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Even with all of the hair commercials and products that we are inundated with daily, if there’s one thing we’ve got to make sure we have in our hair care arsenal, it’s protein. Why? Because our hair is made up of keratin, which, as I’m sure you well know, is protein. The challenge is trying to find ways to get our locs the protein they need without overdoing it.
If that’s the hair dilemma you’ve been personally experiencing for about as long as you can remember, here are some cool and relatively easy ways to give each strand of your glorious hair the right amount of protein it needs and deserves.
1. Eat some meat
Image Source: @curly_lala
No matter how popular Impossible Whoppers may be right now, there’s no way around the fact that meat is packed with protein. Also, meat is iron-rich and full of zinc, and it is a great way to build muscle while keeping your bones healthy and strong. The key is to eat meat that is low in fat, not overdo it when it comes to red meat consumption, and healthily prepare your meat. Meats that are high in protein include red meat, poultry, and seafood. Some non-meat alternatives include eggs and yogurt.
2. Or, eat some plant-based protein
If you happen to be a vegetarian, vegan, or simply want to monitor your meat intake, another way to get some protein into your system is to eat plant-based protein. And just what would some of those foods be? Some that top the list include nuts, lentils, quinoa, hemp seeds, potatoes, kale, broccoli, green peas, teff, and whole grains.
3. DIY a protein treatment
Image Source: @transitioningguru
Since your hair is made up of the protein keratin, it needs protein on the inside and the outside. A lot of us experience breakage because we’re not intentional about giving our hair a protein treatment no less than every six weeks. There are popular protein treatment brands that you can find at your local beauty supply store.
Image Source: @curl.and.contour
But I’m also a fan of making some of my own. A really great recipe is to mix an egg, half an avocado, a tablespoon of Greek yogurt, and a tablespoon of honey. Apply it to freshly washed hair, let it sit for 30 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Protein treatments are beneficial because they strengthen hair strands, add volume and thickness, and make hair feel soft and manageable.
4. Give yourself a protein scalp massage
Something that a lot of us don’t do enough of is give ourselves scalp massages. We need to because not only are they super-soothing, they are able to bring much-needed nutrients to our scalp by increasing blood circulation to our hair follicles. You can give your follicles a lil’ boost of protein by massaging your scalp with a mixture of sweet almond oil (that’s where the protein comes in) and chamomile essential oil (it adds shine while soothing your scalp). Warming the oils up a bit before applying is the perfect treatment for your hair before turning it in at night.
5. Try an almond milk hair rinse
Image Source: @zangiedoes
Remember how I said that nuts have protein in them? Almonds are no exception. So, a great way to pamper your hair and scalp with a dose of protein while moisturizing it in the process is to rinse your hair with some almond milk every other wash day. The protein in the milk will reduce breakage, the iron will prevent hair loss, the fatty acids will soften your tresses, the potassium and magnesium will strengthen your hair and the Vitamin E will condition it.
All you need to do is mix a half-cup of almond milk with two tablespoons of sweet almond oil, a teaspoon of lavender oil, and one tablespoon of castor oil. Put everything in a microwaveable bowl, zap it on high for 30 seconds, and pour over clean hair. Put on a plastic hair bag, it sit for an hour, and then rinse thoroughly with warm and cool water. Your hair will wonder when the last time that it felt so good was.
6. Apply “contaminated” oils.
If you’ve read somewhere that coconut oil is a good source of protein, including when it comes to your hair, there is some truth to that and all essential oils. The key is to use the kind of contaminated coconut oil, which is another way of saying the oil that isn’t distilled (purified). If you decide to apply it, just remember that a little bit goes a long way—when it comes to coconut oil and protein in general.
Enjoy, and share your tips for getting protein with us in the comments!
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Before this past March, the last time I had braids in my hair, I was a teenager. I decided to get some now because I’ve been rockin’ some short variation for most of my adulthood, and I’m ready to get some length for my locks. But if you’ve ever tried to grow out your hair before, you can personally attest to the fact that there is more than one “awkward phase”’ that will make you want to forget your long-term goal and go back to whatever ‘” you had in the first place with the absolute quickness!
Image Source: @amaka.ae
Aside from how long I have to sit in the chair to get my box braids done (typically around seven hours for the size and length that I like), I’m feelin’ everything about making this protective style decision. Come to think of it, the only thing that drives me crazy are these flakes that I tend to get; ones that I always have, mind you (because my scalp is naturally dry and sometimes dandruff creeps up), but is so much harder to manage when you’ve got a billion-and-one braids in their way.
If you can relate to where I’m coming from, I’ll share some hacks that have helped me reduce the appearance of my flakes while still keeping my braids looking pretty darn good.
Before The Braids:
Image Source: @yazzbratzz
Deep Condition Your Hair
Ever since you can remember, you probably knew it was essential to condition your hair. But, it’s even more crucial to deep condition it, no less than a couple of times a month. By applying a thicker conditioner (something along the lines of a hair mask) and letting it sit for 30-60 minutes before rinsing it out, not only do you help to protect your tresses from experiencing heat damage, but it also helps to replace any proteins (and moisture) your hair may have lost. When prepping your hair for braids, deep conditioning will give your hair softness and strength and your scalp the extra pampering needed while your braids are in a protective style for the next several weeks.
Image Source: @mysunday2sunday
Exfoliate Your Scalp
If you struggle with dandruff, two main things cause it. One is a type of yeast called Malassezia. The second reason is connected to it. When the yeast irritates your scalp, it causes the cells on your scalp to grow at an accelerated rate, which leads to a lot of itchy and sometimes sticky flakes. Something that will help to reduce this is massaging your scalp with a mixture of baking soda and a few drops of lavender oil.
The granules in the baking soda will remove the flakes, plus baking soda will help to restore the pH balance on your scalp so that the yeast has a more difficult time surviving. Lavender oil will also keep the dandruff at bay while soothing your scalp. Exfoliate your scalp on newly washed hair about 2-3 days before your braiding appointment.
Once Your Braids Are In
Image Source: @black_hair_court
Create a Witch Hazel and Tea Tree oil Hair Spray
Hands down, one of my favorite treatments for an irritated scalp or scalp flakes is witch hazel. Because it’s a natural astringent with anti-inflammatory properties, witch hazel can cleanse and soothe your scalp without drying it out.
If you add a few drops of tea tree oil to it, its antifungal properties will keep bacteria, yeast and fungi from developing. You can apply the combo with a few cotton balls. I like to pour it into a spray bottle, pull my braids apart, and spray the solution directly onto my scalp several times a week. It’s cooling and super effective.
Dab Some Jojoba Oil Onto Your Dry Spots
Our scalp naturally produces sebum (a type of oil). If you’ve got flakes because your scalp doesn’t get enough sebum, jojoba oil mimics sebum in many ways. Not only that, but it’s the kind of oil that is rich in antioxidants so that your scalp and hair remain nice and healthy.
Apply Peppermint Oil With a Few Q-Tips
This is another awesome scalp tip. Not only does peppermint oil feel super refreshing (thanks to the menthol that’s in it) with a scent that makes me smell like a piece of candy, but its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties fight off dandruff (even lice).
Peppermint oil also absorbs excess oil while keeping your scalp moisturized. To apply the oil without making the roots of your hair frizzy, dip a couple of Q-tips in the oil and rub them along the parts of your hair. You’ll immediately feel relief.
Watch TikTok How-to-Shampoo Videos
Image Source: @o1_isla135
You probably wouldn’t wait a month (or more) to wash your hair if you didn’t have braids in it, so it’s not a good idea to do it now. Suppose you’re worried about washing your braids because a lot of water on braids (especially box braids) can make them feel heavy, or you think that doing so will make your braids frizz up (which is the absolute worst). In that case, TikTok has videos that can provide you with all kinds of helpful shampooing and conditioning tips.
Keep Product Use to a Minimum
One of the best things about having braids is there isn’t much of a need for hair products like gels, mousses, and sprays (except for maybe where your baby hair goes). But if, for some reason, there’s a style you want to try that requires one of these, just so your scalp doesn’t end up with a ton of build-up, make sure to apply the “less is more” principle. Towards the end of your braid run, your scalp—and even the appearance of your braids—will thank you.
Consume a Dandruff-Fighting Diet
Did you know that a part of managing your dandruff flakes is watching what you eat? Certain types of foods that are able to keep your dandruff under control, including ones that are high in zinc (spinach, almonds, dark chocolate), protein (lean meats, quinoa, peas), iron (broccoli, pumpkin seeds, red meat) and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts, basil).
Try an Apple Cider Clarifying Rinse
I tend to make sure my scalp is clean more than worrying about washing my entire head every couple of weeks. The dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse contains apple cider, which is also great for restoring pH balance and removing build-up, lavender extract, and even aloe vera. It comes with a handy nozzle that makes it easy to apply, and it’s formulated for natural hair, locs, and extensions (including braid extensions).
Don’t Keep Braids In For Longer Than Eight Weeks
Braids are super-convenient and (to me) one of the best ways to grow out your natural hair. But even too much of a good thing can cause problems. No matter how well you take care of your hair, there is bound to be some sweat and oil build-up that can only be fully removed by taking your braids out. When should you do that? After eight or ten weeks, it should be your absolute max. Once you remove them, if you do the first two things I mentioned again, any remaining flakes should go away, and your scalp will be refreshed and restored. Awesome!
Check out these braided hairstyles as well!
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As I’m currently on this journey of self-discovery as it relates to my hair, I definitely have days when I want to let my soul glow in all of its fullness, weeks when my tresses are tucked away in medium-sized box braids and times when I prefer to put my hair up in a scarf, hat or turban. When it comes to that last part, what I adore about that particular option is it’s such a simple yet stylish solution to bad hair days, rushed mornings, or when it’s unbelievably hot outside, and I’d prefer to keep my hair out of my face.
For the most part, wrapping my hair up in one of these ways is a beautiful solution. At the same time, I must admit, that I did experience a season when I was so comfortable with tying my hair up in a scarf, that I began to notice a little bit of breakage around my hairline. It wasn’t due to the quality of the material; it was because the scarves were tied too tight. Plus, I was always tying my scarf up the same way.
Since scarves, hats, and turbans are hair solutions that I’m pretty sure others resort to as well, in the hopes that they work for and not against you, I wanted to share what a little trial and error has shown me will protect my tresses when they are underneath those styling options.
Deep Condition with Chebe Powder
Image Source: @sadatueyewellness
It’s certainly no secret that I’ve become a huge fan of chebe powder. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a powder that originated from a tribe in the Chad Republic that has a great reputation for helping women with 4-type hair grow their tresses to bra length or longer.
It’s able to do that because the properties in it deeply moisturize hair, nourish hair follicles and even thicken hair strands over time. That’s why I recommend using it as a deep conditioner at least once a month. That way, you don’t have to worry about your scarves, hats or turbans drying your hair out.
Now I will give two heads up—chebe powder (which you can easily find on Amazon or even sites like Etsy) isn’t the cheapest in the world (I usually spend around twenty bucks for 50 grams) and, in order to get the most benefits from it, you should leave it in your hair for 5-8 hours. But I am pretty confident that the investment of your money and your time will make it well worth your while if length retention is what you’re after.
Apply a DIY Leave-In Conditioner
Image Source: @jaz.mcnew
In between washes, you should also apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair; this is especially important if you plan on wearing a straw hat in the summer or a wool hat in the winter because you need to protect your hair from harsh weather conditions (like UV rays) and materials that can decrease moisture from your hair (like wool).
Although there are plenty of leave-in conditioners on the market, that work pretty well, don’t underestimate the effectiveness of DIY leave-ins too. By opting to make some yourself, you can keep all chemicals out of your hair (if that’s what you want to do) while also figuring out exactly what ingredients work for you (and which ones don’t).
Put Your Hair in a Protective Style
Image Source: @adannamadueke
OK, I’ll be the first to admit that I am guilty of not keeping this tip. When I do want to use one of these three options, I tend to go the scarf route. As my hair gets bigger and fuller, sometimes I don’t want to braid it down because I want the scarf to have some high volume to it.
Image Source: @crownandluxe
The problem is, if I wrap my tresses up in a scarf too much without putting them into some sort of protective style, breakage can start to occur. So yeah, if you want to keep your hair from “catching” in your hats or your non-silk or satin scarves from drying out your hair (including your ends), putting your hair into a protective style first is always a smart idea.
Wrap It Up in a Scarf
Image Source: @morgandukee
This tip is specifically reserved for when you plan on putting on a hat or turban. A silk or satin scarf will not only help to keep moisture in your hair but will also reduce the friction that hats, especially if you wear them for hours at a time, tend to cause. If you tie the scarf so that it wraps around to the front, once you put your hat or turban on, it can actually be a really cute look.
Adjust These Items (and Make Sure They’re Not Too Tight)
Image Source: @theclubbydm
Another thing that I am guilty of? Putting on hats that are too tight or tying my scarfs to where they are too tight too (that’s how the hair around my hairline started to thin and break). Pulling a brim really close to your eyes or tying a scarf to where it almost makes the sides of your hair appear sleek may be cute, but it can wreak pure havoc on the hair that they are putting pressure on. That’s why it’s important not always to tie your scarves the same way and to avoid getting a hat or turban that doesn’t provide a truly comfortable fit.
Take a Break from Scarves, Hats and Turbans
Finally, one of the best ways to get the most out of scarves, hats, and turbans is not to wear them all day, every day. While they really are some of the best style options going, your hair needs a break from time to time (especially if you wrap it up with a scarf or bonnet ever night). So, if you can, try to use these options three days a week at the most; on the other days, go with a wash-n-go, a protective style, or even a blowout.
Remember, scarves, hats, and turbans are cool options—but let your curls be seen occasionally. They’re beautiful. They should be!
Do you know of any other helpful tips for protecting curls under hats and other toppers? Please share them in the comments below!
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When it comes to the reasons why women suffer from hair loss, there is no one (or even five) simple answers. For some women, it’s hereditary. Sometimes the profound hormonal shifts that transpire during pregnancy and/or menopause can play a significant role. Sometimes it’s due to a medical condition while other times, it has something to do aging.
Even stress can be a major culprit. While there are medications that you can take or apply to your hair and medical treatments that are available too if your hair loss doesn’t seem major (meaning you don’t have large chunks of hair or huge bald spots), but you do seem to be shedding more hair than usual, something that you might want to try our DIY all-natural remedies. Not only are they cost-effective but, if you apply them consistently, you might be pleasantly surprised by the kind of results that you get.
So, are you ready to start growing more hair and having healthy tresses while you’re at it?
1. Massage your scalp with warm jojoba oil.
Whether you struggle with hair loss, thinning hair or not, one of the best things that you can ever do for your hair and scalp is to give yourself weekly scalp massages. Not only do they help to relieve stress, but they can increase blood circulation to your hair follicles, distribute sebum to your hair shaft and strengthen the roots of your hair as well. This is especially true if you apply a warmed-up oil to your scalp like jojoba oil.
Jojoba oil is awesome because it contains palmitic acid and stearic acids that help to reduce dandruff and itchy scalp; it deeply conditions your hair without leaving a heavy greasy residue behind; its fatty acids work to protect your hair from heat damage, and it’s an oil that also contains vitamins B and C, along with zinc and copper which can help to strengthen your hair follicles.
Image Source: @thejojobaco
All you need to do is put 1/4 cup of jojoba oil into the microwave for about 15 seconds and then apply the oil to your hair by gently massaging your scalp for 10 to 15 minutes, 1-2 times a week. If you do this regularly, you should start to see results within 4-6 weeks.
2. Make a coconut milk conditioner.
Image Source: @curlgeekkeek
Hands down, one of the best things that you could ever do for your hair is apply coconut milk to it. It’s the kind of milk that is loaded with nutrients like lauric acid (which strengthens hair cuticles), protein (which supports the keratin that your hair is made mostly of), and vitamins B, C, and E, and properties that also support your hair follicles so that hair loss becomes less of an issue. One of the most effective ways to use coconut milk on your hair is to create your conditioner.
3. Clarify with apple cider vinegar.
It’s kind of hard to think of something that apple cider vinegar (one that contains “the mother”) isn’t good for. When it comes to your hair and scalp specifically, it helps to balance the pH levels of your scalp, it contains antimicrobials that help to keep scalp fungi and bacteria at bay, and it even has alpha-hydroxy acid properties in it that will help to gently exfoliate your scalp so that your hair follicles don’t clog up.
Plus, if you happen to be someone who uses a lot of products to style your hair, apple cider is one of the best clarifiers around because it will deeply cleanse your tresses without drying them out in the process. One part distilled water mixed with one part apple cider vinegar, rinsing your hair after washing it, then letting it sit on your hair/scalp for 15 minutes every other wash day will give your scalp and hair what they need to heal and strengthen themselves.
4. Rinse your hair with licorice tea.
Image Source: @growhealthnaturalhair
Something that you might not’ve seen coming in a million years is licorice tea. Believe it or not, it has a really great reputation when it comes to being an all-natural remedy for hair loss. Not only does it contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that help to bring instant relief to a dry or damaged scalp, licorice is also able to open up your scalp’s pores and strengthen weak hair follicles too.
All you need to do is steep two tea bags, let them cool completely, and then apply the tea to your hair right after shampooing and conditioning your hair. Allow the tea to sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water (to seal your hair’s cuticles).
5. Consume foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Repairing hair and scalp damage needs to happen from the inside out. One way to do that is to consume foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These types of fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties that are able to heal damaged hair follicles, proteins to feed your hair follicles and properties that help to stimulate blood circulation to your hair follicles. Not to mention that omega-3 is also an oil that is a powerful moisturizer. Foods high in this fatty acid include fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil, pastured eggs, spinach, and meat from grass-fed animals.
6. Apply some onion juice.
Image Source: @niasimone39
I won’t lie—this isn’t the most pleasant-smelling remedy for hair loss, but it actually is one of the most potent. Onion juice is loaded with protein, amino acids and sulfur (sulfur is actually an element that has amino acids in it). Sulfur is really awesome because it helps to promote the production of collagen.
When it comes to your hair and scalp health, collagen is what helps to create healthy cells and promote hair growth. However, it’s important to note that if you battle with alopecia, onion juice isn’t a reliable treatment for it. Otherwise, if you’d like to try to see how this all-natural hair loss remedy can work for you, check out this super thorough video here.
7. Oil your scalp with a rosemary, geranium and coconut oil blend.
We’ve got the perfect combo if you’re looking for a moisturizing hair blend to nourish your scalp. Rosemary is an essential oil that we’re so fond of that we wrote an entire article about it (check out “4 Ways to Use Rosemary for Hair Growth); a really great thing about this oil is it helps to stimulate the cells on your scalp so that the hair that comes out of your follicles are thicker and stronger.
Geranium essential oil is one that’s considered to be a regenerating oil, in part, because it contains the compounds citronellol and geraniol that stimulates your hair follicles’ immunity. Geranium oil also balances the sebum production from your scalp so that your hair is moisturized without your follicles getting clogged up in the process.
And coconut oil? Whew…you can check out “8 Ways to Use Coconut Oil for Hair” to see why it’s a wonderful carrier oil/base for this kind of hair oil treatment. If you mix all of these together and apply the oil whenever your scalp is feeling dry, you will notice instant relief and thicker hair over time. It’s another great way to restore hair loss so that you can grow strong, healthy, long hair!
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There are a lot of myths that continue to fall around about Black women and their hair. If there’s a top one that irks me, to no end, it’s hearing that we don’t grow long hair as much as other ethnicities do.
Yeah, that’s a flat-out lie. While genetics play a part and shrinkage (the fact that a lot of us have a tighter curl pattern than other women) has to be taken into account, the reality is we can grow a long, full, and healthy head of hair, just like anyone else (shoot, just go to YouTube and put “4c women with long hair” and have your mind blown!).
The key is to do all that we can to retain our hair length once we get it. And how can that goal be properly and fully achieved? I’d say start with the suggestions that I’ve got for you below.
1. Understand your hair texture.
Image Source: @becurlyhaircare
While your hair grows, on average, somewhere between one-fourth and one-half an inch a month, that doesn’t mean that all hair types and textures are created equal. Matter of fact, if someone were to ask me what the top reason is for why a lot of naturalistas struggle with gaining inches, I would have to say that it’s because either they don’t know what their hair texture/type is or they don’t create a consistent hair regimen that complements it once they figure that all out.
If you’re looking at your monitor with a slightly embarrassed look on your face because you can totally relate, no worries. We’ve got articles on our site that can help you to discover more about your specific type/texture. You can click here to learn more about different hair types and here to take a quiz about your hair texture.
2. Stop being a product junkie.
Image Source: @alpacafrizzcurls
There are literally thousands of hair products out here that promise to give us the kind of healthy hair that we’re after. Problem is:
1. Who’s got a ton of cash to throw around?
2. You don’t have enough time, in this lifetime, to try them all
3. Based on what your hair needs, certain products can do your own hair more harm than good. That’s why it’s important to resist the temptation to become an all-out product junkie. How do you avoid that? Lean towards products that complement your own hair type (if you need a little help with this, there are YouTube channels that can assist).
Image Source: @pguinyard14_
Go to the site and put your own hair type in, along with the word “product reviews”. Once you decide to give a certain product a shot, unless your hair immediately “rejects it” (like your hair becomes extra dry or unmanageable), try and give the product a good month to see if it compliments your hair. Also, once you find what does work well for your hair, stick with that. After about six months of a little bit of trial and error myself, I have finally found what works for me and mine and it’s super basic.
3. Deep condition on every wash day.
Image Source: @cantubeauty
For a long time, I used to see deep conditioning as a luxury more than a necessity. Oh, but not anymore! My hair has become so much softer and manageable since I’ve made sure to incorporate this step into my regular hair routine. There are so many reasons why deep conditioning your hair is beneficial when it comes to maintaining hair health and encouraging growth. Deep conditioning is what can keep your hair extra moisturized in between wash days.
Not only that but it can also give your locks more elasticity (which reduces breakage) while adding sheen and providing a protective “coat” to keep your hair from being vulnerable to outer elements (like extreme heat or cold) that could also result in dryness and potential breakage. For tips on how to properly deep condition your hair, check out our article, “The Dos & Don’ts of Deep Conditioning”.
4. Protect your ends.
Image Source: @seunokimi
When I think of Black women who’ve got inches for days, someone who immediately comes to mind is Seun Okimi (who has a great YouTube channel). If there’s one thing that she and so many long-haired naturalistas have in common, it’s the fact that they don’t wear their tresses out all of the time; oftentimes, their hair is in some sort of protective style and then maybe on the weekend, they wear it all out. For years, I used to “whatever” this length retention rule of thumb and I’ll be honest—it wasn’t until I took it seriously that my hair started to make some real progress.
The reality is that no matter how much you may want to show all of your hair off, your ends are the oldest part of your hair and the more it’s manipulated with constantly styling, handling and even tugging (due to your strands “catching” on clothes”), it can cause your ends to become split or even to break. When that happens, you will have to keep cutting your ends so that the damage doesn’t affect your entire hair shaft which prevents you from seeing any real growth. So yeah, finding protective styles that you adore is another way to help your hair to continue to grow with a relative amount of ease.
5. Trim your ends.
Image Source: @marissa.motivates
It’s one thing to have to put shears to your hair due to damage. It’s something else to do it as a form of maintenance. Trimming your ends is simply a way to make sure that the ends of your hair remains as strong and healthy as the rest of your tresses. How can you know if a trim is exactly what your hair is in need of? If you run your hands up and down your hair and the ends feel rough. Consider if your hair is super frizzy and can’t hold a style to save its life.
If you notice a significant amount of split ends. If your ends are straggly; you know, if they look thinner than the rest of your hair does. If any of this is the case, it’s important to remember that healthy hair should be a bigger goal than having long hair. Clipping an inch or so, even six weeks (or so) can ultimately result in ending up with several inches that are long, strong and beautiful.
6. Eat foods that nourish your hair.
Image Source: @curlnationbyzen
Gaining and retaining hair length isn’t just about what you do to the hair that’s already on your head; you also need to take care of your tresses from the inside out. One way to do that is by eating foods that will help to keep your hair good and moisturized. How exactly does foods moisturize hair? For one thing, some foods have more water in them.
Also, the foods that are high in vitamins A and C, they play a significant role in your scalp and hair being able to get the sebum that they need. So which foods top this list? When it comes to foods that contain mostly water—cucumbers, celery, watermelon, zucchini and lettuce. Vitamin A? Eggs, yellow and orange veggies, fortified cereals, spinach and sweet potatoes. Foods that are rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, Brussel sprouts, tomatoes, kiwis and thyme.
7. Massage your scalp.
Image Source: @vidalabasu
By the mere fact that they can help to immediately relieve stress and tension, it’s a good idea to give yourself a scalp massage, no less than once a week. But when it comes to encouraging hair growth, there are several other benefits that scalp massages provide. They help to increase blood circulation to your hair follicles (which gives them more nutrients) and stimulate the production of sebum to your scalp and help to strengthen the roots of your hair. They make it easier for your hair’s natural oils to be evenly distributed. Scalp massages can also make your hair more resilient.
All you need to do is warm up a favorite carrier oil (coconut, avocado, grapeseed, jojoba and sweet almond oil are all really good), one that has a couple of drops of eucalyptus (the menthol will stimulate hair growth), lavender (nourishes and literally fights against hair loss) or rosemary (it’ll help to make your hair thicker) in it. Then, with your fingertips or a portable scalp massager, gently massage your scalp for 10-15 minutes. Again, if you do this once a week, you should notice real improvement in the quality of your hair within 4-6 weeks.
8. LEAVE YOUR HAIR ALONE.
This final tip will be my shortest, even though I know that it will probably be the most difficult. The more you put your hands or even styling tools in your hair, the weaker that it will become over time. So, unless you are styling your hair for the day or prepping it for the night, please leave it alone. Just simply letting your hair be, as much as possible, can be just what it needs to flourish—so that you can end up with the long and beautiful hair that you’ve always dreamed of!
What are your tips and tricks for natural hair growth? Share them with us in the comments!
Protective styles are awesome, full stop. They are the remedy for hair growth; they help us achieve the desire for a low-maintenance yet still-gorgeous hairstyle, and they also have a way of letting us tap into our creative side. Plus, is it just me, or is there something super-empowering about wearing braids or twists? Yeah, without question, there has not been one time when I have gotten a protective style and regretted it.
Image Source: @_thisisamina
However, there have been certain things that I have done while wearing a protective style that I wish I had done differently. Those things have inspired me to pen this piece for you.
Whether you’re thinking about getting some box braids, goddess locs, Senegalese twists, feed-in braids, or any other kind of braid-or-twist-related protective styles if you want them to last and your hair to remain healthy in the process, here are some things that you absolutely should NOT do.
1. DO NOT use non-water-based products.
I adore my hair braiders; I really do. I go to a shop filled with nothing but happy Kenyan women. It’s a beautiful and soul-uplifting experience every time. In fact, there is really only one thing that I would change, and it’s the Let’s Jam gel that they put on my hair as they braid it. I get that it smooths my natural texture down so that it blends in with the extensions.
But, after a couple of weeks, it tends to create build-up. That has taught me that if I decide to put any kind of other product in my hair (which is pretty rare, to tell you the truth), I make sure that it’s water-based. That way, it penetrates my hair without caking up as much. What’s a good example of what I’m talking about? A spritz bottle containing witch hazel, a little bit of tea tree, and lavender essential oil. It protects my scalp without any flaking or build-up.
2. DO NOT avoid wrapping your hair up at night.
Image Source: @curlsbyjen
I don’t know what makes us think that just because we’ve got some fly braids or twists, we can just go to bed without anything on our heads. If you want to keep lint from getting into your hairstyle and/or from accumulating fly-aways from the extensions or your own hair, it’s important to wrap up your braids or twists just like you would with your hair. Trust me, this tip alone will keep your protective style looking like new for weeks on end.
3. DO NOT leave your protective style in too long.
When it comes to protective styles, if one question is consistently asked, it’s “How long can I keep mine in?” Although some stylists say four weeks and others say as much as 12, the standard is 6-8. Typically, if you leave it in for longer than that, not only is there going to be a considerable amount of build-up (even if you do wash it every few weeks or so), but the new growth can cause your braids/twists to put too much pressure on your hair; that can result in breakage. Remember, a protective style is designed to help, not harm, your hair. If it’s in forever, it will be working against you, not for you.
4. DO NOT try and make it last by “rigging it.”
YouTube has quite a few videos featuring women who have found ways to make their braids and twists last for three months or more. A lot of them consist of twisting the new growth with original braids or twists still intact so that each braid or twist looks like it’s been freshly done.
Image Source: @itskensieee
While the results are visually impressive, I would still avoid doing that if I were you. The breakage thing that I just mentioned? That can still happen. Another result of “rigging” your hair is that it can lock up over time because, basically, you are twisting your hair…just like people who want to lock their own hairdo.
5. DO NOT rush while taking your protective style down.
This kind of mistake happens that isn’t discussed nearly enough. One of the benefits of having a protective style is taking it down and seeing how much longer and thicker your hair is. Well, that can easily—pardon the pun—get cut short if you’re so in a rush to take your hair down that you end up cutting your own natural hair in the process.
I know how tedious it can be to “dismantle” a protective style. But you’d be much better off binge-watching something on Netflix or Hulu as you do it than flying through the takeout process and having absolutely no progress to show for it. You’ve been warned.
6. DO NOT immediately get another protective style.
Image Source: @abs.tract_
Most stylists advise that once you remove a protective style, you should wait at least a week before applying another one. This allows you to pamper your natural hair and give your scalp some time to breathe.
I personally think that 3-4 weeks is even better because it gives you time to truly see what state your hair is naturally in (for instance, do you need a trim or a protein treatment?) so that once you do return to a protective style, you can be confident that your natural hair is in the best shape possible.
7. DO NOT do the same style over and over again.
Sometimes people will take out a protective style and see more growth in certain parts of their hair than others. While some of that is due to how fast various sections of their naturally hair grows, it also could be because they continuously get the same style of braids and/or because they style their braids in the same way. Cornrows that are always pulling on your edges could lead to hair loss.
Pulling twists up into a high bun could cause breakage in your crown area. That’s why it’s also a good idea to switch up your protective style and how you style it once you have it. It will take some of the pressure and tension off of your hair, so once you take your braids or twists out, your natural hair looks better than ever!
Know of any other protective style mistakes we might have missed? Share them in the comments!
I’ll be honest. The spring and fall are my favorite times of the year to wear my natural hair all the way out. The temperatures are mild, and the humidity levels aren’t super ridiculous, so my hair doesn’t shrink up or frizz out as much as it does the rest of the time.
Still, that doesn’t mean that when it’s blazing outside (or when it’s snowing; some of us forget that wintertime can get pretty humid, too), I won’t rock a blowout. I just have to find some creative workarounds so that I won’t have big and glorious hair when I step out of the door and then three steps away from a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) about an hour and a half later.
Image:@powerfluffgirl
If you just read all of that and found yourself shaking your head because you can relate, I’ve got some suggestions on keeping your natural locks voluminous, healthy, and full, even on the most humid days.
For the record, I’m pretty sure that you’ve heard of some of these before, but the key is to apply a little trial and error with the tips and handle your hair with care in the process. If you’re determined to determine what works best for you, I’m confident you will.
Experiment With Bentonite Clay
If you pay attention to hair trends, you’ve probably heard about the bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar hair definition combo. I’ve tried it a few times, and it works. Not only does it define natural curls, but it elongates them, too!
Image Source: @naturosei
Plus, adding some hydrogenated castor oil, melted shea butter, coconut oil, or olive oil to the mixture is a great way to have longer curls that won’t shrink up (as much) due to the moisture in the hair. (If you’ve never tried this DIY product before, check out the video above for some cool results).
Use Silicone or Beeswax
In the never-ending effort to keep shrinkage at bay, a grave mistake that a lot of us make is using the wrong kind of hair products—the ones that actually attract humidity instead of repelling it. So which ones are no-nos?
Glycerin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, any form of glycol, flax seeds, mango butter, and honey products definitely top the list because they are all humectants (they pull moisture from the air). What’s an ingredient that doesn’t draw humidity in? Silicone or beeswax. Both have the kind of properties that will seal your hair, reduce frizz and yes, help to prevent shrinkage.
Try an Anti-Frizz Serum
Something that lots of professional stylists believe that all of us should have in our possession is one (or 10) bottles of an anti-frizz serum (because frizz is usually the result of humidity). It works well because it’s another product that will effectively seal your hair so that humidity can’t get to it (as much). What are some good ones to try?
Top-rated serums include Mizani Thermastrength Heat Protecting Serum, GLOSS.ME Hair Serum by DESIGNME, L’Oreal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Leave-In Serum.
Consider an Elongating Styler
Something that we naturalistas have that we didn’t 15-20 years ago is YouTube. I can personally vouch for the fact that if you’re looking for tips on how to take care of your naturally curly hair, there is a wealth of knowledge on there. Anyway, there’s a totally self-professed quirky naturalista who goes by the name Star Puppy, whose channel I find to be cute, memorable and entertaining.
On one video, she broke down a way that she handles her own hair shrinkage; it’s with the help of Aunt Jackie’s Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel or the SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Anti-Shrinkage Curly Hair Products.
Make Sure to “Break the Gel Cast”
If you’re going for a wash-n-go look, applying some gel (even if it’s just Aloe Vera gel) to your hair while it’s wet is a great way to give your curls a good amount of definition. But if, after it dries, your hair appears shorter, a good thing to do is to break the cast (the hardness that the gel has caused) of your hair with a little bit of oil.
Image Source: @curlsncosmetics
Two that hold up pretty well in humidity are sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil. As a bonus, they both are light, so your hair won’t feel greasy to the touch. All you have to do is pour a little bit into your hands, rub your hands together and then gently rub your hands down your hair from root to tip.
Blow Your Roots
Image Source: @semascreation
Although you should be careful about how much heat that you apply to your hair, if you’re using a good dryer, you apply a heat protectant (a creamy one is better than a spray if your hair is both curly and thick) and you set it on cool, you should be fine. As far as avoiding shrinkage goes, make sure that you’re intentional about blow-drying your roots.
The “straighter” they are, the longer your hair will look and the less shrinkage that you will have throughout the day. Speaking of blow drying, if you want a longer look without straightening your curls in the process, a diffuser is definitely what you should attach to your dryer. Use it after your hair had air-dried halfway in order to get the best results.
Test Out Natural Stretching Techniques
Image Source: @coily.eplates
If you absolutely do not want to apply heat to your hair, pretty much ever, there are some natural stretching methods that you can try. For the sake of time and space, I’ll hyperlink them—banding, threading and stretch plates are what immediately come to mind. All work on even the tightest of curls and will give your hair at least a few inches.
Braid Your Hair (or Pineapple it) at Night
Whether you want your blowout to last longer or you want to stretch out your natural texture a bit, something that can help you to achieve that is if you braid your hair up at night. I’m not saying that it needs to be perfectly parted small braids. In fact, I think it’s best if your hair is finger-parted (so that you’ll decrease the amount of tension you put on your hair) and that the braids are on the bigger side.
The goal is to do something that will keep your hair from shrinking up and/or matting as you rest. Or, if you’re in a rush, pulling your hair up in a pineapple can help to achieve this too. Just make sure that once you’re done with either route that you wrap your hair up with a silk or satin scarf. That way, when you wake up, your hair will be stretched out a pretty good amount, even if you sweated some. And your hair will be ready to take on a full day of humidity!
So, I’ve shared before that, when it comes to natural hair—and hair-length retention—tips, in many ways, I’m a total non-conformist. One example is the “Don’t you dare apply heat to your hair” rule many people adhere to. While I get how that may work for some, it was actually while I was saturating my hair with moisture that I was getting more tangles and seeing more breakage.
After a little trial-and-error, what I discovered was when I blow out my hair on wash day (which for me is pretty much twice a month) and then put it into some sort of protective style, or I simply braid it at night (to keep it stretched) and then take it out in the morning, my hair has grown more than it ever has (and shoot, I am a high porosity kind of gal). That’s why I am of the personal belief that it’s not so much that heat is not our friend; it’s simply that we need to learn how to apply it correctly.
Image Source: @lizzys_curlycare
Since this is the fall season and, due to a lack of outdoor heat, you might want to rock a blowout more than usual, I wanted to share with you some ways to use a blow dryer on your hair in such a way that it will not damage your hair; how you can keep it stretched without overdoing the dryer process.
Are you ready to become allies, rather than enemies, with your blow dryer?
1. Choose the right dryer.
I promise you, if more of us paid attention to this particular tip alone, we’d be a lot less anxious about wearing blowouts more often. Using the kind of blow dryers that have limited temperature options, aren’t made out of either tourmaline or ceramic and don’t have at least a couple of different attachments is the kind of dryer that will fry your hair—if not immediately, after a few uses, for sure. That’s why, before purchasing a hair dryer, it’s a good idea to do some thorough research to see which one will truly work best for you. PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross debuted her high-performing blow-dryer in 2023, which features 4 unique attachments to help shape, smooth, and stretch your curls, coils, and waves.
2. Deep condition your hair.
Image Source: @gkccouture
There’s no way around the fact that blow-drying your hair is going to take a bit of a toll on your natural locks. One way it does this is by zapping out the moisture that your hair needs in order to remain moisturized and frizzless. Something that you can do to stay a step ahead of the dry heat that comes from your dryer is to deep condition your hair. I don’t mean for five minutes either. Once you apply the conditioner to your freshly washed hair, let it sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it. Then use a detangling comb to get as many kinks and tangles out of your hair as you can. Trust me, the more “pre-work” that you do to your hair before drying it, the less damage your dryer will be able to do.
3. Remove as much dampness as possible.
Image Source: @megan.cynth
One mistake that I used to make quite a bit was running the dryer through my hair after only briefly towel-drying it. Do. Not. Do. This. You are only setting yourself and your hair up for it to fry, especially if you place your dryer in a high setting. Instead, use a T-shirt to get as much excess water out of your hair as possible. Then, give your hair time to air dry between 60-80 percent. Just make sure that you apply a leave-in conditioner so that your hair will still be manageable once it loses some of the moisture that came from washing it.
4. Use a creamy thermal heat protectant.
The next step that is an absolute must is to put on a thermal heat protectant. This is such a necessary step because, when your hair is dry, your cuticles are open. When the heat hits them, that makes them far more susceptible to heat damage. Applying a thermal heat protectant to your tresses smooths your cuticles so that less damage occurs. Just make sure you use a spray only if you’ve got fine hair. Heat protectants in the form of cream are far better for hair that is thick or is a type 4 in texture.
5. Apply oils after, not during.
It’s always a good idea to seal your ends, too. Not only because they are the oldest parts of your hair but also because you want to ensure they get enough moisture so they do not split once the heat hits them. Just make sure that, as far as the sealing process goes, you apply the oil to your hair while you’re applying your leave-in conditioner.
Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then use your hair dryer. Oh, and try to avoid adding more oil to your hair as you are drying your hair. Why? Well, oil and heat are the perfect storm for fried hair or, at the very least, extremely frizzy hair. If you want a little more sheen that oil tends to provide, add a little more once your blowout is completely done.
6. Blow dry, downwards, in sections.
Image Source: @krystal.beautylounge
Now that we’ve gotten a little of prepping out of the way, to achieve the perfect blowout, technique has to be factored in too. Make sure to section your hair into 4-6 pieces, just so that it will be easier to blow it dry without tangling it up. If you opt not to use an attachment, use a round brush and start at the bottom of your hair, working your way up to the roots. Use your hands to roll your hair up and pull it straight, kind of simultaneously. Also, make sure to dry downward as much as possible. When you blow your hair backward, that can sometimes go against the cuticles of your hair and cause damage. I
7. Don’t overdo it.
One more thing. Sometimes, even when our hair is prepped just right and we’re using our blow dryer just like we should, we still end up wrecking our hair. How? By mistaking our dryer for a flat iron. What I mean by that is while some blow dryers are pretty impressive, none of them are really designed to make your hair bone straight. But if you forget this and keep passing through your hair over and over and over again, the combo of the heat and tension can also end up damaging your hair. So, if you want a long straight look, get a professional to flat iron your hair. But if you simply want length and texture, rock your blowout—and trust that no more than three passes with your dryer is all that you need.
Which of these techniques do you plan to use in the future?
I’m pretty much thinking that all of us can name at least one hair pet peeve that we’ve got. Me personally? I think it would have to be that while the left side of my head has hair that is super thick and grows pretty fast, my right side is somewhat thinner and likes to trail about an inch behind. When I tell you that, it annoys me to no end; words cannot express it! But what I’ve also come to accept is I’m not a rare person in this case. As you’re about to see, most of us have to endure this hair-triggering issue. The way to work through it is to know some hacks that can help the thinner side to get thicker and perhaps even “catch up”—even if it’s just a little bit.
1. Accept that it’s completely normal.
The first thing you’ve got to do is fully accept that, while having one side of your hair that’s weaker and thinner than the other can be annoying as all get out, it is also completely normal. The reality is that while our bodies’ left and right sides are similar, they aren’t identical. If you look closely, you might notice that one eye is wider, one breast is bigger, or one of your feet is larger than the other. So yeah, if both sides of your hair aren’t the same, it’s just following suit with the rest of your body from head to toe. I get that this fact doesn’t make things any less annoying, especially if you’re currently trying to grow your hair out. But I’m hoping knowing that you’re not alone can give you a little peace of mind.
2. Don’t always put tension on the thinner side.
Ok, now that you’re aware that Mother Nature (and sometimes even genetics) is a significant part of the reason why one side of your hair may be thinner than the other, let’s look at some other things that you might be doing that could be making matters “worse.” One is if you are always styling your hair the same way. Like if your ponytail is always leaning to one side, your part is constantly on the same side, or if you’re always brushing or combing your hair on one side too. The constant pressure and friction can, over time, either make your thinner side much weaker or the thicker side can become more damaged over time. Switching up your regular styling routine is sometimes a good idea. Giving your preferred styling side a break can give your hair follicles time to strengthen so that that side of your hair can appear stronger and thicker again.
3. Switch up sleep positions.
I already know that one of the reasons why the right side of my hair is thinner (and grows slower) than the left is that I prefer to sleep on my right side. Since I sleep around 7-8 hours a night, the blood vessels on the right side of my body are being compressed. The less blood flow, the less blood circulation reaches my scalp and hair follicles. And, when my scalp and follicles aren’t getting the nutrients they need, that can impede my hair growth. The same thing applies to you. We’ve all got a favorite sleep position, but if you’re serious about trying to get the thinner side to thicken up a bit, you might want to occasionally switch your position. If you can’t imagine doing that, I have another tip that might help. This brings me to my next point.
4. Massage the thinner side more often.
A scalp massage ain’t never hurt nobody. It should become a part of our self-care routine for several reasons. Scalp massages can reduce emotional tension, decrease headaches, improve your sleep quality, and, hands down, do wonders for your hair. Scalp massages increase blood circulation to your scalp, strengthen your hair’s roots, and help to evenly distribute your hair’s natural oils (so that your tresses receive more moisture as they experience less breakage)—all of this ultimately leads to a stronger head of hair, on both sides; especially if you massage your scalp with some warmed up Jamaican black castor oil (the warmth also increases blood circulation and the oil itself is loaded with nutrients) and a portable scalp massager.
5. Put the shears down.
In theory, you would think that if you cut the shorter and thinner side of your hair, all would be right with the world, right? WRONG. All this will ultimately keep you from ever seeing any real inches. So, what do you do when one side is noticeably shorter and thinner? Doing an initial cut—hopefully more like a trim—just to even everything up is fine. But after that, try to spend more time babying the thinner side so that your follicles can get stronger, that side of your hair can get thicker, and hopefully, there will be a little more progress, lengthwise. And how long should you wait before cutting/trimming again? So long as your ends are in good shape, try to give it at least three months. While that might seem like a long time at first, if you intentionally care for the thinner side, you might see enough growth that you won’t have to do anything super drastic with your shears.
Image Source: @wavescurlswhatever
6. Give it time.
Patience is a virtue, and truer words could not have been spoken than when nurturing the thinner side of your hair. I’ll be honest and say that when it came to my right side “evening out,” it took a good nine months or so before I could see some real progress—but I did indeed see some. So, if you want your thinner side to get thicker, take these tips to heart, develop a consistent hair care routine, and give it some time. I bet your hair will get healthier and stronger if you do—on both sides of your head. #wink.
Please share your tips and tricks with us in the comments!
Listen, I don’t care how healthy your hair and scalp are. If you’re a stickler for baby hairs with every style, you want your hair to be as sleek as possible every week or your go-to protective style is always—emphasis on always—a wig or weave, it’s going to start putting stress and strain on your edges. Not only because your edges are possibly the most fragile parts of your hair but also because hair follicles aren’t designed to deal with constant manipulation. This can result is a thinning hairline or losing your edges altogether.
Most of us know this in theory. Still, there comes a point in time when we’ve all had some part of our edges that was a little thinning than we would like. If that’s how things currently are for you, you’re freaking out a bit, but you know that you don’t want to do any more damage; I want to share with you some natural things that I have tried to treat a tiny thinning spot that came from texturizing my hair too much (yep, chemicals can wreak havoc too).
Although it takes several weeks to notice any real improvement (all good things come in time, y’all), if you make these a part of your daily regimen, I will be shocked if your edges don’t come back into full effect again.
1. Use Saw Palmetto
If you’ve heard of, saw palmetto before but you’ve never been quite sure what it is, it’s a tiny berry that has been used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans for many years. Saw palmetto treats everything from bladder infections and prostate cancer to low libido. Something else that the properties in saw palmetto can do is restore hair loss.
It does this by blocking something that is known as 5-alpha-reductase (an enzyme that converts testosterone into the hair loss molecule DHT). The best way to get the benefits of saw palmetto (when it comes to your hair) is to make a pomade or use a hair oil.
Saw Palmetto Instructions
All you need to do is combine one teaspoon of pure Aloe Vera gel to two teaspoons of ground saw palmetto powder. Apply it to your thinning edges, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. Repeat this once a week for best results.
2. Eat Foods That Are Rich in Zinc.
To get a full head of hair back, you’ll need to pamper your follicles with a healthy diet; aside from protein and iron, you need to consume plenty of zinc. That’s because zinc is a mineral that is essential to tissue growth and repair, including when it comes to your scalp. You can get more zinc into your system by taking a supplement. Or you can eat foods high in zinc, including eggs, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, etc.), whole grains, cashews, Greek yogurt, oysters, and lamb.
3. Restrict Certain Foods From Your Diet.
No matter what you put onto your hair (including your edges), if your diet is poor, you will fight a pretty uphill battle. Stay on top of the hair healing process by nixing certain foods that don’t do it well. Some that top the list include vegetables, soy, and corn oil (trans fats trigger inflammation), sugar and processed foods (they’ve got a tendency to throw hormone levels way off), and caffeine (it can lead to dehydration).
4. Perform Weekly Rosemary Oil Massages
Rosemary oil is dope because it does everything from increasing blood circulation and improving brain function to pain relief, stress reduction, and a natural bug repellant. Something that I adore about this particular oil is the fact that it is also a tremendous hair-loss treatment. This is something that I’ve applied to the thinning spot on the right side of my head (right next to where my edges technically are).
Gently massaging the oil onto that area 2-3 times a week (for about five minutes or so), also prevents DHT from attacking my hair follicles. Word on the street is it’s also awesome when it comes to treating androgenetic alopecia (a male form of pattern baldness that also affects many women). Some research says that rosemary oil is just as effective yet more gentle than the main ingredient in Rogaine (minoxidil).
5. Drink Bone Broth.
Your hair is made up of protein, so you need a consistent amount of it in your system. One way to do that is to consume bone broth. It’s loaded with protein, collagen, and other minerals your hair follicles need to thrive. You can purchase some at your local grocery store. Or, if you’d prefer to make some of your own, click here for a meat and vegan recipe.
6. Decrease Friction
Friction is not your hair’s—especially your edges’—friend. But you know what? If your hairbrush is the only thing that comes to mind that causes it, let me add a few more things to that list. Protective styles, cotton scarves, wool hats—anything that keeps rubbing on your edges and dries it out can thin out your edges.
Image Source: @hauseofcurls
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to go without the styling options you love; just be proactive about properly caring for your hair underneath it. Use protective styles as a temporary styling option. Wrap your hair up in silk or satin scarves (they don’t dry your hair out, plus they are gentler on your hair). Avoid hats that are too tight, and also make sure that there is a band inside of it made out of satin material; that will protect your edges better while producing less friction.
7. Let.The. Baby Hair. Go.
When I think of two women who are still keeping baby hairs alive, TLC’s Chili and Lori Harvey immediately come to mind. Although sometimes the look is cute, don’t let them convince you that gels, mousses and forcefully brushing tiny hairs around the perimeter of your face are not going to damage your edges at some point and just think how much better off you are by not losing them in the first place?
Laying them down every once in a while is cool, but they’re called “baby hairs” for a reason. It’s OK to let your natural and product-free hairline shine through. That’s the best way to keep your edges from thinning; the best way to keep them flourishing and super-healthy!
Are you looking to improve your thininghair line this season? Shop our scalp and edge control products during our Black Friday sale!
A couple of days ago, I decided to rock a blowout. After spending almost all of the summer season in some really cute medium-sized box braids, y’all couldn’t tell me that those braids didn’t help my hair to grow, mostly because I am a self-professed constant-hands-in-hair kind of person and my braids kept me from manipulating my tresses. Anyway, as I looked at the length that I had accumulated, I knew that now, more than ever, it was a good time to keep going on the hair-growing tip.
Before getting into all of the reasons why the fall season is a great time to capitalize on gaining a few inches of hair growth, let me say that if you sported a short coif to combat the summer heat but now you’re on the fence about whether or not to grow your hair out, I am a firm believer that autumn is one of the best times to do it. No doubt about it—the cool air and holiday season make it the perfect time to do so. Here’s why.
Image Source: @sinasemedo
1. All-day deep conditioning is a cinch to do
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Chebe powder. Something that I noticed has made a huge difference in the health of my hair is mixing some Chebe with my deep conditioner, putting on a plastic bag (and then a scarf), and letting the conditioner penetrate my hair overnight. Talk about having some beautifully soft-yet-strong hair! If you want to avoid the sounds of the bag crinkling throughout the night, you can also deep condition your hair during the day.
Wash and apply your favorite deep conditioner, put on a plastic bag, and wrap your hair up in your favorite “scarf style.” Daytime fall weather is (typically) the ideal temperature to not worry about catching a cold. Plus, since you’ll probably be sporting scarves and hats more often, it’s a great time to give your tresses the moisture that they need without anyone having to know that deep conditioning is what you’re doing.
2. You can cover your hair up more often
Image Source: @anniegoukcurlygirl
If most of us were to admit what the leading cause of our own hair breakage was, we’d probably have to say it’s how much we manipulate it. Well, as it gets cooler, use this as an opportunity to wear more scarves, hats, wigs, and weaves. You’ll be super-stylish, and your hair won’t have to deal with the stress of your hands constantly playing with it. Just make sure that you keep your hair super moisturized underneath; constantly covering your hair up can dry it out if you are not careful.
3. Protective styles are ideal
Image Source: @sodazzling
Honestly, there’s not ever a time of year when protective styles aren’t ideal. But I find the holiday season to be when it’s fun to take risks. Why not try a new color, go with a funkier look, and investigate what protective styles will be big in the upcoming year? Since our hair tends to grow about ½” a month, a protective style during the fall and winter could easily earn you three new inches come springtime.
4. The more nutrients, the healthier the follicles
C’mon. One of the best things about fall is all of the good food that’s in season and all of the home cooking that we get to enjoy right around the holidays. The key is to prepare them healthily and to enjoy foods without overdoing them. If you want to provide your hair follicles with the nutrients that they need to increase blood circulation, moisturize your scalp, and trigger hair growth, make sure to eat the following in-season fruits ‘n veggies—sweet potatoes, apples, red grapes, arugula, cabbage, figs, persimmons, pears, winter squash and, of course, pumpkins.
5. The more hair you have, the warmer your head will be
For years, I rocked a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) all year round. And while I certainly have no regrets, I must admit that it’s a lot warmer this fall, all thanks to the extra inches on top of my head. In times past, I had to rely on a hat to get through the chilly days. Now, my curly hair has me covered. Literally.
6. You’ll be in a “resolutions” state of mind
Other than our birthdays, there’s no greater time for self-evaluation than the end of the year. As you’re reflecting on all of the things you want to do differently and the goals that you want to achieve, why not put “growing out my hair” on your resolution list? If you put a plan in place and remain consistent, you might be amazed by what your hair looks like this time next year—full, healthy, and long. All thanks to the choices that you made this fall.
What are some of your favorite reasons for growing out your hair in the Fall? Let us know in the comments below!
Wow. Is it just me, or does it seem like this is the time of the year, like clockwork, when we gasp at the thought that another holiday season is much closer than we think? Not that I’m exactly complaining or anything because I don’t know about you, but my absolute favorite time of the year is the fall season. Cooler weather. Colorful leaves. Layered clothing. Apple cider. Comfort food galore. Yes, I could definitely go on and on.
I must admit, though, that it wasn’t until a few years ago that my hair started getting (almost”> as excited about the change in seasons as the rest of me does. That’s because, just like it’s a good idea to use this time to winterize your home and budget for Christmas, it’s also wise to come up with a “fall hair prep plan” — you know, proven things that can get your hair ready for the inclement weather that is sure to come.
If you agree with where I’m coming from and you’d like a few pointers on how to get your hair prepared for the turn of a new season, here are ten things that I do that I think can put a smile on you — and your hair’s — face.
1. Get a Good (Professional) Trim
I’ll be the first one who is all about dusting ends from the comfort, convenience and no cost of your own house. Still, as you are preparing to get into some chilly weather, ice, sleet and snow (and possibly a holiday-themed party or two), I definitely recommend that you get your hair trimmed by a professional stylist. Unless you plan on wearing a protective style (and yes, wigs and weaves count), there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll be styling your hair more often, so you want to make sure that your ends are in good shape, not just to reduce frizz and split ends, but so your styles can last longer too.
2. Invest in a Satin-Lined Hat
Image Source: @imanitaylorgood
At this point, I can’t even tell you how many brims and golf caps I have. What I will say is a lot of them are made out of wool and I used to make the grave mistake of not making sure they were lined with satin before putting them on. The reason why this is so important is because fabrics like wool can really dry your hair out. And since cold air has a way of lifting our cuticles and zapping them of moisture, well, you don’t want to look up, come spring, to dry and brittle hair that results in you having to lose a few inches. There are many great brands on the market that sell satin-lined beanies, head scarves, and fall hats, like Grace Eleyae, Yanibest, and KINApparel which are specially formulated for your curls, coils, and waves.
3. Eat Some Collagen
I bet you already know that your hair is made up of keratin protein. Since collagen is also a protein, it probably makes sense why I would say that you need to get — and keep — some of it in your system. There are a few reasons why this can be super helpful during the fall. For one thing, whenever you eat collagen, it breaks down into amino acids. This is a good thing because it helps your body to produce even more protein.
Collagen also helps to keep your hair follicles healthy, reduce thinning, slow greying, and encourage long and strong healthy hair growth — all of which are great benefits when your hair is dealing with colder weather. While there are collagen supplements that you can take (that you can easily find at your local vitamin store), there are also foods that are loaded with collagen. Some include egg whites, citrus fruit, red and yellow veggies (like red peppers, red cabbage, yellow peppers, and squash), berries, garlic, fish, and even white tea.
4. Eat Some Omegas-3s
While we’re on the topic of diet, make sure to get some omega-3s into your system as well. It’s a type of fatty acid that your body actually cannot produce on its own. What makes it so beneficial, hair-wise, is it helps to prevent hair follicle inflammation while also increasing blood circulation to your scalp so that your hair follicles can receive the nutrients that they need. Not only that, but omega-3s are amazing when it comes to moisturizing your hair from the inside out. This is also something that comes in supplement form. However, foods that are high in omega-3s include salmon, tuna, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, spinach, and Brussels sprouts.
5. Put Some Oil into Your Conditioner
Speaking of moisturizing your hair, while I’m a huge fan of deep conditioning, on the wash days when I don’t have a couple of hours to let the conditioner penetrate my hair, a hack that works wonderfully is adding some oil to my conditioner. If you put a tablespoon or two of argan oil (it deeply penetrates your hair), jojoba oil (it brings relief to dry hair), sweet almond oil (it helps to restore hair loss), olive oil (it reduces frizzing) and grapeseed (it fights dandruff and scalp inflammation), not only will your hair receive even more moisture and sheen, it will gain the properties from those oils to keep your hair healthy all fall (and winter).
6. Apply Serums with Care
Image Source: @starsaidso
There are a lot of women I know who will wear their natural curls in the warmer months and then straighten their hair once the fall season arrives. If you’re able to raise your hand in this particular class, be careful when it comes to applying hair serum. While it’s good for your hair when it comes to protecting it from outer elements, controlling frizz, maintaining straightness, promoting shine, and reducing tangles, if you get into the habit of constantly piling the serum on, it can have adverse effects like not being able to hold your style or drying your hair out.
This is why it’s so important to find one that particularly fits your hair type, that you don’t apply it to your scalp (that could lead to unnecessary build-up and scalp irritation) and that you don’t rely on it as a hair growth remedy. Even though some serums market themselves as hair growth serums, more than anything, they are styling solutions that should be treated as nothing more than that. In other words, a little serum (a quarter in your hand when styling) goes a long way.
7. Keep Heat Out of It As Much As Possible (Including on Wash Day)
OK, on the heels of what I just said, this point might sound a little crazy, but still, hear me out. As far as blow drying and flat ironing go, because the fall weather isn’t as humid as the summer, you should be able to use less heat because you won’t encounter as much shrinkage. However, when you do opt to style your hair this way, make sure that you apply some thermal heat protectant every time. Also, you must go with a spray protectant if your hair is fine and a cream one if it’s thick to receive the best protection possible.
However, when it comes to this particular point, what I want to stress is that you avoid using hot water on your wash days. Because your hair is porous, you want to keep water warm; otherwise, hot water can dehydrate your hair and scalp. Not only that, but it can actually “trigger” frizz — and no one wants any of that. So, no matter how great hot water may feel after coming in from the brisk cold weather, warm is always the temperature to go with when washing your hair.
8. Invest in a Humidifier
If you don’t already have a humidifier in your house (especially your bedroom), this is the time of year to get yourself one. While all kinds of moisturizers help to put moisture into the air, if you get one that produces a cool mist, it can reduce the temperature of the air in your house, while a warm mist can keep your home a little warmer. As far as health benefits go, humidifiers (especially during the cooler months) are able to reduce the amount of viruses and bacteria that lurk in the air, ease asthma symptoms, keep your skin moist, reduce snoring, and yes, it’s great for your hair too. That’s because, just like it moisturizes your skin, a humidifier can help to hydrate your scalp as well as your tresses, which is a great foundation for healthy hair.
9. Steam Your Hair
Whether you’d prefer not to buy a humidifier or you’re simply looking for a way to give your hair even more moisture, another way to do that is by steaming your locks. Steaming simply gives your hair back some of the moisture that it may have lost due to the environment or from how you choose to style your hair.
Since steamers are also proven to increase moisture, give your natural curls more definition (for longer), strengthen your hair, and make it easier for your favorite products to penetrate your hair’s shaft, it’s a must-do, at least 1-2 times a month (more than that could put too much moisture in your hair which weaken your hair over time); especially around this time of year.
By the way, when it comes to the steaming process, you can purchase a steamer like the Q-Redew pictured above and follow a steaming tutorial on the YouTube video here. You can also steam your hair at home without a steamer by following the tutorial below.
10. “Baby” Your Ends
If you’re someone who feels like, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to gain inches, or your hair has been at a plateau for months (or even years) on end, it can’t be stressed enough that if you see hair on your head, it is indeed growing. The problem is that you are losing length at your ends at about the speed that you are gaining it at your roots. That’s why it’s so important to baby your ends, really, all year round. And what are some of the signs that your ends need trimming, more deep conditioning, sealing (check out “How to Seal Your Hair for Protective Styles) or a break from some of the styling choices that may leave it vulnerable to inclement weather?
If your ends are dry and brittle; you feel a lot of fairy knots; your hair tangles up a ton whenever you attempt to style it; your ends won’t hold any curl; they snap off easily; you notice split ends (this definitely means that you need to trim your hair, by the way; there is no product that totally restores them”>, or the texture of your ends feels different from the rest of your hair shaft. If any of this is the case, make sure to give your ends some extra tender loving care. As a matter of fact, since fall is upon us, take a couple of hours to inspect your ends and “baby” them now. It’s a proactive step that could keep your hair in great shape (and give you a few more inches) until spring rolls back around again.
If you’re someone who loves shopping for accessories, as you’re out looking for a new pair of boots or metallic footwear (which is really big this fall season, by the way), don’t forget to also pick up a few fall-themed hair accessories too.
Although I’m pretty much a scarf and hat girl, I must admit that since I now have some extra length on my head, as I was compiling a list of 2023 fall and winter hair accessories, a few caught my eye. I think it’s because this year, there is such a wide variety that complements so many different personalities and style preferences. Plus, whether it’s at a store like Target or hopping online on Etsy, you are sure to find most of these at a super affordable cost too.
So, are you ready to adorn your natural curls in some of the most adorable ways? If so, we got you.
1. Ribbons
Image Source: @curlieswithjulia
Balletcore reigns supreme and ribbons continue to be a staple accessory to wear with any hairstyle this season. Textured ribbons are what sets one apart from the other with different fashionistas leaning into fabrics like tulle, silk, and velvet to add dimension and personality to their ribbon.
2. Puffy Headbands
Image Source: @loefflerrandall
Puffy headbands bring back all the glamour of the ’90s with vibrant colors and jeweled accents like pearls or beads. These can be easily added to any hairstyle and you should lean into the oversized look as they take front and center stage. You always want to keep the focus on your head and try to wear styles like a bun or updo that allows it to shine.
3. Claw-Clip updos
’90s nostalgia is reigning over all fashion and beauty trends this season so it was expected that the claw-clip would come back into the fold eventually. If you have thicker curls and coils you may be hesitant to try this fall accessory, but there have been upgrades and improvements so these adapt better to all hair types. It’s a versatile hair accessory that you can use to create an updo or a half-up/down look regardless of the texture.
4. Vintage Bows
Image Source: @dorkdujour
Vintage bows have been making a comeback as fashionistas lean into their preppier side with a dose of flair. Bows have been seen everywhere from people wearing long braids and ponytails to headbands.
5. Brooches
Image Source: @tanginikiavierira
Another cool fall hair accessory is brooch-like barrettes that show sparkle, flair, and a bit of old-school vibes. Brooches have been seen in updos, and braids, or used as accents to jazz up an everyday look regardless of your texture. These will be a fun accessory to lean into during the holiday season.
6. Bejeweled Embellishment
Image Source: @ghdhair
We love to see a little sparkle and pop of crystal adorned throughout our curls and this has been a popular look all over social media and fashion runways. Embellishments not only add sparkle to your hair but also can be placed in different places around the base or nape of the neck depending on your hairstyle. They can be as large or minimal as you’d prefer and should be evenly distributed around your hair.
7. ’90s Scrunchies
Image source: @sojazzaye
For curlies, scrunchies aren’t a new fall accessory, but the style and support they bring change with each season. We’re all too familiar with how the elasticity can support a variety of styles and can also be used to create ponytails. ’90s scrunchies have a retro and nostalgic look and pattern that can add a big pop of color to your hairstyle.
8. Minimal Barrettes
Image source: @evandracurls
Nothing remains more chic than a minimal barette that adds a bit of detail and dimension to your curls, coils, and waves. Keeping it simple is the name of the game with this accessory because you want to use it in a sleek hairdo or updo that allows it to shine.
9. Metal Hair Jewelry
Image source: @kon.sen.suss
Wehter it’s a gold band or silver bangle, hair jewelry has never been an easier way to take your simple hairstyle from drab to fab. These add a a futuristic look to any hairstyle and also can help accent a low bun or messy topknot.
10. Thick Headbands
Image Source: @daniellejinadu
Thick headbands can often be associated with athleisure or athletic looks because they support style and function regardless of how you are wearing your hair. These are very easy and functional fall accessories that can go with braids, an updo, or wearing your hair down. Don’t save them just for the gym, use them to upgrade your daily look.
What are your favorite fall accessories? Share them with us in the comments!
One of the best things about the change in seasons is all of the new foods that you’re able to eat—foods that aren’t quite as good as they are during their own particular harvest time. When you choose to wait until foods are in season, they have optimal amounts of nutrients, plus, as a bonus, they are typically a lot more affordable as well.
Before you head out to your local grocery store—or even better, your local farmers market—take out a moment to check out some of the best that the fall season has to offer. Foods that are good for your health and, even better, great for your hair.
1. Sweet Potatoes
Image Source: @Getty Images
Aside from pumpkins (which I will get to before this article is over), sweet potatoes are probably the most popular food associated with the fall season. Not only are they delicious, they are considered to be “a perfect food” too. That’s thanks to all of its beta-carotene (a plant pigment that changes into Vitamin A), how its magnesium is able to reduce stress levels, the choline in them that reduces inflammation in your system, its antimicrobial properties, and its high amounts of vitamins C and E too.
As far as your hair goes, the Vitamin C in sweet potatoes helps to increase the levels of collagen in your system—the more of it you have, the stronger and more elastic your hair will become. As far as Vitamin E goes, its antioxidants will keep free radicals from damaging your hair follicles as it provides nutrients to your hair and scalp in the process.
Get all of the goodness that this veggie has to offer by trying DONNA’S RECIPE Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Leave-In Conditioner.
2. Pears
Image Source: @Getty Images
When a perfect is perfectly ripe, there aren’t too many things that are much better than it. In fact, pears are so delicious that it’s kind of amazin’ that they’re also really good for our health. Pears are high in fiber, a great source of antioxidants, loaded with potassium, and even contain electrolytes (if you’re looking for a snack that will replenish you after working out). Due to all of the fiber in pears, they are able to keep your cholesterol low and even help to keep you from being diagnosed with diabetes too.
Since pears have antioxidants, your hair is able to benefit from them because the antioxidants help to reduce dryness by conditioning your hair strands. Pears are also able to moisturize the cells that make up your hair so that breakage is less of an issue.
Check out how prickly pear can bring new life into your tresses with The Mane Choice prickly pear paradise overnight mask.
3. Fennel
Image Source: @Getty Images
If you’re wondering what exactly fennel is, it’s a veggie that is similar to celery and has a licorice-like taste to it. Every bulb contains 73 calories, is high in fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, copper, zinc, calcium, and selenium. Add fennel to your diet in order to lower your blood pressure, improve your eye health, and relieve menopause-related symptoms as it helps to keep your skin fresh and youthful-looking as well.
Use fennel for your hair so that the zinc in it will help to keep the oil glands in your hair follicles working properly. As a bonus, zinc will also keep the tissue on your scalp healthy while significantly reducing your chances of experiencing hair loss.
Improve the quality of your scalp by using this fennel-sweet essential oil.
4. Cranberries
Image Source: @Getty Images
Cranberries are a low-calorie food that is made up of 87 percent water and contains a good amount of fiber. Other things that cranberries have in them are vitamins C, E, and K, along with manganese and copper. Some health benefits of cranberries include the antioxidants and polyphenols in them that fight the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bodily inflammation. They also have the ability to keep your heart strong. Plus, their anti-microbial properties can fight gum disease and strengthen your immune system too.
Cranberries are great for your hair because the copper that’s in these little berries can help to slow down premature greying. Cranberries also contain antioxidants and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce any irritation that could result in you having an itchy scalp.
You can improve your scalp hydration and decrease frizz with this Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Shampoo.
5. Parsnips
Image Source: @Getty Images
Parsnips are a root vegetable that has fiber, protein, folate, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, vitamins B6, C, E, and K, calcium, iron, and zinc. They reduce oxidative stress due to their high amount of antioxidants. They also support weight loss due to their fiber content. Some of the parsnips’ other health benefits include the fact that their folic acid reduces birth defects in growing babies, their manganese improves enzyme production and, their potassium increases brain health as well. Some other perks of parsnips are their iron can keep anemia at bay, their Vitamin K can keep your sex hormones balanced and, the Vitamin C in them will help to prevent loose and wrinkly skin from occurring.
Thanks to the phosphorus in parsnips, blood circulation in your scalp will increase. Thanks to the niacin in parsnips, your hair follicles will get stronger over time too.
Take care of your hair from the inside out by snacking on some baked parsnip fries. You can learn how to make them below:
6. Spaghetti Squash
Image Source: @Getty Images
Spaghetti squash is a nutrient-dense food. What that basically means is that it’s low in calories while being loaded with vitamins and minerals in the process. Spaghetti squash contains fiber, protein, vitamins B6 and C, manganese, potassium, niacin, and more. It’s packed with antioxidants too. If you’re looking for a food that is great for your digestive health, supports weight loss, and contains enough calcium to keep your teeth and bones in great shape, those are other reasons to eat more of it this fall.
Since manganese promotes tissue health and, also has omega-3 and omega-6 fats to keep your skin and hair moisturized from the inside out, I’m pretty sure you can see why I just had to add spaghetti squash to this list.
Another way to treat your hair from the inside out is by learning more about making spaghetti squash noodles which you can view below:
7. Pumpkin
Image Source: @Getty Images
There is absolutely no way that I could write an article on foods that are in season this fall and leave pumpkin off of the list! After all, I’m pretty sure you’ll be having a slice of pumpkin pie, or pumpkin bread or you’ll be sipping a pumpkin spice latte before the autumn season is over. As you’re consuming these things, you’ll be happy to know that pumpkins are high in vitamins A, B2, C, and E, along with potassium, copper, manganese, and fiber. You also might be surprised to know that it’s quite the aphrodisiac (men love the smell of pumpkin essential when it’s mixed with lavender essential oil). Not only that but the antioxidants in pumpkins are able to fight off chronic diseases, the Vitamin A can give your immune system a boost, and some of its other compounds are great for your skin.
Pumpkin is great for your hair because its potassium is able to trigger hair regrowth, its zinc will keep your hair cells healthy and strong and, all of its nutrients combined make pumpkin a wonderful conditioner for super dry hair. Just one more reason to pick up at least a couple of pumpkins before wintertime comes.
Oh, I didn’t forget. You can use the Girl + Hair strengthening oil which contains pumpkin seed oil for thicker and stronger hair.
Enjoy all of the goodness of fall, y’all!
Disclaimer: All products featured on NaturallyCurly.com are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The fascinating thing about the fall season is, that just like you can use it as the time to get your body into the shape that you want to, you can also take this time to focus on restoring your hair. If you want to protect your locks from the bitter cold and harsh winds, you can put your hair into a protective style, wrap it up in a scarf, or rock a satin-lined hat. And, if this is the year that you want to accomplish some real hair length, December through March is the ideal time to pamper your hair and scalp. As far as pampering goes, one way to give your head some TLC is to give your hair and scalp weekly hot oil treatments. You can also seal your locks with oil or use oil as an ingredient in your deep conditioner or pre-poo.
Since there are literally dozens of different oils that you can apply—and also since we are already well into the fall season—we thought we’d help you narrow down your options by providing you with a list of five oils that are absolutely essential when it comes to your fall hair care routine.
1. Bhringraj Oil
Although Bhringraj oil isn’t the kind that you hear about every day, it is quite popular in Ayurveda therapy as well as medical science. Health-wise, it’s the kind of oil that helps to lower blood sugar levels, treat urinary tract infections, detoxify the liver, and, thanks to the high amount of magnesium that’s in it, Bhringraj oil has been known to reduce the discomfort of headaches and promote sound sleep too.
But what this oil really has the best reputation for is all that it can do for our skin and especially our hair. The Vitamin E that’s in it aids in soothing dry and/or inflamed skin. The oil overall helps to treat dandruff and dry scalp, reduce hair fall, increase blood circulation, add sheen, promote hair growth, and even prevent premature greying.
How to use it: If you want to make your own batch of Bhringraj oil from scratch, click here.
2. Olive Oil
Personally, I’d be close to shocked if you didn’t already have at least one bottle of olive oil in your kitchen pantry. Good thing too because olive oil is loaded with oleic acid which works to reduce body inflammation throughout our system. Some other cool things about olive oil include the fact that it is packed with antioxidants, helps to protect us from getting heart disease, reduces the chances of us getting type 2 diabetes, contains anti-cancer properties, and contains antibacterial properties as well.
Hair-wise, the antioxidants in the oil keep our scalps from getting too dry while preventing our hair follicles from experiencing too much cell damage. Another wonderful thing about olive oil is it helps to deeply penetrate our hair shaft, making it an ideal ingredient for deep conditioning and/or sealing our hair (especially the ends).
How to use it: If you really want to protect your hair from fall’s chill, apply a hair mask of olive oil and honey. The honey will work as a humectant and pull moisture from the air into your hair. All you need to do is mix four tablespoons of virgin olive oil with two tablespoons of honey. Heat the combo up in the microwave for 15 seconds and apply it to freshly washed hair. Let it sit for 60 minutes, then rinse in warm and then cold water. Style as usual.
3. Rosemary Oil
Out of all the oils on this list, if there’s one that you should definitely have in your possession, it’s rosemary oil. As far as physical benefits go, it’s the kind of oil that relieves pain, improves brain function, increases blood circulation, reduces stress, and can even help to kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
The reason why rosemary is an ultimate go-to for our hair is that not only does it contain anti-inflammatory properties, but it also helps to heal hair follicles and encourage nerve growth; this means that it’s a great oil for increasing hair growth and even treating hair loss.
How to use it: Treat yourself to a soothing massage by mixing four teaspoons of sweet almond oil (it stimulates hair growth and reduces hair fall”> with 10 drops of rosemary oil and three drops of lavender oil (lavender oil will soothe scalp inflammation while providing a calming effect”>. You can warm the oil up or apply it at room temperature. Massage your scalp for 5-10 minutes. Let the oil sit for 20 minutes and then rinse the oil out.
4. Clary Sage Oil and Lavender Oil Blend
Clary sage oil is good to use, not only because of its antibacterial properties but also because it works as an antidepressant, reduces menstrual cramps, and relieves stress. If you apply it to your hair and scalp, it can also treat dandruff, coat and protect your hair shaft from environmental damage, and encourage hair growth.
How to use it: Clary sage oil is especially powerful if you apply a few drops of lavender oil to it. Lavender oil also contains antibacterial properties, making the combination great at keeping your scalp fungus-free. Plus, lavender oil also has properties that will help to relax you as well. The less stressed you are, the less prone you are to damaged hair follicles and ultimately hair loss.
5. Horsetail Plant Extract Oil
The benefits of horsetail oil are very similar to that of tea tree oil. The properties in it work as an astringent, plus it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial benefits. This particular oil also works as a diuretic and coagulant. Since horsetail oil is able to do so much, some people use it to treat dry and brittle fingernails while others use it to reduce heavy menstrual flow, stop nose bleeds, and even soothe frostbite. Not only that, but many individuals sing the praises of horsetail oil because it can also help to prevent kidney stones as well as control incontinence.
Something that horsetail oil contains is silica (also known as silicon dioxide). It’s a compound that stimulates hair growth, strengthens our hair shaft, and adds a sheen to our hair’s appearance. Two other ingredients in this particular oil are selenium and cysteine; these also help to promote hair growth.
How to use it: One YouTuber uses horsetail as a pre-poo. You can learn more about how by going here.
So, if you’ve been looking for the kind of oil that will protect your hair from all that Mother Nature brings during the fall, one or a combination of these five oils will definitely keep your hair in great condition…just in time for winter.
Just recently, I took out some medium-length twists that I had for about five weeks. While I’m aware that they could’ve easily lasted for 3-4 more weeks (easily) I’m someone who likes to switch my hair up a bit. Anyway, while they were still in, about a month after getting them, someone asked me how I was able to keep them so fresh-looking. The answers that I gave her are the ones that I’m about to share with you now.
If you happen to be someone who either currently has some braids or twists in your hair (mostly the kind that come with extensions) or you’re considering getting some and you want to make them last for the standard 6-8 weeks, here are eight things that you can do to keep them looking, just about as good as they did the first day that you got ‘em.
1. Use Some Rosewater Spray
As I just mentioned, I recently took out some twists. While I adored the way they looked, sometimes the brand of hair that my stylist uses can irritate the crap outta my scalp. Something that brings quite a bit of relief to it, though, is rosewater. Since it’s considered to be a mild astringent, rosewater helps to calm the itching and prevent dandruff flakes. Plus, it contains anti-inflammatory properties if you happen to be someone who struggles with scalp eczema or psoriasis. Rosewater is also awesome because it contains vitamins A, B3, C and E — all of which are directly attributed to healthy hair growth.
You can either purchase the kind of rosewater that comes with a spray nozzle or you can make some of your own. For tips on how to do that, check out Maryam Hampton’s YouTube video on it below. Hands down, it’s one of the best ways to soothe your scalp and condition your hair at the same time.
2. Apply a Tea Tree Oil and Grapeseed Oil Blend to Your Scalp
While there are all kinds of opinions about whether or not it’s a good idea to oil your scalp when you’ve got a protective style in, personally, I’m all for it; especially since you’ve got all of those parts in your hair anyway. Besides, if your scalp is well-nourished, that will help you to not scratch as much which means that it will be easier for your protective style to stay intact.
As far as a great oil to use, one that I’m a fan of is a blend of tea tree oil and grapeseed oil. Tea tree oil is great because it’s got antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal properties. All of these work together in order to calm an itchy scalp, increase blood flow to your scalp, prevent the excess of sebum production (which can cause all kinds of buildup”>, balance the pH of your scalp and stimulate hair growth too. Grapeseed oil is beneficial because it is full of antioxidants, can deeply moisturize your hair and scalp and, since it’s not a “heavy” oil, you don’t have to worry about it caking up (like sometimes coconut oil can do if you don’t rub it all the way in”>.
3. Go Easy on the Edge Control
As your protective style gets older, that makes it easier for some of the hair around your forehead and temple to get looser. While it can be cute to use that as an opportunity to turn them into baby hairs, if you’re not careful, edge control can start to create a lot of buildup. Moral to the story here is, when it comes to laying your edges down, applying the “less is more” approach is best. Oh, and if you’re wondering which edge controls are best for your edges, check out our article, “The Top 10 Edge Controls to Keep Your Edges Laid”. It’s got some great recommendations.
4. Spray with Oil Sheen or Apply a Leave-in Conditioner
I don’t know what it is that makes some of us so comfortable with our protective styles that we don’t think that the style itself and our natural hair that’s underneath it won’t get dry. And since dry hair is never a good thing (especially if you’ve got a curly texture that is type 4), it’s always a good idea to keep some oil sheen or leave-in conditioner on tap. Not only can it bring moisture back to your hair, it can also keep your style looking fresh and new for longer as well. Just make sure that you go with a mist and not a cream. You want to get the benefits of moisturizing without creating a lot of buildup that creams (and mousses) can provide in the process.
5. Clip Fly-Aways (Carefully)
As time goes by, it’s not uncommon for some of the fly-aways from the extensions that were used to make your protective style look longer to get a little bit out of hand. This is where a sharp pair of shears and you taking your time while standing in the mirror comes in. Simply take a braid or twist, look at where they fly-aways are and cut them off in an upward motion. Just make sure that you don’t cut the braid or twist off in the process or that you cut your own hair.
And just how can you tell the difference between what’s yours and what’s the extension? In my experience, the textures are usually totally different because the extensions will either be very loose waves or bone straight. Also, resist the urge to use a lighter to burn the strays. You significantly increase your chances of singeing your own hair in the process which is super counterproductive since you are probably wearing a protective style to gain some inches in the first place.
6. “Touch Up” Your Hairline
I once watched a YouTube video where a woman was saying that her hack for keeping her box braids in for a longer period of time is to tie her roots into knots. Y’all, please don’t do that because all that’s going to do is turn your natural hair into a tangled mess; it could damage your hair follicles too. Instead, just got the front two rows of your hairstyle redone. You’ll be amazed by how it can automatically “freshen up” your look, how cheap of a hack it is and how it can definitely buy you 2-3 more weeks of time if you just can’t bear to part with your look just yet.
7. Wrap Your Hair Up at Night
Remember what I said about fly-aways? While I sometimes prefer to do absolutely nothing but go to bed whenever I have a protective style, I must admit that if I’m serious about extending its “shelf life”, it really is best to wrap it up in a silk or satin scarf or bonnet. For one thing, doing this helps to keep the friction of your bedding from causing more fly-aways to occur. Also, if you want to keep moisture in your hair longer, this is another reason why wrapping your hair up is such a good idea. (By the way, if your braids or twists are super long, putting your hair up in a pineapple can make resting so much easier.)
8. KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF IT
I mean, you got your braids or twists for the convenience of not having to “deal with” your hair every day, right? So, why in the world do you keep putting your hands all up in it? Messing with anything, over and over again, is going to mess it up at some point. And when it comes to braids and twists, it can loosen them up, cause your natural hair to “peek out” and add extra weight to your hair follicles which could actually weaken them. So, in the spirit of respecting the time and money that you put into getting your style in the first place, try and leave it alone as much as possible. Switching up your look every 2-3 days is fine but anything beyond that can be counterproductive. Unless you’ve got the time and money to get your hair redone every month. But hey, if that was the case, I doubt you would’ve read this all the way through. Right? Exactly.
What steps do you use to help add longevity to your protective styles? Let us know in the comments!
Sometimes I like to tiptoe out into cyberspace to see what some of the latest trends are. When it comes to hair, specifically, I’ve noticed that ponytails are getting a lot of shout-outs right now. Not just any ponytail, though — the super sleek ones.
Thing is, we curly girls know that whenever our hair is chemically-processed straight, achieving this kind of look is absolutely no problem. It’s when we want to make this look happen without permanently altering our natural texture that things can get a bit — pardon the pun — hairy.
That said, if you’d like to rock your own super sleek ponytail every once in a while and you’re wondering how to do it without damaging your tresses in the process, here are a few tips that can hopefully make that pretty easy for you.
1. Start with the right styling tools
Any good hairstyle is going to need some great styling tools. When it comes to a sleek ponytail, you need a wide-tooth comb, a soft bristle brush, an old toothbrush, a satin scarf (silk ones will sometimes stick to your hair after you apply product to it), an elastic hair tie and a fine-tooth comb too (for precision). Also, don’t forget about hair gel, mousse and/or pomade. Oh, and some edge control (check out our article “How to Make Your Own Edge Control”, “5 DIY Edge Control Recipes For Curly Hair” and “How to Lay Down Your Edges the All-Natural Way”). When it comes to whatever product that you choose, just make sure to go with something that results in as little residue as possible once it dries. Remember, it’s going to be hard to remove “white stuff” from your hair once your ponytail is set.
2. Be open to implementing a side part
The more parts that you have in your hair, the easier it will be for your hair to dry (whether you’re choosing to create your ponytail while it’s wet or you’re waiting for the product to dry completely). Plus, there is something that’s both sophisticated and sexy about a sleek ponytail that has a side part to it. For accuracy’s sake, go with a fine-tooth comb to make this happen.
3. Use gel on freshly washed hair. Pomade on towel-dry hair.
As far as product goes, my recommendation would be to apply gel on hair that’s just been washed and is still damp. If you’re trying to make this look happen on mostly dry hair, go with a pomade instead. Gel on wet hair because your tresses are most cooperative when they’re wet (which makes it easier to mold). Plus, gel tends to “set into hair” better when it’s wet (or at least damp). Pomade is great on towel-dried hair because although it is activated by water, a little bit goes a really long way. If you’re wondering what the perks of going with a pomade are, I personally don’t know anything that can tame curly hair and hold a style quite like it does. Plus, it creates a really sleek look along with a level of shine that’s pretty unmatched as well. If you’d like to use a gel that contains no alcohol (alcohol can be drying over time), Sheamoisture Daily Hydration Styling Gel 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Hydrating, Alcohol-Free Hair, Rolda Black Styling Hair Gel Extra Strong Hold and Giovanni LA Natural Styling Gel are good options. There are a few more listed in our article, “6 Best Alcohol-Free Gels for Wavy Curly Hair”. If you need a little bit of assistance as far as pomades go, check out our article, “10 of the Best Pomades for Thick and Curly Hair”.
4. Sleek your hair down in sections and then secure with a ponytail holder
Now that you know what kind of product to use to get this kind of ponytail, it’s really important that you don’t forget this particular point (especially if your hair is really curly or super thick). While it might initially seem easier to just plop a pile of gel or pomade onto your hair and comb it in, that really isn’t going to give you the end result that you’re after. Your best bet is to part your hair into sections, apply some product, comb or brush your hair into place and then “rinse and repeat” with another section. My recommendation would be to put your side part in and then part your hair horizontally in semi-small sections, so that you can distribute your product evenly and get each section of your hair nice and smooth. Then secure your ponytail with a ponytail holder.
5. Focus on your edges and nape
It doesn’t matter how great your ponytail looks if your edges and nape aren’t laid down as flat as possible. So, once you’ve got your ponytail done, it’s time to use your old toothbrush, your fine-tooth comb and some edge control to hone in on these areas of your hair. Actually, this part of the styling process can be a lot of fun because you can even put some tiny design in if you would like. Just make sure that after you’ve finished this part that you use a satin scarf to tie around your edges and nape for about 15-20 minutes, so that your ponytail can really get smooth and sleek (another tip is, if you want to use heat, this would be the time. Turn it on to medium and move the blower around your head. It will help the product to dry even faster!).
6. Tie your hair down at night and…
Unless you only plan on wearing your sleek ponytail for a day or so, this tip doesn’t matter much. But if you want to make it last for a week or more, it is an absolute must that you tie it down when you’re about to go to bed, when you’re about to get into the shower and also if you’re planning on working out. You need to do it at night, so that your ponytail isn’t messed up by you tossing and turning all night long. You need to do it before washing and exercising, so that the humidity won’t cause some of your hair to rise up. Honestly, when it comes to maintaining your sleek ponytail, your scarf should be considered to be its very best friend.
7. Keep some mousse on hand
So, what about if you need to do some touching up? Mousse can be super beneficial, mostly because it’s specifically designed to reduce humidity and hold a hairstyle. Plus, it dries faster than gel. Just make sure to keep in mind that “less is more”. In fact, if you want to some tips for how to avoid product build-up, a naturalista offers up some good insights here.
Enjoy your ponytail!
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Dry hair. It really is the worst, isn’t it? And unfortunately, when you’ve got naturally curly hair, it’s something that you typically have to battle with more than those with straighter textures.Why does my curly hair look dry?
Curly hair can look and feel dry because it is more challenging for the natural oils from our scalp to travel down the shaft and coat all of our strands. We typically need to use leave-in moisturizers, oils and deep conditioners more than people with straight hair do. Aside from moisturizing our hair there are other things that can reduce our shine and sheen levels too. Extreme weather. Using harsh hair products. Not tying our hair up at night. Applying too much heat. Not sealing our hair. Relaxing and color-treating too much. And that’s just for starters. The good news is you don’t have to settle for hair that looks dull and dry. You also don’t have to apply a ton of products (like silicone, for example), just to get the shininess that you’re after either. There are simple and natural things that you can do to get your hair to where you want it to be. I’ve tried all of the following things — and can vouch for every single one.1. Clarify your hair
If you’re a big fan of hair products, you definitely need to make it a point and practice to clarify your hair about once a month. “Clarifying” is simply removing any build-up that will not only make it difficult to style your hair but can make your locks look really dull and lifeless over time too. As far as what you should clarify your hair with, probably the only time when I will shout out a shampoo that contains sulfates is now; that’s because the drying agents in them can help to strip all of the “gunk”. However, a much kinder hair option is apple cider vinegar. It will get rid of build-up while still letting your hair retain moisture. An apple cider rinse can also help to soothe your scalp, restore your hair’s pH balance and reduce hair shedding. I’m a big fan of it. Have been for years. Anyway, for more details, check out our article, “Do a Hair Rinse with Apple Cider & Vinegar”.2. Eat more antioxidants
You might’ve heard that antioxidants help to boost your immunity and that would absolutely be the case. As far as your hair is concerned, consuming them is beneficial because they strengthen the blood vessels that provide nourishment to your hair follicles. Antioxidants also help your system to produce collagen, so that your hair has more elasticity. And yes, the properties in antioxidants have also been known to make your hair shine more when you consume them on a consistent basis. Some of the foods that are high in antioxidants include green veggies, berries, citrus fruit, dark chocolate, pecans, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.3. DIY a honey and olive oil mask
Honey is a wonderful hair ingredient because it acts as a humectant; this means that it pulls moisture from the air and puts it into your hair. Since honey’s also categorized as being an emollient, it is literally able to smooth your hair follicles which can give your hair more sheen and shine overall. As far as olive oil goes, thanks to the vitamins E and K and fatty acids that it contains, it’s the type of oil that will make your tresses easier to detangle while also adding moisture, softness and shine. So, if you’re looking for a hair mask that will up your hair’s sheen, add two teaspoons of honey to a half cup of extra virgin olive oil. Let it sit on your clean damp hair for 20 minutes and rinse. You will immediately see an improvement.4. Take a probiotic
It might surprise you that a probiotic can be good for your hair, especially since so much talk about it has mostly to do with how it is good for your gut. However, a probiotic is great for your hair’s health because the “good bacteria” that’s in it will help to reduce scalp inflammation which can help to prevent hair loss. It can also help to decrease cortisol levels (that can increase hair thinning) and it can even stimulate your hair growth phase. As far as shine and sheen go, probiotics are awesome because they help to bring balance to your body’s pH levels which can cause shiny hair to happen.5. Rinse with cool water
I’ll be the first to raise my hand and say that very few things feel more therapeutic than really warm water running down my scalp. Still, as much as I’ve tried to fight it, my hair has proven that cooler temperatures are best. That’s because, not only is hot water pretty drying, cooler water is better at sealing the cuticles of your hair. And when your cuticles are nice and smooth, your hair appears to have more sheen. I’ll admit that it takes some getting used to but it’s well worth it in the long run.6. Apply some aloe vera gel
If you’re someone who likes to use gel in order to give your curls more definition, but you’d prefer to go with something that has as few chemicals as possible, aloe vera gel is just what you’ve been looking for. First of all, since aloe vera is a plant that is loaded with vitamins A, C, E and antioxidants, it definitely will help to strengthen your hair whenever you apply it. As for some other bonuses, it’s also the kind of gel that will help to soothe an itchy scalp, strengthen your strands and make your curls look shinier. To get the best results, apply it when your hair is damp. And please don’t feel like you have to pile it on. A little bit of gel goes a pretty long way.7. Make a vegetable glycerin spritz
If you’re wearing your hair in its natural state and you’re looking for a bit of a pick-me-up, make a hair spritz that has vegetable glycerin as its base ingredient. It’s another humectant that will reduce frizz (frizzy hair oftentimes looks like dry hair). Vegetable glycerin will also help to keep your hair hydrated, reduce damage and help to prevent split ends. The key here is to not overdo it. Meaning, if you constantly apply it to your locks, that can make it sticky (I’ve learned from up close and personal experience!). You can check out a video that features pros and cons of it for natural hair here. You can check out another that features a homemade spritz recipe here.8. Make your own sheen spray too
Women within the Black community know what oil sheen is. And if anything was going to make our hair shine, almost with a glow, that would have to be it! Well, if you’d prefer to make some of your own, all you need is — one cup of rose water (it will soften your hair); a half cup of avocado oil (it reduces dandruff and breakage); a tablespoon of rosemary oil (it strengthens your hair while adding sheen), and 5-7 drops of cedarwood oil (it reduces frizz). Putting all of these ingredients into a spray bottle and shaking before using will give your hair the shine and sheen that you want while keeping your hair healthy in the process. Brilliant. Literally.
