Search Results: Charlene Walton

How to Transition with Wigs… the Right Way

By Charlene Walton · Published March 12, 2015

If you have not noticed, naturally curly, coily, and kinky wigs are in! They provide a way for women to switch up their look and have a little fun during the process. Since more women are embracing their natural textures, wig and weave companies are finally getting it right. Long gone are the days of limited texture options. Thanks to YouTube more women are learning how to make their own naturally curly wigs, which are great for transitioning.

Transitioning can be tough, time-consuming, and sometimes emotionally frustrating. If you have found yourself at a crossroad with your natural hair journey, consider transitioning with a wig as a protective style to give yourself a break. But first, you must know how to do it the right way.

Choose Installation Type

Selecting the type of wig to install is just as important as choosing the type of hair you will buy. Let’s discuss full, half, and u-part wigs.

Full Wigs & Half-Wigs

Full and half wigs, usually accompanied with either a drawstring or wig clips, are quick and easy to install. Both pieces are great options if you have never worn a wig before. Don’t want to spend a ton of money? There are several great options at many local beauty supply stores for as little as $25. Full and half wigs are also perfect if you wish to have little or no natural hair left out while protective styling.

U-Part

U-part wigs allow for more natural hair to be exposed, which makes for better blending. They are highly customizable with the ability to hand select your texture and color. If you choose to make a U-part wig, the installation can be time-consuming even with the best YouTube tutorials. Luckily, some of the top naturally kinky and curly weave brands such as Heat Free Hair and Indique both offer pre-made U-part options. U-part wigs can be secured by wig clips or by sewing the perimeter of the wig to a braid, similar to a full sew-in style. Some women prefer the sewing option to ensure that the wig stays in place over a long period of time.

Synthetic vs. Virgin Human Hair

While both synthetic and virgin human hair are great choices for transitioning with a wig, your desired time frame will be the deciding factor. Synthetic hair wigs are extremely low maintenance with an option to literally pop the wig on and go. They are less likely to last as long as wigs made from virgin human hair

If time is on your side, virgin human hair is the best choice. Virgin hair will need to be maintained and cared for in order to preserve the weave’s texture, softness, and manageability. Co-washing and deep conditioning virgin human hair allows the wig to stay in pristine shape and blend with your natural hair. If you are a novice to wearing a wig as a protective style while transitioning, my advice is to choose the less expensive synthetic option to get a feel for wearing a wig full time.

Continue Daily & Weekly Maintenance

Now that you have decided on the installation and texture, do not forget about your real hair, which is one of the biggest mistakes women make when wearing protective styles.

Protect Your Edges & Leave Out: The perimeter of your hair is the most fragile area, so you will still need to treat it with care. Keep your edges and leave out moisturized to prevent dryness and breakage. Twist or braid the leave out with a product like As I Am Twist Defining Cream or your favorite leave-in conditioner. Choose a wig with a curl pattern that closely resembles your own or will resemble the texture of your twist out to help with blending. If you choose to wear a straight style, only place heat to your natural hair while the hair clean. Ultimately, you want to make sure your real hair remains healthy to not reverse the purpose of this protective style.

Take Care of Your Scalp: Continue to shampoo and deep condition your hair as normal if you choose to remove the wig once a week. If you choose to install a u-part wig using the sewing method and will not remove the wig as frequent, a clarifying shampoo is necessary to remove product buildup. Also use anti-fungal oils such as tea tree oil or coconut oil when braiding the hair that will be under the wig. If your scalp begins to itch uncontrollably, that is a sign that it is dry and in need of moisture. The Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner is a great option to moisturize your scalp while the hair is still braided.

How has your wig experience been? Are you ready to try a wig?

Rooibos Tea Rinse to Soothe Scalp and Dandruff

By Charlene Walton · Published February 10, 2015

Have you been contemplating a tea rinse for your hair lately? Black and green tea rinses are super popular for reducing shedding and promoting growth; however, if you are thinking about trying a different tea rinse, then consider adding red tea to your list. Rooibos, also known as red bush tea, actually is not a tea at all but an herb from the rooibos plant cultivated in Cedarberg, South Africa. With a long list of amazing health and beauty benefits, this herb definitely deserves to be placed on the “must try” list.

Health Benefits

Rooibos tea is linked to similar benefits of green tea, except it is caffeine-free, making rooibos a great alternative for children and breastfeeding mothers. Due to this reason red tea is also a great calming drink before bed if you suffer from insomnia. Red tea is rich in antioxidants, which are great anti-aging substances and has also been claimed to help fight against several diseases. Elsevier concluded that after six weeks of traditional use of rooibos tea, lipid profiles as well as redox statuses of 40 adults significantly improved. In simple terms, both of these factors are relevant to heart disease in at risk adults. Other traditional uses of red tea in South Africa include treating infantile colic, allergies, asthma, and dermatological problems.

Benefits of Red Tea for Hair

Red tea is enriched with zinc, copper, potassium, and calcium, which all promote hair growth and strengthening. The high dose of copper assists to prevent premature graying of hair, while anti-inflammatory agents of the tea can also help to soothe the scalp and fight dandruff. Since red tea is caffeine-free, it does not serve the same purpose for your hair as the popular black and green tea rinses. Caffeine is sited as blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT”>, the hormone responsible for a few forms of hair loss. However, one of the main antioxidants, polyphenol, is said to help promote shiny, soft hair and protect from sun damage.

DIY Red Tea Rinse

You can complete a red tea rinse similar to other tea rinses. If you are a lighter blonde color, red tea can also be used as a natural hair dye. Here’s how to prepare your rinse:

Steep tea for minimum of 30 min. in boiling water, then allow to cool.
Shampoo and condition hair to your liking.
Pour tea over freshly washed and conditioned hair or use a spray bottle if preferred.
Allow tea to sit for 20-30 min. before rinsing.
Follow with deep conditioner and style as desired.

Although it may seem like every other day a new thing emerges in the world of hair care, tea rinses have actually been used for many years as a natural option to treat several hair problems. If you are still on the fence about tea rinses, take some time to do additional research. Nothing is worse than hopping on a bandwagon without being knowledgeable.

What other tea rinses have you tried and what were the results?