Search Results: Erika Owens

By Erika Owens · Published February 6, 2022

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

What is fine hair?

Fine hair refers to the width or diameter of the actual hair strands. Hair that is smaller in diameter is classified as fine hair while hair and a thicker diameter is classified as coarse hair. Fine hair is also easier to straighten and style into updos because it is thinner, but one complaint many have about fine hair, is that protective styles such as braids or twists tend to look a little scalpy. People with fine strands tend to struggle to achieve volume. In short, there are benefits and setbacks when it comes to having fine hair, but there is a solution for everything. Here are a few things to better understand your fine hair. 

What is the difference between fine hair and thin hair?

Thin hair is completely different from fine hair. Usually when people say they have thin hair, they are referencing low density. When you have thin hair or low density hair, that is characterized as having a low number of strands. So in other words, a person with fine hair can have high density hair just like a person with coarse hair can have low density hair.

If you’d like to know your hair type, including your width, density, porosity and curl pattern, you can take our Texture Typing Quiz.

How to style fine hair

Do not weigh your hair down

One of the upsides of having fine hair is that you do not have to use as much product, simply because you cannot. Multiple products will weigh down fine hair. This can cause it to look and feel too heavy, further weighing down the roots and jolting any hopes you had of sporting voluminous hair. That brings us to our next tip. 

Create lift at the roots

People with fine hair need a little more help to create volume to prevent their hair from drying flat. They do not have the thickness required to have big hair so the roots need a little help. Lifting your roots for more volume and body starts with a blow-dryer. If you are a fan of diffusing, try doing it upside down. A great technique is to lie on a bed so you can hang your head over the side of the bed while laying down to diffuse.

Dry your hair in a pineapple

If you want lifted roots without using heat, simply pull your hair up into a night loose pineapple when it is 90% dry. When you sleep with only your roots are slightly wet, you will create volume as your roots set and your pillow will not be wet. Try to avoid placing the hair in a bun because that will just stretch out the hair, reducing the volume.

Protective style when partially dry

As I mentioned earlier, those with fine hair tend to have trouble with protective styling (e.g. twists”> because the fine strands cause the scalp to be more visible. To combat this issue, try twisting/braiding when the hair is damp or semi dry so that it looks fuller after styling.

All-in-all, fine hair is not a problem. Fine hair has its benefits and downfalls, but as long as you find what works for you, your fine hair should not be a big problem. Nobody is born with perfect hair. Whether it is fine, thick, or somewhere in the middle, we all have to work with the cards we were dealt, and that is not always a bad thing.

Read next: How to Make Fine, Thin Hair Look Fuller Without Losing Curl Definition

By Erika Owens · Published October 4, 2021

If there is one thing my hair loves, it’s moisture—any kind, anytime, anywhere. Which is why all of the ingredients my hair loves happen to also be highly moisturizing. Here is a list of all of the ingredients my hair can’t live without.

1. Water

My hair loves water. When I try a new product and water is the first ingredient, it’s almost guaranteed that my hair will like it. My hair looks its best when it’s highly moisturized and my styles come out much better when I wet set them. For instance, my wash and go’s look fantastic when done on soaking wet hair rather than damp.

2. Vegetable Glycerin & Honey

Glycerin is a humectant and will attract moisture into your hair, which is why my hair loves it so much. Honey is another humectant and my hair adores that as well. I like to use these ingredients interchangeably in my deep conditions and have even used glycerin in my wash and go’s. Products that contain any one of these ingredients are a win for me.

3. Agave

Agave is another highly moisturizing plant derived ingredient. It is also a humectant and will draw moisture into the hair. It also provides great shine. I have several products that contain agave nectar and my hair loves them all. The SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle is one of the most notable products that contain a lot of agave nectar and whenever I use it, my hair stays moisturized a lot longer.

4. Shea butter

Shea butter works wonders for dry damaged hair and it can also be great for perfectly healthy hair, as it provides many vitamins and has great moisturizing benefits, something naturally curly hair always needs—healthy or not. Shea butter will not clog the pores in your scalp, so your scalp will be able to breathe. It is also an excellent sealer for natural hair.

MORE: Shea Butter for Hair: Healing Magic

5. Argan oil

This oil is hydrating (in a natural way”> and is filled with antioxidants, which can help strengthen weak hair. It is also great if you have color-treated your hair, which is why I also like to use it. I generally will seal with this oil or add it to my whipped shea butter for sealing. A little goes a long way.

6. Aloe

Aloe is deeply moisturizing and soothing to the hair, and it is packed with vitamins and minerals. I love using aloe vera gel in my hair as an extra layer of moisture. You can’t really go wrong with aloe very gel.

By Erika Owens · Published October 2, 2021

Photo by João Paulo de Souza Oliveira on Unsplash

Spending countless hours per week doing your hair and using products just adds stress to your strands and to yourself. With more frequent styling, comes more hair damage and the more products you use, the more it builds up on your hair and scalp, which doesn’t help your growth.

By simplifying my hair regimen and removing all unnecessary products and manipulation, I have essentially and unintentionally grown my hair to tailbone length. My length retention is the direct consequence of my minimalist approach and listening to my hair. Here are some tips to help you simplify your hair routine so you can start retaining more length:

Choose your staple products based on need

Many women don’t listen to their hair; they just do what they are told they should do with it, but everyone’s hair is different and if you listen to it, you will be rewarded. The key to the minimalist approach is to first identify what your hair needs. Identify any problems you may have, i.e. chronic dryness, breakage, weak hair, dull hair, etc. If you identify your hair challenges it will be easier to decipher the process and the products that are needed to simplify your regimen in order to retain length.

Develop your go-to styles

How often are you restyling? Do you incorporate any protective styling? Finding styles that have more longevity or that transition into other styles easily—for example, twists to a twist out—will also simplify your weekly hair routine and save your hair the unnecessary stress.

Create a hair schedule

Even if you don’t follow your hair regimen to a tee, roughly planning what days you will wash and style your hair will make your week much easier and save you a lot of time. I tend to plan my hairstyles on the weekend, particularly on Sunday, so that when I go back to work during the week I have a fresh hairstyle I can wear for at least the majority of the workweek.

Oftentimes, people make hair growth more complicated than it needs to be. They see the girl with the long flowing hair and think she must be doing some miraculous things to it or, that she is using some magical products to get her hair that long. The truth is, she is just listening to her hair and her “secret hair routine” is probably less complicated than you realize. The “secret” to long hair is that there is no secret. Just give your hair what it needs and keep it simple.

By Erika Owens · Published September 11, 2018

There is nothing worse than spending a good amount of your time doing your hair only to wake up the next day having to do it all over again. That being said, knowing how to preserve your hair overnight is imperative to keeping your hair perfectly coiffed for the next day.

Before you go to bed

You can prevent next-day frizz and flat hat hair before you even wrap your hair up at night. The number one thing you need to do to preserve your curls overnight is to avoid too much manipulation while you are putting your hair up before you sleep. Here are some techniques that work for other curlies before bed.

• Spritz – Lightly spritz their curls before bed, in order to keep them moisturized throughout the week, others, however, find it unnecessary. The key to doing this is to ensure that the hair is not too wet, otherwise it will cause frizz. You can spritz with water or a spray leave-in, whether that be homemade or store bought.
• Spritz and seal – Another technique is to spritz and seal with your choice of sealing oil. Again, this will preserve the moisture in the curls and seal in the moisture as well. The only caveat to this technique is the friction you will cause by trying to apply your sealing oil.
• “No spritzing” method – This last preparation technique involves not applying any extra moisture to the hair other than what you initially applied when you first styled it. This technique is generally used but those who feel that have ample moisture already or, for those who plan on re-styling by the time the hair would need re-moisturizing anyway.

After preparing your hair for overnight sleeping, here are some techniques you can use to preserve/wrap your hair overnight:

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse method of preserving your hair overnight which is done in conjunction with one of the first two preservation methods above, spritzing or spritzing and sealing.  After one of those techniques is used to prepare the hair, you place a plastic cap over your hair and then wrap in a silk scarf. This process forces the moisture into your hair. This should be done for those with extra dry hair (Alternatively, you can “greenhouse” your hair for one hour and then wrap using one of the techniques below.”>

Pineapple

Pineappling is the universal curly girl technique for preserving curly hair overnight. It involves placing the hair in a high ponytail leaving the ponytail portion of your hair at the very top so that your curls are s not disturbed when sleeping. Using this technique, you can sleep just on a silk pillowcase or, wrap the base of your high ponytail in a silk scarf. Watch Nikki’s pineapple tutorial here.

Turban

For some, pineappling doesn’t work for one reason or another. In those cases this next technique could work.  It involves loosely, taking one side of the hair (as if you were gathering one side of the hair for a pigtail”> and placing it over the top of the head, placing in clips in you have to. Then, doing the same to the other side so that your hair is all the way at the top of your head. Next, wrap your head in a silk scarf. You can also wrap your hair in a cotton t-shirt but cotton tends to be drying to the hair so we don’t recommend doing thatoften.

The technique you use to prepare and preserve your curls for sleeping overnight will depend mostly on your preferences, the length of your hair and the curly style you have it in i.e. twist out vs. wash and go. There are many other techniques not listed here that you can try, and what works for you may even be a variation or combination of the techniques above.

NaturallyCurly World, how do you wrap your hair at night?

By Erika Owens · Published April 19, 2018

The visual can cause anyone to cringe but there is a reason for rolling little needles on your scalp. 

What is a derma roller?

The derma roller is a small rolling device that has little needles attached to the rolling section that you roll onto your scalp. The visual can cause anyone to cringe but there is a reason for rolling little needles on your scalp. According to research, when gently rolled onto the scalp the derma roller gently penetrates the first layer of your thick scalp to exfoliate, massage, and ultimately stimulate hair growth. The purpose of it penetrating the scalp is to stimulate the skin and release toxins from the scalp. “It basically promotes new tissue growth, and it does it very simply, with simple trauma,” stated Dermatologist Dr. Duffy in New York Magazine. But not all doctors agree, as some are not convinced it works well enough. Consequently the only way to know for sure is to do your own research and experimentation.   

Benefits

The main benefit of this device is hair growth. Many people use it to stimulate hair growth on their thinning edges. It is also used to help stimulate eye brow growth and for stretch marks. In fact, many people use it in place of laser procedures to fix scalp and skin issues such as cellulite.

Does it hurt?

Let’s face it, nobody likes needles but these are not the same needles used at the doctor’s office. There are just long enough to penetrate the scalp, but not too long to cause any damage.

How thick are the needles?

The needle gauge varies according to whom you purchase your derma roller from. It is best to do your research to see which gauge and which brand would work for you. If the gauge is too thick for the part of your body you are treating, then it could cause damage and scarring. If the needles are too thin, it will not penetrate the scalp and do the job it is meant to do.

The derma roller is a unique device and can seem a bit scary at first, and is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you are a little daring then you may find that the derma roller works for you. Sometimes, beauty has a price. If not, there is always the good old scalp massage. No needles necessary.

Will you be derma rolling your edges?

By Erika Owens · Published October 10, 2017

PICTURED: @TROPHDOPH

As we all know, natural curly hair styling can take some time and it has to be done right, if it’s not, all of that time is wasted and you have to start back at square one. One of those styles is the twist out. Here are some tips for making your twist out last from the moment you begin the style all the way to the finish.

1. Twist on wet hair

This may take longer to dry, but you get better definition and a sleeker looking style and of course, it doesn’t need to be soaking wet. You can soak up most of the water with a t-shirt or microfiber towel but be ready to twist right away before it starts drying.

2. Twist with ample moisture

Apply ample moisture before twisting each section with a cream or butter like the tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer or OBIA Naturals’ Twist Whip Butter. This will ensure that your twists look shiny and moisturized for as long as possible.

3. Ensure that there is plenty of hold

There is nothing worse than spending a lot of time styling your twist-out only for it to last just a day or two. If you don’t have enough hold, that’s exactly what will happen. Frizz is bound to ensue if you don’t make sure you have good hold on top of your moisture. Try a strong hold gel like Ecoco Krystal Styling Gel to lock your style in place.

4. Unravel when completely dry

This is possibly the most important tip on this list because if you unravel when your hair is still damp, you will get frizz and you will have less definition and that is not conducive to a lasting twist out.

5. Unravel with care

Gently apply a light oil like SheaTerra’s Mongongo Nut Oil before unraveling in order to cut down on frizz.

6. Avoid touching

Once your hair is unraveled and fluffed to your liking, avoid touching any further to reduce the occurrence of frizz.

7. Make smaller twists

The smaller the twists, the longer they last so when twisting stick with smaller or medium sized twists, unless you want a chunky twist out and you’re okay with your style not lasting as long.

8. Re-moisturizer as needed

This can be different for different people. Some like to re-moisturize daily while others do it every other day, whatever works for you. The only caveat is to not get the hair too wet– your hair will revert back to its natural curl pattern.

9. Protect overnight

I prefer to pineapple my twist outs at night or even if I’m just at home, to protect and keep it fresh looking for as long as possible. When sleeping you can even wrap a silk scarf around the base of your head so that there’s less friction and frizz when you wake up or just wear a silk bonnet, from my experience, it will not mess up your twist out.

To sum it up

Like anything, perfecting the twist out may take you some time but if you follow these common tips for making your twist out last, I’m sure it will take you a lot less longer to get to that perfect twist out.

This article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

By Erika Owens · Published June 28, 2015

Summer is one of the best times of the year.

Water-based products

Lighter, water-based moisturizers are my go-to for the summer. In the colder months, hair butters are my friend. But now, the moisture in my hair is more easily sucked out of my hair and can work against me by causing dryness. Not only that, the sun is hot and hair butter will only work to suffocate my hair.

As I Am Moisture Milk is a great light, water-based moisturizer. After one day in the summer heat, my wash and go can easily become parched.

Air drying

Morning and nighttime moisturizing routine

At night, I lightly spritz my hair and apply the As I Am Moisture Milk. It is light but moisturizing. It also mixes well with the styling products I use. I apply about a nickel sized amount to each side of my head. Once that’s done, I pineapple or place in a high bun.

Whatever you choose to use to moisturize your curls this summer, make sure that it’s light and water based so that your hair does not get suffocated but still maintains its moisture. Here are some things to remember.

Things to remember

• In the summer, your hair needs to breath so use lighter water based hair products.
• Spritz and re-moisturize as needed (night/morning”>.
• If one product is not keeping your hair moisturized enough, try layering with another for extra moisture and protection from the elements.
• UV rays are harsh so protective styles are great during the summer to cover your fragile ends.
• Lastly, remember that everyone’s hair is different but try to avoid very heavy products such as hair butters because they will make it hard for your hair to breath.

By Erika Owens · Updated May 28, 2024

Often, women have one of two objectives when they go natural. They want to grow longer hair or, they want to get their hair into better health. Sometimes it is a combination. But just because you grew your hair to your desired length does not mean all of your problems are gone. In fact, long curly hair comes with their own set of challenges.

Problem #1 – It takes forever to set

As your hair grows longer, you have more to work with but it  also takes longer to set. Whether it’s bantu knot outs, twists, flexi rod sets etc, be prepared to wait–probably all day.

Problem #2 – You settle for less

When you have a huge head of long hair, it can be challenging to conjure up the energy to style it. This often means a ponytail or bun will have to do. When we do style, we like styles that last for a few days so we don’t have to re-do our hair the day after day.

Problem # 3 – It’s heavy

Long hair, especially when it’s curly, can be really heavy, especially when wet. Even when it’s dry, product itself can add weight.

Problem #4 – Wash and go’s are not wash and go’s

For someone with long curly hair to do a wash and go, it takes time. Sure, it takes time for everyone but when your hair is long. You have to take the time to define each densely packed curl and you can easily end up with undefined frizzy hair if not. Once the product is applied the wash and go can remain wet for half of the day easily. Not only that, once you go though all that trouble it doesn’t last very long.

Problem #5 – Hair tie fiascos

Hair ties are a whole other story when it comes to long curly hair. They are difficult to get tight and easily loosen due to the weight of your hair. If you do get them tight, they will be stretched out and you may only get 2-3 more uses out of them, that is, if they don’t pop and break as you’re trying to get your hair into a ponytail because you are hair is too thick.

Problem #6 – To straighten or not to straighten…

Some ladies love to straighten their hair from time-to-time but the thought of all that work can be enough to deter you from doing so. It’s long, huge and sometimes you have to wonder, how will all this hair condense into a sleek straight look? The answer is: it takes a lot of time and elbow grease to do so.

Problem #7 – No shape

If you let your hair grow without shaping it or cutting it in layers or other style such as the deva cut,  it can be very boring — long, curly and shapeless. Eventually, you need to get it cut or shaped in some way because if you don’t it can look like a pyramid. You just don’t get that bouncy cuteness of shorter hair unless you get it shaped.

Problem #8 – It’s a built-in cushion

Having your hair operate as a pillow doesn’t sound like a bad thing, but it is if you want to preserve your styles. When your hair is at a certain length it just starts to get in the way and you have to come up with techniques to keep it out of your way.

By Erika Owens · Published April 13, 2015

There’s so much more to a flat iron than just two plates that heat up. They employ certain technologies and materials such as tourmaline versus ceramic, heat up to varying temperatures and come in different widths. For this article, I will focus on different consumer favorites at different price points and features to help you find your perfect fit. 

Before using a flat iron, be sure to always use a heat protectant and if you go for a flat iron with adjustable heat levels try going with a lower heat setting so as to avoid damage.

Ceramic vs. Tourmaline

There are two mainstream flat iron technologies widely known to the community–ceramic and tourmaline. Flat irons with tourmaline plates are made up of real crystal that is ground up and applied to the surface of the flat iron plates. It helps to straighten the hair quicker because of it’s ability to produce a high volume of negative ions. As a result, it creates a silky, smoothened ironed out result.

So, what’s the difference? Ceramic flat irons heat up quickly, within seconds. This makes them ideal for reducing heat and cuticle damage. Ceramic plates are also known to distribute heat more evenly. Both, are great for straightening and are highly recommended, it’s just a matter of preference.

To read more about these two materials, check out our article Tourmaline Versus Ceramic.

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Remington T. Studio Wide Plate Straightener with Tourmaline,

• Price: $49
• Available at Walmart and Amazon

• Heats up quickly

• Has wide plates which is great for thicker hair

• Digital temperature reader

HSI Professional 1 Ceramic Tourmaline

• Price: $40
• Available on Ebay and Amazon

• Comes with argan oil

• Swivel cord

• Long-lasting results

Hai Ceramic Flat Iron

• Price: $56
• Available on Amazon and Overstock

• Heats up in 30 seconds or less

• InStyle magazine’s “Best Beauty Buy”

• Current top seller in the flat iron market

FHI Heat Technique G3 Original Tourmaline Ceramic

• Price: $79.99
• Available on Folica and Target

• “Creates sleek style in one to two passes this” according to InStyle Magazine

• Tourmaline plates

• Long-lasting 

Rusk Professional STR8 Iron infused with CTC Technology

• Price: $138
• Available on Amazon and Sears

• Great for all hair types

• Makes hair silky and soft

• Heats up fast

Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium-plated straightening Iron

• Price: $129.99
• Available at Ulta and Bed Bath & Beyond

• Temperature adjustment up to 450 degrees

• Nano titanium plates

• Glides, doesn’t pull.

• Ultra lightweight 

Remington Frizz Therapy Iron

• Price: $39.99
• Available at Walmart and Target

• Heats up quickly

• Easily straightens curls

• Great value for the price 

Conair The Power of Pink Ceramic Straightener

• Price: $32
• Available on Amazon and Walmart

• Portion of the sales go the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

• Power straightener in small package (1 inch”>

• Promotes shiny hair

The key to finding the right flat iron is knowing what your hair needs. Is it generally easy to flat iron your hair, or is it difficult? If you find it difficult or time-consuming, you may need a higher end flat iron that heats up high so that you can more easily flat iron your hair.

In the end, each of these flat irons has their strengths and their weaknesses. Once you determine exactly what you are looking for in your hair tool, then you can seek those flat irons out specifically without worrying about being overwhelmed by the features of every single other flat iron on the market.

By Erika Owens · Published April 7, 2015

When it comes to hair care, there are so many natural alternatives to the numerous chemical-laden products to be found and, many are better for your health. Fellow DIY’ers, here are some natural ways to fight a common problem in the natural hair world–dandruff. (Thanks to Health Care Pro for the suggestions.”>

Start with your diet         

A healthy diet is essential—and the first requirement—for not only a healthy inside, but a healthy outside. Beauty really starts from within; the more balanced your diet, the better your outward appearance. Think about it, are you really reaching your daily intake of fruits, vegetables and water? Before you turn to topical products to heal your body, work on your diet.

Demolish the problem with apple cider vinegar

Many use apple cider vinegar to clarify the hair but it has a double benefit as a dandruff treatment. Not only will it fight dandruff, it naturally conditions the hair leaving it silky and clean.

Henna is not just for hair dyeing

Generally used to dye one’s hair, henna also fights dandruff. When combined with fenugreek powder, 1 cup each of black tea and apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 egg and soak for three hours, a powerful dandruff treatment is in play.

Watch: Henna Hair Tutorial

Rosemary, the powerful antifungal

Rosemary is antifungal and a very common DIY treatment for dandruff. To use as a dandruff treatment, the easiest option is rosemary oil, which you can purchase at your local farmers market or health food store, and add it to your favorite conditioner. You can also infuse the raw plant in coconut or, your favorite oil. Naturallyloriel has a helpful DIY rosemary infused oil tutorial.

Aloe Vera is not just moisturizing

If you happen to have access to a living aloe vera plant, it can be an effective dandruff treatment. To do so, take the pulp out, rub on your scalp and rinse after 2-3 minutes, once it’s fully penetrated.

Eucalyptus oil—a two in one benefit

Eucalyptus is readily available in natural food stores and farmers markets. To use as a dandruff treatment, simply place a few drops in your favorite shampoo. It helps with dry scalp and stimulates the follicles, promoting hair growth.

Bay leaves are not just for cooking

Bay leaves are great for dandruff treatment, not just for your favorite stew. This method involves steeping a handful of bay leaves in one liter of water. Let it cool and use as a hair rinse.

Many of these dandruff treatments have other benefits on top of just ridding you of those dreaded flakes. For instance, bay leaves are known to be quite regenerative to hair fibers. Of course, aloe vera is moisturizing and rosemary is soothing and healing to the scalp—which is why it’s a great option for dandruff treatment. Often times, the special rinses, hair masks and treatments we do to maintain our natural hair, have positive consequences we do not expect, that’s the case with many of these DIY dandruff remedies.

By Erika Owens · Updated May 28, 2024

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap company started off as a family owned and operated business in Germany in the 1960s. Today it is located in San Diego, California. According to Frugally Minded and its longtime users, this brand of soap has a number of benefits to the body, skin, and hair–it is organic, sustainable, vegan and made almost entirely of jojoba, hemp, and coconut oils. They come in bar and liquid form. A little goes a long way so much so you may only need a few drops at a time of the liquid version and on top of that, it is extremely gentle.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps are made with ethically-sourced, certified fair trade ingredients and is known as “The Fighting Soap Company” for its activism in organic integrity, animal rights, and labeling genetically engineered foods. 

The brand started off as a favorite of the counter culture in the 60s and the group thrived on this naturally derived soap—and still do. The brand is not commercially advertised and is still ran as a family business even though they have experienced exponential growth since their initial debut. The label itself is almost as famous as the soap. The company’s eccentric founder, Dr. E. H. Bronner, created a wordy label covered with Jewish and Christian scriptures and he was so passionate about his mission to spread the news about this soap and its many uses. Oftentimes, he was ostracized because of this. He traveled to universities and had other speaking engagements to tell people about the many ways you could use this soap. In addition, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps are made with ethically-sourced, certified fair trade ingredients and is known as “The Fighting Soap Company” for its activism in organic integrity, animal rights, and labeling genetically engineered foods.

One of those uses that he talked about was washing hair. I have personally used Dr. Bronner’s Magic soap as a shampoo. I personally have used it because of its gentleness. Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Bronner’s soap does not strip the hair–as long as it is diluted, of course. This stuff is potent and extremely concentrated and you can use it as a shampoo. You just need to know how to do so.

This product itself doesn’t seem to be a problem but some curlies have voiced concern about the dilution process and whether or not you can actually use this soap as a shampoo because of that. Here is the proper way, according to the Dr. Bronner company, on how to properly use the soap for washing hair:

Dilute 1 tbsp to ½ cup of water and work into your wet hair. This seems like a reasonable dilution for not drying out your hair. Depending on the porosity of your curls, you may need to adjust this measurement of dilution. The key is to listen to your hair and figure out your perfect balance.

This is one of the first and still one of the very few that do not contain SLS chemicals such as sodium laurel sulfate Basically, it does not lather. So, if you do plan on adding this soap to your arsenal know that you will not get the magical foam you get from more common soaps, but you will get your hair clean and free of chemicals.

As with any product, you have to fully understand its use and experiment with it on your own, otherwise you can be left confused. One person’s experience is not everyone’s and some may decide this soap doesn’t work for them. But, there is a method if you do decide to use it and that is to stick to the suggested dilution proportions and then adjust for what works for you.

Will you be using it on your next wash day?

By Erika Owens · Published March 31, 2015

I usually spend part of my Sunday’s prepping my hair for the week. And, it takes time.

Deep conditioning, detangling, styling and setting is pretty routine so I don’t have to fuss with my hair as much during the week. The one thing that can put a damper on all that work is smooshed hair.

Prevent smooshed hair

First, I make sure that my hair is completely air dried before touching or putting it up before bed. If my hair is still damp in the morning, this results in undefined and essentially “smooshed-up” curls. Instead of drying (or setting”> in a perfect little ringlet. It will dry frizzy. It is tempting to want to get out the blow dryer and diffuse to speed this process up, but patience pays off. For me, diffusing causes frizz, it makes the curls softer faster and it’s harder to prevent smooshing with second day hair when I do this technique. Air drying sets the curls perfectly for me.

Once my hair is completely dry, I can then put it up and out of my face without ruining the style for on the second day. My number one technique for this is the pineapple. The higher you put it, the less disturbed your curls.

However, whenever I do this, my hair falls all over my face. For me, that is fine if I am lounging around the house but not ideal for sleeping or preserving my curls.

Cover up

To mitigate, I cover my hair with a silk scarf or cap of some sort.

Right now, I am loving the “slapcap”–a stylish slouchy beanie with a silk interior–and I’m all about style so this is right up my alley. Also, my curls are much looser in the front sections of my hair so, if I am going for a defined look, I leave part of my bang section out, and pint it back so that when I take it down in the morning it’s not too stretched out.

Then refresh

Refreshing is also an important step for maintaining second day curls.

Whenever I spritz, in order to re-moisturize, I make sure that It’s barely wet, not even damp, just a very light spritz because If I don’t, it will cause smoosh and frizz the next day. This goes the same for any product re-application. Hair should be dry to the touch before putting up, or you will wake up frizzy, undefined hair.

Of course, these tips can be modified. If you hair is shorter and it’s hard to get a really good pineapple, try the multi-pineapple. Place hair in two or more (depending on your needs”> high pineapple-like ponytails so that you are preserving your curls.

If your hair is super long, you can still pineapple but you’ll have to loosely pint the hair around in a very loose bun and tie up with a silk scarf so that your hair doesn’t get loose and your curls ruined.

How do you keep your hair from getting smooshed?

By Erika Owens · Published March 30, 2015

As I Am Curl Curling Jelly

Aubrey Organics 100% Organic Jojoba Oil

As I Am Moisture Milk Daily Hair Revitalizer

Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter

Aubrey Organics Green Tea Finishing Rinse

Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel

One of the main ingredients in this curling gel is glycerin, which helps attract moisture into the hair strands.

Blended Cutie Butter Me Up!

Chamomile, a dandruff fighting and scalp soothing herb (commonly drank as a tea”> is also great for dry or breaking hair. It can also sooth a tender or itchy scalp.

Camille Rose Naturals Curlaid Moisture Butter

Camille Rose Naturals Curl Love Moisture Milk

Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment

Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-free Shampoo

Carol’s Daughter CD4Kids Detangler

Carol’s Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

CURLS Curl Soufflè

Design Essentials Natural Defining Cream Gel

By Erika Owens · Published March 18, 2015

Spring break is here, and it’s also festival season. This means one thing: road trips, long train rides, and jet lag. Travel is great, but what’s greater is getting to your destination with your hairstyle still in tact. I like to use that sanitary time as an opportunity to set my hair, when possible. Here’s what I mean.

Twists are the perfect travel hairstyle

Why? Because they generally stay in tact and when you arrive at your hotel or, next destination, and even at the end of a long plane or car ride, you can take them out and you have a fresh twist-out.

Already have an old twist-out? Pineapple or bun it

Let’s say you are traveling and your hair is already unraveled and in a twist out. You thought you would have time to freshen up in the hotel room but now you’re in a rush. In that case, the pineapple or super high ponytail/bun is great way to keep your hair preserved. This style is also great for keeping  your wash and go fresh as well.

Water and oil to refresh

Traveling to any one place, your hair is likely to get squished, lop-sided or frizzy along the way. Luckily for us, we can take a small spray bottle of water with no more than three ounces with you on the plane for moisture. To make it a full fledge on-the-go refresher spay, add a few drops on oil for shine and sealing. Last but not least, make sure it has a top on it, nothing worse than a leaky bottle, especially if you need it for your hair!

Keep these in your purse, nearby

Fluff out those roots and give yourself more body in a couple of minutes. Bobby pins, to pin parts of your hair back or keep in it place in case part of your hair is too messed up to salvage without a little modifications, can’t go wrong with bobby pins and lastly an extra hair tie, because those things pop right in half sometimes and you’ve got to be able to pineapple to really keep your hair in tact.

Lastly, whenever possible–especially in the car on a roadtrip–carry some sort of hair lotion with you to curl that curl that will not revert back from the frizziness. This will smooth the hair back into place or to re-twist if a few of your twists begin to look a little rough.

No hat? No worries

See, you don’t always have to completely cover your hair with a hat to protect it while out. When traveling be sure to make a list and check it more than twice. I once traveled a long way for work and forgot my wide-tooth comb. Not only was my hair was not looking right for days, I had to do an emergency trip to Target in a strange city not knowing where I was going. Then, I got the comb and all was well. As long as you have the essentials with you, your hair will look great no matter where you go.

Do you have any travel hair tips we should all know about? Do share…

By Erika Owens · Updated May 28, 2024

Wash day for me comes at least once per week, twice, if I have too much product in my hair from styling. With wash day, for me, always comes deep conditioning, and of course sealing. Here are my product cocktails for my wash day routine.

I have been using the same deep conditioning cocktail for as long as I can remember. If it isn’t broken, then why fix it, right? 

The pre-poo

Pre-pooing is great for curly hair. But I have to admit, I don’t always have time for it. If I do, a good slather of Trader Joe’s olive oil all over my tresses just before washing does the trick for me.

The cleanser

I use Aussie Moist Shampoo from Target primarily when washing my hair. However, I like to switch it up here and there. The best alternative is TRESemme Naturals Shampoo.

The deep conditioner

I have been using the same deep conditioning cocktail for as long as I can remember. If it isn’t broken, then why fix it, right? My deep conditioning mix consists of about a half of cup of conditioner, two tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of honey.

I like to use Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner but if I don’t have any, Aussie Moist’s regular conditioner works great too. The honey attracts moisture to the hair and provides shine, while the olive oil provides shine and causes the hair to condition even deeper, it just works. I detangle once the mix is in and I leave it on my hair for at least 20 minutes under a hooded dryer.

Once per month I like to deep condition after washing by using avocado, pure organic olive oil and 100% honey from Trader Joe’s. Let me tell you, avocado does some magical things to hair, at least it does to mine. It leaves me with shiny hair. I simply take one smashed avocado, please note, this needs to be blended, preferably in a Vitamix or Nutribullet because if it’s not, you will have little green fibers stuck all throughout your hair. Because of this, ripe avocados are important to use. After smashing the avocado, mix in two tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of honey. Apply to your hair, place on a plastic cap and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. When done, I rinse and use my regular conditioner.

The sealant

Once the deep conditioning treatment is out of my hair, I’ll seal with Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Sheen Sealing Nectar from Walmart. It sprays on, so you do not have to slather your hands or hair with oil in order to apply. This is especially helpful if my hair is already styled.

[prodmod]

What product or ingredient cocktails do you make on wash day?

By Erika Owens · Published January 13, 2015

Our mane is our glory and it’s imperative that it looks glorious for date night. Everything starts with your hair. Even if it’s pulled back in a high bun, whatever you choose, you have to love it. I think hair for date night should be all about what makes you feel great. For me, nothing is more sexy than big fluffy hair so for this article I’ll show you how I did my hair for date night.

Here is the step-by-step of my blown out braid-out.

1. Start with wash and deep conditioned hair. Since my hair will be lightly blow dried, I like to impart ample moisture before doing the blow drying process. For my deep conditioner, I use about a half of a cup of conditioner, one teaspoon of honey and two table spoons of olive oil. *These are rough measurements and not exact.
2. Once my deep conditioner is rinsed out I use a leave in conditioner, for me, that means leaving a little bit of Aussie Moist in my hair before the next step. After, I place my hair in a microfiber towel and let it soak up as much water as possible. I air dry until it’s about 80% dry and then commence to styling.
3. Tension blow dry. For this step, I hold the ends of my hair and let the blow dryer do its job. My goal here is to get the hair smooth and to stretch out my own curls so it’s ready to braid. In this step, I pay particular attention to my roots, so my curl pattern comes out the same in the end and I don’t have a super curly crown with soft wavy curls below.
4. Separate in sections and section-by-section add your choice of products. This step is important for me because I want to make sure my braid out comes out looking moisturized and not dry. I start by using a little of Crème of Nature’s Argan Oil Butter-Licious Curls for the water based moisture. Next, I apply Paul Mitchell’s hair serum, for the extra moisture and smooth shine and finally I add just a bit of Dark and Lovely’s Sheen Sealing Nectar to seal, then I braid. I do four braids in the back total and two in the front.
5. Before unraveling, I apply more oil to the braids. Next, unravel the braids and style as you wish. I like to flip the front of my hair to one side. Alternatively, you can do a half updo with this style which is great for a fun and more casual date.

The upkeep

I like to sleep overnight in my braids but since this is date night, you can do this earlier in the day and let them air dry 100%. The longer you keep them in, the more defined they will be. Also, the more product you use, the more defined they will be. It all just depends on what your preferences are.

By Erika Owens · Published January 10, 2015

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the new “Annie” is portrayed an adorable little black girl rocking natural hair.

Her name is Quvenzhané Wallis–pronounced, kwa-vin-ja-nay.

This pint size cutie is also an Oscar nominee for 2012s Beasts of the Southern Wild. In fact, she’s the first African American child actor to be honored with the Oscar nomination. She is also the winner of 2012s Critics Choice Award for “Best Young Performer.”

Roughly one year later, it was the delight of many to hear the news that Quvenzhané knocked down yet another barrier in the industry. She had been pegged to portray Annie in the new film version of the classic musical (historically played by a red headed caucasian girl with a red afro”>. The film also stars Jamie Fox, portraying the “Daddy Warbucks” character.

Hair is a big symbol in this movie.

Historically, the big red hair that this character wears was made to represent the unkempt nature of her life, having been a foster child with a less than enthusiastic and nurturing foster parent. The same goes with this version of the film. Quvenzhané’s “Annie” is on her own in every way. Her foster mother cynically, even mocks her “big hair” as if it’s a bad thing—oh if she only knew, big hair, is good hair—but I digress, sure her hair is disheveled at times, after all, she is a foster child. That is a part of the role she plays–unkempt, disheveled. Still, it’s charming to see a character whose hair represents more than its characters’ actual needs. It represents so much more, culturally, in America where many as still adverse to African American natural hair.

In a time where bone straight hair is so highly represented, her hair makes a statement. It is always refreshing to see curly, coily, and free hair in a major movie…Her hair gave her character that let her personality shine through.

I am not a parent just yet, but I can imagine being happy to have this character be seen by my imaginary daughter. Someone, who hypothetically would probably have similar hair. With straight hair Barbie’s and dolls abound, I imagine, straight hair and embracing their own natural hair could be confusing for a little girl.

Everyone wants what they do not have—young and old.

Many people with beautiful curly hair want to wear it straight while others appreciate the gap that the Annie movie has helped fill for little curly girls of all races–and even some adults.

People do what they see, they mimic celebrities, and with more of them embracing the natural look, even part of the time, and with characters such as Quvenzhané’s “Annie”, it will only fuel the ongoing shift of people wearing their hair natural more and more. There’s a part in the film where Annie looks up at a billboard and says: “Wow, my hair is huge!” It may be “huge” but you know what? It’s fabulous–not just the hair itself, but what it represents to such a diverse audience.  Sure, we can make our hair straight, or we can choose to rock it our way–curly, coily, kinky, big. It’s perfect just the way it is.

By Erika Owens · Published January 9, 2015

The Texas Beard Company’s Beard Oil + Balm

The Texas Beard Company is for men who love their beards. It was founded by a group of men in their 20s living in Texas who just want to make some great beard products. What makes them great is that they offer beard paraphernalia along with their moisturizing beard products. Can’t choose between their ever-popular beard balm or oil? No worries, they have a combo package available.

Beardbrand’s Tree Ranger Beard Oil

Beardbrand will have you or you (or your man”> smelling like refreshing pine. They are also affiliated with the online magazine The Urban Beardsman. Their FAQ sections addresses good questions like “how to thicken and soften your beard” or “how to repair split ends.” Who would not want that information?

The Mod Cabin’s Beard Balm + Beard Oil Set

Featured in Men’s Journal and Esquire Magazine, The Mod Cabin has great products like the Beard Balm + Beard Oil Set and their website is very informative. When you arrive at this website, you are welcomed with a video about how to apply beard oil. Watch it. If you do not learn how to apply the products correctly, then the product will not be as effective. Also, they explain exactly what is in their products and boast of using only natural ingredients, which is always a bonus.

Black Label Beard’s Aphrodisiac Beard Balm

They called their balm an aphrodisiac, clever Texans. Enter the Black Label Beard Company, another Texas beard grooming company. Their offerings include beard oils, mustache wax, shaving products, and beard pomade. You will definitely find whatever you are looking for here. Their ingredients include vanilla, jojoba oil, argan oil, and shea butter, which are meant to help protect your beard from the elements and among other things. 

Dream Beard Oils Shampoo & Conditioner

Don’t have a shampoo & conditioner for your beard? Well Dream Beard Oils “spent the last year researching and testing on the manliest of men to come up with a product that is not only certified organic, paraben free, and sulfate free.” The hand crafted Dream Beard Oils was founded by a man who had issues with his beard and decided it was time to do something about it. With ingredients and scents like rosemary and bergamot, you really cannot go wrong with these homegrown products.

Portland General Store’s Whiskey Beard Oil

Their name sounds like an ode to the old days when men more commonly wore fancy beards with scents like tobacco and whiskey. What’s great about this company is that they offer organic products as well.

Brooklyn Grooming’s Beard Lovers Set

Not sure where to start with your beard, and don’t feel like shopping for all the bits and pieces? Get the full grooming set in one fell swoop. Not only are Brooklyn Grooming’s products intriguing, but their website and photography are immaculate. If you’re not ready to commit, they have sampler sets too. They even offer vegan products.

Maestro’s Classic Beard Wash

Maestro’s Classic is the winner of Esquire Magazines 2014 grooming award, so you are in safe hands here. With products formulated with black pepper and bergamot, this will satiate all of your manly grooming needs.

Craft Culture’s Cedar Fern Beard Oil + Mustache Wax

Craft Culture Co. has some pretty nifty beard grooming products. You should be able to find just what you need here. Cedar Fern is the newest scent for their popular beard oil, and when you buy them together you save money.

Ladies, what are your favorite grooming products to buy for him? Men, did we miss any of your favorite grooming products?