Search Results: Sabrina Perkins
To see what it looks and feels like
What better way to determine what your texture is than when it is washed, conditioned, dried, and in its natural state, completely naked of product? This will also allow you to see if you have several textures and where, since you will be able to see the hair in its true natural light. It will be easier to assess what products you need to give you the style you prefer. Going naked was beneficial for Tiajonay to determine what her hair needed and that she had different textures.
Give your hair a break from the products
Sometimes we need to reboot from school, work, or even family and that goes double for our hair. You do not have to apply product every single day. Giving your hair a break from all the ingredients we add to it will be a nice reboot to your scalp and hair.
Assess what may be causing your hair issues
From time to time we suffer from hair issues like irritants to the scalp, dry ends, or even oiliness. There is no better way to determine what is going on than by removing all products from your hair and see what is causing the problem. You can start with naked hair and add a new product, whether it be a styler or conditioner, to see how it works with your hair. Remember, seeking the help of a professional like a dermatologist or a trichologist is always a good idea if suffering from hair and scalp issues.
Find your holy grail
Removing all products from your repertoire may help you see what is ailing you, and similarly adding them back one by one can help you discover the Holy Grails that are really making a difference. It is hard to see what actually works or what does not work when you have several products in your hair all at once, but adding them individually will allow you to determine which work well with your hair. This is also a great way to find out which products play well with one another too. Starting from fresh, naked hair allows for optimal conditions for a product testing outside of a lab since the environment is not completely controlled.
You might just like the naked look
Who says you need to have your hair covered in product all of the time? Our hair is beautiful. Every single coil, curl, and wave is lovely and while we slather tons of product (whether DIY or OTC”>, we never get to see what it looks like just au naturale. What if you love the way it looks or it gives you the style you have been hoping for all along? Dez Naomi did an experiment to see what her naked natural hair looked like and ended up not only surprised but excited to see her hair was not only softer but has the shape she thought she did not have.
So, have you gone naked?
Question
Help I need ideas for how to wear my hair down. I’m 30 and would like to show off my curls by wearing them down but they look messy and unprofessional if I wear them down how can I tidy it up. I don’t like the part being visible and I don’t really like a quiff.
Answer
Curly hair is just as professional as straight hair but as we all have preferences, you may just need help maintaining curl definition. Quite often when hair does not have uniform curls it appears messy or out of control. I get it. Here are some tips on how to gain control of your curls and make you feel good about wearing it down.
Get a new haircut
A cut is a change many women love, as it gives them a new look and also cleans up any split ends, outgrown color, or damaged hair. While a cut is a real change, it offers many who suffer from too much volume a chance to calm things down and feel back in control of their hair. The Ouidad cut removes bulk, and if that is your problem then that may be the route to take. Discussing with a curly cutting specialist is the perfect way to determine if what you are seeking can be achieved by a cut, so check out curly salons and book a consultation to see if volume is your problem and how that can be fixed with the perfect cut. Also, make sure to tell the stylist you do not like a visible part as they should be able to help you find a style to eliminate that issue.
Try a trim
Not everyone is looking to drastically change their look or willing to cut off several inches to clean up their hair. Often a simple trim is all that is needed for the ends to curl appropriately. When you have raggedy or split ends there is frizz and a lack of curl uniformity, so if it is has been a long time since your last trim and your ends are looking haggard, book an appointment for one with a curly cutting specialist and see if that helps.
Calm down the messiness
What we perceive as messiness with curly hair is often just frizz or volume. Trying products that fight frizz like serums are a popular way to fight hair that is out of control, but the best ways to fight frizz is to thoroughly hydrate the hair, use a cotton tee or a microfiber towel to dry hair, protect hair at night, and use stylers specifically created for smoothing the hair.
Enhance your definition
Curls that are uniform always look better but quite often we have varying degrees of curls on our head. How to fix it? Well, you can do two-strand twists, braid-outs, Bantu knots, flexirods, or roller sets. They will all give your curls a uniform curl and make the hair appear more defined and tidy.
Hair typing systems were created to give women a uniform set of descriptors when discussing the many varieties of curls, coils, and waves.
Knowing your hair type can be beneficial when searching for products, understanding the hair concerns of a certain hair type, and to be honest, for some it is just to feel that they have a place in the hair type system.
There are many hair typing systems out there, but there are two that are used most commonly in our community, and while they both categorize hair by type or texture, they are not perfect.
The Texture Typing℠ System
The system that we use at NaturallyCurly is the Texture Typing℠ system, inspired by celebrity stylist Andre Walker’s hair types, and built upon by NaturallyCurly readers and hair professionals. This system describes wavy hair as Type 2, curly hair as Type 3, and coily hair as Type 4. And because “curly” is a pretty broad term, it drills down into Type 3A, Type 3B, Type 3C and does the same for the wavy and coily curl patterns. Some may find the letters and numbers overwhelming, while for others this system gives the tools and language to describe the size and shape of their curls in a way that others who use the system can relate to. The Texture Typing system only addresses the curl pattern of the hair, which is just one characteristic of your hair type. Others include porosity, density, width and length.
In our experience most women have several curl patterns on their head, so while the hair at their crown may be Type 3B, they may have looser Type 2 sections framing the face and tighter curls and coils at the nape of the neck. This is completely normal, but can also lead to confusion when women look at a photo example of Type 3B and don’t feel that it mirrors their curls. You can find out more about the Texture Typing system (and learn more about your curl pattern”> here.
The LOIS Hair Typing System
Another popular system is known as the LOIS Hair Typing System, which was originally published by former website OurHair.net. The whole point of the LOIS Hair Typing System is to eliminate the need for labeling hair types by numbers. Most black women fall into the Type 4 category and there has been some stigma associated with black women being labeled as the lowest number.
How you or anyone perceives either system is completely up to each individual. With the assistance of NaturallyCurly Types 3C and 4C were added to the Andre Walker system to incorporate more women who felt their hair type was not represented. I mention this because this system is more widely known than the LOIS system. The LOIS system is easy to understand with the visual representation of the letters and it encompasses more than just the curl pattern by addressing hair width, sheen and shine.
How to use the LOIS System
The LOIS system is broken down by letters and incorporates all hair types for black women. L = Bend, O = Curl, I = Straight and S = Wave.
You should examine strands on freshly washed hair without any product. Allow hair to dry a tad before examining to see where your strands fall.
Next it is time to compare hair to a piece of thread to find your hair width. Hair that is thinner than a thread is fine, hair that is equal in size to thread is medium, and hair that is thicker than thread is thick.
Find your pattern
According to Susan Walker’s article on CurlyNikki, this is how to determine your pattern using the LOIS system:
- L – If the hair has all bends, right angles, and folds with little to no curve then you are daughter L.
- O – If the strand is rolled up into the shape of one or several zeros like a spiral, then you are daughter O.
- I – If the hair lies mostly flat with no distinctive curve or bend you are daughter I.
- S – If the strand looks like a wavy line with hills and valleys then you are daughter S.
You may have a combination of the L, O, I, S letters, possibly with one dominant.
Determine if your hair is
- Thready – Hair has a low sheen, with high shine if the hair is held taut (as in a braid”>, with low frizz. Wets easily but water dries out quickly.
- Wiry – Hair has a sparkly sheen, with low shine and low frizz. Water beads up or bounces off the hair strands. Hair never seems to get fully wet.
- Cottony – Hair has a low sheen, a high shine if the hair is held taut and has high frizz. Absorbs water quickly but does not get thoroughly wet very fast.
- Spongy – Hair has a high sheen with low shine with a compacted looking frizz. Absorbs water before it gets thoroughly wet.
- Silky – Hair has low sheen, a very high shine, with a lot or low frizz. Easily wets in water.
Can you use both?
I feel both systems give some understanding to different aspects of hair textures, but overlapping or comparing the two for your hair may lead to confusion. Take for example this question we received on Curly Q&A from our reader Ayitiana.
“If type 4A hair strands are “S” shaped, what 4 hair type has “O” shaped strands? I have both.”
My response? There are pros and cons to both systems so it may very well be beneficial for you to know your hair type in each system, but in my opinion, trying to incorporate two very different systems truly defeats the purpose of the LOIS system. They are both full systems that will aid in hair typing for products and styles, but I would not recommend combining them.
The curl community is made up of many multi-faceted women, each with her own unique hair type and a personal set of hair concerns, so it is no surprise that there are many opinions on this topic of hair typing. We’d love to know yours!
Usually consumed as a tea, it is often marketed in extract form and as a supplement that contains a more concentrated dose where the extraction method directly affects the potency of the extract. Lighting, the age of the leaves and drying methods all affect the quality of the yerba mate extract. Extract that contains significantly more caffeine when dried in lower light, younger leaves are richer in beneficial compounds and microwave drying yields a more nutritious extract than vacuum drying.
Benefits of yerba mate
Yerba mate extract is rich in antioxidants because of its high concentration of polyphenols and is comparable to red wine and even superior to green tea with its antioxidant composition. Yerba mate is a stimulant and diuretic with anti-cancer properties.
Benefits of yerba mate for hair
The caffeine and antioxidants alone gives reasons why this extract will be great for our hair. According to a study published by the International Journal of Dermatology, the higher than green tea composition of caffeine in yerba mate makes it ideal for targeting DHT, the hormone responsible for restricting the hair follicles ability to produce hair growth. Caffeine can restore hair growth or at the very least prevent abnormal hair loss. Caffeine has been known to give hair a natural sheen and make it more manageable.
Antioxidants prevent cell damage from the free radicals. The sun, smoke, and pollution causes oxidation and antioxidants simply neutralizes them to keep hair healthy. We are seeing more hair products using them, but many are simply found in nature like in fruits, plants, or herbs. Yerba mate has immune boosting properties, anti-aging properties, and helps to detoxify the blood and play a contributing roll in hair growth by providing nutrients that are necessary for normal health functions.
While drinking the tea will benefit your hair, to intensify the benefits, applying directly to your hair is more ideal. If you already use or are interested in tea rinses then simply steep some yerba tea and allow to cool. Shampoo hair and slowly pour over cooled tea over your head and follow with a deep conditioner.
Have you tried Yerba tea for your hair?
Question
Is silicone good for chemically dyed/colored hair?
Answer
Yes and no. Sorry for being wishy-washy but let me explain. Silicones are excellent for many things but can be just as bad on others. As far as color-treated hair, we need to be cautious about the products we use as color often dries our hair and damages it. The ammonia or another chemical in hair dye causes the cuticles to swell and allows the dye molecules to pass into the hair and cause permanent coloring. This process can actually damage the hair strand so we must use moisturizing products specifically created for color-treated hair to ensure we stop the damage and hydrate the hair as much as possible. That’s why you should be using products specifically for color-treated hair once you color. So how do silicones factor into this equation? Many products we use after we have colored our hair may or may not have silicones and while we want to be cautious about what we use some products actually need those silicones to work properly.
Silicones are great for coating hair, right?
They seal the hair strand like a protective layer and that imparts shine as well as staving off frizz. They also make detangling easier so many curlies love them in their conditioners and some shampoos. The problem is the buildup they create that needs to be washed away and that usually means a clarifying shampoo or one with sulfates. Those types of shampoo are harsh on hair and detrimental to color-treated hair as they may cause fading or make already-weakened hair even weaker.
Silicones are great for protecting hair against heat, right?
Yes, they are one of the best ingredients in heat protectants for protecting the hair against the heat. The problem is that the coating of silicone will need to be cleansed by a clarifying shampoo or one with sulfates and you end up with the problem in the last point. Also, color-treated hair should be using limited heat as heat can be damaging to hair and couple that with the damaging effects of color and you may be creating even more damage and dryness. Add the silicone to the mix and you will be needing some serious moisture overload to combat all of that damage!
Are silicones good for color-treated hair at all?
Water-soluble silicones are fine for color-treated hair or curly hair in general as they do not cause buildup. If you are using heat then using a heat protectant with silicones is ideal to help protect your delicate, color-treated strands. Just limit your heat and try and stick to those water-soluble silicones like in the list below:
Water-soluble silicones
- PEG-8 (or higher”> Dimethicone
- Bis-PEG-8 (or higher”> Dimethicone
- Bis-PEG-8/PEG-8 Dimethicone
- Bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane
- PEG-8-PG-coco glucoside dimethicone
- Dimethicone PEG-X phosphate
- Dimethcione copolyol
Many of those same tender-headed women have learned to wear their hair in styles that allowed them to have less pulling, combing, and yanking. As more women go natural, there is the chore of detangling and some may feel they are reverted back to the days of sore scalps and tears. Asiapeters is one such woman and is looking for answers in our Curly Q&A section.
Question
What is the best way to transition when you’re tender headed? I have been tender headed all my life even with a relaxer.
Answer
Wear styles that allow for less manipulation, tangles, and pain. I understand that transitioning poses some problems because you are working with more than one texture and in comparison to our relaxed ends, our natural hair is more prone to tangling and sort of going through an identity crisis. No worries as one does not have to big chop just because they are tender-headed and here are a few we love for our tender-headed transitioners.
Be gentle
The days of sitting between your mother’s legs and having her brush and comb your hair are over. What may have been the norm back while we were young is no longer the norm and all that harsh brushing and combing is actually detrimental to your hair, edges, and mood. We need to be gentler to our hair and actually, I mostly finger detangle, rarely use a comb, and would not be caught dead brushing my hair.
Take time during detangling sessions
Transitioners are working with more than one texture, and while that can be a hassle for some, it can be a pleasant experience if you do not try and rush it. Rushing through your detangling leads to yanking and yanking leads to more hairs lost and a sore scalp. You already know your plight so take out the time necessary to detangle patiently with some music, wine, and a good movie so you worry less about how long it is taking and more about how painless your wash day is going.
Use a great detangling product, tool, or conditioner
If you are prone to a tender scalp then make sure your detangler is everything! If you have to splurge on the product that works the best or use a lot then by all means do it since this is a touchy area for you. Not every detangling tool is ideal so you may have to give a few of them a try to see which ones work best with minimal pain.
Opt for stretched styles
A stretched style is not synonymous with a straight style but rather hair that is less likely to tangle. Tender-headed women should steer clear of styles that create more tangles like wash and go’s. Roller sets, two-strand twists, braids, and braid-outs are great for keeping tangles at bay. Make sure to get hair fully detangled so the styles remain less frizzy.
Opt for the wash and go
I may be contradicting myself but someone like my sister who is so tender-headed that braiding or twisting her hair requires screams, the wash and go is ideal for her. Even when she was transitioning she rocked it and she keeps it moisturized almost daily so her hair rarely tangles. If you are seriously tender-headed and the necessary twisting and braids of some styles is just too painful then a wash and go may work.
In 1716, a Jesuit priest in Canada found and identical herbs to Asian ginseng near Montreal and it soon became what we now call American ginseng. Soon after it was found to be all over deciduous forest in the eastern part of the United States and American ginseng is called Panax quinquefolis. 95% of American ginseng is grown in Wisconsin but the demand for it is so high that is has been declared a threatened or endangered species in some states.
Ginseng is found in rich, cool woods and the short plant grows three to seven compound leaves that drop in the fall and bear red or yellowish colored fruits during summer. Varieties of ginseng are determined by the shape of the roots and the roots contain the highest amounts of medicinal value. It can be consumed orally, in supplements, energy drinks, teas, beverages and still in other forms.
The benefits of ginseng leaf
Ginseng root is used more often than the leaf stem but extracts from the leaf also contains similar active ingredients with significant pharmacological functions. One of the best things about using the leaf is that it can be found at a cheaper price than the root. The leaves contain several active ingredients like flavonoids, ginsenosides, amino acids, fatty acids, polysaccharides, polyacethylenic alcohols, peptides, triterpenoids, and volatile oils. It also has anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties that may be overlooked as the root gets all the attention from consumers.
Benefits of ginseng leaf extract for hair
While hair is not living, the keratin-based structures can be susceptible to oxidative damage from broken hair, frizz, split ends and tangling according to curly-haired polymer scientist and cosmetic chemist, Tonya McKay. Antioxidants help to prevent damage to the cells and structures like the saponin extracted from the American ginseng leaf-stem and studies have shown that antioxidants extracted from panax ginseng leaf-stem help to restore free radical damaged cells.
Ginseng leaf extract also has anti-aging properties, which improve the immune and endocrinal functions of the body and in turn stimulate and activate the skin, scalp, and hair. This helps in the production of collagen while ridding the skin and scalp of free radicals. While not as popular as ginseng root, ginseng leaf is a cheaper and viable option and can be found in leaf or oil form.
Cleansing our hair is just as important as moisturization when it comes to curl care. While we need to do both, we often find ourselves in-between a rock and a hard place in finding products with ingredients that are capable of doing both successfully. Perro from Curly Q&A inquired about an ingredient that is found in shampoos but with a very misleading name.
Question
Does sodium trideceth sulfate, stripped the oils of hair?
Answer
Sodium trideceth sulfate is a cleansing agent that belongs to the chemical class of alkyl ether sulfates. An ether is an organic compounds that contains an oxygen atom bound to two hydrocarbon groups. It is considered safe and has a very low concern for hazard. It is a cleansing and foaming agent that removes dirt, sweat, product, and of course oils. Will it completely strip your hair of its oil? That depends.
What is sodium trideceth sulfate?
Sodium trideceth sulfate is a sodium salt of sulfated ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol. It acts like a mild nonionic surfactant that does contain conditioning properties and when used in combination with other surfactants it creates foam and viscosity. It is used in skin, hair, shaving, and baby cleansing products because it is very low in skin irritation.
It is safe enough for babies
Yes, you read that correctly. This surfactant is found in quite a few baby cleansers including the one we all grew up on, Johnson & Johnson. Because it is low on the scale of skin irritation it is ideal for baby cleansing products, as that is important. As far as stripping the hair of oils it is a mild surfactant and it depends on the person, their scalp, hair and what other ingredients are in the product to see if that occurs.
Surfactants are for cleansing and that includes removing oils from the scalp and hair and why some curlies opt for conditioner cleansing or doing a pre-poo prior to shampooing to keep the shampoo from stripping hair of all the oils it needs. If you found a product that has sodium trideceth sulfate that you like, then enlist in a pre-poo or adding a few drops of carrier oil to your shampoo when using to help keep the hair and scalp from feeling stripped. Here are a few products with the mild surfactant sodium trideceth sulfate.
Products
Question
How exactly do I put oatmeal in my hair? Do I mix with hot water or anything, and just rub all around?
Answer
Oatmeal is wonderful for our hair for several reasons, and while you can benefit by just eating it, using it in your hair gives immediate results. There are two popular recipes for hair masks with oatmeal as the primary ingredient but first, let’s discuss the many reasons why we love oatmeal for our strands.
Moisture & Softness
Oatmeal has vitamin B and can penetrate the hair shaft, which allows our hair to retain moisture by acting like a humectant and the polysaccharides help in softening the hair. That same polysaccharides or glucan adds slip and as long as you keep it in (like a hair mask”> your hair feels soft the entire time.
Strengthens
Oatmeal allows hair to become more elastic and that makes it stronger and less prone to breakage. This in turn can lead to length retention as stronger hair hangs around a lot longer.
Can stop an itch
Have you ever had the chicken pox? I did at the tender age of 31…no, it was not pretty but you remember how we used oatmeal in the bath to help soothe the itching? Well, that goes for your scalp too. An oatmeal scalp treatment will help with dry and irritated scalps naturally.
It’s cheap!
Oatmeal is so cheap it is ridiculous and you cannot ask for a cheaper way to soften, moisturize, and strengthen your strands.
Now that we’ve shown you why you need to be using it, here are two super simple recipes that will help in harness the benefits of oatmeal.
Oatmeal + Almond oil hair mask
- ½ cup of oats
- 1-2 tbsp. almond oil
- ¼ -1/2 cup of milk
Mix ingredients well. Make sure hair is completely detangled before applying to hair from root to tip. Leave the mask in hair for 15- 20 min. You can cover with plastic cap too. Shampoo hair and style as usual.
DIY All-Natural Treatment For Dry & Itchy Scalp
Check out Hey Fran Hey for her all-natural oatmeal treatment for a dry and itchy scalp and here’s what you need:
- Colloidal oatmeal
- Organic bananas
- 100% pure nutmeg
Writer Sabrina Perkins, the Founder and Editor in Chief of SeriouslyNatural.org, is currently our featured guest on Curly Q&A. All week she will be answering your pressing curly questions, like this question we received from a reader. You can post your questions here.
I just need you to hold up for a minute as going natural is not an overnight gigNow, I know quite a few women who go natural from healthy relaxed hair, but that is not everyone. I also know many newly naturals who transitioned by straightening their hair regularly for months prior to completely taking the plunge. While this is another way to go natural, it does pose a threat of heat damage or dryness and not everyone comes out unscathed. Curlyhairnewbie has some serious questions about her new journey and inquired about what to do in our Curly Q&A.
Question
What is wrong with my hair? I have low porosity, 3B hair mixed with 3C hair. My hair is fine to Medium, and I have a head full of hair, so I have high density. My hair is naturally Frizzy. My hair lacks elasticity and curl definition. I always have to wear a boring bun. I’ve been natural for one month now, but before going natural I had straightened my hair for 10 months (weekly, not daily”>. Is this some form of heat damage??
Answer
It sounds like a lot of things are going on all at once. After going natural for only one moth it is hard to determine what your natural texture may be as it takes time to assess it even if you have been straightening it for ten months. You probably are experiencing heat damage because weekly applications of heat are too much heat and so is monthly. The heat, manipulation, age, relaxers, and even the sun can affect your hair’s elasticity. Here’s what you can do about it.
Remove heat from the equation
You need to leave the heat alone, as it has not done you any favors. Heat may be the reason your hair has lost its elasticity and unfortunately one cannot simply gain it back. Protein treatments may help some forms of elasticity loss but not all so often it just temporarily fixes the problem. Any chemical application at this point may need to be put on the back burner while you get your hair back to a healthier status.
Try protective styles
Styles like twists, twist-outs, braids, braid-outs, flex-rod sets, and the like are excellent styles to rock as you continue on your natural hair journey. They will also enlist in different styles to get you from the dreaded bun as it seems you are over it. They will give you the definition you seek without worrying about it too much since all the styles mentioned add a wave or curl to the strands even if they are not curling. These styles can really cut down on your frizz too especially if you’ve found the right products that your hair responds to positively. Also, rocking a bun all the time in the same spot may be a bad idea too so since you are ready to leave it alone, this is a great time for styles that many transitioners love like the ones mentioned above.
Get into a healthy hair regimen
Worry less about curl definition and concern yourself more with getting your hair healthy with a moisturizing cleanser, a great deep conditioner (after every wash”>, protecting hair at night and opting for regular trims to keep ends clear from split ends and frizz. Monthly protein treatments with light protein products will also help get your hair into a moisture/protein balance necessary for not just healthy hair but beautiful hair.
Seek the help of a professional
Whether you are ready for that trim, a cut, or just want to consult with a professional, check out our list of salons that cater to your curls. While the blogs and vlogs have a wealth of information, sometimes a professional is necessary to get your hair back on track. A good stylist will have some ideas on what products you can try and can even help in finding the right style for you.
Be patient
You knew it was coming. With only a month in you have got to give yourself and your hair time to adjust to a new regimen, new products, and a new you. Just concentrate on keeping hair protected, healthy, away from heat and give those new hairstyles a go. I think you will see a new curlygirlnewbie in no time.
Question
No-shampoo causing dandruff? I am doing the no-shampoo thing and it is making my hair feel so much better, but is causing excessive dandruff? How to have nice hair without the dandruff?
Answer
There are several things that can cause reasons for dandruff, and according to the Mayo Clinic it can be:
- Dry skin
- Irritated, oily skin like seborrheic dermatitis
- Not shampooing often enough
- Other skin conditions
- A yeast-like fungus like malassezia
- Sensitivity to hair products
Are you sure it is dandruff?
It could also be psoriasis, since both dandruff and psoriasis are quite similar and treatable. While many curly girls have turned their backs on shampoos, they are a necessary component of healthy hair care, and since there are several types (sulfate-free, moisturizing, protein-free”> you may be able to find one you prefer. If you are unsure what it is and how to get rid of it, you can also enlist professional help from a dermatologists or trichologist.
Are you using silicones?
First off, you have to make sure it is dandruff and not something else like product buildup, because shampoo actually removes that along with sweat, dirt, oil, and pollutants. I ask because while any botanical conditioner should be able to cleanse your hair, some ingredients like non-soluble silicones need the use of a clarifying shampoo or a sulfate-shampoo to remove them properly. Check your conditioners and stylers to see if they have silicones, and if so that may be what is actually flaking or causing the flaking or you could just be sensitive to the formulas in one of your products.
Not shampooing can be causing your dandruff
According to the Mayo Clinic, not shampooing enough may cause dandruff but that just means that the product you are using to cleanse your scalp is not properly removing the oils, skin cells, and dirt from your scalp and hair. Try a mild or sulfate-free shampoo and see if you notice a difference. As I alternate and shampoo twice a month, I co-wash weekly. That may also work for you without drying out your hair too much by the harshness of shampoo.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your non-shampoo cleansing method
I love tea tree oil and before I started the curly girl method I suffered horribly with dandruff. I would pour some sulfate-free or cleansing co-wash into the palm of my hand and add a few drops of tea tree oil and cleanse my hair. The dandruff was gone for months at a time as a result of the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and it would actually soothe my scalp. Another method is to create a scalp treatment with tea tree oil and a carrier oil like jojoba oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. Take a small application bottle (dark colored would be best”> and fill it up ¾ way with your carrier oil. Add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil and mix (shake”> well. Apply to your scalp and hair and massage lightly before leaving in for a few hours or even overnight. Cleanse hair in the morning and style as usual.
In recent years, gotu kola has been used in the US and Europe to treat varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency while also being used to treat psoriasis and healing minor wounds, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. The entire plant is used for medicinal purposes and is considered a very spiritual herb for its rejuvenate properties in Ayurvedic medicine.
Benefits of Gotu kola
Gotu kola is known for healing wounds with the saponins and other organic compounds that actually stimulate the healing process on site. Gotu kola has been used to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries and stimulates the flow of blood. This increases oxygenation to different parts of the body. A mild diuretic, it can help to release the excess toxins, salts, and water while also relieving tension and anxiety in blood vessels, which helps to regulate blood pressure. It also has antibacterial properties and used in topical, oral, and injected forms to treat leprosy.
Gotu kola benefits for hair
Gotu kola can be used several ways for hair such as a tea, a powder, and even an oil. With such potent components we should not be surprised this herb is used for hair loss. Sometimes hair loss is a result of malnourished cells or hair follicles, and gotu kola plays a hefty role in strengthening the hair follicles due to nourishment of the scalp through the strengthening of the blood vessels. This also helps in getting proper blood circulation to the scalp to feed and nourish those starving hair follicles. Oxygen and other nutrients can find their way to the scalp and hair follicles. This helps in not only preventing hair loss but encouraging hair regrowth.
The extract can be used internally and externally to aid in fighting hair loss. It can be used as an oil in scalp massages. It can be taken internally as a tea but to get even better results drink the tea and use the oil as a scalp massage. The powder can be used in a hair mask by combining aloe vera gel with the powder and mix into a paste. Not only will this be a great hair mask for hair loss, but it is also a soothing and scalp irritant deterrent. While this can be used solely by itself in powder, tea, or oil form, there are some products that harness the goodness of this miracle herb.
Products with gotu kola
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Question
I need to blow dry my hair because of school but it’s really frizzy. What do I do? I wash it every day, but I don’t use conditioner. I dry it with a towel and sleep with it normally (not tied up”>
Answer
There are three reasons why you are fighting frizz daily so let’s delve into each one and make your morning before school less stressful and frizzy.
You are washing your hair too often
The notion we need to cleanse our hair every day is bad for our curls, coils, and waves. If you are using shampoo (even a sulfate-free shampoo”> every day, you are heading toward drying your hair out. Our hair needs those natural oils, but the other problem you are facing is causing frizz and even breakage. If you feel you need to wet your hair and apply something, try a refresher or co-wash with a botanical conditioner to help settle the frizz and give your hair the refreshed look you are aiming for.
You are not using a conditioner
This is a big no-no for curly girls. You must use conditioner after washing your hair to help those dry, damaged strands from weekly styling. A leave-in or even a regular conditioner is good, but some form of conditioner is a must to protect and rehydrate your strands after the harshness of cleansing.
Your nighttime routine may also be to blame
You need to steer clear of regular sheets and pillowcases. They are usually made of cotton, which whisks the moisture away from your hair and may be the reason you feel you need to cleanse in the morning to calm the frizz. A satin pillowcase will be a great asset to your nighttime routine that won’t force you to do too much at night.
What type of towel are you using?
A micro fiber towel will not disturb the curl, as regular cotton towels are rough and will cause friction and frizz. An old t-shirt works like a charm for drying your hair and we all have those, so use that instead of a regular bath towel.
Try an elixir or serum
Serums and elixirs are excellent products for not only softening your strands but fighting frizz. They are light so you don’t have to feel like your hair is being weighed down and great if you prefer not to use a lot of products.
No one says you have to use a lot of products, but conditioners, serums, and a t-shirt are great ways to stay frizz-free on a budget and get on with your day.
Being Melody
Being Melody is a channel about a natural-haired woman stumbling through life fabulously. She’s also got really short sides and back with longer length on top. She changes it up occasionally with twists added in, but her super short cut is never boring, as she finds amazing styles to rock.
Queen Teshna
Queen Teshna is a natural hair, beauty, and fashion vlogger rocking an ultra-short tapered cut masterfully. She is big on variety—including makeup tips—that will never bore you. In her most recent videos she shares how quickly she creates a slicked back wave, which is the perfect style for spring. All you need is some moisturizer, gel, a comb, and some edge control.
Natural Hair Rebel
Natural hair rebel is another tapered cut diva who has no problems creating beautiful styles. This natural hair, beauty, and lifestyle vlogger is forever creating timeless styles that will never leave you wondering what to do with a short tapered cut. From perm rods to finger coils to rocking a scarf, she is masterful at flawless coils and curls on short hair. Check out her video on how she creates finger coils on her tapered cut and ends up looking gorgeous!
Sadora J
Sadora J is a great vlogger to follow for creating easy and fun styles with short hair. My favorite video by her is her effortless curly fro with perm roods on ultra-short hair. It only takes some creativity, a few products, perm rods, and afro pick. She also great with scarves for those days the hair is just not working out!
ThatIsKei
I love watching Keiana’s videos. She’s fun, full of creativity, and can rock short hair like no one else! You can learn how to work your accessories to using sponges for styling. In this video she shares six ways to spice up your TWA from sporting a variety of hats and scarves to rocking temporary color. What you walk away with is that absolute belief in how versatile short natural hair can have for any woman.
Joelle
J. Joelle is a chameleon of style. From makeup to hair she brings flair to all her looks with relative little work to be done. What I love about her videos is how she has a range of styles as she does rock wigs and braids from time to time but she not only share how she cares for her hair beneath the wigs but she has some stellar videos on the shortest of the shortest TWAs and how to rock them beautifully. The video below is on how to wear the shortest TWA with a sleeker look that is easy and fun to create.
Jaelah O’Neil
Jaelah has gorgeous hair. She can create just about any style she wants with a little creativity and accessories. In this video she shares how she easily creates the cutest puff with her TWA and you will fall in love and be rocking this in no time.
J Mayo
J Mayo brings fun to hair. With her passion for color and learning new ways to rock her hair, she’s got videos sharing her journey of growing out her hair through funky styles for even the shortest TWA. In this video she shares how she flat twists her TWA. She creates a gorgeous style with flat twists that will make you see all the versatility in your own hair.
GlamMzMore
GlamMzMore has a short, 4C TWA, and while many feel one is limited with super short hair, we see how that is far from the truth. From shingling to wash and go to perm rods, GlamMzMore shows how easily any style can be created no matter your type. In this video, she shows the process of creating a defined TWA using the shingling method and how this style can last for days!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1KSNLO9CwA
Tierra J. Beauty
Tierra gust big chopped two weeks ago, so she’s fresh out of the gate working with short natural hair again. She was ready for removing those heat-damaged strands and work with healthy, curly hair, so she’s been creating some amazing styles on her new hairdo. In this video she show how she expertly creates finger coils and the results are awesome.
Who’s your favorite TWA vlogger?
Candelilla wax is extracted from the candelilla plant and it means “little candle.” It is a natural, multifunctional, vegetable wax comprising a complex of natural wax esters. It is extracted by boiling the plant to separate the wax from it. It is a non-gelling thickener, viscosity enhancer, and film former with protecting properties. It is a cosmetic astringent, emulsifier, stabilizer, and skin-conditioning ingredient that is odorless. To remove this wax from the hair and prevent build up, it is important to know that it is soluble in alcohol but insoluble in water.
Benefits of candelilla wax for hair
This vegetable wax is often used as a viable substitution for beeswax, which is great for vegan lifestyles. Candelilla wax is rich in nutrients and easily absorbed into the scalp and hair while creating an instant barrier to prevent moisture loss in the scalp and hair. It adds gloss and lubricity to hair. It is also a natural thickener and emulsifier that adds texture to a formula and prevents oils and liquids from separating, which is great for lip balms and body balms. The creamy consistency of candelilla wax makes for smooth applications in depilatories and can be found in several hair products from hair conditioners to scalp treatments. Here are a few products that contain candelilla wax.
- Darcy’s Botanicals Eucalyptus Mint Herbal Scalp Conditioning Butter
- Darcy’s Botanicals Sweet Cocoa Bean Moisturizing Hair Whip
- LUSH Superbalm Scalp Treatment
- LUSH R&B Hair Moisturizer
- Original Moxie Lux Locks Styling & Shine
DIY hair pomade (sculpting wax”>
- 1 oz. candelilla wax
- 1 1/2 oz. shea butter
- 2 oz. jojoba oil
- 1/8 – ¼ tsp. essential oil
You are not using (enough”> conditioner
There are still some curlies out here in these streets skipping the conditioner step on wash day. Shampoo slightly lifts the cuticle and conditioners are formulated to close the cuticle, making less friction. Conditioner is necessary to combat the stress and tangles that occur after cleansing with shampoo to soften and protect the hair. A deep conditioner rebuilds the health of your hair by penetrating deeper than a regular conditioner to repair and hydrate from the inside out. After rinsing your hair, apply a leave-in conditioner to maintain the hair’s moisture and lessen tangles as your hair shrinks.
You are not fully detangling during wash day
It is a chore no one particularly loves, but when you put it off or do half the job you make matters worse. Detangling is a necessary evil of wash day. In a nutshell, find a method that works for you, be patient, and work in sections. Tangled hairs do not miraculously disappear if you ignore them. They just find other hairs to entwine with.
You are leaving old styles in too long
I understand that some protective styles are meant to stay in long periods of time like box braids, but what about low manipulation styles that you allowed to fester without moisturizing because you were lazy? Neglect causes your hair to tangle even more. If you go a whole week with a wash and go and haven’t added a drop of water, conditioner, refresher, or even touched it, then you are inadvertently creating a tangled nightmare. Stop putting off detangling and moisturizing your hair.
You don’t protect your hair at night
Sleeping on a satin pillowcase, wearing a satin scarf, placing hair in a pineapple, bun or braids are all ways to not only keep hair soft, less frizzy, and less tangles. Another no-no is going to bed with a wet, tangled hair. There is no detangling fairy coming to visit you and detangle your wet hair, so if you do want a serious nightmare in the morning, never go to bed with wet hair.
You need a trim
Trimming is a necessary component of keeping curly hair healthy and tangle free. Raggedy ends or split ends are not smooth and will cause friction with other raggedy ends and create fairy knots or tangles. Keeping those ends healthy and sealed not only looks better but also helps lower the tangles.
You may need to try stretched styles
Wash and go may not be your style of choice if you suffer from massive tangles despite everything you do to combat them. Try stretched styles, as they are less prone to tangles. Roller sets, banding, African threading, heatless blow-outs and even Curlformers help to stretch textured hair.
How do you keep tangles at bay?
Wet styling
Wet styling is the best method for styles like roller sets and perm rod sets. Styling foam and lotion are usually applied on wet hair to smooth it out. From there you either air-dry on sit under a hood dryer and the style is completed. Remember to be gentle.
Dry styling
Braids, twists, and extensions are usually installed on dry hair.
Some styles just come out better on dry or damp hair. If just a few spritzes of a water bottle or refresher is all that is needed to create a style, then that is still considered a dry or damp style and you are working with hair when it is strongest.
You should dry style if…
You have damaged hair or suffer from severe tangles. Whether damaged by heat, chemicals, or over manipulation, dry styling is the number one option, so you are not manipulating the hair while it is weak. Styling on wet hair can cause more breakage since hair will be in its weakest state. If hair is bone dry then spritz with water or use a refresher to help hydrate the hair before styling. If hair has been straightened and you want to keep it straight, then it is best to style your hair dry.
You should wet style if…
You do not suffer from a lot of tangles or have split ends. You want to get those ends cut regularly but, until then use a good sealant on them and style hair while wet to mask them before they dry and begin to frizz or look frayed. Also, if you do not have a lot of tangles, then wet styling will not be an issue for you as long as you are being gentle with your hair.
Styling hair while damp
This is a happy medium for most people, as hair is pliable and moisturized enough to work with you but dry enough to be much stronger than wet hair. The bottom line is to find the best technique for your strands. Try styling on wet, dry, and damp hair and see which yields the best results with the least amount of breakage, and is the least time-consuming. Once you have figured that out, you are on your way to the best styling sessions of your life.
Which do you prefer, wet, dry, or damp styling?
Question
Hello, does 2 strand twist grow hair, and what other protective styles enhance growth? God bless.
Answer
Hair grows in a cycles predetermined by the body regardless of the hairstyle you wear. Hairstyles can affect the health of hair and can help or hurt one’s length retention, but hair will not grow faster from a particular hairstyle. Here are some factors that affect hair growth, and how styles impact it.
How does hair grow?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hair begins from the root in the bottom of the hair follicle, which is fed by the blood vessels. The hair gets pushed through the scalp as the sebaceous glands add oil to help keep hair soft. We are born with all the follicles we will ever have, which is about 100,000 follicles. At the end of a hair’s life cycle, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day.
The anagen phase is the active phase of hair that lasts about 3-5 years. The catagen phase is at the end of the anagen phases and lasts around ten days. The telogen phase is when the hair enters the resting phase before releasing. The follicle remains inactive for three months before starting over again and hairs on the head can be in any one of these phases, as they do not happen simultaneously.
What affects hair growth?
The length of the anagen phase of hair growth will affect hair growth, but there are external factors like diet, stress, mechanical and chemical manipulation, medications, and health. Some people have a shorter anagen phase than others, while others are longer. There is no changing that but keeping your body and hair healthy is allowing for optimal growth and retention. Also, know that some follicles stop growing as we age. That is why we see more thinning hair as we age.
What helps hair growth?
A healthy diet, low stress levels, and adequate sleep are all ways to positively affect hair growth. Many things like life stressors (e.g. death in the family, pregnancy, losing a job”> are all instances we cannot control and will affect our entire body as a result. What also helps with hair growth is maintaining a healthy scalp and doing scalp massages.
These styles help with length retention not hair growth.
Protective styles and hair growth
Protective styles are hairstyles that keep your ends (the weakest and oldest strands”> away from manipulation and pollutants. Popular protective styles include braids, two-strand twists, updos, and even wigs. These styles help with length retention not hair growth. Keeping hair healthy and protecting those ends are the best ways to stave off breakage. Maintaining your whole health as it relates to diet, exercise, drinking water and a healthy scalp are the best ways to optimize hair growth.
