Dear Anthony: I am in the process of transitioning. My last relaxer was in September. I am clueless as to what hair type I am. I know that I am 4 something. My transitioning hairstyle is the straw set. I have attached pictures of my hair before the transition, my transition hairstyle and of my new growth. Any advice you could give for caring for my hair while I am transitioning will be appreciated.
A: Great to know you’re going natural. Transitioning can be a bit overwhelming but it shouldn’t be. All transitioning means it that you’re not relaxing anymore and depending on your comfort level, you can chop all your hair off or you can leave the hair on your head and look at it as though it is play hair and play away- straw set, blow dry, twists, etc. Don’t think you have to wear any one style. Don’t concern yourself with the two different textures on your head until you’re ready to cut off and deal with one texture. the one thing you can do is make sure you keep both your natural hair and relaxed hair soft and hydrated so they are easier to deal with. Try using Daily Cleansing Cream Moisturizing No Suds Shampoo. For your hair texture, there is no reason to use a cleanser that suds up. If you are using a sulfate free shampoo that suds up like Hair Rules Aloe Grapefruit Clarifying Shampoo; those shampoos should be used as treatments to purify and clarify once every 2-3 months for type 4 hair textures (4a, 4b, 4c, etc…”>
Dear Anthony: Do you have any suggestions for very curly hair that is beginning to thin? I have used Rogaine and take a zinc supplement, but it does not appear to be helping. Can coloring my hair cause hair loss?
A: There could be many reasons for your hair loss. Although I can not give you medical advice, I can provide you with a hair care regimen to ensure the hair on your head is the healthiest it can be. Curly hair can never be over-conditioned. The more conditioned your hair is, the healthier it will be. Your first line of defense against dry, brittle hair is to use a non suds, sulfate free cleanser that is more geared toward your specific texture. This will leave the scalp and hair clean, refreshed, hydrated and soft, which will allow your conditioner to work more effectively. Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner was specifically designed to make the hardest, driest, tangled hair soft and pliable. For added moisture, apply Hair Rules Nourishment Leave In Conditioner.
Dear Anthony: I have 3a type hair, and have recently moved to a new city and am having a huge dry scalp problem. I can’t seem to keep the flakes and itch under control without taking all the body and bounce out of my curls. Any suggestions for both shampoo and product?
Daily Cleansing Cream
A: Your dry scalp may be caused by using conventional shampoos that contain sulfates and actually dry out the scalp. Your skin is your largest organ—you want to treat your scalp like you treat your skin. Just as you wouldn’t use bar soap for your face, you do not want to use harsh detergents for your hair. The first line of defense against frizzy, dry, naturally kinky, and curly hair is to use a non-suds, sulfate-free cleanser that is more geared toward your specific texture, like the Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream. This will leave the scalp and hair clean, refreshed, hydrated and soft, which will allow your conditioner to work more effectively. Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner was specifically designed to make the hardest, driest, tangled hair soft and pliable.
For styling, I would suggest Curly Whip. This will give your curls the bounce you’re looking for. It gives your tresses a moisturizing hold without drying hard. Its a light-weight, revolutionary hybrid moisturizing gel that can be used everyday for styling Check out www.hairrules.com under 411/videos—there is an application video. While the model in the video uses Kinky Curling Cream, you will apply the Curly Whip the same way. For added moisture and to maintain your style in between washes, use Hair Rules Hydrating Finishing Cream.
Dear Anthony: I’m a fairly new natural, about 5 months or so. I’m at in my wits end with my hair. It is so dry! I can’t seem to find a product that my hair likes. No matter what I do, it just seems to sit on top of my hair and weighs it down and be greasy. I try products with shea butter, jojoba oil, natural oils, glycerine. I just don’t know what to do. I see ladies talking about how soft their 4a/b hair is after using products and I just can’t figure out why my hair is not becoming soft. I have 4b hair that is fine and thin. If you can help me or have any idea what could possibly be my problem, I would so appreciate it.
A: Don’t worry, there are lots of women with hair like yours who have this same problem. It’s so important to remember that there’s no such thing as over-conditioning. Women with non-straight hair, and especially for women with 4a/4b hair like yours, tend to have naturally drier hair. Until recently, there has been no underlying standard in hair care for women with your texture. So, it’s no surprise you’re experiencing this uphill battle. You also don’t have a texture that wants to be kept away from water for more than 3 days. That means unless you’re maintaining a straight style, your hair wants to be rinsed, conditioned and detangled Make sure that after every shampoo, you are following it with a nourishing conditioner—Hair Rules Quench Conditioner is perfect for thirsty hair like yours. Cover the ends of your hair with conditioner and rinse until hair feels soft, and you should see a noticeable difference in the moisture and softness levels of your hair. Good luck!
