know why.

Hair breakage can worry a lot of us, but hair breaking at the edges can make a lot of us conscious and put us in a vicious cycle of covering it up that leads to further damage. Let us take a look at some of the most overlooked reasons for breaking edges.

Reasons for hair breakage at the edges
  • Tight hairstyles – This is one of the major and common reasons for breaking edges. Prolonged use of hairstyles that put pressure and cause tension on your edges can result in an irreversible damage. Braid extensions and micro braids are some of the worst things that you can do to your hair. Hair at the edges is soft, shorter and a lot more fragile than hair on the other parts of the scalp. You need to treat them gently and keep them free.
  • Chemical treatments – Chemical treatments are a complete no no . But then there are some women who do color their hair to hide gray. Although not encouraged, if you have to, make sure you read the instructions on the package carefully and do not let the product sit on your hair for long. Chemicals alter the structure of your hair and rob it of moisture, hence making it weak and vulnerable, especially at the edges.
  • Lace fronts – Lace fronts are wigs with a natural looking hairline, that has to be glued onto your real hairline. Not only do they cause stress on your edges, but the glue used can also lead to reactions, rashes and allergies. We have all heard about women who had breaking edges due to lace front wigs. Do we really want to pay this price for vanity?
  • Bonnets – Wearing bonnets while sleeping protects your style and helps your hair retain moisture. But this happens, only in case of satin bonnets or head covers. Cotton head covers can cause friction on your edges leading to hair breakage along the hairline.
Afro-American hair needs a tender and loving approach to thrive. Special attention has to be paid to the edges of the hair. They are naturally the most vulnerable part of the hair and can easily get damaged. 

Monday, July 21, 2014

Hair Care Practices for Children

Afro-American parents can have a hard time taking care of their children’s crazy curls and kinks. Children have a rough and tough lifestyle and treat their hair with abandon and precisely why you need to step in. You can transform a child’s hair care routine into some quality time to spend together with some of the following tips. And no, it need not be painful or a chore.

Useful hair care practices for young little ones
  • Moisturizing – Swimming lessons, playground fun and frolic and exposure to sun can all take a toll on your child’s hair, making it very dry and sometimes even brittle. The good news is that the solution is as simple as regular moisturizing. Oil based deep conditioning treatments before shampooing is a great way to protect your child’s hair.
Do not forget to mix a little of those oils in the shampoo as well. Children need to have a neat appearance and manageable hair in order to focus on developmental processes. It is absolutely OK for them to have nourishing oils in their hair at all times. What is more, it helps you style their hair in braids and knots quite easily!
  • Pay close attention to the scalp – Good and clean scalp is the basis of good and strong hair. Pamper your child’s scalp with clarifying shampoos and nourishing oils on a regular basis. Remember that children may end up sweating a lot due to their physically demanding routines.
  • Gentle detangling – Never put your child through the painful process of dry hair detangling. It can put them off hair care completely. Use the wet detangling method and make use of your fingers and wide-toothed comb to remove tangles and knots from your little one’s hair.
  • Cool styles – It is great to have your child’s hair in protective styles. It promotes hair growth and keeps their hair tidy. But at the same time, doing up their hair in cool styles and experimenting with twists, braids and knots can brighten up your child’s day. Falling in love with your hair is the first step towards taking care of your hair.
But most important hair practice for your child is your attitude towards Afro-American hair. Love, appreciation and good words for children’s hair have the power to build their outlook on Afro-American hair and make them see it as a positive. You do not want them to struggle with chemically altered hair now, do you? 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

How To Get Robust Twist-outs With Fine Hair

Afro-American women with fine hair can have a hard time maintaining hairstyles. Either the hair is too fine and dries quickly or has a curl pattern that is stubborn and cannot hold on to wet sets. In such situations, women with fine hair end up taking help from heat styling to make their curls robust and stay the same for longer.

Women also try applying styling products on their hair to try and achieve a wet set, but it works on the contrary. Leave-in products in the hair further define and develop the natural curl pattern, making it difficult for the hair to acquire a different curl or twist pattern. However, you need not worry. There is a way in which you can get robust twist-outs with fine hair without resorting to heat or the hassle of wet sets.

Getting robust curls without heat
  • Pre-poo – Treating your hair with pre-poo or deep conditioning with coconut oil helps in getting a good hair texture. Using steam heat for better absorption is helpful and shows visible results.
  • Conditioning – Wash your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo free from sulphates. Remember to apply a deep conditioner for natural hair after rinsing off the shampoo. Leave it to work on your hair for a few minutes and detangle with your fingers while rinsing the conditioner.
  • Making twists - The next step requires you to make big twists in your hair. There should be four in total, two in the front and two at the back.
  • T-shirt drying - After getting done with your bathing, tie a soft t-shirt around your hair. The fabric of the t-shirt will absorb all the extra moisture and water from the hair. Let the t-shirt be for 15 to 20 minutes. After this, remove the covering and let your hair air dry. The time can range from around half an hour. Since no styling products or leave-in conditioners have been used, the hair will tend to dry out quickly, taking lesser time.
  • Making twist-outs - When your hair seems a little manageable, open any one of the twists. Use your fingers or a wide toothed comb to separate clumps of curls, focusing on the roots. The hair at this time should be almost dry, but not completely. Then divide the section in two twists, made with two strands each. Repeat for other sections and you will get 8 twists in total.
  • It is important to seal the ends with some serum for softening.
  • Roll the twists over flexi rods almost half way through. Let the hair dry completely (Approx. a couple of hours) and unroll to get luxurious and robust twist-outs.
This may need some time to perfect, but the results are amazing. The benefit: no heat styling. 

Monday, July 14, 2014

Hair Spritz For Summers

Summers are the time to enjoy a range of hairstyle that are fun, flirty and easy to manage. However, all the fun can be spoiled by dryness, which is one of the major hair challenges in summers. Even newly moisturized hair can turn dry and look unhealthy after spending some time in the hot sun. Living in areas with dry summers does not help either. 

This is where hair spritz comes to the rescue. A spritz is basically a combination of various liquids that has to be sprayed lightly over your hair to freshen it up. Using spritz in the summers can provide the required moisture to your hair, while helping you maintain your hairstyle. 

A quick summer spritz recipe

All the ingredients that you will need to make your very own summer spritz are easily available in the next-door supermarket. If you have already been taking care of your tresses with natural hair products for dry hair, you will most likely have them with you. 

All you need is a spritz bottle, some glycerin, a few drops of any essential oil and water. Take a clean spritz bottle and pour three tablespoons of glycerin in it. Add around 10 drops of any essential oil of your choice like rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, or orange. Close the cap and shake the bottle a little to emulsify the two ingredients. Next add water, about half a cup, and shake it again with the cap on. This time you will have to keep shaking it for a few minutes so that all the components get mixed together properly. 

Things to keep in mind

The key to making a good spritz is keeping to the specified quantities of the ingredients. If you think the water in your area is heavy with hard salts and mineral content, it is best to use distilled water for the spritz. Hard water will not allow the other components to mix well together, giving you a summer spritz that doesn’t work at all. 

The glycerin in the spritz is a humectant. This means that it will attract available moisture from the air around and deposit it to your hair. The spritz works well when used in moderation. Too much of the spritz and you could end up with hair that is flat without definition. You may want to consider a different ingredient like rosewater or aloe vera juice, instead of glycerin if you have your hair styled in braids, twists-outs or knots. 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

How to Use Glycerin For Your Hair in Summers?

Glycerin is a great substance for your hair. It is a hydrating agent that helps in increasing water content in your hair cell membrane by absorbing water available in the environment. It is precisely due to this reason that the use of glycerin has to be regulated in summers when humidity in the air is higher than usual. A combination of high humidity and excessive use of glycerin can make the hair flat and over hydrated, which is not good for curl definition and bounce.

Ways to use glycerin in summers
  • For curl definition – Too much glycerin is not good for curl definition and if you are one who loves your curls and like to have fun with your hair, this is what you should do. Make sure that glycerin does not feature in the top few ingredients in the product composition list. The order of listing is always based on the amount of the substance used in the product. You want some glycerin but not a lot.
  • Application on wet hair – Glycerin is a hydrating agent, which means that it absorbs moisture from the environment. If you apply glycerin or products that have high glycerin content on wet hair, your hair will never seem to dry out and never be ready for styling.
  • Light refreshers – Women usually need something to freshen up their hairstyles in the middle of the week without washing their hair. Glycerin works beautifully as a mid-week light refresher for your hair. This is because by this time, the hair strands are not as receptive to the function of glycerin as they are when newly washed.
  • Listen to your hair – If you have hair that just loves glycerin pampering, there is a way to make use of it in your twist out and braided hairstyles. Begin with a very small amount of glycerin based styling product and gradually increase its quantity. Keep the twists and braids for a few days, giving your hair time to completely air dry. This way, your hair has received its dose of glycerin and has successfully held on to a hairstyle as well.


These are just general observations that could help you regulate glycerin use. The first and foremost rule is to do what suits your hair the best and if it needs glycerin even in summers, do not hesitate to go for it! 

Monday, July 7, 2014

Are You Sure It Is Dandruff?

Dandruff is in its mildest forms is just the flaking of the dead skin of the scalp. More often than not, it can easily be tackled with the use of shampoos and cleansers. However, there are times when factors like fungal infections can result in the flaking of the skin and may require the use of medicated shampoos and application of certain specialized oils like teat-tree oil for complete treatment.

If you have been experiencing dandruff that refuses to go away, you must stop and ask yourself if the flakes that you see on your hair and shoulders are really dandruff or something else.

Conditions that can be easily mistaken for dandruff
  • Buildup of hair care products – It is very easy for hair care products like conditioners, oils, serums, and gels to get trapped near the roots of the hair on the scalp. If the product hasn't been rinsed properly, it can start to flake just like dandruff. These flakes are oilier to touch and can even cause itching. Use a scalp cleanser and thoroughly rinse your scalp and hair everyday to prevent this condition.
  • Dry scalp – This may be the simplest explanation for flakes in your hair. Sometimes, the scalp can become dry in winters or due to use of certain shampoos. Not hydrating your body and hair enough can also give rise to this condition. The scalp skin starts to flake and may look like dandruff to you when actually it is not.
  • Other scalp conditions – There are certain scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis that can cause the bild up of flake in the scalp. Understanding and studying the kind of flaking you are experiencing is the key to know the difference between these conditions and dandruff. While seborrheic dermatitis produces very oily flakes, psoriasis produces thick and dry flakes that may be found on other parts of the body as well. Flaking in these conditions is just one of the symptoms and not the only symptom, as is usually the case with dandruff.
If you think that you may be suffering from any of the above conditions, immediate measures can be taken to bring the situation under control. Dry scalp and product buildup can be easily tackled at home. If you think you may have a scalp condition, it is best to undergo treatment and obtain guidance from a dermatologist without delay. 

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Tried and Tested Ways to Make Your Hair Stronger

Afro-American women genetically have very delicate hair that tends to break very easily. Any hair care regime for such hair should include hair-strengthening measures to increase the elasticity of the hair, leading to a reduction in breakage.

Proven ways to make your hair stronger

  • Water intake – Water and water-based drinks have a mineral called orthosilicic acid (a form of silicon) that is very important for the health of your hair. Found in almost all kinds of human tissues, studies have shown that its intake can positively impact the hair’s strength and elasticity. While there are supplements for the same available in the market, just increasing your water intake can give you promising results. 


  • Proteins – Hair is primarily made up of proteins and treating your hair with external proteins in small quantities can be helpful in strengthening weak and damaged hair. Damaged hair is basically hair that has a weak protein structure and is unable to tolerate stress of any kind. Going for protein treatments and using natural hair conditioners that have proteins or amino acids can be helpful. These elements can externally repair pores and cracks that have developed on the hair by binding them briefly. Proteins also help the hair and scalp in retaining their natural moisture.


  • Humectants – This works best for hair that has not been chemically treated. Humectants like glycerin, aloe vera and honey help in the retention of water in the hair, increasing its elasticity and flexibility. Strong hair can stretch without breaking. You can use these humectants while detangling your hair, or you can even consider applying leave in conditioning products with these ingredients. 


  • Protect from sun – Ultra Violet radiations from the sun are known to cause damage to the hair. UV rays damage the hair by breaking or weakening the protein structure that makes up the hair. Make sure that you cover your hair with a hat, cap or a scarf if you are going to be spending a lot of time in the sunshine.

Simple measures and small steps can go a long way in keeping your hair healthy and strong. The above-mentioned ways to make your precious hair stronger can easily be adopted in any hair care regime. All that one needs to do is to buy the right products and do some preventive work.