Dry Hair Woes – Faulty Moisturizing Routine

Afro-American hair is genetically dry and weak as compared to the other hair types. Moisturizing is one of the most important and best African American hair care practices to keep your hair healthy and long. However, moisturizing has to be done in a proper way for it to be effective and give desired results.

Here is a look at some moisturizing practices that are faulty and do not impact your hair in any positive way:

• Using too much of grease, petroleum jelly, butter and heavy oil to moisturize your hair – Most of these products work as sealing agents. They coat the hair strands, often clogging the pores and making it difficult for moisture to penetrate inside the cuticles. However, oils like coconut oil, almond oil, and olive oil in addition to cream-based moisturizers, are able to penetrate inside the hair cuticles to moisturize the hair from within.

• Not moisturizing enough – You do not have to wait for the hair to become excessively dry and brittle before you moisturize your tresses. Even if the hair looks and feels alright, it is best to moisturize your hair on a regular basis. This will prevent you from going into damage control mode and it will also be an effective way to always keep your hair hydrated.

• Moisturizing unwashed hair – The objective of any good moisturizer is to seep into the hair cuticles for hydration and bounce. Applying moisturizers over hair that is dirty with grime and styling products will not allow this to happen, making the entire process ineffective. Washing your hair with shampoo at least once a week will make sure that the cuticles can breathe and absorb the moisturizers.

• Not sealing in the moisturizers – Only water-based moisturizers manage to hydrate your hair. Since water can easily get evaporated, it is important to seal the cuticles after you moisturize your hair, to lock in the goodness.

• Not moisturizing after using shampoo – Using shampoo frequently can actually strip away some of the natural oils from your hair strands. Using moisturizers and conditioners after shampooing can easily re-hydrate your hair, while keep it clean.

• Applying moisturizers on the roots – It is the ends of the hair, the part that is the oldest that needs the most care, nutrients and hydration. Applying moisturizers only to the roots of the hair is going to be as ineffective as not applying anything at all.

Hair has to be moisturized on a regular basis to keep it hydrated, healthy, bouncy and shiny.  

Prerequisites for Moisturizing Hair before Shampooing

Pre-poo or pre-shampoo acts as a conditioner for natural hair prior to it being washed. Shampooing hair can often strip it off moisture and render it dry. Pre-pooing can reduce the chances of hair drying or breakage due to the inherently fragile nature of Afro American hair.

Pre-pooing benefits

• Reduces breakage - Natural hair with kinky curls have a tendency to be at their fragile best when they are soaking wet. If your hair breakage and shedding tendencies are more prevalent when you wash your hair, a pre-poo can make your tresses stronger.
• Shampoos often contain harsh chemicals that get rid of hair moisture while cleansing it off product build-up. Pre-pooing, being a conditioner for natural hair, moisturizes your hair and protects it from being stripped off moisture during a hair wash.
• Pre-pooing can make it easier to untangle kinky stubborn curls. Easier detangling also means reduced hair breakage.
• Pre-poo treatments restore moisture levels in the scalp and strands to give them a healthy sheen as well as texture.

Pre-poo recipes

• Yoghurt, honey, coconut oil and olive oil - This recipe can be safely used on coarse and protein-sensitive hair. The pre-poo acts as a protein and moisturizing treatment on the hair to leave it nourished.
• Essential oils and commercial conditioner - Make your choice of essential oil based on your hair care requirement. Tea tree oil helps in treating persistent dandruff, while lavender oil helps in soothing irritated scalp. Coconut oil or olive oil can be added to the pre-poo in case your hair has an extremely dry texture.
• Olive oil, honey, mango butter and shea butter - The treatment can help in moisturizing hair that has turned rough or coarse. It also helps in preventing the occurrence of split ends by forming a protective coating and fortifying the ends.
• Avocado, almond oil and olive oil - The treatment extensively moisturizes the hair from the roots. It also acts as a sealing mask and gives the hair a smoother and softer texture.

How to pre-poo?

• Gather the pre-poo ingredients in a bowl.
• Carefully divide your hair into multiple sections.
• Use a wide toothed comb to untangle knots in the individual sections.
• Uniformly spread the pre-poo mix onto each section.
• Secure the pre-pooed hair with a plastic or conditioning cap and leave the mixture on at least for 30 minutes.

Five Ways to Tackle Hair Shrinkage

Hair shrinkage can prove to be distressing when you decide on going natural and your hair does not give you the desired length. In fact, Afro hair has a tendency to shrink to about 80 percent of the hair's actual length. If you like wearing your hair natural and long, but hair shrinkage is stopping you from doing it, here are some handy techniques that can help:

• Twists and braids are among the most predominant hair styling methods used to keep hair shrinkage at bay. Once you wash your hair, twist or braid it to reduce the occurrences of hair shrinkage and have a well-defined stylish hairstyle once it dries. If you want it to stretch further, you could try using a double prong clip to hold down the roots of the sections that have been twisted or braided.
• Banding is one of the simplest ways to avoid hair shrinkage. Try separating your hair into different sections based on the hair thickness. Use bands to hold the different hair sections and keep them on till the hair dries. Remove them later to reveal hair with better length.
• Try getting all the curly hair products that you can on board to reduce shrinkage. If you want the hair to appear straighter, try air drying or hooded dryers. Needless to say, the technique will work only if the hair length allows it to be wrapped around the hair styling gear.
• Hair treatments with dairy products such as yoghurt, plain milk or sour cream have a tendency to elongate curly hair. These lactic acid treatments are believed to reduce shrinkage by nearly 40 percent. Then again, different hair textures respond differently to curly hair products and treatments. However, the results are temporary and do not cause any hair damage, which makes them worth a shot.
• A combination of stretching closely followed with blow drying can help in partially restoring the hair's actual length. Carry out the technique throughout by separating the hair into sections and doing the stretch-blow dry regime individually. Heat is undeniably not one of the best routes to experiment with if you want to protect your curls, but its damaging effects can be controlled with the use of heat protectants and by using the drier in a low setting from a distance.

With these tips, you will be able to manage your hair shrinkage problem effectively.  

Ways To Avoid Split Ends

Split ends are basically weak hair where the cuticles of the hair shaft are breaking, to in turn expose the cortex of the hair. It is usually the oldest part of the hair at the ends that develop this condition, but if left untreated can spread to other parts of the hair. But most usually split ends make the hair very weak and lead to hair breakage, creating problems for women who are trying to grow their hair long.

Here is a look at a few things that can help you avoid split ends:

• Trimming your hair with sharp scissors is very important. Cutting off split ends with clean break is a good way to prevent getting them again. It is only through a good pair of scissors that are especially meant for hair-cuts that you can achieve the necessary. 

• Avoid or considerably reduce the use of direct heat on your hair. Damage caused due to over heating of hair can also lead to split ends. Split ends are primarily a result of lack of moisture and conditioning of the tresses.

• Moisture can also get depleted due to excessive use of chemical products and processes like perming and relaxing. For these chemicals to alter the structure of the hair, the product first needs to penetrate through the hair cuticle, which makes it very weak and vulnerable in the process. 

• Using a natural hair conditioner on a regular basis helps in creating a moisture barrier between the hair strand, and its exposure to harsh sun, pollution and other elements that can cause dryness and damage the hair, resulting in split ends. 

• Deep conditioning should also be an essential part of your African American hair care care routine. They hydrate the hair from within, helping hair become stronger. In addition to this, getting protein treatments every once in a while is also a good practice. 

• Air-drying hair is a healthy practice but you should remember that wet hair should not be vigorously rubbed with the towel. Wet hair is very delicate and the rough use of a towel can damage the hair cuticles. 

Make it a point to use wide toothed combs to tame, manage and untangle your hair. Using a brush can disturb the hair cuticles and repeated use can even give rise of split ends.

If you have developed split ends, the best way to deal with it and protect your hair from further damage is to cut the dead ends off and wait for healthy hair to grow. 

Has Your Hair Stopped Growing? Know Why

There are many women out there who feel that their hair has absolutely stopped growing, the evidence of which lies in the fact that their hair maintains the same length year after year. It is not that the hair has stopped growing but the fact that women are unable to retain its growth that causes the problem.

On an average, hair grows at the rate of half an inch a month for most people. Growth and retention are two completely different things but closely linked with hair length. If the hair is breaking at the same rate as your hair growth, it is but natural that you are stuck with the same hair length. The main culprit is hair fall and breakage and there are some reasons why this may be happening to you.

Reasons for bad hair retention

Frequent trims – Obsessively trimming your hair in order to get rid of split ends can be one of the primary reasons for why your hair has stopped growing. A trim takes away at least half an inch off your hair, which is also the length it grows each month.

Over use of chemicals – Excessive use of chemical based products and chemical treatments can make the hair very weak, leading to breakage at the ends. So even when your hair is growing, you may not be able to retain it.

Lack of protein – Hair is primarily made up of protein. Sometimes due to overexposure to heat, chemicals and pollution, the protein structure may be out of balance and it in turn leads to breakage.

Lack of moisture – Moisture is a critical part of African American hair care. Afro-American hair is inherently dry and needs extra moisturizing to remain strong. Dry and brittle hair tends to break a lot more than properly moisturized hair, and can cost you your length.

Over use of styling aids – Most styling aids use direct heat to alter the structure of the hair strand in order to make it look different. Although it is okay to indulge in such styling sometimes, over exposure of hair to direct heat robs it off essential moisture and nutrients, leading to breakage.

Split ends – Just like trimming too often, not trimming enough can also be damaging to the hair. Trimming is required to get rid of split ends, retaining which can lead to breakage and even reducing the pace of hair growth.

If your hair refuses to grow even after taking these things into consideration, it may be a good idea to visit a specialist to understand the root cause of your problem. Do not ignore hair breakage for too long. 

Hair Care Routine for Busy Times

Women don’t always have the luxury of solely focusing on their hair. Most often than not, hair care becomes just another chore for them. Changing the attitude towards hair care is the first step towards making a difference to your hair, despite busy schedules.

There are ways in which goodness, health as well as appearance of African American hair can be maximized even in time constrains. Here is a look at some of the things that you can do to take care of your hair when you are especially busy.

• Start by fixing one particular day in the week to wash your hair. You will always have one day in the week, which won't be comparatively hectic, giving you some time to indulge in an African American hair care session. It will soon turn into a habit. Weekends are good to wash hair since you can also indulge in a little bit of pre-shampoo deep conditioning practices and have the option of washing your hair any time of the day.
• Moisturize your hair in the shower immediately after shampooing. Apply a natural conditioner for black hair and let the hair soak it in while you take care of other parts of your body. You could also gently detangle the hair with your fingers while the conditioner is still on, to reduce the detangling time when the hair is completely dry.
• Air-drying is the best way to dry your hair, but when life gets busy, women automatically reach out for their blow dryers. Air-drying time can be considerably reduced if the hair is gently but thoroughly squeezed in the shower itself after shampooing. Wrapping the hair in a soft towel also works wonders and allows your hair to dry out by the time you get ready to step outside. Microfiber towels work wonders for the drying natural hair. They absorb a lot of water in a short span of time and are helpful in defining the curls as well.
• When styling your hair choose styles that are easy and do not require much time. When short on time, focus more on the visible parts of the hair, and always go for simple as well as manageable styles that can be easily refreshed if required. Wearing a satin cap at night for sleeping also helps in maintaining the hairstyle for longer.
• Taking out time to eliminate split ends will help you reduce hair care time in the long run.

Moisturizing is one of the most important hair care practices that have to be followed on a regular basis. It does not require a lot of time, but keeps your hair strong.  

How to Salvage Damaged Hair

Damaged hair is not a rare sight with excessive pollution, stress and hectic lifestyle. Add to this the damage caused due to exposure to chemicals both in the environment as well as hair products, especially relaxers and hair colors.

Although it is advisable to take care of your hair on a regular basis to prevent damage, there are certain ways in which damaged hair can be taken care of to prevent breakage and improve its quality.

Here is a look at some of the ways in which Afro-American damaged hair can be salvaged.

• Make it habit to sleep with a satin cap or cover on your hair. Sleeping with a bare head can cause the hair to become more brittle, as cotton pillow covers absorb all the moisture from the hair strands.
• Make it a point to cut split ends regularly to prevent them from traveling upwards and weakening the entire length of the hair strands. Split ends inhibit health and are unsightly. It is better to have shorter hair than to have long hair that is unhealthy.
• If the hair is excessively damaged, it is advisable to stop using chemicals completely. The hair needs to be given a window to grow naturally, without chemical interruption. Chemicals form a layer on the scalp and the hair strands, making it difficult for nutrients as well as moisture to penetrate within, something that is required for the repair of damaged hair.
• Damaged hair is already weak and brittle. Extreme hairstyles, wigs and weaves should be completely avoided during this time. Not only do they build additional pressure on the hair, but also lead to breakage and further damage due to friction.
• Introduce regular hot oil massage of your scalp and hair in your African American hair care routine. Massaging the scalp increases blood circulation in the area, while the hot oil is a deep conditioning treatment that can significantly improve the condition of damaged hair.
• Discontinue the use of shampoos and conditioners that have sulphates. They are known to cause dryness in the hair by completely depleting natural oils from the scalp and the hair strands. Gentle shampoos that are water-based are best suited for damaged hair.

There is not a lot that can be done to reverse the condition of chemically damaged hair. These tips and tricks will help you in the the reduction of hair fall and prevention of further damage.  

How To Get Your Hair Ready For Spring

It can be challenging for your to adopt the transition from winter to spring. It is usually fabulous outside with the flowers in bloom and also the time for the flirty dresses to come out of the closet. With hair behaving itself, it can be a picture perfect season with you in the center.

Spring means increased moisture in the environment, which in turn can cause problems for Afro-American hair. Here is a look at things you can do to get your hair ready for spring.

• Do not wash your hair more than once in a week, even during the winters. This can make your scalp and hair excessively dry, also stripping away the natural oils. Excessive washing can cause a lot of frizzing in the springtime, when the moisture content in the hair is higher. This happens since the hair needs water and acquires it from the air.
• Always use a shampoo that has a low pH and no sulphates. This helps in balancing the amount of natural oils secreted by the scalp, which in turn makes your hair look good. It is also very important to use deep conditioners after shampooing your hair, making sure that water is a primary ingredient in them. Going with natural products is a better choice in the long run.
• Use oils like coconut, olive, olive, jojoba and avocado directly on the scalp. Heating the oil a little can also help in quick absorption and better conditioning. Just take a small amount on your fingertips and massage gently on your scalp. Let it stay for 30 to 45 minutes and then simply rinse with water.
• Use protective products before styling your hair, especially if you have to use tools that apply direct heat onto your hair strands. This will protect the moisture from getting evaporated and keep the hair strong to deal with spring, and otherwise as well.
• Rinse your hair with water alone and let it air dry if you have to cleanse product build-up from the scalp and hair, between shampooing. Water is one of the best moisturizing agents and does not strip away natural oils from the hair.

Preparing your hair for spring comprises primarily of hydration of the hair to avoid frizz as well as lifeless dead ends. You should also keep trimming your hair ends regularly to prevent split ends.  

Five Bad Hair Care Habits That Are Affecting Your Hair

Afro-American hair is very sensitive and fragile. African American hair care needs to be gentle and nourishing, allowing it to thrive as well as grow with health and vitality. It is important to know about bad hair care habits just like it is important to know what is good for your hair. The goodness can be easily nullified with bad hair care habits. They can even prevent you from having the kind of hair that you always wanted.

Five bad hair care habits

1. Not protecting your hair at night – Sleeping without a satin cover for your hair can expose your hair strands to friction due to contact with the cotton pillowcases. This can lead to roughening of the hair cuticles, resulting in frizz and most importantly it can suck out the moisture from the hair. Covering up your hair at night can also protect your hairstyle for longer.
2. Not moisturizing your hair – Afro-American hair is inherently dry and needs a lot of moisturizing for making it shiny as as well as healthy. Moisturizing on a regular basis makes sure that your hair strands are not parched, reducing the occurrence of frizz. Moisturizing also makes the hair strands less vulnerable to breakage and damage.
3. Tackling wet hair – Wet hair is very fragile and prone to breakage. Hair cuticles can easily get disrupted, making the hair look frizzy and puffy when combed while it is wet. The best thing to do is to comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb, if you absolutely must, and let it air dry completely after that.
4. Using heating tools to style your hair – Heat-based styling tools like blow dryers and hair irons directly apply heat on the hair strands to alter its structure for styling. Over use of heating tools on the hair can be very damaging. It makes the moisture in the hair evaporate, making your hair excessively dry, leaving it brittle and weak.
5. Applying moisturizer and conditioners all over – The objective of moisturizers and conditioners is to hydrate the hair strands by penetrating into the cuticles. The scalp produces natural oils automatically, but in case of Afro-American hair they do not travel to the entire length of the hair strands due to its curly nature. It is for this reason that moisturizers have to be applied to the strand ends, which are also the oldest part of your hair.

Using a hair brush, using sulphate shampoos, over washing your hair and excessive chemical use are some of the other bad hair habits that have to be stopped for making your tresses long and healthy.