Five Hair Masks You'll Need, If Your Tresses Have Been Crying Out for Moisture

Your fast paced life, stress levels, irregular eating habits, pollution and chemical hair styling can turn your hair dry as well as lifeless. Dry hair is very weak and vulnerable to damage and frizz. 

Five hair masks for moisturized, healthy and smooth tresses

1. Coconut and olive oil hair mask

Coconut oil is one of the few oils that can actually get absorbed by hair strands, which makes it a nourishing hair mask ingredient. You just need to mix two parts of coconut oil with one part of olive oil and warm it a bit. Apply the mixture on the scalp as well as the hair strands and cover it with a shower cap. Leave it for 30 to 40 minutes after which rinse with water. Follow it up with your regular shampooing and conditioning routine. 

2. Banana hair mask

Banana is one of the best things that you can apply to your hair. It contains potassium that is great for strengthening hair and repairing damaged tresses. You can mix various ingredients with a ripe banana to make a hair mask including honey, glycerin, almond oil, olive oil, a little bit of lemon and honey. Blend the ingredients properly in a grinder, making sure that you do no miss out on any of the banana chunks. Once you have a smooth and consistent paste, apply the mask on damp hair and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes, preferably under a shower cap. Rinse with water and follow with shampoo and deep hair conditioner. 

3. Avocado hair mask

Avocado is a great natural hair conditioner and moisturizer. Add one egg yolk to half an avocado and blend properly in a grinder. Apply on scalp as well as hair strands and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse and follow with shampoo and conditioner. 

4. Rum and egg yolk hair mask

Both rum and egg yolk are great for moisturizing your hair and making it shiny. Just mix 2 tablespoons of rum with one egg yolk. Add a little olive oil and grapeseed oil in it to make a highly moisturizing natural conditioner for hair. Mix all the ingredients properly and apply liberally on the scalp and hair. Cover your head with a wet and warm towel for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse the hair. Avoid shampooing on the same day if you can. 

5. Yoghurt Mask

Yoghurt is a moisturizing and scalp-cooling agent that works wonders for dry hair. You do not even need to add other ingredients to it before applying it to your hair and scalp. If you wish you can add a few drops of lemon and almond oil. Let the mask stay on your hair for 30 to 40 minutes and rinse followed by shampoo and conditioner. 

Moisturizing your hair doesn't need to be an expensive affair. Just open your refrigerator and voila! 

Mastering Glossy Black Locks - When Tea Becomes More Than Just a Beverage

Have you always been stressed about your African American mane that refuses to detangle? Did you know that your energy-boosting cup of tea can also do wonders to your hair? Well, as surprising as it may sound, it is true! Here is how tea be the solution to all your hair woes.

Fights hair breakage: Black tea has high caffeine content, which decreases DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) in the scalp. This hormone is responsible for hair loss.

Stimulates hair growth: Replete with antioxidants and caffeine, black tea not only stimulates hair growth, but makes hair thicker and naturally shinier. Rinse your hair with cool black tea two or three times a month and you may not even need any shiny hair products for your hair.

Tannin-the super element: Tannin is an astringent compound found in abundance in green and black tea. It can effectively counter the dryness problem in Afro-American hair that is prone to dry, itchy scalp. Dryness increases chances of hair breakage, thus as an effective counter to dryness, tannin helps prevent breakage too. It also strengthens hair.

Essential vitamins: Tea is loaded with Vitamin C and E which are excellent sources of antioxidants and help in keeping the scalp healthy by boosting circulation.

Natural conditioner: Tea acts as a natural conditioner. After a tea rinse, your hair will feel naturally smoother, less frizzy and softer. This makes it easier to detangle hair without using artificial smootheners.

Anti-split ends: The biggest complaint of curly Afro-American hair is that of festering unknown number of split ends, which weaken the hair. Tea is a natural effective soultionto the problem.

Natural cleanser: Dirt is among the main reasons for hair loss and lackluster hair. Green tea can effectivley remove dirt from your scalp.

Scientific studies have shown that other varieties of tea, especially green and white can penetrate deep into the hair follicles, making them healhty. Plus, their caffeine and antioxidant content has the same desirable effect on African American hair as black tea. You could also try nettle tea, chamomile tea and rosemary tea, as they help stimulate hair growth and lend a natural sheen to the hair. While preparing a tea rinse for your hair, keep in mind that too much caffeine can actually stunt hair growth. So, it is advised to mix tea and water in 1:3 ratio (1 part tea and 3 parts cold water). 

Hair Treatments to Reduce Breakage and Tangles

African American hair is naturally curly, kinky, prone to dryness and notorious for being difficult to manage. Does that mean you cannot enjoy the mane gifted to you. Of course, you can! A little extra care and some simple hair regime strategies can help your hair.  Read on to find out.

The oil strategy - Do not miss oiling your hair before a wash at least once a week. You can use coconut hair oil as it prevents dryness and detangles your hair smoothly besides lending it a natural shine. Also, take care that you massage well during its application,  focusing on the scalp, not just the hair.

The right shampoo - The best suited shampoo for African American hair care is one that is mild and does not sap the hydration from your hair. This is possible with a shampoo  that has alot of proteins (keratin).

Do not forget the conditioner - Missing conditioning your hair is a sin because it will leave your hair prone to dryness, which can lead to tangles and ultimatelye more breakage.

Protein treatments - Apart from regular shampooing and moisturizing, you could also opt for a bimonthly or monthly protein treatment. The treatment will fortify your hair and avoid breakage to a great extent.

Detangling - It is important to blot out water from your hair after the wash, preferably with a microfiber towel. Make sure you do not rub your hair as this causes tangling. Also, if you need to comb you hair when it is wet, use a wide-toothed comb. See to it that you apply a conditioner or hair smoothener to your hair before combing.

Avoid heat - You might want to blow dry your hair after a wash or use a flat iron to straighten it, but you must know that heat is your hair's worst enemy. It leaves African American hair frizzy, dry and unmanageable. At least, use a heat protectant before heat styling.

Diet check - Lastly, the simplest, and most effective treatment for AfroAmerican hair is your diet. Keep a tab on what you eat, make sure it contains a lot of proteins, essential vitamins (especially Vitamin E) and plenty of water. These keep your hair naturally hydrated, conditioned and strong so it becomes internally resistant to damage.

Follow these simple tips and flaunt that healthy mane with aplomb. 

Mastering Glossy Black Locks-When Tea Becomes More Than Just a Beverage

Ever thought of pouring down a cup of tea down your scalp? No, we haven't gone cuckoo, but you'll agree with us once try out the recipe on your hair. Tea and African American hair care get along famously, just as Coco Chanel and the LBD do. A scientific study reveals that caffeine helps in stimulating hair growth, if used in small amounts, about 0.001% of it in water. Most tea rinses contain caffeine in them. The study also reports that a lot of caffeine could harm the hair follicles, stunting its growth, so address caution on how much tea rinse is used in African American hair care.

How does tea help black hair?

• The DTH hormone causes hair shedding, leading to limp and scanty hair. Black tea and Green tea help in reducing hair shedding caused by the hormone, by blocking it with the caffeine present in the tea.

• Many hairstylists use green tea on Afro-American hair to trigger hair growth.

• Vitamin C and Vitamin E are present in green tea. The Vitamins helps in rejuvenating dry, damaged hair, apart from shielding it from the negative effects of UV rays. 

• Panthenol, softens the hair texture, while reducing the occurrence of split ends and strengthening the weak tresses. Green tea has the provitamin Panthenol, which makes it ideal to treat coarse, damaged hair.

• Dreadlocks aren't that dreadful, but a dry, itchy scalp certainly is. Green tea helps in exfoliating the scalp off any dry flakes formed on it, making it suitable to treat psoriasis and dandruff.

• Nettle tea helps in improving the scalp blood circulation and treats flaky dandruff as well, making it a suitable rinse for the winter season.

• Black tea is known to strengthen and thicken the hair, so it emerges in healthy voluminous locks. 

How to use a nourishing tea rinse on your hair

Brew a cup of black, green, white, or nettle tea, based on what results you intend to achieve. Brew each  bag for not more than 1-2 minutes. Black tea has a high caffeine content, and too much of caffeine can harm your hair by stunting its growth. Make sure you dilute your black tea rinse and use it in limited amounts. Once the tea turns lukewarm, apply the brewed tea onto the scalp with the help of a spray bottle. Let it rest for about 5 to 30 minutes, before washing your tresses. Use your regular shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair, once you rinse your hair off tea.

Hair Treatments to Reduce Breakage and Tangles

Hair breakage is one of the most prevalent factors that affects hair growth. While you dream of Rapunzel-like long, luscious locks, hair tangling and breakage can bring her bad-haired evil twin to the front. The main causes for hair breakage in Afro-American hair are lack of moisture and forced untangling of the hair. Aside from these factors, heat exposure from styling tools like curling irons, flat irons and blow driers, also weaken the hair strands, making them prone to split ends and breakage. If you're looking for ways to strengthen your hair, and making untangling your locks easier, try using these treatments along with other black hair care products.

Hot oil treatment 

Hair that lacks moisture and is frizzy has better chances of facing breakage, not to mention tangling in stubborn knots. A hot oil treatment can help in nourishing the hair follicles from the root to the scalp, giving it a spritz of moisture. Prepackaged treatments, amongst other black hair care products, can be bought from stores, or you can visit a hair salon and have your tresses pampered with them, or even do it yourself at home! Choose a mix of coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil and castor oil for your hot oil treatment, so it hydrates your scalp and moisturizes your tresses.

Protein treatments

If your tresses have turned brittle due to the effects of heat and chemical treatments, a protein treatment can help in restoring its strength and elasticity. Light protein treatments can come in handy if you are looking at a routine care option. A lot of protein can make your hair turn crunchy too, so balance these protein treatments by using moisturizing conditioners, for the best results. In case the chemical damage on you hair is severe, you will need to go in for an intensive treatment. Many hair stylists and salons offer these treatments.

Deep conditioning

Frizzy, wiry hair, has a tendency to break easily as it is devoid of moisture. A deep conditioner made of olive oil, avocados, apple cider vinegar and Shea butter can ease out hair untangling. Or you could try pre-pooing your hair with a hair strengthening conditioner. Pre-poo refers to moisturizing your hair prior to a hair wash. A honey and coconut oil deep conditioner can work as a nourishing pre-poo. While the honey acts as a humectant and helps the hair in retaining its moisture, the coconut oil binds the hair strands to reduce the loss of keratin.

Five Natural Hair Treatments for Gorgeous Black Tresses

Your tresses are your crowning glory, rather than your drowning glory. If you have been at the latter end of the rope far more than often, then it is about time you had another look at your hair care regime. Here are some hair treatments for luscious black locks.

Deep conditioning

If your tresses appear dry and weathered, and scream for moisture, you need to calm them down with a good deep conditioning treatment. A mayonnaise and avocado hair mask acts as a deep conditioner for natural hair. Mix about half an avocado with a cup of mayonnaise. Squish them together until you get a thick paste. Apply this paste on damp hair and gently massage it onto your scalp. Wrap a towel around your head, and let it rest for about 20 minutes, before rinsing it.

Protein re-constructor treatment

Keratin, a protein present in hair maintains the strength and the elasticity of the hair. When subjected to chemical and heat treatments, hair loses its protein and turns weak as well as brittle. Using hair products that contain proteins like hydrolyzed human hair keratin, hydrolyzed keratin protein, silk protein, animal protein, vegetable protein, wheat protein and collagen protein help in improving hair texture.

Hot oil treatment

As the name goes, hot oil treatment involves using hot oil to nourish frizzy, wiry strands of hair. You can use a base made from canola, vegetable, olive, or other essential oils, and heat it for a few seconds. Remember that it just needs to be warm and not hot. Apply this deep conditioner for natural hair only on the hair ends and not the scalp, if you have a naturally oily scalp.

Scalp treatments

If your hair is limp and fragile, chances are it isn't getting a lot of nourishment. Try using a hair mask with two tablespoons olive oil, milk and castor oil, each. Add an egg, a couple of drops of tea tree oil and vitamin E oil to the mixture. Apply the hair mask on damp hair, starting with the roots. Your scalp may feel tingly due to the tea tree oil in the hair mask. Once you are done applying it, put a plastic cap over your head, and use your dryer on it under low-medium heat. This opens up the cuticles to nourish your scalp and tresses. Leave the mask on for a while, before rinsing.

Herbal tea treatment

Green and black tea help in improving hair growth, making them luscious, and reducing hair-fall. Brew a cup of tea, with one teabag in water. Once it cools, apply it either before you shampoo or after you condition your hair, so you can rinse it off once done.

Black is Back – Simple Hair Care Regimen For Shiny Long Tresses

Flaunting natural black hair is back with a bang and is here to stay for a very long time. Afro-American hair tends to be curly or frizzy and does not reflect light as much as straight hair, but can definitely boast a sheen signifying health, volume and bounce.

Most of the times products and ingredients used to introduce shine to your hair are also good for its growth. Maintaining a simple yet effective hair care regime can help you get hair that is both long and shiny. Let us keep it simple and black!

Hair care regime for shiny long tresses

• Make it a habit to wash your hair with cold water, even if it is for a few seconds. Cold water works on the hair just like it does on your skin. It closes the pores of the hair and smoothens the cuticles. This makes your hair reflect light instead of absorbing it. Cold does not mean that the water has to be freezing, but definitely cooler than the water with which you take a shower.

• Give your hair a deep oil treatment with oils like coconut, castor, grape seed and almond. All these oils are known to lock the moisture in your hair besides being good for making your black hair shiny. Studies prove that oil treatments are good for hair growth as well.

• Use moisturizing and anti-frizz products on a daily basis. Frizzy hair is basically hair that has disrupted strand cuticles, lacking shine. Lack of moisture can also inhibit both hair shine and hair growth.

• Always use a protective hair serum before opting for heat-styling aids. Direct and excessive heat on your hair can dry out and damage your hair, making it look dull. Dry and over treated hair is also prone to breakage. It is very difficult to add shine to unhealthy and damaged hair.

• Use natural hair deep conditioners on a regular basis to keep your hair hydrated. Good moisture content in the hair is a sure shot way to make it shiny and long. Experts also believe that moisturization and conditioning of the hair is the answer to more than half of the hair problems that people have.

These things are not very difficult to introduce into your hair care regime but will reward you with the results that you desire. Since black is back why not make it long, shiny and sexy as well!

Hot Oil Treatment-When You've Given Up on Your Conditioner

Hot oil treatments have far reaching benefits in comparison to the typical conditioner. They make your dry, rough hair softer, smoothen up the cuticle, moisturize your scalp and repair the  damages caused due to harsh weather conditions.

Hot oil treatments have also been used by beauticians in the treatment of split ends and dandruff.

As the hot oil penetrates through your hair to reach the follicles, it repairs damaged, dried out follicles by restoring moisture. The hot oil also forms a protective outer layer over  your hair, giving it a shiny, conditioned look and protecting it from harsh weather conditions, chemicals and pollution at the same time.

Massaging  your hair with hot oil also improves its texture and removes frizz. The hot oil strengthens the roots of your hair, fortifies brittle hair and prevents hair breakage.

So, how do you go about getting a hot oil treatment?

You can book a hot oil massage session with your beautician or buy products off the shelf and use them at home. You can also mix some of your favorite essential oils and pamper yourself with a hot oil treatment at home.

Choosing the right essential oils is very important as some types of oil may not suit your hair. Make a hot oil mix based on your hair type:

Jojoba Oil – works best for oily hair.
Coconut Oil – helps remove  dandruff, apart from infusing your hair with shine and softness.
Avocado Oil – is one of the most salve and moisturizing essential oil, great for dry, frizzy hair.
Castor Oil – works best on oily hair because of its “drying” properties. Castor oil is also great for curing thin brittle hair.
Sesame Oil – is known to cure thinning hair and slows down hair loss.

A little research will take you through a myriad of essential oils that each address specific hair problems. Pick the ones that address your most critical hair emergencies.

Take around half a cup of the oil(s) of your choice, add in a dash of honey or some herbs like aloe, sage, and rosemary. You could even add ground coffee (optional); mix all the ingredients well. Heat the oil on a low flame, while constantly stirring the mixture, till it is hot enough.

Apply the oil onto the roots of your hair first and work downwards, slowly, to the tip of your hair. Cover the length of your hair with the warm oil and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with water or shampoo it off. Avoid extensive styling to enjoy the best results of your weekly hair regime. 

Five Myths about Hair Care that You Thought Helped

With so many different hair care philosophies that exist today, it is very easy to get lost in the confusing labyrinth of hair care. This is especially true for Afro-American hair that is greatly misunderstood by Afro-American women as well. Borrowed ideas and misconceptions can make you follow certain hair care methods that discourage the health and growth of the hair.

Afro-American hair is different and is unique. This calls for a different hair care regime that makes use of black hair care products.

Here is a look at five hair care myths that you thought helped your hair.

Myth 1 – Washing your hair regularly will make your hair dry and weak

This is one of the greatest hair care myths that exist today. Water in actuality is one of the best ways to moisturize and refresh your hair. It also helps in the cleansing of the scalp and prevents the clogging of pores with accumulated natural oils. It is the use of wrong shampoos and the bad quality of water that contributes to this myth. It is recommended that you wash your hair regularly depending on the quality, nature and type of black hair you have.

Myth 2 – Regular trimming of the hair makes it grow faster

Hair grows at the speed of half an inch each month in the best-case scenario. Constant trimming will actually not help if you want to grow your hair long. You should go for a trim only in order to do away with the split ends and dry hair. It is only through proper nutrition and proper hair care methods that you can boost your hair growth.

Myth 3 – African-American hair needs grease for moisturization

Grease does absolutely nothing to improve the hair quality and has no nutritional properties either. The regular application of products with petroleum and mineral oil actually clogs the scalp pores inhibiting growth and circulation. Such products weigh the hair down and make it look lifeless. Leave-in conditioners and deep hair conditioners are the best way to keep your hair moisturized.

Myth 4 – Relaxers aid in the growth of hair

Relaxers are nothing but chemicals that are applied to the hair to change the structure of natural Afro-American hair and make it straighter. No chemicals are ever good for the hair. Besides this, since relaxers straighten the curls of natural hair, people may misleadingly feel that their hair is growing.

Myth 5 – Constantly brushing your hair will help the texture and look of the hair

Brushing the hair actually disturbs the hair strands and leads to frizzy hair that is difficult to manage. Brushing only helps in detangling the hair and making your hair look neater. The use of a wide toothed comb is better suited for keeping your hair frizz-free.