Benefits of Shea Butter for Natural Afro-American Hair

Shea butter holds numerous beneficial properties and is  used in several beauty products. It shows best results when used directly on the hair or skin, and works as an exceptional additive agent too. Well-known as Mother Nature’s conditioner, shea butter is extracted from the nut of the karite tree, native to regions in Eastern and Western Africa.

An exceptional moisturizer, shea butter has been locally used in Africa for its many therapeutics properties, apart from its use as an active agent in skin and hair care. It is used to aid in the healing of burns as well as wounds and is also used to eradicate dermatitis, stretch marks and topical scars.

Here are some of the many benefits and uses of shea butter.

Natural hair sealant

The texture of Afro-American hair causes many to suffer from dry and malnourished hair. Sebum, a natural conditioner and strengthener produced by the scalp is normally blocked from its course along the strand of hair up to the tip, because of the thick nature and tight curls as well as bends in Afro hair.

Shea butter, known for its remarkable moisturizing properties, locks in vital nutrients and moisture in the scalp, and leaves the hair soft as well as supple without making it greasy. It protects hair against harsh climate, builds strength and vitality of strands, and also reduces hair fall. For healthy hair, apply shea butter directly onto the scalp or add it to your shampoo, conditioner or hair cream.

Relieve scalp irritations

People in Africa use the cream to treat dry and itchy scalp, and to get rid of dandruff. It transforms brittle hair into voluminous locks with ample moisture and works incredibly well as a base ingredient in after-shower hair creams as well as leave-in conditioners for natural hair. Shea butter also possesses anti-inflammatory properties and is readily absorbed into the scalp without clogging pores. It also revitalizes and nourishes hair that is colored, and chemically treated.

Hair shield

When applied, shea butter is immediately absorbed into the scalp and hair strand, leaving the hair feeling light and soft. It provides protection against elements of heat and excessive damage done while straightening or curling hair. In addition, shea butter contains sufficient amounts of SPF to protect hair and scalp from harmful and strong UV rays. Include this magical ingredient in your African American hair care routine to notice a stark difference in the quality of your locks.

Massage and Stimulate Your Scalp for Hair Growth

Massage is a lovely way to relax, unwind and treat muscles and nerves to an invigorating and stimulating time. An age old practice, scalp massage has been used in Ayurveda Medicine for centuries to help gain better focus and even prevent disease. 

Why massage?

Ayurveda is an ancient natural medical practice in India, which uses herbal remedies, meditation, yoga, and massage to treat and care for the body. A holistic means to health improvement, Ayurveda practices centers the spirit within and brings about overall balance. 

Massage involves using finger tips to apply pressure on to skin, to rub and knead tissue and muscle. A simple and efficient way to relieve the mind and body of the stresses of the day, a regular scalp massage has much more than just the calming factor that makes it a beneficial practice. 

Advantages of scalp massage

The effects of regular scalp massages are manifold and enhance several other physical factors too. Here are a few benefits routine scalp massages deliver. 

• As easy as taking a few minutes out of your day to treat yourself to some pamper time, scalp massage is perhaps one of the best ways to boost circulation and increase blood flow in the body. 
• Scalp stimulation through massage actively releases serotonin and endorphins in the body which brings a positive change in mind and body. 
• Feel happier, more focused and clam after a scalp massage, you can increase beneficial effects by massaging a bit of warm oil into your scalp frequently as well. 
• Notice immediate effects like reduced hair loss, and healthier, shiner and thicker growth with frequent scalp oil massages. Use oils like coconut, olive, almond, sesame, and lavender to better nourish and rejuvenate hair follicles. 

How to massage

Use the tips of your fingers and work them in a circular motion is the best way to rid of strain and boost blood flow. 

If using warm hair massage oils then dip the tip of your fingers in the oil and gently press down on your scalp and work your fingers in a circular motion over the head with both hands. Regulate pressure to suit your tastes and also widen the circular motions made with fingers from time to time. 

Remember to massage your lower neck, temples and shoulders; it’s where we carry tension in the body. 

A gentle scalp massage, sometimes with soothing natural products, is the best way to stimulate both mind and body.

Eczema Treatment for Natural Hair

Skin infections are hardly ever welcome, never pleasant, and are often the cause of restless nights and an irritable disposition. Dermatitis, the scientific term for skin irritations, is an umbrella term that encompasses several kinds of skin conditions. Eczema is a common form of dermatitis related to allergic reactions to the environment around, topical cosmetic products used, or even due to dietary irregularities. 

Untreated, eczema tends to set in as a chronic ailment, which prolongs heal time and increases efforts to rid of the skin affliction. Here are a few useful tips to curb the itch, especially in the scalp. 

Identify the source

Trace the cause of your skin rash by means of elimination. As stated earlier, eczema is the gross manifestation of an allergic reaction. This could be due to a certain ingredient in your cosmetics, detergent, soap, or brought on by exposure to pet dander, or dust and mites. Lack of certain bodily fats or subtle allergies to gluten or dairy can bring on conditions of eczema as well. 

Make necessary changes

• Replace your commercial shampoo or soap with an organic or more natural option.
• Choose natural handmade soaps or shampoos that include revitalizing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, or neem. 
• Move to hypoallergenic products that are milder and more suited to sensitive skin types, if you’re not too keen on organic materials. 
• Clean your home thoroughly, make sure you vacuum carefully, especially areas like the couch, or spaces used to lounge in. 
• Wash all your linen and clothes with a detergent that cares for sensitive skin. 
• Add foods rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids to your diet, you can even take natural dietary supplements like Cod Liver Oil, to improve your intestinal system. 
• Introduce foods rich in Vitamin A, E, D and K to your diet. Eat fresh salads with carrot and leafy greens, or probiotics found in fermented foods. Eliminate processed foods as far as possible; also avoid dairy and dairy products. 

Topical treatment

There are several ways to treat eczema using natural products. Applications of blended oils like jojoba, chamomile and lavender will help soothe itchiness and alleviate irritation in the scalp. Aloe Vera is another fresh and natural element that works wonders on eczema. Blend the fresh pulp of the aloe plant to a smooth paste and apply frequently after a bath or with your deep natural conditioner. Neem application before or during bath is incredibly beneficial as well. 

Want to Try No-Poo? The Curly Girl Method is the Way to Go

The no-poo hair routine has become quite popular in the Afro-American community. First described in Curly Girl: The Handbook, this method is specifically designed to nourish dry hair and for better curl definition. For girls and women who want to adopt it into their hair care routines, this is how you should go about it.

Why should you opt for the no shampoo routine?

Afro-American hair is curly and is porous in nature than most other hair types. This makes it very difficult for the shampoo to get washed off the hair leading to frizz and other manageability issues. The no-poo method requires you to eliminate the use of silicone based hair products, because it is this component that is most difficult to get rid of without the use of shampoo. Using only conditioners for washing your hair while continuing to use silicone products will only make matters worse and your hair looking dull and lifeless.

What kind of a conditioner should you use for the no-poo wash method?

It is of critical importance to choose the right kind of conditioner for to be able to successfully go without shampoo. The conditioner should have emollients, proteins and humectants that provide moisture and nutrition to your hair. The greater the ratio of natural ingredients the better the conditioner will be for your hair.

How to no-poo?

No-poo is also known as co-washing or conditioner washing. Follow the following steps to make it work for you.

• Wet your hair properly and apply a small amount of conditioner on your scalp. Use your fingertips to work it through all the segments of the scalp and massage well.

• Repeat the step if required, until your scalp is properly, but gently scrubbed.

• Rinse off the conditioner with warm water, continue to massage and provide a little bit of friction for the residue to dissolve.

• Then take some more conditioner and apply it on your hair strands just like before.

• Detangle your curls with fingers or a wide toothed comb.

• Gather up your hair and clip it over your head. Finish taking your shower and in the end wash off your hair with cool water.

• Do not rub off the moisture but instead squeeze off the extra moisture from your hair. You want to minimize friction and prevent frizz.

For more details on how to define curls and use hair products with this particular method go through the entire book. It is a very helpful method of keeping your hair clean especially if they have been damaged due to chemical and heat use. 

How to Clarify your Natural Hair? Is it Helpful?

Every hair care routine involves to a certain extent the use of shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, deep conditioners, styling products, gels and a host of other products. Clarifying your hair is simply stripping your hair of all the product build up to renew it and make it squeaky clean. Although shampoos are effective in cleaning the scalp, deep cleansing is possible only when you clarify.

When to clarify?

The best answer to this question is provided by your hair itself. Hair behaves differently for different people and it is when you start listening to your hair that you know what it needs. Your hair is looking lifeless even after applying conditioners, pre-poos and moisturizers? Have your curls stopped to pop out and be bouncy like before? Clarifying may just be the answer to your problems.

How to clarify naturally?

Although there are clarifying shampoos available in the market, it is best to use natural ingredients that are free from sulfates. Apple cider vinegar diluted with water is a fantastic clarifying agent that takes away all the oil and product build up from your hair, making it very clean.

Remember that it is natural for the hair to tangle while clarifying because with everything else you are stripping it of natural oils as well. Do not attempt to detangle without applying a good conditioner after getting done with the clarifying process. Always clarify in segments instead of tackling the whole of your hair at once. It is wise to keep it manageable from the very beginning.

Benefits of clarifying

• It removes all the stale build up from your hair and scalp including chemicals from products, pollution and even the natural oils.

• It renews the hair and scalp, making it more absorbent of the nutritional and moisturizing treatments that you pamper it with afterwards. This eliminates the need to keep changing hair products that is otherwise required to make a difference to your hair.

• It is a great hair care routine for people who are exposed to a lot of environmental pollution. It helps to keep the scalp pores clog free and hence receptive to the goodness .

• It is an ideal solution for women who have excessively oily scalps that can lead to hair fall and breakage.

Clarifying your hair once every month is a good way to start. After that just follow your hair and it will tell you what it requires.

3 Requirements For Damaged Hair

Well planned and tested damage control strategies are a must for hair that has been affected due to excessive heat styling, chemical use, and sun exposure. Although hair damage is more or less irreversible (making prevention that much more important), it is possible to mitigate further damage if you follow a proper African American hair care routine. 

Damaged hair calls for three tremendously important steps that you should stick to if you want to keep it looking healthy and soft.

The three requirements rule book 

Eliminate – This is the most obvious thing to be done while dealing with damaged hair. Eliminate from your hair care or hair management routine practices that are leading to damage in the first place. For example, stop weaving your hair tightly or getting extensions done if you notice a receding hairline. Look in your kitchen for effective natural cleansing agents if sulfate-ridden shampoos are making your hair dehydrated and extremely dry. When unsure about the cause of damage, seek professional guidance. 

Mend – Conditioning your hair is the most fundamental and consistent mending that damaged hair requires, sometimes on a daily basis. Deep conditioners, by moisturizing your hair, make it appear healthier while slowing working their magic on your mane in the long run. Make deep conditioners your best friend when dealing with brittle, heat damaged, or dry hair. Choose products that are rich in proteins and other nutrients that improve the strength and elasticity of your hair. Hot oil treatments, especially with coconut oil, are a must at least once a week along with a pre-shampoo routine. Meanwhile, stay away from direct heat and resist the temptation of applying chemicals on your hair. 

Restore – The most vital element that needs to be restored to your tresses is water. This is where moisturizers, different from conditioners, come into play. Moisturizers hydrate the hair from within and have reconstructive properties. Restoring water or moisture to the hair is critical in preventing it from getting damaged more than it already is. You must remember that dry and brittle hair will have the tendency to break and fall off. In addition to using good quality moisturizers with minimal or no chemicals at all, choose other hair care products like shampoos and conditioners that have a high water content. Do not ever forget to read the ingredients at the back of the bottle. It can tell you a lot about what the product can do for your hair without you having to try and test it. 

If your hair continues to get damaged or shows no improvement, it is best to seek professional advice and treatment.

What is The Max Hydration Method For Curl Definition?

The Maximum Hydration Method is the new technique on the block that promises to give defined curls to hair that has low porosity as well as no definite texture. Designed by Pinke Cube from Black Hair Media, there is a lot of buzz about this latest hair moisturization method. Read on to know what it's all about! 

What does the method entail?

The Max Hydration Method requires conditioning and clarifying of hair continuously for seven days without a break in between. This technique calls for a complete avoidance of hair care and styling products that have elements like silicones, sulfates, grease, petroleum, and alcohols, in addition to glycerin, aloe vera and its derivatives, and emulsified oils as well. 

How do you go about it?

• Clarify your low and high porosity hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar respectively, followed by a deep conditioning treatment in the night. Put on a shower cap before you hit the sack. 

• Wash off the conditioner with water in the morning and treat your tresses to a rhassoul or bentonite clay treatment. Let it sit for approximately 15 minutes before rinsing with water again. Apply a leave-in deep hair conditioner followed by a gel as a sealant. 

• Detangle before and after each treatment. 

• Follow the routine for 7 whole days.

Advantages of the method

• You can care for your hair with products free from toxic chemicals.

• Hair is constantly supplied with moisture, leading to good strength.

• Daily detangling makes your tresses more manageable.

Disadvantages of the method

• Constant touching and managing of the hair can sometimes increase hair fall and breakage.

• It may cause over-hydration.

• It's time consuming and not always possible for busy women.

• The method calls for the use of expensive products.

Does it work?

The Max Hydration Method can really work wonders on Afro-American natural hair that is always in need of some extra moisture. Your tangle free hair automatically takes on a bouncy and feminine curl pattern. The texture and the feel of the hair definitely improves with the combination of using the right products that maintain the pH balance of the hair and scalp, and the moisture that your hair is persuaded to absorb. 

All moisturizing and curl definition methods have their own set of pros and cons. The Max Hydration Method for curl definition is definitely worth a shot if your hair simply refuses to stay moisturized.