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Do you wish that your hair was different?
Do you often look at images or videos of women with natural hair different from your own and feel envious of their hair?
When you wear your natural hair for the first time, your initial experiences can be frustrating, because learning how to care for and style your natural hair can be overwhelming in the beginning.
It is at this point, when you see women with hair “different” from your own, that you imagine that their hair care must be easier and you wish that you can have their hair. At first this thought process starts as simple hair crushes, but then sometimes they can turn into hair anxiety where you begin to dislike your own hair because you feel it does not love you back.
You start to tell yourself that your hair is not defined enough.
Your hair is not shiny enough.
Your hair shrinks way too much.
As a result you seek out products and methods to get your hair to look like all those hair crushes you lust after, but become upset when these products and methods do not fulfill their promise. But by doing this you are going against the original reason you have curly hair in the first place – you wanted to wear “your” natural hair. I am here to tell you that your hair is not “less than”, and while your hair may seem that it is not loving you back now – it will get to a point where your hair thrives.
When you find yourself spending time envious of other peoples hair it is like sipping a green eyed cocktail, the more and more your drink the bigger the headache will be the next day. Once you let go of all the angst you have about your hair you will begin to feel a weight lift off of you, and that is when your hair will flourish.
Now let’s put down the green eyed cocktail and look at six steps that will help you begin to accept your hair. Some of these actions will require you to step out of your comfort zone but they will leave you, and your hair, feeling more empowered.
- Find your hair community: Whether it be on Facebook or in the forums of Naturally Curly, seek out a community of women with similar length and texture as your own.
- Search for new hair crushes: Take the Naturally Curly Texture Typing Quiz for hair types and using your hair type as a search term, Google women with that texture.
- Show off your beautiful hair: Take a selfie of your hair every day for a week or a month and post them to your favorite social media platform.
- Try simple hairstyles: If styling your hair is the reason for disliking your hair search on Youtube for simple styles to save yourself time (Check out 3 simple styles we teach at Curly Hair School”>
- Beat Dry Hair: Many women say that frequently dry hair is the reason for their hair woes so try understanding your hair’s porosity or taking Curly Hair School’s Dry Hair Remedies Course to learn how to get moisturized hair
- Write a love letter to your hair: Write down 5 reasons why you love your hair and share it with the world.
As soon as you accept your hair for how beautiful it is you will begin to see how beautiful your hair really is as well. In the comments, share one of the five things that you love about your hair and if you are willing to share your story or thoughts on hair acceptance, we would love to hear it.
Kimika Hudson is the founder of curlyhairschool, a platform that helps women with kinky curly hair find the right tools and methods for their individual hair needs through online hair courses.
We all know that part of a healthy hair regimen for waves and curls means keeping it well nourished and moisturized. If you’re experiencing frizz and dryness then your curls may be begging for a deep conditioning treatment. And if you are one of the many curlies who feels their hair just won’t curl anymore, then you may have experienced heat damage and a deep conditioning treatment can help revive your curls with the moisture it needs.
Regular deep conditioning treatments will contribute to happy, healthy, bouncy waves and curls.
Deep conditioning doesn’t have to take all day, here’s a simple, drama-free routine.
Step 1
Find the deep conditioner that works for you.
Every curl type varies. The right deep conditioner will be rich, thick and just enough nourishment to leave your hair healthy, and not greasy. I like Ojon Rare Blend or Miss Jessie’s Sweetback Treatment.
If you prefer to make your own with household ingredients, try this homemade mayonnaise DC or a banana and egg mask.
Step 2
Apply conditioner to soaking wet hair.
Lay it on! Make sure you cover every strand with the conditioner. If you can’t see your own hair color any more, you’ve done a great job!
Step 3
Cover up with a shower cap.
Cover up your coated head with a shower cap or wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a warm, damp, towel. Most conditioners will give you a time to keep it on – but usually 15-20 mins works for most types.Step 4
Add heat or steam.
It’s important to open the cuticle of the hair and allow the conditioner to work into your hair shaft and scalp. You can use a bonnet/hooded dryer or just sit in your bathroom under a steamy shower. Try adding 5-10 mins of heat to your treatment.Step 5
Rinse and let your hair air dry.
If you don’t have time in the day to deep condition without air drying, sleep on it. Rinsing the conditioner with lukewarm water is usually best. Be sure to finger comb your hair under the shower and wash all of the product out. However, for thinner and finer hair, this may not be the best option.
How often should you deep condition?
Deep condition 1-2 times per week, depending on the needs of your hair. If you are growing your hair out or it has chemical damage, more treatments may be necessary. If your hair is healthy, then maintaining a once a week treatment for your hair should be simple. Weather and seasons will also play a factor (intense heat, chlorine water, etc.”> so be sure to treat your hair accordingly.
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Tara Lisciandro-Hornich is a Type 2/3 curly mom as well as healthy lifestyle advocate. Read her articles here.
Trying to speed up your hair growth— check out cucumbers! Technically a fruit, cucumbers give you many benefits from head to toe, inside and out. Juicing them is one of the best ways to benefit from their magical hair growth powers. Below is a simple cucumber juice recipe–just two ingredients. It doesn’t get any easier than this!
Cucumber Juice Recipe
- 1 Cucumber
- ½ inch piece of ginger
Cucumbers are ideal for juicing because of the high water content thus giving you a lot juice. Cucumbers are high in silicon, sulphur sodium, phosphorus and calcium, some the nutrients most needed for hair growth. As you may already know sulphur is one of the main ingredients in the popular hair vitamins.
For this very reason, cucumbers are the base for many of my hair growth juicing recipes in my e-guide JuiceMyFro.
How to buy a cucumber
Buy organic produce whenever possible. Doing this will allow you to juice with the skins on, and the skins contains valuable nutrients. If you’re not able to buy organic, then you will need to peel the cucumber. Cucumbers oxidize quickly, so it’s best to consume a cucumber within 20 minutes of cutting or juicing. If you’re juicing them every day, don’t buy more than five days worth at time. Organic cucumbers spoil especially quickly.
Other benefits of cucumbers include strong nails, healthy skin and weight loss.
Other ways to use cucumber
Cut cucumbers and put them on your skin to lighten dark spots and on your eyes to take away puffiness and bags under your eyes. Having problems with constipation, whip up a juice with cucumber; they act as a natural laxative. Juiced with the right veggies, the power of cucumber for hair growth doubles.
Writer CaSaundra Johnson is the author of the 30-day juicing for hair growth e-guide JuiceMyFro.
We often hear from readers who like a certain product, but wish it had more of certain butter or didn’t have certain oil. They are frustrated mixtresses who wish they could create their ideal product. That’s why Mala Rhodes opened the 1-year-old Gourmet Hair Café in Los Angeles Rhodes, owner and CEO of the AfroVeda line of haircare products, wanted to create a place that would make it easy for people to concoct their ideal product. The Gourmet Hair Cafe is the first of its kind, blending and customizing conditioners on the spot just for you and your hair and scalp needs!
Being product junkies at NaturallyCurly, we couldn’t wait to ask her more about the Gourmet Hair Café.
NC: How did you come up with the idea for the Café?
Mala: The Gourmet Hair Cafe™ opened last year as part of AfroVeda’s retail boutique in Grand Prairie, Texas, and is a brand new concept in hair care.
We had been customizing hair conditioners for ourselves and staff members for a few years simply because we could. Then, with our customer base becoming more conscious about the ingredients in their hair products, and our own promotion of conscious hair care, we decided to take it to the next level and offer it to walk-in customers only. It was a huge success and our customers enjoyed the whole experience. We knew we had just ventured into something great!”
Now located in Los Angeles, we currently operate at pop-up shops throughout the greater Los Angeles area while we prepare our permanent location.
NC: How does it work when a custom comes in?
Mala: A consultation with an AfroVeda professional will help determine the exact needs of your specific hair/scalp, not just what your hair type is, but what YOU need for your specific hair/scalp and for your preferences. Then your product will be made “on-the-spot” and given to you to take home. Only those ingredients that YOU select and want will be used. The customers can choose from such botanicals as:
- Licorice Root for combatting chronic dry scalp issues
- Amla and Marshmallow Root for hair conditioning
- Sea plant extracts for conditioning and moisture
- Hydrolyzed proteins for strength
- Ancient Ayurvedic herbs that help promote hair/scalp health, as well as combat hair thinning & hair loss
- Curry Leaf and Bhringaraj for hair growth
NC: What is the benefit of a custom blended product?
Mala: Studies show that custom-blended skin/hair care products may be up to 400% more effective than traditional off-the-shelf products. That’s because they’re blended on the spot and never sit on the shelf, losing their potency. Off-the-shelf products can sometimes be months – and even years – before you finally buy them. That means the custom-blended product will contain the highest level of active ingredients and the lowest practical level of preservatives. Also, since it’s made only for you, it will contain only those ingredients you need and only those that will benefit you.
NC: Has the Café helped the AfroVeda brand?
Mala: Creating these custom conditioners has been an incredible asset to our business. Customers love the idea of choosing their own ingredients with the knowledge of what each ingredient will specifically do for their hair and scalp. And then they get to watch me make it for them while they enjoy a cup of tea or just browse the store for other hair products. It’s a great way to make lasting connections with customers and build relationships, and I personally love the chat time!”
NC: When can we expect to see a Café near us?
Mala: AfroVeda plans to expand the Gourmet Hair Cafe™ to a few major markets in Los Angeles, New York, Texas and Georgia in the next five years.
This post is sponsored by AfroVeda.
For many women, those little gray hair strands seem to creep up out of nowhere.
While color appointments and boxes of color may be one option, next time… try onions! They have actually proven to help increase hair growth and reverse the grays when applied to the scalp. High in sulfur, onion juice helps to regenerate follicles and helps to prevent hair loss as well.Researchers from Bradford University in the UK, show that the build-up of hydrogen peroxide, in hair, causes grays and hair loss. The natural antioxidant , catalase, is decreased when more hydrogen peroxide enters hair follicles. However, catalase is found in onion juice, and helps to reduce the buildup of hydrogen peroxide.
Onion Juice Recipe
- It’s best to start with fresh onions (even though you can buy onion juice in the store”>.
- Peel and cut an onion (white or yellow”> into quarters and put it in the juicer or food processor
- Strain the mixture for the juice
- Store the remainder juice in small quantities in the fridge
How to Apply
- Test one small area, or water down the mixture with just a small amount of water.
- Apply the juice lightly to the scalp daily and lightly massage it in.
- Leave the juice on your scalp for 30-45 mins. (And yes, the smell may be quite strong- when it’s time to rinse, use your favorite nourishing shampoo or conditioner to wash it out”>
- For best results, wait 4-6 weeks to see results, depending on how much gray you have and the concentration that you use. However, with consistent use you will notice stronger hair follicles and fewer grays.
For centuries, chamomile has been recognized for it’s medicinal and beauty benefits. The chamomile flower has a distinct and strong perfume and almost every part of it’s flower is beneficial to humans. Among its numerous medicinal remedies are aide with intestinal disorders, anxiety, influenza, depression, insomnia, and ulcers. Find out where chamomile falls in place with each remedy.
Lightens Blemishes
Chamomile leaves your complexion with a natural glow and is known to lighten the appearance of sun spots, aging, and blemishes. Chamomile is known for aiding sensitive skin that is prone to redness and irritation. Look for cosmetics with chamomile extract or bisabolol, the primary constituent of the chamomile essential oil.
De-puffs Under-Eye Circles
The anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties in chamomile help with under eye-circles for those long restless nights. Make two cups of tea, allow a few chamomile tea bags to cool, and then place them on your eyes should you have puffiness. Let them sit for 2-5 minutes. For those rush mornings, stick the tea bags in the freezer for a quick cooling sensation.
- photo courtesy of Socialite Dreams
Exfoliates the Face
Blend loose chamomile with powdered milk and make a facial scrub! It will help remove dead skin cells and leave your skin, even sensitive skin, smooth and clean. Use about 1 tablespoon of powdered milk and 1 tablespoon of chamomile for a single trial. Scrub with a facial towel to remove all the dead skin cells.
Full Body Detox
Drink one to two cups of chamomile tea per day and it will help improve and nourish your skin from deep inside. Chamomile has plenty of antioxidants that help clean out your intestines and your liver, so you can detox from the inside out. The laxative properties in chamomile tea will help your body get rid of toxins and give way to a fresh start.
Accents Your Natural Blonde
Similar to henna powder, a chamomile rinse can accentuate natural blonde hues without stripping the hair of its health and necessary oils. Brew 2 cups of strong chamomile tea and spray (or pour”> through your hair. Let it sit in your hair for 5 minutes before rinsing out with cold water.
Eases Dandruff
Help prevent dandruff by washing with chamomile regularly. It can also aid in soothing your scalp.
Try this DIY hair rinse with chamomile, fresh parsley, and lemon.
Relieves Sunburn
Burns, bruises, sunburns, bug bites and rashes can be soothed by chamomile washes, or by simply placing a cooled tea bag on the area. Make a pot of strong chamomile tea and let it sit in the fridge overnight to cool. The next morning, pour cold chamomile over your burns to relieve redness.
Boosts Your Immune System
Chamomile has anti-bacterial properties and can help increase and boost your immune system. The ancient Egyptians were known to use chamomile to ward off illnesses. For cold and flu season, and even allergies, drinking chamomile helps reduce symptoms and recuperate from them faster.
Helps You Get to Sleep
Chamomile has some sedating properties, and is known most of all for reducing stress and aiding in sleep. Regularly drinking a glass at night can help with anxiety and get you to sleep faster.
The air we breathe, the skin products we use and the food we eat are just some examples of how toxins enter our body.
Detoxing is the process of ridding your body of unhealthy toxins that we come in contact with during our daily life.
Juicing fruits and vegetables is one of many ways to incorporate a detoxing process into your lifestyle. Juicing to detox does not always mean a “juice fast.” There are two approaches you can take when using juicing to detox: either doing a juicing fast or incorporating juiced veggies and fruits into your daily diet.
Juice fasting, although intimidating for some, is one the most exhilarating ways to see speedy results from detox and eliminate toxins quickly. They generally range anywhere from 1-7 days. Some results from juice fasting include increased energy, better sleeping habits, weight loss and much more. For best results, do these fasts at least 3 times a year. Research via the internet for a juice fasting regime that fits your needs. There are plenty to choose from.
If a juice fast just seems out of the reach at this point, start by incorporating 1-2 juices per day. If consistent you will overtime see results, such as regular bowel movements, increased energy and get this my fellow naturalistas—hair growth!
As with anything consistency is always the key. Three months of regular juicing to see these results. As mentioned before, juicing is great way to speed up hair growth because of all the vitamins and minerals we get from juicing.
In my e-guide Juice My Fro I explain what juicing is and how to use it to aide hair growth. It encompasses a 30 days of juicing recipes tailored for hair growth. Here is a juice recipe from Day 3: Hair Energizer Juice.
Hair Energizer Juice
- 1 cup of alfalfa sprouts
- 4 red or romaine lettuce leaves
- 1 large lemon
- 1 large carrot
- 1/2 cucumber
This juice will not only wake up your hair follicles but you as well. It contains cucumber, which is great for hair growth because of its high silicon and sulfur content. Sulfur an essential mineral building block of the human body. It is often referred to as the “beauty mineral” because it necessary for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Also included in this juice are alfalfa sprouts, which are rich in calcium, magnesium, folic acid and tons of other good stuff for the hair. Lettuce is considered an effective remedy for hair loss and is great to add to any juice for healthy hair.
With summer right around the corner, it is the perfect time to implement a juice detox regime in your life and grow your natural hair at the same time! Happy Juicing Your Fro!
For more juice recipes from writer CaSaundra Johnson, check out her e-guide JuiceMyFro.com.
For a curly girl, the process of straightening your hair – and keeping it straight – can be fraught with anxiety. For starters, the act of straightening curly hair has been known to take hours. Then when you’ve spent said hours on your hair, you sometimes walk out into the light of day only to find your hard work thwarted by heat and humidity. But by far the scariest moment is when you wash your hair at the end, and anxiously check to see if your curls have been damaged beyond repair.
They claimed that you could go curly to straight and back to curly.
Jamie was traveling to a beach town for a wedding and she didn’t want to worry about her curl definition or frizz while she was away, so she decided to try an at-home hair straightening kit.
She used the Beautiful Textures Naturally Straight kit and she shared how she applied it, how long it lasted, and most importantly whether or not her 3B curls came back in her full video review.
Watch the Video
For more product reviews and tutorials, check out our YouTube channel The Twist!
This article is sponsored by Beautiful Textures.
Amidst reports that Carol’s Daughter had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the natural hair community has been discussing the events of this week at length on our Facebook, Twitter and beyond. Lisa Price, Founder of Carol’s Daughter has been an inspiration for so many women in this space and in this letter she shares her feelings surrounding the company’s past, its present and most importantly, its future.
For you,
I know you have read the misleading news that has been circulated around the internet during the past week because I have heard from so many of you. Thank you all for your support and concern.
It is important to set the record straight. Carol’s Daughter is still going strong after twenty-one years and the future has never looked brighter. As part of our increased focus on new retail channels, we have decided to close five of our stores. This was portrayed as if we are having some challenges, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Initially, I felt it was inappropriate to toot my own horn, if you will, in the midst of some of our stores closing and the day-to-day work that must be done to continue to ensure our success. However, in this day and age of information speeding ahead of us and becoming fact before it has been verified, fact checked or vetted I fear that inaccurate perception will become my company’s reality in the minds of those I hold so dear, you. My friends, supporters, cheerleaders, fans and second family.
From the days when some of you rang my doorbell looking for Healthy Hair Butter to the day my website crashed because of my first national TV appearance you have always been there for me and you are who I care about. Because of your dedication over the past twenty-one years, I have been able to do amazing things. The nationwide Target launch this past March is an opportunity that very few companies receive. I am proud of that. I am also proud and blessed to have valuable partners, like HSN, Ulta and Sephora inside JC Penney. These partnerships have enabled me to distribute Carol’s Daughter in over 2,500 stores and on direct TV which is far beyond the reach of my living room in Brooklyn.
I am going to live through this bad headline knowing that our brand is as strong as ever…and right now I have to get back to work.
Love,
Lisa M. Price
Carol’s Daughter
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIGEN
Depending on whom you ask, and how truthful they are, roughly 75% of women have used hair color at some point. All of this hair coloring can be expensive and can potentially damage the hair depending on the type of color product, the quality of the application, and the care taken after the color process.
Color Fading
Most people believe their hair color fades after 3 to 4 weeks. However, clinical results show that hair color fades 5 times faster in the first week after color application. Knowing a little about what happens during the color process, and how to care for color-treated hair, can go a long way toward keeping your color bright and your hair healthy and shiny.
Color & Your Cuticle
Almost all hair color works by opening up the cuticle of the hair to allow colorant to penetrate into the hair. The cuticle is the outer layer on the hair shaft, which is made up of overlapping transparent keratin cells. It works like protective scales, and each cuticle cell is composed of several different layers. It is resistant to chemicals and protects the hair’s cortex from chemical influences.
Because it can be seen and touched, the cuticle defines smoothness and shininess. Hair cuticles may get damaged by chemical processes like coloring, overexposure to sunlight (UV”>, heat from styling irons, abusive brushing and combing, over-chlorinated pool water, etc., causing dull, frizzy, brittle hair.
Healthy hair should have a pH balance of approximately 4.0 – 6.0, making it slightly acidic. Generally, permanent hair color is alkaline; so applying hair color will affect the pH balance of your hair. When your hair is properly pH balanced, the cuticle remains closed; however, a higher pH balance will open the cuticle, causing hair damage and accelerated color fading.
After You Color
After hair coloring, special care must be taken to ensure that the hair is returned to a healthy condition that will not only look and feel good, but will also help to prolong and maintain that beautiful, new color.
- First, it is recommended to rinse hair thoroughly until water runs clear. If hair is not well rinsed after the coloring process, it may actually cause hair damage and promote color fading.
- Next, you should always apply a conditioner made for color-treated hair immediately after coloring. Conditioners designed for color-treated hair will have a pH value of 3 to 4. This will help to return the cuticle to a closed state.
- For a while after coloring, some of your cuticles won’t close as easily as they did before coloring. Continued use of color-safe conditioners will expedite cuticle closure to help prevent hair damage and color fading.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIGEN
Good hair care is recommended on a daily basis, because your hair cannot repair itself without your help. Additionally, coloring results last longer with good hair care habits. Your hair and scalp need to be cleansed, but when wearing color, you may not want to use whatever may be on sale that week.
An excellent choice for color-treated hair is Bigen Protect & Repair Shampoo and Conditioner. Bigen has been manufacturing hair color for over 55 years, and have used that knowledge to produce a color-safe shampoo & conditioner that uses rice water essence(Inositol”> and sunflower oil to repair damaged hair, while it gently cleanses and conditions. These products are specially formulated to work for color-treated hair, repair hair damage and protect the hair from future damage.
The right choice of shampoo & conditioner for your color-treated hair can be one of the best things you can do to after you color. The proper care and maintenance you give to your new color can help you keep your color longer, save you money, and give you healthy, shiny looking hair.
This post is sponsored by Bigen.
We like to take extra special care of our curls, coils and waves – and prom night is no different! Special events can often means straightening irons, curling wands, and generally damaging behavior for our hair, so we tend to feel a little apprehensive of your average updo or formal hairstyle. NaturallyCurly editors Nikki and Cristina are testing out heatless ways to dress up their curls for prom, and in this tutorial they’re using Curlformers.
As you can see, Nikki and Cristina have totally different curl patterns, lengths, density, and well, pretty much everything. Cristina used the short, tighter Curlformers on her Type 2C hair and Nikki used the extra long, extra wide variety on her Type 3C hair. Watch the video to see how they did it!
Watch the Video
For more tutorials and product reviews, subscribe to our YouTube channel The Twist!
This post is sponsored by Curlformers.
We all get the urge to try a pixie every now and then. But if that’s a fleeting fancy for you then you probably want to hold onto your long locks and opt for a temporary fix instead. This twist out updo creates the look of an asymmetrical pixie cut, and when you wash it out you’ve got your lovely long curls back!
What You’ll Need:
- Bobby pins
- Hair Milk Refresher Spray
- Hair Milk Styling Pudding
- Wide tooth comb
- Pick
Directions
- Spray Refresher Spray throughout the hair
- Section the hair, start by parting it at the crown
- Tie the bottom section into a ponytail
- Apply Styling Pudding to the top half of hair in sections, comb through with a wide tooth comb.
- Two strand twist each section, applying extra Styling Pudding to the ends
- Untwist all of the hair, then pick and fluff
- Twist the ponytail up and secure with bobby pins. Pin the rest of the hair to create the shape you like
Watch the Video
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
When curly YouTube vlogger Sarah, also known as Waterlily716, announced recently that she got a haircut, the community gasped in unison. We all know the apprehension that a curly girl feels when sitting in the hairstylist’s chair. And that is why it’s so important to find a stylist who is experienced with styling curly hair, and most importantly someone you can trust. Luckily for Sarah she was in the capable hands of DevaCut Trained Stylist Scott Musgrave. If you’re looking for a trustworthy curl friendly services in your area, you’ll want to first have a consultation. Here are Scott’s tips for acing the curly consultation process.
The consultation is the most essential step to gaining trust with a client. I truly want to know the client’s fears, frustrations, concerns, current routine, and past experiences of working with other stylists and salons. Based off of the client’s experience, I try to identify the source of the frustration whether it is bad-ingredient products that her hair type may not need, styling methods that are not working, or a lack of knowledge. From there I contrast her past experiences with what I do. When visiting a salon I encourage that you keep the following in mind.Scott’s Tips
- All curlies should have a better understanding of ingredients and products used by the stylist and salon.
- Make sure the stylist cuts hair dry and uses little to no tension as he or she styles and care for your hair.
- Demand that they do not use any thinning or chunking scissors. You also want to assure that they are not using any method of sliding down the hair with scissors, as this creates a variety of different lengths at the ends, which make it hard to control and manage over time as it grows out with thin wispy ends.
- When seeking help for your hair you need to research the stylists in their area. Check out salon reviews on NaturallyCurly Curl Salons, Yelp, or online forums in the stylist’s community to find well trained stylists that not only have training added to their repertoire of services, but are passionate enough to have 80% or more stylists working on curly hair clients and specialize in it more so than just a menu service.
- No stylist should scrape, slide, or slice hair with scissors or a razor, as it creates a lot of different lengths and thin wispy ends that are very difficult to manage and more so look bad as the hair grows out. You want a style to last 4-6 months and working with a razor makes the style and ends quickly look bad as the hair grows out.
- Sleeping on a satin or breathable silk pillowcase prevents the hair from pulling and losing moisture as it would using a cotton pillowcase.
- Use a t-shirt to scrunch the hair instead of using a towel. This will keep the ends healthy much longer.
You can follow Scott Musgrave here:
Facebook, Curly Hair Artistry, and Scott Musgrave Hair
Watch Waterlily716’s New Short Haircut Video below:
If you’re looking to stretch out your curl pattern without heat or chemicals, we’ve got three methods for you.
Method 1
Cleanse in twists
Wash your hair with a cleansing co-wash like the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner. Then rinse and towel dry – with your hair in twists throughout this process.
Method 2
Stretch as you dry
Spray Refresher Spray throughout wet hair, then place hair clips at the end of small 1-inch sections of hair. With the clips still in, diffuse hair on the cool setting until dry.
Method 3
Stretch as you style
Section wet hair and spray each section with Refresher Spray. Then apply Styling Pudding to each section and do a two-strand twist.
For extra stretch, place clips all the way down the two-strand twist.
Watch the Video
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
BB creams are products that promise a little bit of everything–protection, nourishment and better texture. They are usually associated with skin, but now they’re slowly becoming popular as a hair styler and protectant. They aid in providing a soft hold, vitamins and definition to curls. They can often be more nourishing then gels and leave less build up. They don’t have a “crunch” effect when your hair dries, as some gels and even mousses typically leave behind. Some of the newer BB creams can be a great addition to your hair arsenal, or collection of products. However, you should know how to use them for your wavy or curly hair, first.
Helpful Tips On Using BB Cream For Hair
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Use a light moisturizing curl or BB cream as a leave-in when your curls are thirsty. Mix it with a gel that plays well with others for a combination of moisture and curl definition, especially in hot and humid conditions.
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Use a little extra BB cream in the fall and winter, when the air is cooler and drier. Try one that has both moisturizing and defining properties so that you don’t have to add gel and be concerned about having limp waves.
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Make sure the BB cream mixes well with gels or work well by itself. Before covering your whole head and ending up with a crunchy flakey mess, test a smaller section of your hair with the cream and your choice of gel to be sure they work well together. To use a curl cream by itself, look for one that says it defines curls or enhances curls. Sometime curl creams like this are called gel-creams.
Next Page: Which ones should I try?
Which ones should I try?
Here are some great brands that have BB creams especially made for hair.
- AG Hair Cosmetics BB Cream
- It’s a 10 Silk Express Miracle Silk Smoothing Balm
- Pantene BB Creme
- ALTERNA Caviar CC Cream 10-1
How to Apply BB Cream to Hair
Applying your cream is simple and much like the way in which you apply a gel. After your shower, section your hair into 3 to 5 sections. On wet hair, apply the amount directed of the product to each section. Working the creme from the root to the end of the hair. You may want to also leave a little extra on the ends of your hair for some extra protection from climate elements and split ends.
Once you’ve applied the cream, allow your hair to dry only 50-60%. Allow the product to work its magic. If you want to experiment by adding gel, this works well also. Do so after your next wash day to figure out how the BB cream works alone, first.
Would you use a BB cream on your hair? Why or why not? Tell us on Facebook.
It’s early in the morning. The alarm goes off and you need to get out the door, FAST. You just noticed your hair isn’t bouncy and pretty like you’d want it to be. Of course, there’s always the coveted “bed-head” look. Maybe not so coveted for work, though.
Any of these scenarios are common for you curly girls? There’s a quick, soothing fix…lavender mist. Not only is a lavender mist easy to make, it’s beautiful fragrance and carries medicinal properties can do wonders for your mind and your hair!
Lavender promotes a hair growth; it’s amazing for your scalp. Its anti-inflammatory properties ease dandruff issues, too. Lavender has been known to bring about a more tranquil state of mind and lessen anxiety. A good scalp massage with a few drops of this oil can do wonders for a stressful day.
Ok, so what if you don’t wake up with bouncy, happy curls? No fear! Your mister bottle and clips should be near!
What You’ll Need
- Water bottle
- Lavender oil (you may get this at a health food store”>
- Distilled water
- Duckbill clips
Directions
- Using a water bottle, add 5-8 drops of lavendar oil to 1 liter of distilled water and shake well.
- Gently spritz your curls so they are damp.
- Using duckbill clips, twist your hair into 4 sections.
- Squeeze each section so that the oil penetrates.
- While you apply make-up or just have your morning coffee, allow the clips to work their magic for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the clips and allow your new waves and curls to look radiant!
If you have less time, you can make smaller bottles of the spray to carry with you–one for your bag, car, office, etc. Instead of clips, you can twist curls with your fingers after apply the spray. Making a lavender mist for your pillow or room is another great way to incorporate this relaxing scent into your routine.
Pillow Spray
What You’ll Need
- 8 Ounces of distilled water
- 15 Drops of lavender oil
- 10 Drops of chamomile oil (shake well”>
You can decorate the spray bottles you make your mixtures in and give them as gifts too. Get creative with some glitter, markers and paper punches for tags and decorations for your mister bottles!
Want more? Check out these easy DIY hair recipes:
PHOTO Hippie Health Coach
Silk worms are not the most beautiful of animals, but what they produce can make a difference in the way you look overnight – literally.
Silk amino acids are the small proteins that bind the tiny fibers in silk and are used to prevent dehydration –a key element for hair and beauty products. Though they are natural, silk amino acids are animal products (as in, they do come from animals–the silk worm”>. The proteins from silk amino acids are also water soluble , which makes silk an easy component, and a healthy one, for most hair and beauty products.
Overnight Sensation
Women with curly hair agree that they notice little to no breakage when they use a silk pillowcase at night. Silk pillowcases help to retain the much needed moisture in your hair. Curly and coily hair tends to be very dry, so they need as much moisture as they can get. These pillowcase will also help if you have problems with tangles and knots.
Silk contains 18 essential and non-essential amino acids, and amino acids are the true “building blocks” of the human body. They help to build and repair tissue, form antibodies to combat bacteria and help carry oxygen through the body, which naturally “repairs itself” between the hours of 10pm-2am. So sleeping in silk PJs may not be a bad idea, as it may help your skin breathe and repair itself as you sleep.
Protects Against Elements
You don’t have to limit yourself to silk in the bedroom, silk can continue to work for you during the day in the form of scarves. Regardless of your sense of style, you are sure to find a pattern, color and length that can work for you. Use scarves to tie your hair up at night and secure with some metal clips, wear one to work, or protect your hair from the elements when you’re outdoors.
Strengthens & Seals
There are a number of products which coin their name on silk alone–Biosilk and Silk Elements are only two. However, a number of hair and beauty care products boast about containing silk as their key ingredient. Whenever silk amino acids are applied to hair, the proteins bind to the natural keratin in the hair and help to strengthen the hair and protect against moisture loss. The silk also assists in repairing damaged hair as well.
Combats Wrinkles
Products containing silk for face and skin, such as Avon’s Skin So Soft Signature Silk actually has antioxidant effects that can help combat wrinkles. The silk in beauty products helps to provide necessary moisture to skin and leave skin smooth and soft.
Next: 3 Ways to Tie a Scarf
Style 1: Fishtail Braid Crown
- Start with hair that has been washed with a conditioning cleanser like and blow dry straight.
- Part hair down the middle and moisturize from roots to ends with Hair Milk Nourishing and Conditioning Styling butter to hydrate and protect hair from damage.
- Apply 1-2 pumps of Hair Milk Nourishing and Conditioning Styling Foam to lock in moisture and get the perfect amount of flexible hold, minus the sticky, flaky residue.
- Starting on one side, French braid hair down to nape of neck and then finish ends with a fishtail braid.
- Fishtail braid the hair by separating it into 2 sections, take a small piece of hair from the outer left side and pull over to the right. Then, take a piece from the outer right side and pull over to the left continuing until braid is complete.
- Repeat on other side of head.
- Separate the ends of the braids to make them a bit messy and add some texture.
- Cross and pin the ends of each braid to the opposite side of your head.
Style 2: Flirty Waves
- Take your chic crown braid to flirty waves by rubbing a dime-sized amount of Mimosa Hair Honey into fingers and undoing braids just up until crown of head. Mimosa Hair Honey will prevent your braid out from getting frizzy.
- Fluff and pin until hair is desired shape.
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This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
