Search Results: Sabrina Perkins
Kale is not called a powerhouse for nothing and while some have a hard time digesting it, steaming it first helps. Kale is tremendously popular whether eaten in salads, mixed with other greens or as my favorite…in smoothies. Some say it tastes bitter while others won’t even touch anything green, but if you are up for adding pure goodness to your body and your hair then kale is a vegetable you need to try.
Benefits of Kale
Just about everyone agrees that kale is “the” superfood right now. Kale is packed with vitamins and nutrients and has more nutrients than spinach. According to Shelly Malone, MPH, RDN, CBNP, who is an Integrative & Functional Dietitian, “Kale is a nutritional powerhouse providing many essential vitamins and minerals that fight inflammation and strengthen our tissues including vitamin E, B-vitamins, iron, phytonutrients, and calcium. It also provides prebiotics which help maintain a healthy gut microbiome – probably the most critical component for healthy skin and hair.”
It is one of the healthiest vegetables around with high amounts of vitamin K, but also has vitamins A, C, E, B2, B1, B6, and B3. It also has manganese, copper, fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, protein, phosphorus, omega-3s, and folate. Kale has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer nutrients and helps with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, bone healthy, and healthy skin, and hair.
What can kale do for your hair?
Kale helps the scalp and hair from the inside out. Just knowing all vitamin and nutrient content of kale is reason enough, but it has cosmetic benefits as well for our hair.
For one it is an alkaline food that helps to prevent acidity in the body. When a body is too acidic, it causes the body to break down including your hair and nails. Kale helps hair with elasticity which keeps hair stronger. Kale is loaded with vitamin A, which is mostly known for eye health. Vitamin also A helps produce healthy sebum and fights free radicals, which can damage the scalp and hair.
The high amount of vitamin C in kale helps builds collagen which is highly important in hair health, growth and strength. Vitamin C also helps against free radicals and a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to hair loss or excessive hair shedding. Kale creates a healthier scalp by fighting dandruff and improving a dry scalp by moisturizing with the sebum production from vitamin A but also from the high anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory composition.
Sabrina’s morning smoothie
If you are not big on taking a lot of supplements or prefer eating or drinking your daily vitamins, kale is a great choice for your body and hair’s health.
Here’s my morning smoothie recipe. I make sure kale is a big component along with a lot of other veggies and fruits that help in keeping my hair and scalp healthy.
- 2-2 ½ cups of water
- Frozen kale (small handful”>
- Frozen spinach (small handful”>
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 2 tbsp. of ground flax seeds
- 1 scoop wheatgrass (gotta get those grays under control”>
- 1 cup frozen mixed fruit
- 1 granny smith apple
- Honey to taste
I blend the water, kale, and spinach first before adding everything else. I blend well and that’s about it. This smoothie is simple, tasty, and great for your body and hair.
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,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>The wash and go is my staple style and a popular style among naturals. It is loved and hated because the term suggests one simply washes and goes, but that is not entirely true for all women. There may be some women who simply just wash their hair and go, but the majority of us need to wash, add conditioner, plop hair, and add styler. Guess what? That is just one variation of the wash and go and there are several others along with a number of products women swear by for the best results.
The idea behind the wash and go is to wear your curls, coils, and waves in their natural state. To me, it is the simplest style to rock, because there is no wrong way to rock your own curls. This style can cause damage if you do not moisturize properly, but I have perfected my moisturizing regimen, so that my strands are hardly ever dry.
Water is a master moisturizer
I know that water is the #1 moisturizer and I often feel I am making up for lost time when I thought water was the enemy. If we go back to when I was relaxed, I was under the impression that water was bad for my hair, as many women with relaxed hair have been led to believe. I starved my hair as a result, but I have learned the error of my ways and these days cannot get enough water into my strands. I refresh my hair almost daily with water bottles, like Curl Keeper H2O Water Bottle, and every few days refresh with some water and conditioner in the shower. I seal in the moisture with my condish mix below.
Conditioner + Elixir Cocktail
I learned this trick from my natural-haired sister and she got it from a stylist a few years ago. After I saturate my hair with water in the shower (I have high porosity hair so that is quick for me”>, I section my hair into four parts and add my botanical conditioner in my hand with a few pumps from SheaMoisture Reconstructive Finishing Elixir before applying to a section of hair. I do that for all sections and leave the shower. This is my tweaked version of the Curly Girl Method (CGM”>. I leave conditioner in my hair, and while the CGM keeps my hair well moisturized, I have high porosity hair and the added elixir helps to keep the moisture sealed in. It is made of Shea butter, argan oil, vegetable squalene, carrot oil, and macadamia nut oil as the first five ingredients and I love how well it works in a cocktail.
Deep condition like a fiend
I may live in dry Denver, but you would never know it by my hair. My hair is hardly ever dry unless I neglect it for a few days. While I can say I love water and wet my hair a lot, the real hero for my hair being moisturized is my determination to deep condition every time I wash my hair. I also use excellent deep conditioners. My favorites are SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque or Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment. Both of these amazing products up my moisture game while also fending off the damage regular shampooing does to my strands.
Deep conditioning is a necessary step especially if you use color, heat styling tools, or manipulate your hair often. I slather it on after I wash and rinse my hair and when I say slather, I mean slather it on! I jump out of the shower and cover my hair with a plastic cap and my heated Hot Head Deep Conditioning Microwavable Heat Cap, leaving it on for 30 minutes. I jump back into the shower, rinse it out, and style as usual. Think that’s too much? Well, my hair is soft and moisturized 90% of the time. I say it is well worth the extra effort.
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I call it lack of character, because while my hair is at its optimal cleanliness without frizz, it is almost too perfect.
What is the reason for this craziness? Shouldn’t hair look the best when freshly washed? I disagree, and here are five reasons why second or even third-day hair is better than freshly washed hair.
1. The volume
Hair can be a tad too perfect and sometimes flat on that first day, but touching it while it drives can lead to a frizzy nightmare. It is best to leave freshly washed hair alone after you have conditioned and added your styler. Our fine-haired curlies know that freshly washed hair needs to be completely dry and then fluffed to add volume, but trying that on first-day hair is not the answer. The great thing about second-day hair is your hair gains volume without disturbing the definition too much.
2. Hair is no longer wet
Many curly girls have super thick hair and those curls, coils, and waves are bound to take hours to completely dry and form their natural pattern. First-day hair is usually wet and forming definition while second-day hair is completely dry and can be fluffed or altered to get your desired style.
3. The perfect cocktail
Second-day hair has a combination of product and the natural elements to give hair a better feel and look. This unique combination gives hair hold while allowing natural movement – the perfect balance between definition and volume. This is not to say that full-blown dirty hair is better, but that second-day hair has been set with products and lived in, giving hair better styling options.
4. Bedhead can work wonders
Bedhead is hated by many, but curly girls know that bedhead helps with our hair. Washday hair is too uniform and one night sleep with a satin pillowcase and/or satin scarf helps to add fullness or even stretch curls if one is wearing hair up in a pineapple. I often do nothing to first-day hair and opt for second-day hair to fluff and enjoy my defined, yet fuller curls. Many times pineappled curls keep their definition and I merely have to fluff to create amazing hair without adding product.
5. Styles get better with time
If you installed a roller set or flexi rod set, the hair is very cute on the first day but has an impossibly perfect curl pattern. Second-day hair has a more natural look that often gets mistaken for a natural curl or wave and not the use of curlers or rollers.
I am a wash and go natural and have been one since day one of going natural. Some love it, others hate it, and still others find it to be the bane of a natural’s existence. Wash and go seems like a simple style because it appears that you just wash your hair and go, but the title can be a tad misleading. Maybe I am good at it, because I’ve been wearing it for years or maybe I am easier to please, but I feel many have problems with this style because of expectations. Now, I have tried to rock a twist or braid-out too many times to count and each time it comes out a frizzy mess, but give me a wash and go and I can keep frizz at bay like a champ. What’s even better is the shorter my hair the better the wash and go.
I have recently had my hair chopped off in the back to give me some volume and it reminds me of the ease of the wash and go when my hair was much shorter like a TWA. I loved my TWA because it was cute and quicker to wash, condition, and style.
There are three main factors you have to take into account for a wash and go to be simple and beautiful:
- Accept your curl/coil/kink type
- Know there is no real wrong or right way to do the wash and go
- Accept some shrinkage
What is a wash and go?
A wash and go is when you wash your hair, apply moisturizer and/or styling products, and allow the hair to dry naturally or shrink without stretching. Simple, to the point, and once you accept the three factors mentioned above, you can achieve it.
What does a wash and go look like?
My coils will not look like your coils and my hair may be thinner, curlier, drier, or longer than yours. I have seen too many variations to count, and while there is no universal method that will work for everyone, finding one that works for you takes trial and error with technique, products, and product application. What I love about the wash and go on shorter strands is I can do my whole head at once. I don’t need to part my hair into four sections and work on each one separately like I do now.
How I wash and go on short hair (wash day”>
Wash and go can be created on freshly washed hair or hair that needs to be refreshed. I have gotten the best wash and gos with minimal frizz when I enlist a few tips from the Curly Girl Method (CGM”>.
- Pre-Poo (optional”> – Sometimes I do it and sometimes I don’t.
- Cleanse – Jump in the shower and wash hair with cleansing conditioner or shampoo. I allow the water to completely wet my hair to help remove tangles using my fingers. I like removing tangles prior to adding shampoo but I will also check after as well.
- Deep condition – Take care of shower business before rinsing hair well and apply a deep conditioner. You can either stay in the shower for a few minutes as the bottle suggests or if you need a deeper treatment, cover hair with a plastic cap or leave the shower to allow hair to sit under a heat cap for 30 to 45 minutes. I opt for leaving the shower and coming back later to finish. I can be extra, but this is my life.
- Moisturize – Rinse out the deep conditioner and apply leave-in conditioner or a regular botanical conditioner. I love SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil. Apply your leave-in to all strands before wetting your hair with a few drops of the shower over the canopy (top layer”> of your hair.
- Dry – Get out of the shower and wrap your hair in a cotton tee or towel, my favorite is the Hair RePear. Plop your hair to absorb the excess water. Leave the towel on your hair for about 20 minutes.
- Style – Take down the towel and add styling product, which for me is my Holy Grail gel, Kinky-Curly Curly Custard. Either rake it in or smooth it in. I rake and then I am done.
Quick refresh routine
- Wet – Start off with soaking wet hair and not just damp hair.
- Moisturize – Slather in leave-in conditioner or regular conditioner and follow the steps above.
- Seal – Often I will add a few pumps of my favorite elixir, SheaMoisture Reconstructive Finishing Elixir, to the regular conditioner to help with sealing my hair on wash day or on a refresh day. I also find it helps to keep the curls from frizzing when I use it too but a good botanical conditioner will do the job if it is a moisturizing one.
These steps may seem long but when I rarely have frizz, I know it’s because I have a solid wash day and refresher routine that locks in the moisture and keeps frizz at bay.
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The health benefits of strawberries
Strawberries have a unique combination of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits that aid in cardiovascular support and improving regulation of blood sugars. They contain a huge amount of vitamin C, manganese, fiber, iodine, folate, copper, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, biotin, omega-3s, and vitamin B6.
Our bodies need everyday protection from oxidative and inflammatory damage and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrient content in strawberries is downright amazing. They are an excellent source of vitamins C and K and have been used throughout history to help with digestive ailments, skin irritants, and even teeth whitening. You only need eight medium-sized strawberries for 140% of the U.S. RDA for vitamin C. They are low in calories, tasty in everything from milkshakes to pies and cakes, and boost your immune system. What many are not aware of how great strawberries are for hair and skin.
3 Ways to use strawberries on your hair
Moisturizing strawberry hair mask
Strawberries enlist the aid of their antioxidants to protect cell membranes, which help keep hair moisturized. A great hair mask for moisture is combining one egg yolk with 3-4 mashed strawberries and applying to hair. Keep in for 20 minutes before washing out with cool water.
Natural shine treatment
Strawberries help your hair in several ways from adding shine to treating dandruff. For shine, simply add a tablespoon of mayonnaise to mashed strawberries until they form a paste. Apply the paste to your hair and keep it in for 20 minutes before washing out with cool water. Hair will be noticeably smoother and shinier.
Strawberry scalp exfoliator
They are great for exfoliating the scalp along with treating mild scalp conditions like dandruff. It also has a lot of silica and vitamin C, which is great for people suffering from hair thinning. To benefit those suffering hair follicles, simply mix 2 ripe strawberries (mashed”> with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply the mixture to your scalp for 20 minutes before washing out with cool water.
This recipe also helps with fungal growth on the scalp due to the magnesium, copper, and dicarboxylic acids content in strawberries that inhibit fungal growth on the scalp.
Why strawberries are good for your skin
Vitamin C along with lycopene in this aggregate fruit is known for anti-aging and preventing damaging to the skin by free radicals. This helps with the aging of the skin and hair along with improving the look of one’s skin. Strawberries also have skin-lightening properties and ellagic acid, which helps to reduce skin spots and help lighten dark spots. Those anti-inflammatory properties help with under-eye puffiness and is the reason you may find them in some under-eye treatments.
I simply add them to my smoothies, but this amazing fruit is too good for our hair to just drink. Try one of the recipes above and share how well they work for your hair.
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I am the creator of the hair and beauty blog, Seriously Natural. I have been blogging for over five years. Blogging was not about me creating a journal nor was it just a hobby. There were a few reasons that came together that brought me to the blogosphere and I’m grateful to be here. Blogging was not a huge business over five years ago as it is now, and while there were many big star bloggers, blogging itself was not synonymous with making money. For many it can be a great way to earn some extra cash or simply become a business, but it takes more than just writing some interesting content and collaborating with brands. I am a full-time blogger and freelance writer and could not be happier, but I sort of fell into blogging and I am excited about being here. This is what motivated me to start creating content.
I wanted to create a voice for the ‘older natural’
The older natural who is 35 and older really did not see much representation back when I started blogging over five years ago. We saw the young college-bound or first-real-job-having natural running around with her carefree curls. Our hair had different needs. I have been relaxed from age 13 to 35 and that’s a lot of years of dealing with chemicals.
I also wanted to address some things that our younger sisters were not dealing with like graying hair, menopause, perimenopause, going natural while going gray, dealing with aging, hair loss or even thinning hair. I was 41 at the time and knew my body was going through some changes that affected my hair and I wanted to learn more about it while sharing that information with other women in my age group. I wanted to give a space to the older natural and share our experiences with other older women to educate, inspire, and support.
I wanted to learn more about natural hair
When I went natural I had no idea I was even going natural. We moved from New Orleans to Denver and the thought of going from a humid climate to a dry one scared me out of my relaxer. I stopped relaxing my hair and simply rocked braids and wigs for the next three years. I took very little care of my hair and even began getting thinning edges due to excessively wearing of box braids that were too tight. To make matters worse, I never gave my hair a break in-between. I big chopped before knowing what it was and I had damaged hair as a result. I scoured the web and found sites like this one and CurlyNikki that aided me in learning about my own hair and what products and techniques that would make it healthier.
I wanted to share that knowledge and discuss topics that centered on what I was going through without giving a day in day out account. I think a lot of women in my age group felt the connection because the blog grew and so did my workload for creating content that they would find helpful and interesting. At the end of year two I decided to make this a career and started seeing the opportunities that this line of work could afford me.
I love writing
I have been writing creatively ever since I was seven years old. I enjoyed fables and nursery rhymes and loved to read, so I decided to create a play. My mother was so proud. I have written short stories and poetry and always felt (and still do”> a novel was in my future. I pushed that part of my life aside after college and went from job to job, industry to industry never finding my home. It was not until I created my blog it hit me I was putting my true passion on hold for over 20 years. My sister was always telling me to just start writing but I never did until I became natural and found a purpose to share my skills.
Ask anyone working on a blog that posts regularly (at least a couple of times a week”> and you will find out it takes commitment, time, and passion and did I mention time? I do this along with freelance writing full-time and it is a full-time commitment that I love doing every single day. Blogging came into my life when it was supposed to and made me recapture my love of writing and expressing myself through words. So, like I said, I did not get into this for the most obvious reasons but I am here now and couldn’t be happier.
What are the benefits of chickpeas?
Chickpeas are prized on their high manganese content, but they contain numerous vitamins and minerals. The seed coating and inner portion contains several phytonutrients with the outer coating full of flavonoids like kaempferol, myricetin and quercetin. The interior of the beans are rich in chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and even vanillic acid. All of the phytonutrients function as antioxidants along with having anti-inflammatory properties. They are a very good source of folate, copper, fiber, phosphorus, protein, iron, and zinc.
6 Reasons to use chickpeas for hair
While you may not think to use chickpeas for hair care, chickpeas really should not be overlooked as part of your whole health diet.
For stronger hair – The power of the protein in chickpeas and the excellent source of manganese help to strengthen hair.
For longer hair – Manganese is a mineral element that acts like an antioxidant and a deficiency in manganese can lead to slowed hair growth. Chickpeas have a high amount of folate and folate plays an important role in hair growth by renewing the cells that aid in hair growth.
To stop graying hair – Manganese also helps to fight against your hair changing pigmentation or graying and many women have been gravitating to manganese rich foods for that very reason. This is another vitamin great for stopping premature hair graying but also offers help in adding shine to strands, a common complaint for those with graying hair.For dandruff – The good source of protein also helps strengthen the hair’s cuticle. The vitamin A and zinc work together to prevent dandruff and hair loss. For dandruff, just mix 6 tbsp. of chickpea flour with water before massaging into scalp. Apply gently, ensuring to not scratch with your nails and cause potential damage. Let it sit in your scalp for several minutes before rinsing.
For thinning hair – The zinc also helps in cell growth and repair and a deficiency in zinc can result in weaker or thinning hair. The copper in chickpeas is great for persons trying to regrow hair that has been killed off by chemotherapy as it is trying to kill of the cancerous cells and leads to hair loss.
For an irritated scalp – The anti-inflammatory properties in the copper help to treat an irritable scalp and potentially reverse graying hair.
For stronger strands and to reverse graying hair, chickpeas is a diet must.
What is roucou oil?
Roucou oil comes from the annatto plant, which is native to the Amazon rainforest, Africa, and even Asia. This evergreen shrub is also known as bixa and achiote and is sometimes called the lipstick tree because of the pink flowers and spiny red fruit. The oil comes from the fruit attached to heart-shaped leaves and flowering occurs throughout the year with February to April and October to November being the two most abundant periods. The oval-shaped fruit has 2 valves and is covered with numerous soft, bright red spines that contain about 50 seeds. Those seeds are covered in a vermillion coating, which is the actual source of the dying power of the fruit.
The oil is harvested from the seeds of this heart-shaped fruit and the rich color is used as a dye. Roucou oil is rich in beta-carotene along with ellagic acid, which helps to neutralize free radicals. Roucou seeds contain alpha and beta-carotenoids, proteins, saccharose, cellulose, bixaghanene, bixeine, bixol, crocetin, ishwarane, isobixiine, phenylanine, salicylic acid, threonine, acid tomentosa, and tryptophan. The seeds have been used to make teas, astringents, and anti-inflammatory products to treat dysentery, fevers, and skin problems. It was even used as an antivenin against snake bites. Today, the dyeing power of the seeds creates a colorful paste for coloring cheeses, soups, and often replaced by saffron.
Benefits of roucou oil for hair
Roucou oil is being called the hair whisperer because of its amazing sunscreen, antioxidants, and even photo protective properties. It also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which is great for the scalp. The biggest contributor to hair would be the protection it gives against UV rays and sunburn that the scalp can easily suffer.
Roucou helps with hair coloring because it is 100 times richer in beta-carotene than carrots and the oil stimulates the production of melanin, which is responsible for hair’s natural color. The melanin keeps grays and frizz at bay and roucou oil lower cellular damage from sun exposure. That just means it helps with hair aging! The emollients in the oil help with hair hydration, detangling and help to add sheen to hair.
Roucou oil vs. Argan oil for hair
Now, many would assume that this would be an unfair fight. Argan oil is a curly girl’s darling asset but roucou oil is the winner as it can do everything argan oil can do but with the hugely added bonus of having built-in SPF. This is why many are touting roucou oil as the new argan oil and while it seems hard to find by itself, a few brands are adding it into elixirs like Davines OI All in One Milk.
While it may be hard to find now, the thirst is on and we will be seeing more of this oil in elixirs in more products soon.
Next lesson:
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Question
How do I get back to loving my hair? I have a mix of 3b and 3c hair. For the most [part] my hair is pretty manageable. I have been trying to grow it out for some time, but I have lost all patience for taking care of it. I can’t afford to go to a stylist for any long term protective style and I live in an area where natural hair is super uncommon so finding help or a variety of products is rather difficult. I’ve always had a love hate relationship with my hair, but it’s gotten to the point that I no longer want to take care of it. I’m so lost. Help…
Answer
So sorry you are feeling this way as most of us tire of our hair from time to time whether we rock natural or chemically relaxed hair. I say that to make you aware that you are far from alone in your way of thinking. Now, whether you choose to go back to chemical relaxers (I can only assume you had them in the past”> or not, I hope you choose the latter as chemicals relaxers are a dangerous product that many black women are leaving alone in recent years as a result.
There are ways to fall back in love with your hair but it requires a few changes. I have listed a few and hopefully one or two may be ideal for you to get back that old feeling about your hair.
Give yourself a break!
Speaking from experience, sometimes you have to step back from our hair goals outside of keeping our tresses healthy. When I was more concerned about how long I could grow my hair over anything else I found myself passing up much-needed trims, popping tons of hair vitamins and losing sight of what was really going to grow my hair long. The added pressure of length pursuing can be exhausting, as it takes time for hair to grow and comparing one’s hair to others can make for detrimental hair envy that has you setting yourself up for heartache.
Genetics, health, aging, medications, and stress levels all affect hair growth, so worrying about what your hair needs over how long you can get it to grow is the better path to take.
Invest in a really great cut
A great cut does not require you have to go to a stylist monthly or even a few months, as a really great style can last on its own for a while. The great part is they are much cheaper than a long-term protective style and they spruce up your hair so that you feel a great change.
Try some color
Another way to change up your hair and enjoy the newness is through color. Coloring one’s hair, especially done during summer, just reeks of fun and is the reason why many do it before a big season change. This can breathe some much-needed life back into your feelings for your hair.
Buy products online
I love Amazon (I am an avid Amazon Prime member”> because they sell almost everything, but they are by far not the only online outlet to get great products. Do not let where you live dictate what you can buy for your hair. Buying online also gives you access to stores that have sales because they almost always have those same amazing sales online and probably do a ton of business through online selling.
Find help online
You are far from alone for needing to go outside of your present space to find help with natural hair. While it may seem like a mecca of natural hair in most places, that simply is not true for all of us, and we have to look online for assistance.
Don’t give in to hate
Just as you must love yourself, you must also love your hair. It is time to stop the love/hate relationship and love your natural hair, as it is uniquely you. All you need is to love your hair by caring for it and make a change of style, cut, or color to get you in a better hair mood. If you do choose to go back to relaxed hair, make sure it is because you are ready for a different type of maintenance and understand the damages those chemical can inflict on your strands. Often we just need a change in scenery (a change up in hairstyles, etc.”> to get us back on track.
What is the concept of the flat-twist out or twist-out?
Both the flat and traditional twist-outs are great ways to give hair a more uniformed curl pattern. These styles are also great for curl types that have less definition. It is a lasting style that is considered a protective style because many who rock the flat-twist out or twist-out wear them for days.
What is the flat-twist out?
If you can cornrow, then you can do the flat-twist out. The flat-twist out consists of parting hair into cornrowed sections but flat twisting the hair and allowing them to set before unraveling them for your desired style. This is usually done on wet hair or stretched dry hair, as both try and hinder fizziness. The main concept of this style is the twist is laying flat against the head and that makes for definition right down at the roots. This is considered a more technical style as the technique is different from the twist-out.
Yolanda Renee shows us how to do it on dry stretched hair. Her finished style is gorgeous and she shares tips on how to do the style correctly and even how to fix frizzy results.
Everyone cannot flat twist just like everyone cannot cornrow. I am that person who can do neither and while I often feel like a failure I understand the need to sometimes cheat at what I cannot do so that I can still benefit. Here’s a video by DiscoveringNatural that is a super easy and quick tutorial on a cheat version of the flat twist.
First off, I can do this so that’s saying something. Secondly she explains how to do her version of the flat twist for those who cannot get the hang of it. You can keep hair up in the flat twist for a beautiful protective style or simply take it down for that twisted or curl defined look. You can make the sectioned parts much smaller and twist or coil each sectioned part before beginning the flat twist to give a more defined look.
What is the twist-out?
The twist-out is exactly how it sounds. You simply putting hair into twists and then release them. The definition is the easiest part of the twist-out, as it takes proper product, technique, and despite how simply it sounds it does take time to perfect. This style can be applied on wet or straightened styles like the flat-twist out.
Mini Marley shares an excellent video on creating a stellar twist-out on wet hair. This is a simple twist-out without any added rollers but she makes sure to twirl her fingers with product at the ends to ensure softness, no frizz, and uniform curls.
Major differences between the flat-twist out and traditional twist-out
The major differences are that flat-twist outs are more technical in creating, as one must know how to flat twist or cornrow. There is more definition at the roots of the flat-twist out and there is more tension on this hairstyle so it will have better elongation. The twist-out is similar to braiding and easier to do but there is more chance of frizz at the roots and less elongation as the tension is lighter than with flat-twist outs. There is less style control with the twist-out, but both styles require find the right technique and products for optimal results.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>Hair porosity is crucial to finding the right hair care regimen, even if curl pattern is what most people seem interested in.
Hair porosity is your hair’s ability to absorb and maintain moisture, oils, and even chemicals.I suspected I had high porosity hair even before doing a water cup test because when I would wet my hair in the shower it would expand like a garden hose filling with water and fall almost to my breasts. By the time I cleaned my body it was back up past my shoulders. Losing moisture, much? Yea, it was a sign I had very porous hair with serious shrinkage.
I was given the opportunity to try the fairly new service called Myavana, a hair care recommendation system created by four female engineers. They not only test the hairs on your head for density, porosity, and overall health but they recommend products. They solidified what I believed about my hair: that while my hair is healthy, it is highly porous. Armed with this information I got to work treating my hair’s raised cuticles, here are four important habits that have made a noticeable difference with my high porosity hair.
1. Use an ACV Rinse
Apple cider vinegar (ACV”> and aloe vera juice (AVJ”> are a high porosity girl’s best friend. Rinsing my hair with ACV, which is acidic in nature, will help flatten and seal the cuticle since high porous hair has those gaps and/or chips in the cuticle. Try both and see which works best for your hair, then incorporate it into your wash day routine.
2. Beef up on protein treatments
You may know the importance of protein treatments and use them from time to time, but if you have high porosity it can be very beneficial to stick to a monthly regimen and give stronger protein treatments a try. I normally try regular protein treatments but this past week I tried ApHogee Intensive Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor, which many love. I may opt for ApHogee 2-Step Protein Treatment and Balanced Moisturizer next time since I have heard a lot of great things about both. I’ve noticed a difference already and figure I need a more potent protein treatment to temporarily repair my hair’s cuticle.
Not sure which protein treatments are strong, medium and light? Here’s our quick guide to finding the best protein treatment for you.
3. Make a point to look for moisturizing products
When you have high porosity hair, you cannot solely rely on water for your moisturizing efforts. The climate will also play a role in how much moisture your hair does or doesn’t need. For example, I make sure to look for anti-humectants whenever I am in humid climates. It is very important to maintain a balance between moisture and protein, so as you experiment with finding the right strength of protein treatment for your hair, it will be equally important that you are keeping up your moisture as well. Here are a few of our favorite products for high porosity hair, including the conditioners, leave-ins and deep conditioners that will help you in your journey.
4. Avoid damaging habits
There are habits that we know are damaging, we know they will negatively impact our hair health, but we do them anyways. I for one will usually dye my hair yearly around summer for fun. While I understand the need to steer clear of chemicals (for me”> since they are doing me no favors I have typically opted for SheaMoisture’s Moisture-Rich Ammonia-Free Hair Color System for coloring my strands since I’ve gone natural. Now I have since decided avoid color completely and instead embrace my grays naturally because chemical hair color penetrates my high porosity hair too easily and the formula can further weaken strands. Instead, I can opt for natural coloring methods like henna, or hair teas. I use coffee rinses sometimes and I know that can help darken hair so I’ll be using that more often for darkening the grays if they get too out of hand. This is my choice and despite the fact that I can color using chemicals and just enlist the help of a stylist who will properly apply the product for the correct time allotted for high porosity hair, I prefer to not even fool with it.If you similarly have damaging practices in your hair routine that you know are putting your curls at a disadvantage, now is the time to try cutting them out – even if they seem “necessary.” If you use heat styling tools, try to find heatless ways to achieve the same or a similar style. If like me you dye your hair regularly, try out a natural rinse or embracing your natural color.
Knowing one’s porosity is extremely helpful, and while I had no real complaints I know I can give my hair what it needs to be healthy.
While sebum not having a harder time traveling down our hair is just one reason our hair is drier than our straight-haired counterparts, it is accompanied by what we do to our tresses too, like heat styling (flat iron, blow-drying”>, chemical treatments (color, relaxers”> or just not using the proper products you need to keep that hair moisturized. While you can find every type of moisturizer combating dryness in any store possible, sometimes the best products for dryness are handmade and far less expensive.
1. Coconut Oil Hair Mask
You cannot get any simpler than a mask with only one ingredient. This heavy oil is rich in fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins and penetrates the hair shaft. This is great as a pre-poo.
What you need
- Warmed coconut oil
Simply apply the warmed coconut oil to wet or dry hair and massage into scalp. Cover with a plastic cap and a towel for at least one hour. Rinse, wash, and condition hair as usual.
2. Yogurt + Honey + Olive Oil Dry Hair Mask
This recipe from DIY Natural uses a few of our favorite natural ingredients. Yogurt (Greek and plain”> is great for bringing life back to dry, brittle hair. It will moisturize and bring shine to curly hair and keeps frizz away. Honey is a natural humectant to draw moisture into your strands while olive oil is great for conditioning and hydrating properties that help to repair dry and damaged strands. These three ingredients are great for severely dry and damaged curls thirsty for nourishment.
What you need
- ¼ cup unflavored, plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 tsp. olive oil
You may need to double amount for longer hair. Mix ingredients well before applying to damp hair. Cover and allow to sit in hair for 20 min. before rinsing well. Wash, condition, and style as usual.
3. Dry Ends 30-Minute Mask
Some of us just have dry, brittle ends that are splitting and need some TLC. While regular trims are always necessary, often the ends need to be sealed properly, as they are the oldest hairs and most fragile. If you are not sure if you need a trim or not, try out this 13-min. mask and see if your ends just needed some extra love that the almond oil, apple cider vinegar (ACV”>, and honey may be able to revive. ACV helps to flatten the hair’s cuticle, honey will draw in moisture, and the almond oil helps to seal.
What you need
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. almond oil
- 1 tbsp. ACV
Mix all three together. Apply the mixture onto the ends of your hair and work your way up toward the roots to ensure you have all the damaged or dry strands. Cover hair and allow to sit for at least an hour before rinsing off. If you do have split ends this will merely make them look better, but they still need to be removed.
4. Dry Hair Pumpkin Hair Mask
Pumpkin is packed with antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and potassium. Pumpkin is great for repairing damaged hair and skin that has been exposed to the sun and environment. This great mask recipe from behind the blue also fights dryness with coconut oil and honey.
What you need
- 1 can of pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2 tbsp. honey
Mix all ingredients together and whisk with an egg better to remove all the lumps until it becomes the consistency of a conditioner. (If too thin, add more pumpkin”>. Add mask to damp hair at the ends and work your way up to the roots. Tuck hair under a plastic cap and leave mask on for up to 30 min. Rinse, shampoo, and condition as usual.
Since curly girls cringe at the thought of color, it makes sense that we see questions about bleach and if we really need it. Eliana.Fuchs had some questions about bleaching her strands in our Curly Q&A that I am sure many have the same concerns and would love some guidance.
Question
How much will bleach and color affect my curls? I have type 3b/c dark brown hair, and I was planning on bleaching the ends to dye them turquoise in sort of an ombré fashion from my normal color. I want the turquoise to be bright, and I’m afraid the bleaching will damage my curls. Any advice? In addition, I swim competitively, so my hair is already dried out from the chlorine, but I rarely straighten, so it’s not awful. All input is appreciated.
Answer
A lot! Well, that’s your answer in a nutshell and while simplistic, the point is that bleaching is a harsh coloring technique that is especially hard on textured hair, so expect noticeable changes to your hair health. If not properly taken care of, it can be extremely damaging.
Bleaching is a harsh coloring technique that is especially hard on textured hair, so expect noticeable changes to your hair health.
How does bleach work?
Bleaching hair removes of the color by decolorizing the pigment in the hair shaft through oxidation. The most damaging of all coloring methods, bleach usually uses ammonia or hydrogen peroxide (often these two are mixed together”> to permanently lighten the hair by reacting to hair’s melanin.
How does bleach affect curly hair?
Make no mistake about it. Bleaching is a damaging chemical process on anyone’s hair but especially on curly hair. Bleaching raises the hair’s cuticle to remove the color or pigment from the hair shaft, which also removes the hair’s moisture. This is irreversible process causes brittle dry strands and breakage. The strands are weaker after bleaching and the darker the hair, the longer the bleaching process.
Celebrity hairdresser Andrew Jose told the Daily Mail that “of all the colouring methods, bleach is the most damaging, and should always be done professionally and slowly. Bleaching raises the cuticle on the hair, removing colour pigment permanently from the hair shaft, a process which is called oxidation. Bleaching can permanently raise the cuticle, leaving hair dry, brittle and porous. Overlapping bleach in the same place leaves hair feeling weak and elastic, which can then lead to hair breakage.” He also adds that “overuse and repeated application of bleach to the scalp can strip the hair of moisture and damage the follicle.”With you swimming a lot this summer, adding bleach to your hair may be too much for your hair to handle. If you are already dealing with dryness then bleaching is not a good option, as it will only make the dryness worse. It will weaken those strands and make breakage almost inevitable.
Alternatives
While they will not lighten your hair, Manic Panic and Beyond the Zone are popular temporary hair dyes that will alter your color and last anywhere from 4-12 washes. They are also cheap and easy to use. They may last longer if hair was previously bleached and are less damaging than bleaching hair. They have tons of colors from traditional to neon and every color in between, so you can find any color your imagination can create.
What if you want to go ahead with the bleaching?
If you absolutely want to bleach your hair I would advise doing so with a professional colorist starting with a consultation to address your lifestyle. Make sure you are protecting your hair prior to swimming by wetting the hair and adding a cheap conditioner to keep out as much chlorine as possible. Pamper your hair with thick, rich deep conditioning treatments after you shampoo.
I no longer have a set schedule for wash day and this allows my hair to guide me on when it is time to clean it.
Natural hair makes for more work on wash day than when I was relaxed, and while I would never say nor believe that natural hair is harder to maintain than relaxed hair, I do realize wash day is arduous. I no longer have a set schedule for wash day and this allows my hair to guide me on when it is time to clean it. There are specific signs that are pretty universal regardless of your hair’s texture, density. Here are my tell-tale signs my hair is ready for wash day.
1. Product buildup
I hate buildup and truly try to steer clear of ingredients that can rapidly build up. Buildup can be an accumulation of sweat, dirt, and pollutants and that gunky mess needs to be removed ASAP. Product buildup can be damaging over time, as it can clog the hair follicles and weigh hair down too. It usually creates a film on my hair and sometime flakes. This mess is the best indicator I need to plan a wash day quickly. I will sometimes add products that have silicones if I am going for a particular look, so I plan for wash day to be soon thereafter in order to remove that buildup. I love Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel (I get the best high puff when I use it!”> but when I use it I know I will need to wash my hair soon after because it does cause buildup.
2. My hair feels oily
I hate oily hair. That may sound strange from someone who uses a lot of oils on her hair and body, but when my hair feels oily, I know it is time to wash it. I can be heavy-handed so I never just add oil as a sealant to my hair. I use a cocktail mix of conditioner and elixir instead to seal my hair and it works great at sealing without feeling greasy.
3. It refuses to act right
This is pretty subjective. For me, refusing to act right is what is going on right now. I washed my hair a few days ago and my hair is unruly. When this happens I plan to redo my hair; this is just a quick co-wash with cleansing conditioner. Usually this occurs when my wash day routine was subpar and it needs to be refreshed. This gets me back on track quickly. I’ll usually skip the longer deep conditioning that time too but I’ll do everything else I normally do on wash day. I will just keep the deep conditioner in my hair long enough to finish my shower (usually 2 to 3 minutes with a plastic cap”> and all will be right with the curl and coil gods.
I tried the washing weekly or bi-weekly but that was becoming cumbersome and sometimes my hair needed to be washed sooner or even later. Now I wash when necessary and that works better for me. With these signs above I’m having a much better wash day experience.
Henna is a beloved pathway to natural hair dye and curly girls love it. Whether using it to condition, loosen, or color your curls, henna is a favorite for many wanting to alter their hair with natural ingredients. Despite the love, there are a few curly girls who do not care for henna as results truly vary. Hayfa.Drac has a question about henna fading in our Curly Q&A section.
Question
Hi, I had natural brown hair till I used natural henna and I miss my hair color, when will it fade. My hair was brown before I used natural henna but now it has a bit of orange and I really want my natural hair color back, my hair is 3b/3c. Please, when will it fade?
Answer
This can be a tricky situation as my sister is in the same position. She has henna in her hair and has been waiting for it to fade for a long time with no luck. While some may find it fade slightly, henna is permanent and must be grown out or cut for removal. Despite this, there are ways to help the process along.
What is henna?
Pure henna is a powder that comes from the leaves of the Lawsonia inermis plant. The leaves have a red-orange dye molecule that stains hair. People often make the mistake of thinking henna is found in several colors like black or brown but pure henna is red-orange, and any henna that is advertised to color your hair black or brown has added ingredients that you may want to avoid. Henna does penetrate the hair shaft and binds to the keratin (protein”> in hair. It can condition, loosen, and permanently dye your hair. Before you try it for the first time, I would recommend that you fully understand the pros and cons of using henna.
Despite this permanent state, there are some solutions for removal.
DIY Henna Remover
NaturallyCurly Editor Devri used this recipe to remove the henna from her hair when she realized that henna was preventing her from being able to color or lighten her hair.
Ingredients
- Equal parts of extra virgin olive oil, argan oil, coconut oil (enough to cover all of hair from root to tips”>
- Sulfate shampoo
- Plastic cap
- Blow-dryer (optional”>
Directions
- Cover hair from root to tips with oil and cover with plastic cap. You can either heat your oiled hair with blow-dryer, sit outside in the sun, or allow it to sit overnight covered with a plastic cap and scarf to prevent bleeding.
- In the morning apply sulfate shampoo to hair to remove oil and rinse well.
- Follow up with a deep conditioner to close the hair shaft and style as usual.
- You will need to repeat process a few times to see color change.
Hair Color Remover
There are color removal products on the market like the Color Oops Hair Color Remover that curly girl Growth Music Travelused with success. You can watch her share her experience for a full review.
Again, henna is permanent and while for some it may fade, most will have to either cut it out, grow it out, or can try one of these methods. These methods will vary based on many factors to do with your hair and what you have done to it in the past. Good luck!
Have you tried either method or another? Share below!
[prodmod]
Being a Product Junkie (PJ”> can be exhausting not to mention expensive and quite time-consuming. There is just so much to try! If you have a PJ itch, then you are afraid to run into Target for fear of spending your entire paycheck when all you needed was toilet paper. It is an expensive habit that can get out of control if you do not reel it in.
How do you reel it in? Well, you can really limit your spending or you can find creative ways to simply enjoy your retail habit and not at your own expense! Sounds far-fetched? Not really, because I’m going to show you how to curb it a tad and also find ways to enjoy it without breaking the bank!1. Create a hair product/accessory budget
I am getting the most obvious solution out of the way before the fun stuff, but if you really want to fix the problem, then you will have to put on your big girl panties and create a budget. While we probably all need to create a budget for our lifestyle, having a hair product budget is a great way to reel in the need to buy every new product in sight! Allow X amount of dollars per month or pay period for hair products and stick to it! This will eliminate any guilt you have for your PJism by staying within your budget and still trying what you want.
2. Stay off the blogs!
Stay away from the temptation that causes you to become a product junkie. The reason being everyone is trying something. There is always something new to you that someone is bragging on or claiming as their holy grail. It can become quite hard to resist if you see your favorite vlogger telling you what worked best for her, so limit your watching and reading on hair blogs so you won’t be tempted. If the store is your problem, then don’t hit the hair aisle when shopping unless specifically shopping for hair products.
3. Enter giveaways
I love giveaways and will enter just about anyone I see. If you are a PJ and really do not have the budget to be one, then this is an ideal way to get free products. This is great if you love receiving packages in the mail too!
4. Reach out to brands for samples and possible reviews
Many brands post reviews on their site, so hit a few up that you are interested in, tell them you want to try their product for a truthful review, and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised and find yourself becoming a regular reviewer. Not every brand will oblige but nothing beats a failure but a try.
5. Become a reviewer on Fiverr
Now that I’ve sparked your reviewing bug, you can become a reviewer for brands and bloggers on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Many brands and even freelancers need someone to review products for them and will get them for you at no expense to you. If you really like trying new products and like discussing or taking pics on how they worked, then you may find yourself becoming a blogger or vlogger just for the products.
If all else fails, embrace your inner PJ! While this can be nerve-wreaking for your hair and your time, some of us truly have no issues with being a PJ and can afford the added expense PJism can become. No shade and no judgment as I just feel some enjoy PJism and have found ways to work with it in their lives and hair care routines. If it becomes too expensive, then opt for one of the tips above and enjoy your product journey!
Question
My ends are breaking from protective styling, any suggestions on what I need to do?
Answer
Protective styling is a great tool for length retention, but there are some rules that many often forget to follow. Never keep them in longer than required, make sure the style is not too tight, keep hair cleansed, conditioned and moisturized, and give hair a break in between protective styling installations. Breakage at the ends is caused by failure to trim the damage. If you couple that with protective styling, you end up with making the matter worse. Here are some tips on keeping your ends in tiptop shape when you protective style.
Get trims when needed
If you are having breakage to your ends it sounds like they may need to be trimmed. Many in the natural hair world believe that trims are not necessary components of healthy hair care but that just isn’t true. When you wear your hair in a protective style, your hair must be in good shape prior to implementing the style. If your ends are in bad shape prior to installing your protective style with extensions, they may be in worse shape after removal. Always examine your ends before a protective style and after to see if your ends are in dry, brittle, or splitting.
Keep hair (ends”> moisturized
Hair has to be taken care of when in a protective style. Your ends may be tucked away or in braids, but they still need to be cared for. If you find your ends are suffering the most when protective styling, then pay more attention to ensure they are being properly cleansed, conditioned, and moisturized. You may be just concentrating on the roots and neglecting the other parts of your hair and that can cause for dryness, buildup, and possibly damage to the middle and ends of your hair.
Try a different style
If the breakage continues, then that style just may not be for you. I have a friend who can rock any and every tight protective style and never lose an ounce of hair while others will lose edges with even one installation of microbraids. There are plenty of protective styles from box braids to wigs to crown braids. Find a style that allows you to get access to your ends so you can cleanse, condition, and moisturize properly.
Giving hair a break in between protective styles
Protective styles can be hard on hair, as they can be too tight, in too long, or hair can get neglected in those styles. For those reasons one should take breaks in between protective styles, but even if you did everything right, you still need to give your hair a break before reinstalling another protective style. Your hair needs a deep conditioning treatment after the style and a break, especially if it was in a protective style over three weeks.
No one here believes straight hair is more professional and we certainly do not buy into the idea that you have to cover your hair with a wig to be suitable for the workplace. If you are looking for something new that won’t compromise your personal style, your job, or the health of your hair, here are some tutorials to check out.
MissT1806 has lovely hair and knows how to rock it professionally and playfully. She’s sharing 4 amazingly simple styles that are perfect for work and only require minimal time and effort. The first look is all about tucking, rolling, and pinning. If you can do all of those then you can rock this style. Hair must be longer than a TWA, and even if you cannot create a bun or puff at the end, this can altered by simply tucking and pinning all the way around. That first look is great for stretched hair that needs more longevity, as you may not be ready for wash day.
The second style is a toned down version of the beloved frohawk. If you can twist and pin then you can create this style and give less hawk and more banded beauty. We love the pompadour and we love the bun, so when you put them together you get a work elegant style sure to protect. Even if you are not working with medium or longer lengths, add the aid of a ponytail or a donut to give the illusion of a bun in the back and you have a working style for days. The traditional bun is always work ready and MissT1806 shares her version, which is parted down the middle (halfway”> with slicked edges and a big low bun straight to the back. This look can be altered for a side bud or even a high bun and still be work-friendly worthy.
If you are rocking braids as a protective style this summer and worried about them being “work-friendly,” worry no more as we share a video on how to enjoy your braids and still look professional. The key is hair being out of your face for braids to give off the professional look. Faceovermatter shares 12 gorgeous styles to fabulously rock your box braids or even twists for that matter. She has them long, which afford her the ability to create several looks. From high buns to twisted braided headband, she comes up with several styles perfect for the boardroom to the classroom.
I cannot forget my TWA or short-haired lovelies. I actually have two videos for you. Now, with shorter hair you always have the option of just rocking it naturally or placing a modest headband. If you want to jazz it up but still keep it professional I’ve got some options for you.
The first one is by Jaelah O’Neil, and it is a popular one because it is cute, professional, and perfect for any occasion. It is a puff on short hair and if you thought you could not create one, then check her out because she has a beautiful puff that even the shortest of short hair can rock.
This style is for curlies with a longer hair than TWA and who can flat twist to create a beautiful and elegant halo braid perfect for protecting your ends.
No matter what style you choose to rock to work, know that curly, coily and wavy hair will always be professional as much as it is beautiful.
