The Truth About Good Nutrition and Glossy Hair

Hair does not exist in isolation and is as much a part of the body as the vital organs are. So, just as good food and balanced nutrition is vital for the health of the body, it is also critical for the health and gloss of your hair. Though there are many factors that contribute to the health of the hair, food remains the single most important factor that does wonders to improve its condition, be it the growth or the gloss and shine that is so coveted.

Good quality natural hair care products for African American hair can offer short term solutions for hair problems but it is what you eat that defines your hair. African-American hair has its own qualities, but tends to be on the drier side. This is makes the eating the right kinds of food even more important. In addition to a healthy diet, you can also try natural hair products for dry hair.

Here is a look at some of the most essential nutrients that help make hair glossy and bounce with good health:

Vitamins – This nutrient makes it into all the lists of healthy food habits and not without reason. Vitamins are the nutrients that can be obtained from foods like green leafy vegetables, raw fruits, beans, seaweed, and a host of other items. Vitamins encourage the secretion of sebum, enhance nutrient absorption, function as cleansing agents and provide a boost to immunity among other things. Foods rich in this nutrient are a sure shot good news for hair.

ETA or Essential Fatty Acids – This is something that is not naturally produced in the body and needs to be sourced from food items. They are responsible for the proper functioning of the cells in the body besides maintaining the health of joints, blood circulation, skin and hair. ETA comprises of omega-3 and omega-6 and can be found in foods like oily fish, nuts and seeds of various kinds.

Silica – It is maybe one of the most undervalued nutrient, the sources of which are whole wheat, oats, barley and millet. This nutrient is essential for the absorption of vital minerals in the body and encourages the health of bones, teeth, skin and hair.

Protein – Hair is primarily made up of proteins fibers and is very important nutrient for hair growth and health. It is also what collagen is made of and is responsible for youthful skin and hair. Rich sources of protein include dairy products, white meats, eggs, pulses, seafood, soy and beans.

Glossy hair belongs as much in the kitchen as it does in the parlors and in front of the mirrors, actually more so. Eating right and getting good nutrition is the only way that the gloss can be a permanent part of your hair’s personality. 

Seven Tips to Make Your Hair Grow Faster

Half an inch each month is the average hair growth for African-American hair, and it cannot get much better than that. Though it may sound very little, cumulatively, the length is almost six inches in the entire year. This much is enough for a different look and keeps you motivated.

Here is a look at seven top tips that can help you stay close to the average and achieve thick glossy long tresses.

1. Have a healthy lifestyle since it is the foundation of strong, long and healthy hair. Include a lot of fruits and raw vegetables in your diet along with drinking lots of water and supply your hair with the requisite vitamins and minerals for proper growth. Make it a point to exercise and release all the pent up toxins. 
2. Moisturize and condition your hair with natural hair conditioners and leave in conditioners besides using shampoos that are meant for dry hair. This is because often Afro-American hair has the tendency to be dry.
3. Trim the bad ends of the hair regularly till you have eliminated all the split and dry ends. After that the trims can come in every six weeks or so. Trims do not have to be more than half an inch each time. Make sure you find a stylist who adheres to the length you want cut. 
4. Do not use chemical based products excessively including dyers, relaxers, colors, gels, mousses. Chemicals can seriously damage the hair and lead to a decline in the hair quality. It also inhibits hair growth. Choose products with natural substances over the ones with chemical substances. 
5. Avoid applying heat to your hair. This includes curtailing the use of blow dryers, flat irons, curling tongs. Use styling aids like rollers instead to protect the hair from damage caused by excessive heat. 
6. Indulge in regular protein treatment. Hair is essentially made up of proteins and special treatments provide strength to the hair and help it recover from damage. Protein treatments can be beneficial for hair growth, but should not be indulged in more than once a week. 
7. Go natural with your hair and consider stopping the use of relaxers and other chemical processes altogether. It is the best thing for the health of the hair and it may just surprise you with its beauty. It takes a very long time to get rid of the chemicals that have been used for styling of the hair. Natural hair grows faster than chemically treated hair.

The belief that African-American hair does not grow fast enough is just a myth. Following the above mentioned simple tips and routines can be beneficial for the hair and help it grow at a steady rate. Remember to never compare your progress with that of the others since each individual hair type and growth is different.

Combating Dry Hair with Natural Masks

Dry hair is a malady that affects thousands of women and causes stress and worry. Sometimes the cure lies right inside our kitchens, while we go crazy looking for that perfect product in the market.

Reasons for dry hair
Hair can become dry for a variety of reasons including the African American genetics that does not let the scalp produce enough natural oils for the moisturization of the hair and the follicles. Another reason could be the tight curls that are not conducive for the secreted oils to spread throughout the hair. Besides these, dryness can be the result of changes in the weather and most commonly the excessive use of hair styling equipment that uses heat.

Simple natural hair masks
There are a few natural hair care products for African American hair; apart from these you could also use several home remedies to improve the quality of your hair. Here is a look at some very simple-to-concoct, natural and homemade masks using everyday ingredients that will give the required moisture boost to your hair, turning them into shiny, glossy and soft cascades of black silk. 

• Banana and lemon – mix together ingredients like banana, lemon juice, honey and olive oil to make a smooth hair mask. Apply this concoction on wet hair and let it sit for a little more than half an hour. Rinse gently with luke warm water. It is one of the best remedies to prevent split ends and enhance the elasticity of the hair.
• Natural oils – sometimes we greatly undervalue age old wisdom, one of them being the use of natural oils for the health of the hair. Choose a few natural oils that you like or just stick to one, warm it and apply on damp hair while gently massaging the scalp. Wrap your hair in a warm towel for easy absorption by the scalp. Let it sit for half and hour to 40 minutes and gently rinse with warm water. It is one of the best methods to deep condition your hair and improve the quality of hair. 
• Eggs and castor oil – take one or two eggs depending on the length of the hair and make sure that you retain the yellow bit. Blend it gently and add some castor oil to make a smooth paste. Apply on damp or wet hair and let it sit for approximately 30 minutes and then rinse with warm water. It is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your hair and add shine and bounce to your tresses.

All these natural masks can be applied twice a week along with the use of a moisturizing conditioner for moisture lock in. These simple masks require no effort at all and moisturize your hair without the side effects caused by chemicals in store-bought products. Besides this, it is advisable that you avoid blow drying and styling your hair using irons and tongs till the quality of the hair improves.

Is the Dry Winter Frizzing Up Your Hair?

Winters are a difficult time for hair. Come winters and the hair woes maximize with dryness and frizz. Frizz can interfere with your efforts to tame your hair in a style that lasts throughout the day. This is especially true for African American hair types that are thicker and sometimes curlier. But the use of excessive, chemically-strong curly hair products can only worsen your worries.

Why does hair frizz in winters?

Hair is made up of complex protein that is very sensitive to the amount of moisture in the environment. Protein bonds in the hair expand and stretch when the hair is wet or absorbs moisture from the air. During winters, the hair is exposed to multiple environments due to indoor heating, cold winds, slight drizzle, snowfall and pollution all at one go. These differing and constantly changing levels of humidity lead to the frizzing of the hair. Woolen caps and clothes can lead to sweating even on the scalp and haphazard drying can also add to the frizziness. It can also be caused due to dryness as a result of cold weather and with the unavailability of moisture in the air for the hair to absorb. The extent of frizz also depends on hair type, volume and health besides the effects of the environment.

Tips for frizz control

• Winter is the right time to go natural and put out of sight and mind all styling products and procedures like relaxing, straightening, weaving and extensions. This will help the hair react better to deep conditioners, while eliminating the stress of unnatural processes. 
• Using a deep conditioner for natural hair at least once a week  helps in dealing with frizz due to dryness. Natural oils also work wonders as deep conditioners in the winter season. 
• Wrap your hair in a soft fabric like satin or silk before going to bed. This eliminates the chances of friction with the pillow while preventing the loss of moisture from the hair, leading to minimization of morning frizz. 
• Style your hair in hairstyles that provide protection and tame the frizz as well. You can try loose braiding and similar hairstyles that are minimum fuss and easy to manage. 
• Wash your hair with shampoo  a maximum of two times a week. Over washing in winters can lead to dryness and frizz. You can wash your hair with just water on the other days for clean and fresh hair. Washing with just water does not eliminate the natural hair oils like shampoos do. 
• Avoid using blow dryers and stick to air drying your hair in the winters. Washing hair in the evening so that it is dry and ready the next morning is a great way to minimize the use of blow drying. 

Each hair type and quality is different than the other, and it is advisable that methods that suit your particular needs are made use of instead of a taking generic approach to tackle frizz in winters. Taking simple measures mentioned above can go a long way in making your hair behave well during the winters and it always helps to remember that even superstars have bad hair days. 

Three Reasons to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping

Protecting your natural hair is a ‘round the clock mission, especially if your goal is to retain length. That includes while you’re sleeping. Even healthy hair can easily be damaged if left loose while you’re sleeping. We’ll discuss how to protect your tresses each night. First, though, let’s consider three important reasons you should.
To Protect Your Hair from Moisture Vampires
Your luxurious cotton pillowcase may feel like heaven against your skin, but it’s a nightmare for your curls. The thirsty, absorbent fabric acts as a vampire, sucking vital moisture from your tresses. As your hair dries out, it becomes vulnerable to damage.
To Minimize Friction
You likely make some movement while sleeping. When you move, any loose hair rubs against the fabric of the pillow, creating friction. That friction can be quite damaging to hair. The hair tangles and gets caught in the fibers of the pillow, breaking off.
To Protect Your Fragile Ends
Your ends are the oldest part of your hair. Just as our bodies weaken with age, so does the hair. Therefore, your ends are more prone to damage than the part of your hair closer to your scalp. Leaving fragile ends unprotected while sleeping results in further damage and breakage.
How to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
Moisture is the key to healthy, more pliable hair. Give your hair a boost of moisture by working a moisturizing cream or lotion, like Afrikoko Silky Hair Lotion, to prep it for your night time routine. Protect weaker ends by securing them in large braids or twists. If your hair is longer, you might want to use the pineapple method to create a high ponytail. Just make sure that the ponytail isn’t too tight.
Once your hair is styled for bed, it’s time to tie it up with a satin or silk scarf. This will protect your edges, which also tend to be more fragile. Lastly, slip on a silk or satin bonnet. If you don’t like wearing a bonnet to bed, you can opt for a satin pillowcase instead or try our MYHoneyChild MicroFiber Towel to lay on your pillow to protect your tresses at night . If you’re a wild sleeper and frequently wake to find that your scarf has slipped off during the night, consider using a satin pillowcase in addition to your bonnet.
It’s tempting to slip into bed at the end of a long day without protecting your hair first. But going to sleep without protecting your tresses is a recipe for dry, damaged hair. Thirsty cotton and other fibers sap essential moisture from the hair. Loose hair rubs against the pillowcase. The resulting friction causes fragile ends to tangle and break.
Protecting your hair by moisturizing it at night; securing it in a protective style; tying the hair up with a satin or silk scarf; and then wearing a satin bonnet or sleeping on a satin pillowcase will reduce friction and minimize nighttime damage.

Should I Get a Keratin Treatment?

You love you kinks, coils or curls. But sometimes you wish you could be natural and have sleek, frizz-free hair that is longer and straighter. If this is you, you’ve probably given some thought to trying out a keratin treatment, or the Brazilian blowout. With the popularity of keratin treatments and a crop of over-the-counter products that promise the same results in the comfort of your home, perhaps you’re wondering if this treatment is right for you. Here are a few facts you’ll want to consider before you decide.
What is a Keratin Treatment?
Keratin is a fibrous protein that forms the basis of hair and nails. It is used in many hair products which are designed to fortify hair strands. Seems harmless enough, right? But a keratin treatment is a different animal altogether. It is a semi-permanent chemical process designed to make hair stronger, straighter, shinier and frizz-free. Keratin alone cannot deliver on these results long-term. Two factors are required to give the treatment staying power: formaldehyde and heat.
Many salon keratin treatments contain formaldehyde. This gives the treatment long-term effects; glossy, straight hair that lasts for several weeks. Formaldehyde is toxic and suspected to be a carcinogen (cancer-causing), especially when combined with the second key component of the treatment—heat. When the keratin treatment is applied in the salon, heat is used to seal it to the hair cuticle. This bonds the treatment with hair strands so that it will last through shampooing, sweating, etc. However, if the stylist applies too much heat for too long, serious breakage can occur.
A keratin treatment isn’t like getting a blowout. Your hair doesn’t return to normal after a wash or two. The treatment alters the internal structure of hair. Many have reported serious, irreversible damage to their tresses. So, if you’re considering this treatment, research the product and the stylist that will be applying it. Then weigh whether or not you’re willing to take any possible risks involved.
What About At-Home Keratin Treatment Kits?
Perhaps you’re reluctant to go with an expensive salon keratin treatment. What about keratin treatment kits designed for use at home? Are these safer since you can regulate the amount of heat applied? Not necessarily. While most at-home products don’t contain formaldehyde, they do include other chemicals which are proven to have adverse effects to the respiratory system and skin. Then there are recent consumer complaints about a popular at-home keratin treatment kit, Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion 30-Day Smoothing Kit. The product has since been discontinued and the manufacturer is being sued by hundreds of consumers due to hair loss and other irreversible damage.
Are keratin treatments worth the risk? This is something each person must decide for herself. However, the article, The Straight Truth About Keratin and Other Hair Smoothing Treatments on Oprah.com said it best: “The bottom line: The only way to guarantee that you're not getting a hair-smoothing treatment that could expose you to unacceptable levels of formaldehyde is...to not get the treatment.”
If your hair is frizzy and unmanageable, try consulting with a natural hair stylist who can help you find products and treatments that will make your hair look and feel its very best.

Five Reasons Your Edges May Be Thinning

One of the most distressing problem naturals encounter is thinning edges. It can be particularly frustrating when you’ve worked so hard to take good care of your natural hair. Thinning edges may be caused by a variety of reasons that range from medical conditions and prescription medicines to mechanical stress.
Medical reasons, of course, require a discussion with your doctor. However, here are five possible reasons your hairline might be thinning that are easily remedied.
You’re too rough with your edges.
The hair in your hairline tends to be more fragile than the rest of your hair. Brushing this fragile hair with coarse bristles or a small tooth comb can cause the hair to snap and break. Avoid using small tooth combs and brushes with rough bristles on your delicate hairline. Sleek edges are nice, but the damage caused by harsh styling tools outweighs the benefit. Consider using a light gel and your fingers to smooth edges instead. Never brush your edges when hardened by hair gel.
You’re manipulating the fragile hair around your edges too much.
Since your hairline is fragile, frequent manipulation puts it at risk for breakage. If your edges are thinning, try low-manipulation and protective hairstyles to reduce the stress on your hairline. Avoid other sources of unneeded manipulation, like the nervous habit of twirling or tugging on your hair.
Your hairstyle is causing stress to your hairline.
Neat, perfect braids or a nice, sleek ponytail look polished and last longer. However, achieving that look can cause damage to the fragile hair at your hairline. If your ponytail, afro puff or braids are pulled so tightly it causes pain or lifts the corners of your eyes, then your hairline is at serious risk for damage.
Make sure hair isn’t braided so tightly that it damages the hairline. Don’t braid the fragile hair in your hairline into small, tight braids, as these will cause undue stress. Lastly, be sure that your ponytail or afro puff isn’t pulled too tightly. If you pineapple your hair at night, ensure that the high ponytail you sleep in isn’t ravaging your hairline.
You have fine hair and your edges are particularly fragile.
Thinning edges can be a problem for all hair types. This is especially true of naturals with fine hair. The delicate nature of fine hair makes the hairline even more susceptible to breakage. You can’t change your hair type. However, being aware that your fine hair puts your edges at greater risk for damage will enable you to be more proactive about protecting your hairline.  
The bonnet you wear at night is damaging your edges.
It’s important to protect your hair at night. For many naturals, that means sleeping in a satin bonnet. However, take a closer look at your satin bonnet. If it has elastic around the inside edge, that elastic can snag and pull the delicate hairs in your hairline. The simple fix is to tie a silk or satin scarf around the hairline to protect your fragile edges. Then secure the bonnet over your scarf.
A thinning hairline can be scary and frustrating. However, if your edges are thinning due to tension caused by hair styling, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to stem hair loss and re-grow hair. If you’re unsure what is causing the hair loss, consult with a natural stylist. Once you’ve discovered what’s triggering the problem, break the bad habit immediately. Apply a growth serum, castor oil or a few drops of rosemary or peppermint oil added to a carrier oil, like olive oil. Massage it into the affected areas nightly. This will help stimulate hair growth.