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April showers bring May flowers. It’s a saying that most of us are pretty familiar with, right? Well, here’s something that actually may surprise you. Actually, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, April is actually the fifth wettest month of the year with June being the one that tends to drench us the most (the more you know”>. But what is certain is, whether it’s the middle of spring or some other time of the year, when there is moisture in the air, that means humidity isn’t too far away.

That’s because humidity is literally the amount of water vapor that’s in the air. And while it can be great for keeping viruses at bay, reducing snoring and keeping your skin moisturized, when it comes to your hair, humidity comes with some ups and downs, for sure.

For instance, although extra moisture can do wonders when it comes to defining your curls, too much of it can lead to frizz (which is why on rainy days, it probably seems like your hair doesn’t want to cooperate very much”>.

So, what is a woman with a head full of curls to do? The key word is “balance”. It’s all about finding ways to make humidity work in your favor and over the course of the next few minutes, I’m going to show you how to do just that.

Humectants vs. Anti-Humectants

When it comes to making sure that you have more good hair days than not, the main thing to keep in mind is you’re going to have times when you’ll need to use a humectant and then there are going to be days when you’ll need to go with an anti-humectant.

OK, so what exactly is the difference? Let’s go with what humectants can do for you first.

What is a humectant?

At the end of the day, a humectant helps to draw moisture from the air while also maintaining moisture in your hair. Because it’s more difficult for natural sebum to flow all the way down curly hair textures, oftentimes curly hair is drier which usually means that it needs more help with retaining moisture. Humectants can help to make that happen. While there are lots of products that are marketed as being humectants (check out “These Are the Common Humectants Found in Your Hair Products””>, there are also all-natural things that serve as humectants too. Some of those include honey, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel, elastin and collagen.

What is an anti-humectant?

Anti-humectants are, well, just the opposite; they help to block moisture from getting into your hair which can also reduce frizz. So, how do you know when you need to go this route instead? Well, if you’ve already applied a moisture-rich product into your hair (like a leave-in conditioner, for instance”> and it’s already humid outside, the last thing you need is more moisture. That’s where an anti-humectant can come in really handy because if your locks have too much water in them, that can cause your strands to swell which could eventually lead to some level of hair damage. Whenever this happens, luckily, there are anti-humectant products that are readily available (check out “20 Anti Humectant Products for Spring””>. As far as natural anti-humectants go, some of those include shea butter, virgin olive oil and coconut oil.

Bottom line here is if your hair needs more moisture or you want to pull moisture from the air into your strands, go with a humectant. On the other hand, if your hair has its fill of moisture, then an anti-humectant is best. The “balance” is what will keep frizz away so that your curls can be at their best.

5 Tips for “Handling” Humidity

Now that you’ve hopefully got a bit more clarity on what humidity is and how you can find the kind of products that will help you to deal with humidity (or the lack of it”> well, here are a few more tips that can help you to bear with it a bit easier.

1. Work WITH humidity; not against it

If there’s one thing that you’re never going to be able to control, it’s the weather. That’s why, if you know that a humid day (or season”> is headed your way, it’s best to go with hairstyles that will complement it. Wash ‘n gos are one example. Putting your hair into braids, twists or Bantu knots are good ideas too. What’s cool about all of these options is they come in a variety of styles, so that you’ll never feel like humidity is “holding your hair hostage”.

2. Pamper your scalp

As far as pampering your scalp goes, there are a couple of different approaches to take. For starters, make it a point to massage your scalp a couple of times a week when humidity is at its peak. Believe it or not, the extra moisture can help to nourish your scalp and hair follicles as your fingers help to increase blood flow to that area (so that your hair can receive more nutrients”>. Another tip is to clarify your scalp more often, especially when it’s hot outdoors. Between the heat, humidity and product build-up, you need to apply a scalp scrub, so that your hair follicles don’t get clogged up and your scalp doesn’t become irritated. For some leads on scalp scrubs that you can buy, check out our article, “10 Masks & Scrubs that Make Your Scalp Feel Amazing”.

3. Invest in a humidifier

If you’ve got dry skin. If you snore a lot. If you’re battling a cold or even COVID. These are just some of the reasons why it’s a good idea to invest in a humidifier. When it comes to your hair, getting one can be a really good idea if you’re trying to restore some moisture into your hair if you happen to live in a climate that’s actually super dry or you want to maintain moisture in your hair overnight.

4. Get a good hair dryer and microfiber towel too

Again, in order for your curls to look their best, your hair needs to have a good balance of moisture in it. Whether you’re using a blow dryer to straighten your natural hair out or you opt to put a diffuser attachment on it so that your curls can dry quicker, you definitely need to invest in a quality blow dryer — one that will give you the results that you are looking for without zapping every bit of moisture that you need in the process. Speaking of drying your hair, something else that’s a wise purchase is a microfiber towel. It helps to dry your hair faster without damaging it in the process. It also tends to leave enough moisture in your hair that your tresses will end up with far less frizz on days when you’d prefer to let your locks air dry. If you’re looking for a good hair dryer, check out our article, “Top 10 Hair Dryers for Curly Hair”. For tips on how to use one on curly hair, also check out “7 Rules When Using a Blow Dryer on Curly Hair”.

5. Use the products that work best for you

Even with all that you just read, some of this is going to be more like a test run. For instance, if you have low porosity hair, that means it’s more difficult for your hair to retain moisture, so you’ll need to use more humectants. On the other hand, if you have high porosity hair, it means that there are usually “gaps” in your hair cuticle that can make it easy for your tresses to absorb moisture but can also cause you to apply too much water to your hair, if you’re not careful. In this case, you may need to go with anti-humectants more often. Bottom line here is don’t be afraid to do a little experimenting. Once you find what leads to more curls than frizz, you’ll know you’ve found what is great for your hair texture — something that can help you and your locks to handle whatever humidity (or lack of humidity”> that comes your way.

Pictured: @brandirell

I’m not going to even source the article that stated what I’m about to share. For now, let’s just say that when I saw it stated that flat ironing natural hair should keep hair straight for 3-4 weeks, I let out an audible laugh. Maybe if your curl pattern is super loose. Maybe if you don’t live in any humidity. Maybe if you take cold showers, don’t exercise and never sweat a day in your life. If all of these factors come into play, maybe you can go almost a month with a head full of straight hair that hasn’t been chemically processed. For the rest of us, it takes a bit of finessing to keep our tresses from “shrinking back up” once we’ve gotten them flat ironed, blown them out or threaded or banded them.

That’s what we’re going to explore today. Since the spring and autumn season are pretty ideal for wearing straight(er”> hair (because the temperatures tend to be milder”>, here are some ways that you can keep your hair straight, after straightening it, without relying on a ton of heat in order to make that happen.

1. Avoid humidity as much as possible

One of the best ways to keep your hair straight for as long as possible is avoiding humidity as much as you possibly can. This means using shower caps when you’re bathing. Using an umbrella even when it’s nothing more than misty outside. Opting for low-intensity exercises, so that you sweat as little as possible. Trying to stay indoors on the days when the sun is really blazing — basically taking it easy when it comes to anything that would bring more moisture to your locks.

2. Apply anti-humectant products

Just because the spring and fall may be a time when humidity is lower, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any at all (especially when it’s raining outside”>. This is where an anti-humectant products can make your life so much easier. They’re products that are designed to keep your hair from absorbing moisture that is in the air, so that your hair stays straight longer and you don’t have to encounter a ton of frizz. If this is something you’re interested in, our articles, “20 Anti Humectant Products for Spring” and “20 Humidity-Proof Products to Fight Frizz” can help you to find items that will be just right for you and your hair texture.

3. Wrap your hair

Back when I had a relaxer in my hair, one of my favorite things to do was wrap it up at night. Not only did it make for comfortable sleeping (because my hair was super flat”>, but I could wake up, comb the wrap out and my hair would have a lot of body and movement. There are a few other benefits that come from taking this styling approach. Wrapping helps your hair to retain its natural oils. Wrapping keeps your hair from tangling up or losing its “straightened shape”. Wrapping also reduces friction which, in turn, reduces frizz. So, as far as a hair routine that will keep your straightened hair intact when you’re turning in at night or just relaxing at home, wrapping is definitely one of the best ways to go (a few videos that offer up some hacks are located below, here and here“>.

4. Use a bit of oil

When your hair is straight, you want it to have just a little bit of weight, so that your strands remain elongated. One way to do that is to add a bit of oil to your hair, both in the morning as well as before you turn in at night. As far as commercialized brands go, one that is currently getting a lot of praise is GK’s Serum Argan Oil for Hair. If you’d prefer to go with an all-natural carrier oil, sweet almond is both super moisturizing and also pretty light. Whatever you decide to go with, just remember that dry hair leads to frizzy hair and water-based stuff can cause your curl pattern to come right back. That’s why adding about a half palm of oil on a daily basis is your best bet to keeping your hair straighter for longer.

5. And some edge control

If there’s one area that will try and curl up on you before any other area does, it’s going to be your edges. The answer to that is edge control. Personally, I’ve been on a mission to find the best edge control for a while now — mostly one that will hold for a long time without a lot of caking up. A brand that I like a lot is Ebin New York 24 Hour Edge Tamer. It holds really well, there’s hardly any white stuff that “cakes up” and it keeps my edges right where I want to be whether they are straight or curly for hours on end. Literally.

6. Do some roller setting

So, what if you’re about a week into your hair being straight and, while it’s not exactly curly, it’s not “bone straight” anymore either. No worries. A great compromise is to roller set your hair for about another week. It will help your tresses to remain elongated, retain moisture and still give you a straighter look without you having to apply any (more”> heat. We’ve got two articles that can help you out with this too. One is “12 Tips for a Perfect Roller Set on Natural Hair”. Another is “The Right Rollers for Every Hairstyle & Curl Pattern”. You can watch a video tutorial below and here.

 

7. Twist your hair up at night

Our body temperature typically changes throughout the night which means there is a chance that you will sweat in your sleep. This, on top of the friction that can potentially come from moving in your bed for hours at a time, means that it makes perfect sense that you would need to tie your hair up before heading to bed. Not just with a bonnet either. You need to wrap your hair and then put on a silk or satin scarf that will hold your hair securely in place. If you do this, your hair should stay straight for about 10 days — even longer if you apply all of these other tips too.

How many times have you thought about changing the color of your hair, but you’ve been scared because of the damage that hair dye sometimes causes? It’s the kind of dilemma that most of us have been through at one time or another in our lives.

Typically, hair dye damage happens due to one of three things—the dye that’s used has ammonia in it (which can really dry hair out”>, hair is not consistently deep-conditioned after the dye is applied or hair is colored too often, stripping it down to its literal core—well, cortex.

Does this mean you should skip out on changing the color of your hair? If you want to drastically alter your hair color, go with an ammonia-free dye, get a professional to do it and treat your hair like high-maintenance fine silk in between retouches.

However, if you’re not currently looking for anything too extreme—you just want to intensify the color you already have or add some highlights—there are some natural ways to dye your hair at home; these ways won’t only amplify the hue you want but are actually really good for your hair too!

Coffee Beans

Are you a brunette who wants to add more color depth and sheen to your hair? One of the best ways to do that is to add some coffee beans to your tresses. Not only will the caffeine in coffee stimulate your hair follicles and speed up your hair growth, the coffee itself can also heighten the hue of your hair while covering up greys in the process.

Using coffee to color your hair is easy. Simply get some organic ground coffee beans and pour around a half cup into your favorite conditioner. Apply the combo to your hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then rinse it out. You should notice a deeper, darker tone to your hair, almost immediately.

Lemon Juice

If you want to gradually lighten your hair without the harshness of the ammonia that’s in commercial dyes, lemon juice is a good alternative. Because the properties in lemon juice are photosensitive, this is a cool thing to try during the summer season when the sun is at its peak.

Putting one cup of freshly-squeezed lemon juice and ¼ cup of distilled water into a spray bottle and spraying on your hair a couple of times a week is one way to gradually lighten your locks. Or, if you want to keep your hair extra-soft while lightening it, add a tablespoon of almond oil and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon into the bottle. It will still lighten your hair (although it might take just a bit longer”> while keeping it moisturized, too.

Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are also a wonderful route to go. If you have dark hair, black tea contains properties that will stimulate hair growth while darkening your tresses. If you have blond hair, chamomile can remove dandruff, provide lots of shine and also give naturally glowing highlights. If you’re a redhead, take your hair to new heights thanks to the zinc, copper, calcium, and potassium that’s in crimson-colored Rooibos tea; it’s the kind of tea that will brighten your red hair and deep condition it too.

For all of these teas, all you need to do is put four tea bags (based on the color results that you want”> into two cups of boiling water. Let it steep for an hour or so. Then add ½ cup of conditioner to the tea, apply it to your hair and leave it on for an hour (or overnight for even more intense results”>. Your hair will look beautiful and feel amazing.

Carrots and Beets

Carrots and beets are both loaded with antioxidants. Your hair needs those in order to fight off free radicals so that it can stay nice and strong. Using the combination of carrots and beets is another great solution if you want to intensify your already red-colored hair or add some soft red highlights to another hue.

This is another natural dye that provides quick results. Mix ½ cup of pure carrot juice and ½ cup of fresh beet juice together. After shampooing your hair, apply the solution on your hair and cover it up with a plastic bag. Either sit out in direct sunlight for an hour or under a dryer (this will accelerate the process”>. Then rinse, condition, rinse again, and style as usual. Your hair will definitely appear redder in color.

Walnuts

When it comes to the overall condition of your hair, walnuts contain plenty of potassium and omega-fatty acids. You need both of these to keep your hair healthy and strong. But if you have brown hair and you want it to appear even darker, walnut shell powder will do it.

Making this is simple. All you need to do is put five tablespoons of shell powder into three cups of boiling water; let it boil for about 15 minutes. Let the powder steep for 3-4 hours. Apply the solution to freshly-washed hair, let it sit for 20 minutes and thoroughly rinse the solution out.

Molasses

What if all you want to do is cover up those random strands of grey that seem to be popping up more and more? The remedy is probably the last thing you would’ve ever considered before, but it’s bBlackstrap Mmolasses to the rescue!

What makes molasses a reliable remedy? A lot of us grey prematurely due to the lack of copper that’s in our system. Blackstrap mMolasses contain approximately 14 percent of the recommended daily allowance. If you make a hair mask that consists of ¼ cup of plain yogurt, two teaspoons of molasses, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and two drops of rosemary oil and apply it as a deep -conditioner for 30 minutes, it will start to gently cover the grey. (You may need to do this 2-3 times to notice a major difference.”>

As you can see, there are ways to dye your hair that are both affordable and convenient. Give these a try. You may realize that the hair color solution you were looking for was in your kitchen the entire time!

Pictured: @westafricanbaby using the threading method

One of the things that I enjoy most about my hair texture (which is mostly 4a and 4b”> is the versatility that comes with it. I can rock the biggest blow-out ever. I can create some of the cutest ringlets with a wash ‘n go. I can wear braids, twists and cornrows at random. And should the mood ever hit me, I can straighten it out too.

As far as straightening goes, I can’t tell you the last time I’ve used a flat iron or straightening comb. No reason, really — I just haven’t. Well, in my subconscious, the reason may be that since I do blow out my hair about once a month, I don’t want to “push it” by applying even more heat.

If you’re someone with lots of natural curls, you’d like to straighten your hair on occasion, but you want to make sure that you avoid heat damage as much as possible, here are some proven ways to do it, so to that you can get back to your curls without worrying about ruining them.

1. Start with a hair straightening shampoo & conditioner

Did you know there were products that can literally help to make your hair straighter? Take shampoos and conditioners that are marketed as being able to straighten your hair, for example. While that is actually a bit of an oversell, because they typically contain more silicone and polymers than standard shampoos and conditioners do, that means they significantly reduce frizz, so that your hair is able to lay straight better. Word on the street is some of the best straightening shampoos include:

• L’Oreal Professional X-tenso Care Straight Shampoo 250ml & Masque 196g Combo Pack
• TIGI Bed Head Styleshots Extreme Straight Shampoo
• Fanola Smooth Care Straightening Shampoo

As far as conditioners go, these are all wonderfully effective complements to your straightening shampoo: 

• CREAMSILK Triple Keratin Rescue
• AVEDA Smooth Infusion Conditioner
• Acure Organics Simply Smoothing Conditioner

2. Apply a hair mask or straightening serum

After shampooing your hair, something else that can straighten your hair out is applying a hair mask. One of the best things about this option is it can help to deep condition your tresses which is great preparation for any styling products that you may apply later on (especially if any of them have alcohol in them”>. A commercial brand that you may want to give a shot is Natural Formula’s Keratin Repair Hair Mask – Keratin-Infused Anti-Frizz Moisturizing Hair Mask. Or, if you’d prefer to make your own, YouTuber Melissa Denise’s channel has a video that features four different DIY hair masks. 

3. Put your hair into cornrows or Bantu knots on wash day 

Whether you absolutely do not want to use a blow dryer at all or you’d prefer to only do a once-over when your hair has air dried at least 70 percent (or more”>, something else that will help to straighten your hair are cornrows or Bantu knots. One of the things that I like about both of these options is they aren’t only great ways to naturally dry your hair, they both are also really cute if you’d prefer to wear them as a protective style for a couple of days before switching over to a straighter look. That said, if you do only want to use them to dry your hair (so that you can head out to run errands or something in the meantime”>, there is a follow-up hack that can get your hair even straighter aftewards. That’s where my next point comes in.

4. Put your hair into plaits or flat twists when it’s partially dry 

Once your cornrows or knots have gotten your hair to the point where they are mostly dry, then switch over to some hair plaits or flat twists. If you apply an oil like argan, sweet almond or macadamia, not only will they help to deep condition your hair, they’ll also smooth down your cuticles which can also help with the hair straightening process. Speaking of oils, a commercial brand that some people really like is Strength ‘n Silk by Silk Elements Thermal Silk Styler.

5. Blow dry your hair on a cooler setting 

Take it from me — blow dryers aren’t evil. They only become problematic if you’re using the wrong kind, if you’re applying the hottest setting or if you’re using them on a daily basis. As far as the kind of dryer you should invest in, check out our article “Top 10 Hair Dryers for Curly Hair”. As far as how often you should use one, that kinda varies but 1-2 times a month is plenty. As far as the setting, the hottest one is sure to singe your hair (at the very least, your ends”> at some point. That’s why it’s best to let your hair air dry as much as possible, to apply a thermal heat protectant and then to go with a low or even cool setting. It may take longer for your hair to dry but at least you know that you significantly decreased your chances of damaging your hair if you opt to go this route.

6. Thread your hair 

Another method that can help to straighten your hair without applying any heat is called African threading. It’s when you take sections of your hair (preferably mildly damp and detangled”> and then wrap it from root to tip with some thread until it’s completely dry. While some people use regular thread, if you want to make sure that you decrease the chances of damaging your hair cuticles, you may want to go with rubber thread or even some leather wax thread. It’s a great way to stretch and straighten your hair without a ton of manipulation (which makes it a good length retention option too!”>. Tips on how to thread your hair can be found below, as well as here and here. You can fluff your hair out and give it a blow-out look after threading.

7. Band your hair 

To tell you the truth, there’s not a huge difference between banding and threading other than technique and tools. With banding, instead of wrapping thread all the way down your hair (which can take a considerable amount of time, although the end results are still worth it!”>, you section your hair into ponytails (how ever big or small you’d like”> and then strategically place hair ties all the way down your hair. Personally, I think banding is good for it if you don’t want your hair “really straight” but you just want to stretch it out some for extra volume.

8. Use some Curlformers 

If you want to straighten out your hair but you’d prefer the end result to look like a roller set, Curlformers can certainly make that happen! So, what makes them different than other hair rollers? For starters, they’re easy to put in, they’re designed to give natural hair curls without applying heat and — perhaps the best thing of all — they are really comfortable to sleep in! If you’d like to give this semi-straightening method a shot, the video below, this video and this video can all help you to learn how to properly install them and remove them, so that you can get the best results possible. Curlformers are definitely one of the best non-heat styling ways to go. No doubt about it!

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If there’s one thing that we curly girls seem to battle with on a regular basis, it’s combating frizz — you know, those hairs that seem to go their own direction instead of conforming to the curls that we have or the hairs that would rather do their own thing than lie flat like we want them to. If you’ve ever wondered what causes frizz to literally rear its ugly head, the leading factors are humidity, hair damage and a lack of moisture.

That’s what’s so cool about today’s topic because the following essential (and carrier”> oils that we are about to discuss have an uncanny way of tackling all three of these issues so that your hair is healthy, your cuticles are smooth and frizz is literally a thing of the past. How awesome is that?

What makes it a great oil for reducing frizz?

Not only can oil deeply penetrate your hair shaft, it contains properties that will repair your hair follicles and make your hair more manageable, so that it doesn’t become frizzy during the styling process.

Essential Oils for Reducing Frizz

Although some essential oils are fine to apply directly out of the bottle, for the most part, it’s a wise rule of thumb to add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to a carrier oil. Not only will this reduce the chances of any essential oil irritating your skin or scalp, but you can keep those tiny bottles of oil around longer — plus, you can benefit from what various carrier oils have to offer.

1. Lavender Oil

When it comes to essential oils that are great for your hair, a leading one is definitely lavender oil. Although it has a pretty delicate floral scent, the properties in it are actually super potent. So potent, in fact, that lavender has been scientifically proven to encourage the growth of hair that is longer and thicker. Not only that but because this is the kind of oil that falls into the “antimicrobial” category, it helps to fight off scalp infections and dandruff. Lavender oil is also good for decreasing scalp inflammation.

What makes it a top oil as far as frizz is concerned is the fact that lavender oil also helps to seal moisture into your cuticles. This means that your tresses are able to remain hydrated longer. Plus, since its scent cultivates a calming sense, lavender oil can literally benefit you from head to toe, day and night.

2. Rosehip Seed Oil

This is the kind of oil that comes from the wild rose bush. It’s great because it’s loaded with antioxidants and also Vitamin F. Vitamin F is especially good for your skin and hair because it’s the kind of nutrient that literally traps in moisture and helps to protect you from environmental damage. As for your hair, specifically, rosehip seed is effective because it contains fatty acids that can also protect your hair from UV damage and it contains Vitamin E which helps to deep condition your hair. Also, if you’re prone to getting a lot of split ends, applying this oil to your hair before styling with heat can help to reduce those as well.

The combination of these nutrients is what makes rosehip seed oil so great at taming frizz. So, if you’re looking for an oil that will soften your hair, maintain moisture and heal your scalp in the process, rosehip seed is totally a top contender.

3. Chamomile Oil

Chamomile oil comes from the chamomile plant. When it comes to what it can do for you holistically, it’s got quite the reputation for reducing anxiety. So, what makes it so good as it relates to your hair? It provides a great amount of moisture. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce dandruff and scalp irritation. Chamomile oil also has a great reputation when it comes to naturally lightening your hair (with less drying”>, adding sheen and preventing hair loss.

Since it is so effective when it comes to moisturizing your hair, that’s what makes chamomile a leading oil at reducing frizz while making your hair more manageable in the process; especially if color-treated or grey hairs are what seem to be giving you the most problems.

4. Sandalwood Oil

If you’re looking for a new essential oil to wear, you can’t go wrong with sandalwood oil. It’s got a floral scent that is more “sexy” than “dainty” (if that makes sense”>. Hair-wise, it’s the kind of oil that contains anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that fight off scalp inflammation and dandruff. It also contains ingredients that can promote hair growth (if you’ve recently experienced hair loss”>. And, if you’re looking for some extra sheen without your hair looking oily or greasy, sandalwood can certainly help in that department too.

Since it’s the kind of oil that can bring relief to dry hair in a way that many other oils cannot, that’s what makes it so effective when it comes to eliminating frizz.

5. Rosemary Oil

If someone were to offer me a few bucks to sing the praises of rosemary oil on a commercial, I would do it without hesitating! When it comes to an oil that has slowed down the aging of my skin and the greying of my hair, it is completely unmatched (it’s also really affordable”>. Some other ways that it benefits my hair is rosemary improves blood circulation (so that my hair follicles are able to receive nutrients faster”> and, when I use it as the base oil for a scalp massage, it helps to reduce my chances of hair loss.

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My Favorite Carrier Oils

Here are my personal top three carrier oils that you can blend the essential oils above with.

Sweet Almond Oil

If you’re looking for the kind of oil that will immediately make your hair feel softer in texture without leaving a heavy residue behind, sweet almond oil is perfect for you. Thanks to the high amount of Vitamin E that’s in it, sweet almond oil can also soothe your scalp, strengthen your hair and reduce the amount of breakage that your tresses can experience from lots of heat and styling manipulation.

Grapeseed Oil

Another oil that is loaded with Vitamin E is grapeseed oil. Something else that Vitamin E does is fight off free radicals (things that can damage your hair over time”>. Another nutrient that this oil contains is linolenic acid and flavonoids. The first strengthens your strands while the second is an antioxidant that helps to rejuvenate hair follicles.

Jojoba Oil

This oil is awesome. For starters, it’s rich in vitamins B, C, E, copper (which can slow down premature greying”> and zinc. The combination deeply moisturizes your locks, decreases dry scalp, increases hair thickness and, if your hair is color-treated, it can extend the life cycle of your color too. Just what you need if you want a lot less frizz and a lot more curl!

Photo by Rameez Remy on Unsplash

I don’t know about y’all but one of my favorite things about wash day is how wonderful my hair ends up smelling right after I shampoo, condition and towel-dry it. I liken it to laundry day when I get into the bed after washing my bedding in Gain (whew, that scent lasts a long time!”>. In fact, I’m such a big fan of hair smelling great for as long as possible that I decided I would share a few hacks for how you can keep your own tresses in the scent that you adore the most for well past one or two days — how you can kinda-sorta-literally “Febreze your hair.”

Hack one, make sure that you go easy on the heat because what a lot of people don’t realize is blow dryers and flat irons can play a role in tresses not smelling as fresh as they should (ever smelled burnt hair? Exactly”>. The other tips? You’ll see they are all are easy, affordable and things that will make you think, “Where have you been all of my life?”

So, are you ready for your hair to smell as good as it looks? If so, I’ve totally got you.

1. Exfoliate your scalp

I promise that if there’s one thing that not enough people do yet they absolutely should, it’s exfoliate their scalp. Not only does it remove dead skin cells and help to relieve dandruff, it also removes product build-up and balances out sebum. And just what does all of this have to do with helping your hair to smell better? Well, think about it. When there is a lot of “gunk” on your scalp, that definitely can play a role in your hair not smelling as clean as you want it to. So, on your wash days, before you shampoo your tresses, start off with exfoliating your scalp. You can check out our article, “Don’t Scratch, Scrub: 5 Scalp Scrub Recipes” for DIY exfoliant recipes that will have it feeling great and smelling fresh in no time.

2. Use rosewater on wash days

Another unsung hero when it comes to, not just how your hair can smell, but how it can feel as well is rosewater. Rosewater is great at moisturizing your hair, reducing frizz, adding shine, fighting dandruff and soothing an irritated scalp. A way to make the scent of rosewater last longer is to rinse your hair with warm water, saturate it with rosewater and then let it sit for about 30-45 minutes before washing it out with a mild shampoo. Not only will your hair feel divine, it will carry the gentle scent of roses for days longer than when you “rinsed” with it.

3. Add oil to your leave-in

Put some jasmine, lavender or orange oil into your leave-in conditioner. Honestly, you could put pretty much any essential oil that you wanted into your leave-in conditioner to get the scent that you desire. The reason why I recommend jasmine, lavender or orange oil is because, not only do they smell pretty incredible, they provide some solid hair benefits too. Jasmine (a sweet floral scent that contains antimicrobial properties”> is great at strengthening your hair, taming frizz and preventing dry scalp. Lavender (which has a bit of a woodsy floral smell”> promotes hair growth, reduces the chances of scalp infections and helps to stimulate hair follicles. Orange oil is wonderful because it helps to eliminate dandruff, adds Vitamin C to your strands (which leads to collagen production which leads to hair elasticity”> and it can help to prevent hair loss over time. One of the best ways to get these benefits — along with the scent of these oils — is to put 10-15 drops of them into your leave-in conditioner. You’ll be sure to get compliments everywhere that you go if you do.

4. Apply essential oils directly to your hair

Speaking of essential oils, another “quick hack” is to simply pour a little bit of your favorite-smelling one into the palm of one hand, rub your hands together and then run your hands over your hair. I do this at least a couple of times a week and the scent definitely lasts for the entire day.

5. Soak your styling tools in some “smell goods”

This is one of those tips that’s definitely going to make you be like, “Now that makes total sense, come to think of it”. The reason why I say this is because, if there’s one thing that can make your hair smell all kinds of stale, it’s not washing your combs and brushes as much as you should (so definitely make sure that you do that, no less than once a month”>. And, if there’s something that can help them to smell really good, along with your hair, is to soak them in one of your favorite fragrances. Just clean them like you normally would. Then, after thoroughly rinsing them out, pour some warm water into your basin and then pour a few drops of your favorite perfume, cologne or essential oil and let your combs and brushes soak for 20 minutes or so. Then dry them and use them like you normally would. Just make sure that you don’t do this to wooden styling tools. Soaking them in water can damage them over time.

6. DIY a hair mist

A real game-changer for hair is making your own hair mist; mostly because you can control what goes in it and it’s a portable way to freshen your hair whenever you want to. By putting ¼ cup of distilled water, a teaspoon of glycerin (it’s a humectant”>, a teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil (it helps to stimulate hair growth”> and then 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil (sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, peppermint, cinnamon, bergamot and ylang ylang all smell pretty darn delightful”>, not only will your hair smell unbelievably amazing with a couple of spritzes, you’ll be doing your part to keep your hair soft and manageable throughout the day as well.

7. Spray your pillowcases and hair wraps

Bedding needs to be changed once a week. A part of the reason why is because we actually shed a whopping 30,000-40,000 dead skin cells, per minute, on a daily basis. Since most of us are lying in our beds for somewhere between 5-9 hours a night, it would make sense to add some fragrance to your pillowcases, bonnets and scarves too, right? It can help to lull you to sleep and give your hair hours to soak up the fragrance of your choice. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to “Febreze your hair” by far.

Enjoy! (I know the people around you will!”>

Photo Unsplash

Welp. If there’s a fact of life that is pretty unavoidable, it’s the reality that, at some point in your life, you will end up with a head full of gray hair. In fact, many studies indicate that once you reach the age of 30, the chances of more gray coming in increases by 10-20 percent for every decade. 

once you reach the age of 30, the chances of more gray coming in increases by 10-20 percent for every decade

What causes gray hair?

The long short of it is, as we get older, the pigment cells that give us our natural hair color begin to die; when that happens — yep, you guessed it, gray hair.

While things like having a Vitamin B12 deficiency, being stressed out and definitely genetics can all play a role in premature graying, there comes a time in all of our lives when either we commit to constantly dyeing our hair (which comes with its own set of health risks“> or making peace with the natural progression of grayness.

If you are considering transitioning to color-free gray hair, here are some tips on how to make the transition so much easier on you.

How to Transition to Gray Hair

Use products that are specifically made for gray hair

First up, one of the best ways to bring out the best in your gray strands is to be intentional about using products that are designed to bring out the best in that particular hue. For instance, shampoos that are branded as a “purple shampoo” is ideal because they help to neutralize the brassiness that can sometimes come with having gray tresses. For example, a really popular brand is OGX’s Blonde Enhance + Purple Toning Shampoo. If organic is the way you’d prefer to go, another great option is Ethical Brand’s Organic Berry Blonde Shampoo.

Apply a leave-in conditioner

I’ve got a few gray hairs running around on my head and something that I’ve noticed is they are a bit more “rebellious” than my other hair. This is the case because gray hair tends to be much drier. That’s why it’s important to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair. Oh, and if you’re someone who likes to seal your hair on wash days, try and give apricot oil a shot. It’s loaded with omega-3 and 9 fatty acids along with Vitamin E which can help to make your gray hair super soft.

Stay away from mineral oil

Speaking of oils, one that is not the best for your hair, no matter what hue, is mineral oil. Not only is it so heavy that it weighs your hair down, it can also cause lots of build-up and even make your hair pretty stiff over time. As far as gray hair goes, because it needs to absorb as much moisture as possible, you want to avoid anything that will prevent your cuticles from being penetrated with the moisture that it needs. On the top of the list, that would be mineral oil, so make sure that you avoid any product that contains it at all costs.

Consider taking the highlight approach

One of the best hacks for easing into having a head full of gray hair is to add some highlights to your hair. It’s a great way to blend your grays into the rest of your locks; especially if you’ve got grays that are “chunky” (several in one place”> instead of evenly dispersed throughout your hair. A bonus to taking this route is it can also give your hair the appearance of having more volume. Yep, highlights can be a win/win on a lot of levels.

Get some layers

“Flat hair” can age you, no matter what color your hair may be. That said, something that can make it look more youthful is to get your hair professionally cut into layers. It doesn’t have to be anything super dramatic — just a look that will give your hair more flow and movement (grays included”>.

Eat more copper (to slow down graying”>

Copper helps to slow down the graying process because it helps to boost melanin and collagen levels in your system. Foods that are high in copper include dark chocolate, dark leafy greens, shiitake mushrooms, almonds and cashews and liver.

Try a couple of essential oils too

While we’re on the topic of slowing down the graying process the natural way, there are some essential oils that can work in your favor too. One is tea tree oil (it’s antiseptic properties help to keep your hair follicles really healthy”>. Another is orange essential oil thanks to the Vitamin C in it that also strengthens your hair follicles in the process.

Stop plucking so much

When it comes to this final point, please believe that I’m preaching to the choir when I say that you should stop plucking out your gray strands. For one thing, it’s not going to stop your gray hair from coming back. However, what it can do is damage your follicles to the point where no hair comes back at all — and trust me, it’s better to adjust to having gray hair than to having no hair at all. I believe you totally get where I’m coming from with this too, y’all.

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

When I’m not sitting in front of a laptop (which is a lot”>, something else that I do is provide birthing assistance; in other words, I’m a doula. And when I’m working in this lane, something that I try and prepare mothers for (especially when they are either trying to conceive or within the first trimester of their pregnancy”> is the changes that their body will go through — this includes when it comes to their hair.

How does pregnancy affect hair?

You know, it really is unpredictable, what can happen to your locks during this stage of your life because, while some pregnant women end up seeing their hair looking longer and fuller than ever before, others experience a vast amount of shedding and thinning. Why? Because when your hormones are kind all over the place, one of the areas where you’re going to see proof of this is on top of your head.

That’s why, if you happen to be someone who is considering getting pregnant in the upcoming weeks or months or you currently are and you’re wondering what you can specifically do to keep your hair in great condition, here are some tips that can help to give you the results that you are looking for.

1. Take prenatal vitamins beforehand

At the end of the day, prenatal vitamins are kind of like vitamins on steroids because they contain an extra dose of what your system needs when you’re carrying a baby. While some women take them, even when they aren’t pregnant (or trying to get pregnant”>, that isn’t always the best idea because the extra doses could prove to do more harm than good over time. However, if you are trying to conceive, the extra choline, folic acid and Vitamin D (more on that in a sec”> that you need in order to boost your fertility and make your pregnancy easier are definitely in most prenatal vitamins. This means taking them (even a year before getting pregnant”> can certainly work in your favor — not just when it comes to your health but the condition of your hair too because as your body is taking in extra nutrients to protect your pregnancy, the prenatals will prevent your hair from being zapped of what it so desperately needs to thrive.

2. Up your Vitamin D intake

Here’s the thing about Vitamin D — somewhere around 42 percent of our population is deficient. This is pretty problematic because when you don’t have enough of this nutrient in your system, it can result in muscle weakness, bone discomfort, extreme fatigue and depression. That’s why it’s really important to get sun exposure, to eat foods like salmon, egg yolks and mushrooms and to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement. This is even more imperative when you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant because a lack of this vitamin can result in developmental challenges (while in the womb”> for your child or a bout of preeclampsia (high blood pressure that can occur around the 20th week of your pregnancy”>. As far as your hair goes, Vitamin D deficiencies are directly linked to alopecia and, because the nutrient is attributed to building strong hair follicles, a lack of it in your system could ultimately lead to lots of shedding . As far as how much you should take, this is a somewhat debatable topic, so make sure to consult with your doctor first.

3. Eat foods that will keep your hormones balanced

In order to conceive, your hormones are going to need to be balanced. Then, after getting pregnant, you’re going to need to be intentional about making sure that your progesterone levels aren’t low. Drinking lots of water, eating foods that are high in protein (like meat, beans, almonds, Greek yogurt and lentils”>, consuming cruciferous veggies (like broccoli and cauliflower”> and taking a probiotic can definitely help you on the balancing front. As far as your progesterone levels go, foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as chia seeds, Brussels sprouts, avocados and navy beans”> can raise these levels in an all-natural way. And since omega-3s can get nutrients to your hair follicles, moisturize your hair strands and reduce scalp inflammation, they are definitely beneficial when it comes to maintaining healthy hair — before, during and after your pregnancy.

4. Give yourself consistent oil-based scalp massages

Aside from the fact that scalp massages are proven to reduce stress levels (which is always helpful when you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant”>, they are really good for your hair as well. Because they’re able to literally stretch out the cells of your hair follicles, scalp massages are an effective way to thicken your hair over time, if thinning is something that you’re concerned about. And, if you apply a little oil to your fingertips, sweet almond can strengthen your hair, avocado can stimulate blood circulation to your scalp and sesame is wonderful when it comes to soothing your scalp and moisturizing your hair, so that you can reduce your chances of ending up with split ends.

5. Drink lots (and lots”> of water

When you’re trying to get pregnant, you definitely need to up your intake of water because dehydration can throw your cycles off (which makes it more challenging to get pregnant”>, reduce the amount of cervical mucus that you produce (which makes it difficult for sperm to get transported to your fallopian tubes”> and for cell division to transpire once the sperm does reach your egg. And your hair? Not only can a lack of water hinder your hair growth, it can cause it to become dry and brittle which can ultimately lead to breakage. So, if you’re serious about getting pregnant (and carrying a child to term”>, water should definitely become one of your absolute best friends. Hands down.

6. Let the chemicals go

Here’s the thing about this particular point — there are impassioned opinions, on both sides of the fence, about whether or not chemical-based hair treatments like relaxers and permanent dyes are good or bad for you during your pregnancy. As a doula, my two cents would be to err on the side of caution and go without them. If the thought of that totally freaks you out, look at the months leading into preparing to get pregnant and then seeing a positive sign on your pregnancy test as a time to get a protective style, to wear blow-outs, to flat iron your hair and/or, as color goes, to experiment with a semi-permanent dye or to try some henna or color wax. That said, if you absolutely MUST, at least try and ride the first trimester out. Because it is such a fragile time for anyone’s pregnancy, you want to make sure that you don’t take any unnecessary risks during that time.

7. Get more rest

Finally, get more rest. The reason why is because, when you are sleep-deprived, it can reduce your levels of progesterone, estrogen, Leptin, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormones (FSH”> — and you need all of these in order to conceive. Plus, a lack of rest/sleep can cause your melatonin levels to tank which can cause your cortisol (natural stress hormone”> levels to rise and that can ultimately cause hair loss as well. So, for the sake of your baby and your locks, no less than 7-8 hours, consistently so, is wise. This point is guaranteed. Happy baby-making!

Alcohol Affects Your Hair” alt=”Have You Ever Wondered How (Drinking”> Alcohol Affects Your Hair” src=”https://images.ctfassets.net/naq2t3kc7ito/4oxzEReB45yD63U6G4j3SK/ab8b1be0290828d0b74b0013559e5050/wine-700.jpg”>

Photo by AESOP. Wines© on Unsplash

Today, I’m going to share with you how consuming alcohol can affect your hair — and not in a good way. Now before I get into the “downsides” of alcohol when it comes to your tresses, I think it should go on record that consuming it moderately does have some perks. There are studies to support that drinking alcohol can help reduce stress, boost your libido, decrease the chances of cognitive decline, prevent kidney stones and help to fend of heart disease too.

What does “moderate consumption” consist of?

Good question. Many health experts say that men who drink two glasses and women who drink one, on a daily basis, are typically just fine. However, when it comes to hair health, if you happen to be someone to partakes of more than this or, you’re currently on a mission to grow out your hair and you’re noticing that you’re experiencing a few challenges, I’ve got some solid (and proven”> reasons behind why alcohol may be doing you more harm than good — as it directly relates to you reaching your hair goals in the long run.

1. Alcohol Can Increase Your Blood Sugar Levels

While drinks like rum, gin, whiskey and vodka do not have any sugar added to them, wine contains its fair share (about a gram per serving”>. Not only that but alcohol also contains ethanol; this is a type of alcohol that is made from grains and fruits which have sugars in them. This is why it makes sense that drinking alcohol could cause your blood sugar levels to rise. This isn’t a good thing because having high blood sugar levels can ultimately lead to heart disease, strokes, nerve problems, vision issues, type 2 diabetes and yes, hair loss.

2. Alcohol Affects Your Sleep Patterns

While some of you might want to give me some pushback on this one, hear me out first. Yes, like most people (I would think”>, I have had moments when, an hour or so after having a drink, I am ready to turn in and call it a night (even if it’s daytime”>. Still, peep that I didn’t say that alcohol won’t make you drowsy; I say that it could affect your sleep patterns. And here’s the thing — the reality is, because alcohol has the ability to alter your quality of rest; and sleep-deprivation can increase your stress levels and that can lead to hair dryness, hair breakage and hair loss. Not only should you not rely on alcohol to help you fall asleep, you should always keep in mind that anything that shifts your sleep schedule can ultimately be pretty bad for your hair too.

3. Alcohol Drains Hair of Nutrients

Your hair isn’t going to be healthy if it doesn’t have any nutrients in it and something that alcohol does is hinder vitamins and minerals from being properly absorbed into your system. In fact, according to some studies, alcohol has the ability to cause deficiencies as it directly relates to vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K.

 

4. Alcohol Can Throw Off Your Thyroid

The main purpose of your thyroid is it helps to properly regulate your metabolism. This is important because your metabolism is responsible for turning food into energy. That said, something that alcohol has a tendency of doing is throwing your thyroid off. This is problematic because when your metabolism isn’t working as it should, that can lead to massive hair shedding and even long-term hair loss.

5. Alcohol Can Shift Your Estrogen

While this particular point can affect all women, it’s actually something that postmenopausal ones should be the most concerned about. The reason why I say that is because, something else that alcohol consumption is able to do, is kick up your estrogen levels. This isn’t good because high levels of this natural hormone can lead to fatigue, weight gain, fertility issues and irregular periods (if you haven’t gone through menopause yet”> and yes, you guessed it, hair loss.

 

6. Alcohol Dehydrates You

One more. Something that you may or may not know is alcohol is considered to be a diuretic; this means that it actually removes fluids from your system. There is absolutely no way that your hair is going to be healthy if you are dehydrated. So, if you must have more than an occasional drink, please make sure to drink a cup of water for every serving of alcohol. Your hair will be thankful. The rest of your health will be as well.

Photo by Neha Deshmukh on Unsplash

Did you know curlies and naturals are using okra to condition, define, and even detangle their hair? When you stop and think about it, okra is a little slimy, and curly girls love their slip.

Out of all of the veggies that are out here, I’m not sure if there’s one that gets more extreme responses and reactions than okra. Either people truly love it or they absolutely hate it. Then, if they do like it, there’s the debate about whether it’s better boiled, fried or merely something that should be added to dishes like gumbo and Mediterranean-style meals.

Personally, I can go my entire life without having anymore okra (my great-grandmother used to make me eat it when I would visit her during the summer when I was a child”>; however, I can’t knock the fact that it’s beneficial when it comes to being full of fiber, antioxidants, protein, vitamins C and K. Plus, okra is also great because it contains anti-cancer properties, helps to lower heart disease risks and, thanks to the folate that is also in it, okra can help pregnant women to remain in healthy until they give birth too.

For all of these reasons and more, I thought it would be a good idea to share that, even if you’re like me and you aren’t exactly thrilled about the thought of eating okra, you should at least consider using it for your hair. Because anything that could be that valuable to your insides, it has got to be beneficial to your outer beauty too. Right? Exactly.

5 Reasons Why Okra Is Great for Curly Hair

When you think about the fact that okra is readily accessible (and affordable”> in grocery stores and — as you’re about to see in a bit — it’s pretty easy to create your own DIY hair-related recipes, how could you not want to give it a shot?

1. Okra is loaded with nutrients

If okra isn’t a part of your diet, here are a few reasons to try it. As far as your hair goes, antioxidants are good for it because they help to fight off free radicals. Vitamin C is good for your hair because it helps it to produce more collagen which increases elasticity and reduces hair loss. Two other nutrients in okra are magnesium and iron. Magnesium works to dissolve calcium deposits that can occur from hard water. Iron helps to increase blood circulation, so that your hair follicles are able to receive the vitamins and minerals that they need. 

2. Okra is a profound moisturizer

It can never be said enough that something hair needs in order to thrive is moisture. Since okra is made up of close to 93 percent water, that along with the protein that’s in it, can serve as a great addition to any conditioner or hair mask that you decide to make at home. No doubt about it.

3. Okra helps to keep your scalp healthy

Your scalp is the foundation of your hair so, of course, it needs to be well taken care of; this is just one more way that okra is super useful. Because it is indeed so nutrient-rich, applying this vegetable to your scalp can help to reduce itchiness and irritation which is always a good thing.

4. Okra provides more “slip”

Something that I really like is when my hair has “slip” to it which basically means that it feels really smooth and sleek after applying a particular product. That said, it shouldn’t be surprising at all that okra is able to give your hair slip since its texture is kind of on the slimy side. Hey, that might not seem super appealing to your palate but when it comes to giving your hair manageability and sheen, trust me when I say that your tresses will be all for you introducing some okra to it!

5. Okra defines curls naturally

Between the conditioning properties and slip that okra provides, it’s definitely something that can help to give your curls a good amount of definition. And honestly, how awesome is that when you stop to think about the fact that there are things in Mother Nature that can give you what commercial brands do, only without all of the harsh chemicals and high price tag?

Easy DIY Okra Hair Recipes to Try ASAP

OK, so now that you know some of the ways that okra can help your hair to flourish, here are some really easy-to-make recipes that I definitely recommend that you try on your next wash day.

DIY Okra Hair Conditioner

Healthy hair needs deep conditioning and, as you’ve already read, okra can give your tresses just that. Add some grapeseed oil to it to add loads of antioxidants and rosemary oil to increase blood circulation, slow down premature greying and soothe dry scalp — and you’ll be all set.

Ingredients

• 5 Pieces of Okra
• ¼ Cup of Grapeseed Oil
• 10 Drops of Rosemary Essential Oil

Directions

Slice open the okra and try to remove as many seeds as possible. Then cut it into small pieces and put them into a pot of water that has 1 ½ cups of water in it. Bring everything to a boil and let the okra cool. Once it turns into a gel-like consistency, add the other ingredients and store them in a glass jar. Use immediately and keep the rest in a cool dark place. Also, feel free to add lavender or some other essential oil if you want to create a delightful scent.

By the way, YouTuber Adedè also has a video – and recipe – if you’ve got thin hair and you’re looking for a homemade okra hair conditioner that can give your locks more volume. Feel free to check it out here.

DIY Okra Hair Mask

If there’s ever a time when your hair feels like it needs some extra moisture added to it, you can never go wrong with a hair mask. This one is awesome because not only are you able to get the properties of okra but the benefit of bananas (it adds shine and improves hair elasticity”>, coconut milk (it’s loaded with protein, lauric acid which is a fatty acid and B vitamins”> and manuka honey (it seals in moisture”>.

Ingredients

• 3 Pieces of Okra
• Half a Banana
• 1/8 Cup of Coconut Milk
• 1 Tablespoon of Manuka Honey

Directions

Cut the okra into pieces and put them into 1 ½ cup of water. Bring them to a boil. Strain the okra with a cheesecloth and allow the gel to cool before adding the other ingredients. Put everything into a mason jar and use immediately. If there is anything remaining, store it in the refrigerator. You should be able to get one more use out of it.

DIY Okra Hair Gel

When it comes to achieving the slip and definition that I was talking about, you can’t go wrong with okra hair gel; especially if you add some Aloe vera gel to it. The recipe is super easy too.

Ingredients

• 5-7 Pieces of Okra
• ¼ Cup of 100 Pure Aloe Vera Gel
• Your Favorite Essential Oil Scent

Directions

Slice your okra into horizontal pieces. Put the pieces into a pot that contains 8-10 ounces of water and boil the okra until it turns into a gel-like consistency. Allow the gel to cool and add the Aloe vera (it helps to condition your hair, prevent UV damage and relieve scalp irritation, plus it also has a gel consistency to it”>. Then put in 7-10 drops of your favorite essential oil in order to mask the scent of the okra. Some of the best ones are lavender (it de-stresses you”>, jasmine (it moisturizes your hair and scalp”> and citrus (it has antiseptic properties in it that keeps your scalp healthy”>. Then store it in a glass jar. Then use it like you would any other kind of hair gel and watch how amazing okra gel looks and feels on your curls!

Have you ever tried using okra 

Pictured: @todecrespa

If you’re like a lot of us, there’s a good chance that you’ve already broken a New Year’s Resolution or you procrastinated when it came to coming up with one in the first place. This means that you’re probably still trying to figure out which one you can make — and actually keep. Well, you already know that this site is about all-things-curly-hair-related, so how about I share with you six promises that you can make to yourself, regarding your tresses, that are actually pretty easy to keep?

And you know what? I’m willing to bet some pretty good money that if you stick with all of these, you should be able to see at least 4-6” of hair growth by the time the next holiday season rolls back around. So, are you ready to get your locks where you’ve always wanted them to be? Let’s do this.

1. I will study my hair and its needs, now more than ever

Isn’t it interesting that, if there’s one thing that we all can agree on, it’s the desire to have healthy hair? Yet how many of us can say that we actually study our locks? Its type (check out “Seriously. What Is Hair Type?!””>. Its texture (check out “Want to Understand Your Texture Type””>. Which products complement it and which ones don’t. If your hair responds fairly well to heat or if it’s something that you need to leave alone as much as possible. What your scalp’s pH balance is and what throws it off (check out “4 Reasons You Need to Balance Your Scalp’s pH””>. How often you personally need a cut or trim. Because here’s the thing — we all have hair and we all are individuals. This means that even if you share the same type, texture and porosity as some of your favorite YouTube naturalistas (for example”>, that doesn’t automatically mean what works for them is going to work for you. Bottom line, the more a student studies anything, the better they are at understanding it. And when it comes to achieving the best out of your hair, you can never go wrong about intentionally learning as much about it as you possibly can.

2. I will incorporate consistent hair pampering days

Self-care is important. That’s a full stop statement and I’m sure we all can agree on that. Yet isn’t it interesting that when it comes to pampering, our hair rarely makes the priority list? This year, switch that up by giving yourself a hair mask on every other wash (it will add even more moisture than conditioning alone”>; investing in a hair steamer (to give your hair more elasticity and manageability”>; giving yourself an apple cider rinse (to reduce frizz”>; creating DIY hair spritzes (to refresh your hair and scalp”>; applying essential oil hair blends like rose and jasmine and vanilla and lavender to make your tresses smell absolutely divine and sleeping on satin pillowcases and with a humidifier on (so that your hair can retain moisture during your sleeping hours”> — these are just some of the ways to indulge your hair, so that it and you can feel super luxuriant.

3. I will get more collagen into my diet

Long story short, collagen is a type of protein that pretty much all of your body needs. It’s necessary because it helps to make your bones and joints stronger; it adds elasticity to your skin; it hydrates your system, and it helps to keep your gut and heart healthy. Something else that collagen does is make your hair more resilient, thanks to the amino acids that are in it. Plus, since your tresses are made up of mostly protein (keratin”>, collagen serves as a great building block for your hair follicles. So, whether you choose to take a collagen supplement or simply eat more foods that have collagen in them (like citrus fruit, egg whites, fish, chicken, berries, white tea, garlic and bone broth”>, definitely up your intake of this important nutrient. As you can see, it’s not only great for your hair but the rest of you as well.

4. I will massage my scalp, no less than twice a week

When it comes to the stress relief that it provides alone, I recommend that you massage your scalp, no less than a couple of times each week. As far as the way that it specifically benefits your hair, it increases blood circulation to your scalp, it “stirs up” sebum so that your scalp is more moisturized and, if you choose to massage it with a carrier/essential oil blend, it can help to “feed your follicles” too. Great carrier oils for a scalp massage include jojoba (it soothes your scalp”>, pumpkin seed (it stimulates hair growth”> and avocado (it reduces dandruff”>. A few highly beneficial essential oils include lavender (it contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties”>, cedarwood (it helps to reduce hair shedding and hair loss”> and thyme (it promotes hair growth”>. Add 5-7 drops of your preferred oil to ¼ cup of your favorite oil, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds and then either use your fingertips or a scalp massager to massage your scalp for 10-15 minutes. Absolute heaven, I’m telling you.

5. I will put my hair into protective styles, two seasons a year

Hands down, protective styles are a great way to go if you’re looking to gain some inches this year. And while we’re here, it’s a good idea to put on record that braids, twists, Bantu knots, updos (that you can keep up for more than just a couple of days”>, wigs and weaves all qualify because they help you to manipulate your hair (via styling it”> less. However, as with most things in life, there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing” (especially if you want to keep your edges and nape from breaking off”>. That’s why it’s a good idea to use long-term protective styles (such as box braids, sew-ins and lace front wigs”> when you know that you don’t want to put a lot of thought into styling your hair (like maybe when you’re about to go on vacation or during the summer when you don’t want to think too much about shrinkage”>. Just make sure that whenever you do take your styles out that you give yourself no less than 3-4 weeks “off”, so that you can deep condition your hair, give it a protein treatment, trim your ends if need be and simply let your hair breathe. Otherwise, if you wear a protective style around the clock, the weight of the style, the build-up on your scalp and the lack of oxygen that it needs could end up doing your hair and scalp more harm than good.

6. I will nurture the “thinner” side

If you’re like me, you’ve got one side of your hair that easily flourishes while another is not thriving nearly as much. The long short of why this is the case is because, like our breasts, feet and pretty much every other part of our body, the sides of our hair are similar but not identical. Therefore, it’s completely normal to have one side be thinner or shorter than the other. The answer to this is to give the thinner side more TLC this year — use a leave-in conditioner, so that your hair is more manageable; apply less heat (if you blow dry your hair, let it air dry at least 70 percent before apply heat to that side”>; sleep on your opposite side more often (compressed hair follicles means they may not get all of the nutrients that they need”>; use your hands to style it as often as possible (the less manipulation the better”> and try to avoid hairstyles that will only add more tension to that side. And please, as much as possible, try to only trim your ends rather than constantly cut your hair to try and “even things up”. If you do all of this, you should notice more volume and some length sooner than later. I’m speaking of from personal experience, by the way. Happy new year and here’s to season of great (hair”> progress, y’all!

Just a couple of days ago, I sat down to have a long talk with my hair. It’s in its natural state but I decided to dye it jet black. Although, at this point, my hair has been almost every hue I can imagine, there is something about it being as black as it can be that I really, really like. The problem was, after about a week of coloring it, I noticed that my hair was feeling extra dry.

Some might say that it was because of the dye but, actually, I don’t think so. The dye was ammonia-free; besides, it’s the bleach from lighter colors that tends to be more damaging than when you tend to go darker. Plus, I did an overnight deep conditioning treatment right after. Nah, I think the real culprit was the weather. I live in Nashville and, weather-wise, we’re known for the temperatures being all over the place. Anyway, it wasn’t until a few days ago that we got our first real freeze. Coincidentally, that was also the time when I was outdoors quite a bit, running errands.

Since I didn’t want my hair to lose any of the length that it currently has (especially since I just recently trimmed it”>, I knew the dryness was a sign that winter had come to zap out the moisture in the air and so I needed to be proactive as possible to ensure that I could give my hair the moisture that it needs. Here’s what I did—and recommend that you also do this winter season—to accomplish that.

Image Source: curlyfro_angie

1. Stay hydrated.

If you’re dehydrated, it’s going to show up in your hair. That’s why it’s so important to consume as much water as possible. The cool thing about this time of year is you can get a good dose of H2O by drinking herbal tea. Check out “7 Herbal Teas That Your Hair Will Absolutely Love!” to find out what kind of teas contain nutrients that your hair will especially benefit from. Then, make sure to add some honey—not sugar—to your tea. Honey contains antioxidants. Plus, it acts as a humectant which is another way for your hair and scalp to get the moisture that it needs.

2. Shampoo just a little less.

Everyone’s hair is different. This means that when it comes to how often someone should shampoo their hair, it depends on a variety of things—how much product they use, the health of their scalp and, how often their hair becomes frizzy and/or difficult to style. Personally, I wash my hair every week with a sulfate-free shampoo. But during the winter season, sometimes, I’ll do it more like every 10-14 days instead. One reason is because I rock blowouts more which means I’m not using a ton of product. Another reason is because, while shampooing is good, it can still strip my hair of its natural oils. I need more oils than ever when the weather is cold, so I try and reduce how much washing I do in order to make that happen.

3. Deep condition on a weekly basis.

Honestly, it really doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, you should always deep condition your hair. It prevents dryness which can lead to brittleness and damage. It promotes hair elasticity and strength. It can pamper the oldest parts of your hair which are your ends. It aids in restoring your hair’s pH levels. It also helps to nourish your hair. If you’re someone who deep conditions on a monthly basis, I strongly encourage you to switch that up to doing it on a weekly basis during the winter months. The more conditioned your hair is, the better it will be at withstanding the harsh elements outside and the dry heat from your central air unit while you’re indoors. By the way, we’ve got a list of awesome deep conditioners that you can try here.

4. Use a cream-based moisturizer.

We’re made up of mostly water; that’s why it should come as no shocker that our hair needs a moisturizer, pretty much on a daily basis. As you’re trying to figure out what kind of moisturizer that you should get, first check out our article “These Things Don’t Moisturize Your Hair”. You might be surprised by how things like hair butters actually work as moisturizing sealants not true moisturizers, or that silicones give hair “slip” without actually moisturizing it. The best way to give your hair the moisture that it needs is to get a moisturizer that has water as its main ingredient. We’ve got a few articles on the topic to totally help you out—”12 Best Curly Moisturizers”, “10 Best Moisturizers For Dry Hair” and “The 15 Best Moisturizing Products for Coarse, Dry Natural Hair”. As far as texture goes, look for a moisturizer that leans on the side of creamy. The thicker it is, the more protection your locks will have during the winter snow, ice and chills.

5. Pamper your scalp.

Your scalp is your hair’s foundation so, of course, it needs moisture too. You can pamper it by giving “your foundation” a hot oil massage once a week (coconut, argan or jojoba are great ones to apply; click here for tips on how to do the massage correctly”>. You should also consume foods that have Vitamin B in them. Why? Because there is a direct connection to dry skin and Vitamin B deficiency. Some foods that are high in this particular vitamin include whole grains, eggs, almonds, dark leafy greens and poultry. If there is a particular spot on your scalp that is dry, itchy or irritated, applying a mixture of 100 percent Aloe vera gel, Vitamin E oil and a drop of tea tree oil should bring about immediate relief. Oh, and sleep with a humidifier on. It will put moisture back into the air that the heat from your central air unit is pulling out.

6. Take an omega-3 supplement.

Another way to moisturize your hair from the inside out is to take an omega supplement. Not only does it give your hair the kind of essential nutrients and proteins that it needs to stay soft and nourished, omega-3 also promotes blood circulation, prevents hair follicle damage and, there are studies to support that, when it’s taken on a consistent basis, omega-3 can also reduce hair loss while increasing hair growth. Just make sure that you aren’t allergic to fish oil before you take it because that is exactly what omega-3 is.

7. Oil your ends every night.

Between your wool hats and scarves, if your hair is out, it’s going to experience friction and dryness more than ever during the winter months. Since your ends are the oldest parts of your hair, something that you can do to make sure that they don’t become brittle is to oil your ends on a nightly basis. It doesn’t need to be anything super heavy. Shea butter. Lavender oil. Olive oil. Coconut oil. These are some of the things that your ends will easily absorb so that they remain in great condition all winter long.

8. Be careful with heat.

I am a huge fan of blowouts. I wear them year-round. That doesn’t mean that I’m not aware that overusing heat can also lead to dryness and, ultimately hair damage, though. That’s why you need to use a ceramic dryer. You should apply a cream-based thermal heat protectant before drying your hair (a spray is fine if your hair is fine; cream is best if it is thick”>. Finally, you should go with the “less is more” mentality when it comes to how often you use a blow dryer; especially if you are going to follow it up with a flat iron. If you want some tips on how to do a silk press at home, click here and here. All of this should keep your hair feeling soft, moisturized and totally ready for what Mother Nature has in store—all winter long.

Have some tips of your own to share for combatting winter dryness? Share them in the comments!

We’re literally just a couple of weeks ago from a new year and a new decade. You know what that means, right? We’re also a hop, skip and a jump away from making some new resolutions too. If you read that line and just let out a big sigh, I feel you. I’m not big on making resolutions either. But what I do like to do is focus on things that I’d like to switch up a bit and then make promises to myself. What’s the difference? Although it’s probably more psychological than anything else, resolutions seem to oftentimes be unrealistic and stressful. Promises? They are a bit more down to earth and they help to hold me accountable.

Since Naturally Curly is a site that’s all about hair, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some of the promises that I am making to my tresses and myself as we both gear up for 2020. Don’t worry, they aren’t too taxing. They are all about love, patience and consistency—the power trio that can give you the kind of hair you’ve always wanted by this time next year.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @cocosluxcurls

1. “I will totally fall in love with the hair I was born with.”

I recently watched a YouTube video from a woman who said that she hates the hair (type”> chart because, to her, it conditions women who have 4-type hair to hate it. Perspective is everything because I don’t see it that way at all. Actually, embracing what my curl pattern is, along with understanding more about porosity, have helped me to take better care of my hair.

I’ve got Black female friends with 3-type hair and, believe me when I say that, they have their own battles to fight—being told that they must be mixed (even when they aren’t”>; wishing that they didn’t have to use an insane amount of product to make their hair do some of the things that mine does naturally; having to wash their locks more often…the list goes on and on.

That’s why I’m like, “We all have things to love about our hair—things that make us distinctly different from the rest, so why not celebrate those unique features?” And why not make 2020 the year that you decide to do it? One definition of envy is “To count someone else’s blessings more than your own.” Rather than wish you had what someone else does, how about embracing what you naturally do. It’s dope, all on its own. Trust me.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @camilacvieira

2. “I will become less of a product junkie.”

I get it. Some people are product junkies when it comes to their hair (if that’s you, our site has an online store that you will absolutely love!”> just like when it comes to cosmetics and other stuff. As it relates to this particular promise, I’m not saying that you should change the core of who you are—if you like to experiment, do you, girl. What I am saying is, if length retention is one of your goals for the new year, something that could actually be working against you is constantly putting something new or different in your hair. It’s far better to spend a good amount of time (it shouldn’t take more than a couple of months”> to create an effective hair regimen and then stick to that. Not only will it increase your chances of ending up with the kind of hair results that you want, it can save you a mint on hair products too.

And what about your love for products? Eh. Maybe change that over to hair accessories or at least cutting the amount that you get in half. I’m pretty sure you can find other ways to put that extra money to use…right? Exactly.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @beauty_skindeep

3. “I will commit to what works for MY hair.”

This world is full of opinions and, when it comes to hair care, hundreds of sites, blogs and videos that swear by what works and what doesn’t. I used to be the kind of person who stuck to someone else’s hair regimen, no matter how much my hair didn’t like it, believing that eventually, my tresses would adapt. Eventually, I came to the realization that the more natural a product is, the better; my hair actually prefers to be stretched (with heat”>; and the same three things are what help it to flourish.

Peer pressure is real, even when it comes to our hair. Spare your hair the pressure of being expected to act like someone else’s locks by paying close attention to what actually works for it and then sticking to that…no matter what.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @kaydayallday

4. “I will educate myself on what length retention requires.”

For me, 2019 was about making peace with my personal decision to grow my natural 4a hair out (because I’ve been wearing it short for most of my adult life”>. 2020 is gonna be about getting serious about length retention. One way that I’ve been getting my mind prepared to achieve some real inches is I’ve been watching videos of women who are already where I want to be (you can check out a few of ‘em here, here and here“>. I’ve also been paying attention to supplements that seem to be all the rage too (like MSM“>.

Now, I’ve been in the natural (or at least semi-natural because sometimes I rocked a texturizer“> long enough to know that duplicating another person’s hair routine doesn’t automatically mean that I’ll garner the same results. Things like their own hair type, their genetics and even the climate that they live in can all play a factor. At the same time, I also know that “knowledge is power” and so, it’s a good idea to have as much information as possible if, like me, you want to gain some real inches over the upcoming months.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @eboneedavis

5. “I will be patient and gentle with my locks.”

Something that I often compare my hair is silk. While on the one hand, silk is really strong, it can also be super fragile as well. Now put a pin in that while I make a brief comparison. Although my long nails are my own (and then powder dipped”>, my nail tech will personally vouch for the fact that there are times when I have to see her, in between appointments, and it’s because I have chipped my polish (even though it is gel”> or even broken a nail. It’s not because she didn’t do a good or thorough job; she’s fabulous. It’s because I am so rough on my nails.

*le sigh* My “roughness” is a reality that I’ve had to accept when it comes to my locks as well. Although I have the right tools, sometimes I still yank too hard when I’m detangling or if I don’t wait as long as I should for my deep conditioner to penetrate my strands.

There really is no point in having all of the right stuff to maintain my natural curliness if I’m not going to be patient and gentle while applying everything. Same goes for you. So yeah, make it a point to not try and rush Mother Nature when it comes to the growing out process and be gentle in the meantime with the hair that you actually do have. Be grateful for what you already have too. You’ll end up with some of the best hair results if/when you do.

Image Source: @naturallycurly of @wavycurly

6. “I will not stress out my hair—or myself.”

I am a self-professed quotes girl. Big time. One of the sayings about stress that I like a lot is by best-selling author Eckhart Tolle—“Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there’.” In other words, worry, anxiety and the desire to want to control things that you can’t control, are a huge part of the reason why a lot of us stress ourselves out.

Hmph. I don’t know about you, but one of the last things that I want to take into a spanking new year is stress. When it comes to my health, it tends to break me out, make my periods worse, keep me from resting, alter my moods and it really affects my concentration. When it comes to my hair specifically, stress has a tendency to keep all of our hair in its “resting phase”. If it stays that way for too long, that can ultimately lead to hair loss—and who wants that?

So yeah, another promise that I am going to make—and I hope that you will too—is that I will not allow people, places, things or even ideas to stress me out too much. For one thing, stress doesn’t usually make things better, only worse. And secondly, my health and well-being and hair deserve better; especially as I head into another year; you too.

Here’s to 12 months of awesome hair care and fabulous results! Be sure to keep us posted (in the comments”>.

As life would have it, as I’m sitting here and typing this out, my natural hair is in a blowout—and I absolutely adore it! While I’m in the process of trying to grow these tresses of mine to a longer length, I think I’ve found my groove in rockin’ box braids in the summer and blowouts in the fall/winter season.

Image: @tach.j

If there’s a part of you that’s already side-eyeing me because you think that wearing a blowout more than a couple of times a year is bad for my hair, eh—I beg to differ. If there’s one thing that this natural hair journey has taught me, it’s that all of us are different; what works for one does not necessarily work for the other. And, as far as my hair is concerned, I’ve actually experienced more growth since I’ve been applying heat than when I was applying the no-heat method (too much moisturize weakens my cuticles; it’s weird but true”>.

Not to say that blowouts don’t require some extra TLC; it most certainly does. So, as the weather is getting cooler out here (which means less sweating which means less shrinkage”>, if you want to stretch your own curls out, here’s how to do it with as little heat and/or inclement weather damage as possible.

1. Buy the right dryer

There is no way that you are going to protect your hair from potential blowout damage if you don’t start with basics, and that is investing in a great hairdryer. Trying to figure out which one works best for you requires a little bit of trial and error, but thanks to a lot of naturalistas on YouTube, they can help to remove some of the guesswork. For instance, a ton of natural hair ladies are quite fond of the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Styler (it’ll cost you around $40″>. It offers up some other options while providing a thorough breakdown of the pros and cons of each.

2. Get a good trim

I’m hoping you know by now that trimming your hair will not help it to grow faster. What it does do is remove split ends and fairy knots. What it also does is help to give your hair a nice shape; something that you definitely want while rocking a blowout. The reason why I thought this was important to mention is that, while some stylists claim that you should trim your hair every 4-6 weeks, it’s my personal opinion that you should do it as often as your hair needs it. For some, it’s that often but for others, it’s 3-4 times a year (if that much”>. Basically, it all depends on how well you take care of your hair (especially your ends”> in between trims. But yeah, if it’s been several months since the last time that you at least dusted your ends, your blowout will only look better if you trim your tresses first.

3. Deep condition your locks

Hopefully, you’re deep conditioning your hair on a regular basis (at least twice a month”>. But if there’s ever a time when applying this step is crucial, it’s when you’re about to put heat on your hair. The reason why is because blow drying has a way of zapping the moisture out of your hair. This means that if you deep condition your tresses before pointing a dryer in your direction, that can help to keep your hair from losing moisture which can ultimately lead to split ends and breakage. As far as what kind of conditioner to use, I’ve become a big fan of combining Chebe powder and Blue Magic Cholesterol Conditioning Rinse together. I wash my hair, let the mixture sit on my head for at least four hours, rinse thoroughly and enjoy how unbelievably soft my hair from root to tip. (By the way, you can find Chebe power pretty easily on sites like Etsy.”>

4. Use a cream thermal protectant

When you’re about to blow out your hair, something that is an absolute must is thermal heat protectant. What it basically does is serve as a barrier between your blow dryer (or any heat styling tool”> and your hair. That said, something that used to baffle me was, no matter how much thermal heat protectant I would use, my hair still didn’t feel as soft as I thought it should. When I mentioned it to a customer service associate at Sally’s Beauty Supply, she shared with me that she felt that thermal sprays are for fine hair while thicker hair should use a cream. And you know what? Ever since I switched over to a cream, my hair has been smoother, softer and shinier. But whether your hair is fine or thick, out of all of the tips here, please don’t skip out on this one. Thermal heat protectant is a true hair-saver on so many levels.

5. Add a little oil

The finishing touch on any blowout is sheen. Lots and lots of sheen! You could apply some in the form of a hairspray however, I prefer to apply a mixture of essential oil with a carrier oil. One of my personal favorite combos is jasmine oil and sweet almond oil. It looks divine and smells unbelievable from the time I leave my house until I walk right back through my front door.

6. Use low (and minimal”> heat

It might sound crazy to hear me say this, but the reason why so many people experience heat damage with blowouts isn’t due to their blow dryer; it’s actually because of how hot the setting is. Well, that and the fact that they opt to dry their hair while it’s still sopping well which can cause them to literally “fry” their hair. Two things that you can do to reduce your risk of heat damage is to use an old T-shirt to soak up as much water as possible from your wet hair. Then, use a low or medium setting to dry it. Sure, it may take longer to dry, but it’s worth it since it means less breakage overall. Right?

7. Braid it up every night

If you plan on wearing a blowout for a week or more, between humidity, hairstyling and rolling around in the bed at night, you’re bound to experience some shrinkage. One way to reduce that is to keep your hair stretched out as you catch some z-z-zs. One way to do that is by avoiding using the dryer again (the more heat, the more vulnerable your hair is to damage”>; instead braid your hair up before turning it. It doesn’t have to be a set of award-winning cornrows or anything. Just section your hair with your hands and put 4-8 braids in your hair. It’s a heatless way to wake up to a blowout that is still full and fabulous.

8. Keep maintenance products to a minimum

If you want your blowout to have volume and movement, it’s best to apply as little product as possible. But if you do want to add a Lil’ sumthin’ sumthin’ just so that it will look shiny or fresh in between blowouts, we’ve got you covered. All you need to do is check out our write-up “Top 10 Products for Your Best Blowout”. Or, if you like to support new lines (especially ones that are run by fellow naturalistas”>, one that I have recently become a fan of—and do actually use—is Canvas Beauty Brand.

9. Keep your hands out of your hair

I already know. Once you’ve blown your hair out and you see all of that extra length, it can be tempting to continually run your hands through them like you’re in a self-produced hair commercial or something. But remember—your hair is already a little stressed out because it has been stretched out. You don’t want to even put more tension on it by constantly running your hands through it too. So yeah, as much as possible, keep the manipulation down to a bare minimum. Also, if you can’t seem to stop messing with your hair, no matter how much you try, wrap it up in a scarf or something. As you can see with this video, there are all sorts of way to use a scarf without totally covering up your crowning glory in the process.

10. ALWAYS wrap it up at night

No matter how you try and prop your head up at night or how “pretty” you attempt to sleep, the only way to get a good night’s rest is if you’re not worrying about your hair the entire time. So, if you’re not going to braid it all up, at least pull it up into a pineapple (with the help of a silk or satin scarf”>. It will reduce shrinkage and tangles so that all you’ve got to do in the morning is put a little oil in your hair, maybe run a Denman brush through it and head on out of the door. You. With your glorious blowout!

Photo by Darling Arias on Unsplash

If there’s one thing that is pretty much a fact of life for most of us, it’s that, at some point, we’re going to go gray. In fact, according to many studies, as much as 50 percent of us will be 50 percent gray by the time we turn 50 (crazy, right?”>. As far as what causes this to ultimately happen, there are several factors — genetics, aging, smoking and definitely stress (when you get a chance, check out Scientific American’s “Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color—and Stress Is Involved, of Course””>.

And while there are some things that you can do to slow down the premature graying process (for instance, did you know that.” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> not having enough copper in your system can lead to graying earlier than you should? More on that in a bit”>, once the grays are present and accounted for, to this day, there isn’t a ton that you can do to turn back time. Because this is the case, rather than fight Mother Nature, what I’m going to encourage you to do today, is actually make peace with the grays that you have. Here’s how.

Again, It Happens to Most of Us

I’d be lying to you if I said that everyone on the planet eventually goes gray. I’ve actually read, a few times, that 1 in 10 individuals still don’t have a single strand of gray hair by the time they turn 60 (again…genetics”>. What I will say is that’s not exactly the norm because most of us start to see signs of graying at around the age of 30. When it first happens, I know that it can feel strange because it’s a clear reminder that the aging process is setting in. Still, it’s nothing to feel uncomfortable with or awkward about because, even if you think that other people aren’t going through what you are, trust me, they are. It’s just that, as long as hair dyes exist, you may never know it.

Work WITH Not AGAINST Them

Speaking of dye, if your first inclination, when it comes to your gray hair, is to cover it up with hair color, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, gray hair can be quite resistant to dye because it tends to have a “rougher” texture than hair that has more melanin in it does. This means that you could end up damaging your hair as you’re trying to figure out what to use “get rid” of your grays. Not to mention the fact that covering up gray hair doesn’t make them permanently go away and so, the more dye that you use, the more you can put your health at risk (for instance, an increased your cancer risk according to a 2001 University of Southern California study”>. Then there’s the money that you’re spending to cover up your grays, along with the fact that healthier options like semi-permanent and henna don’t always give you the results that you’re looking for. That’s why, it might be a good idea to consider — just consider — letting your grays shine through.

You know, I’ve got a friend who’s 40 who is doing just that. Her gray hairs are coming through her hairline, she has 3B texture strands and because of that, her grays actually look like subtle highlights. It’s quite lovely. Besides, after a while of using harsh chemicals (including silicones and sulfates”>, your grays can end up looking yellowish and dingy and oftentimes, that is hard to reverse once it happens. That’s why, again, it really may be best to stop fighting gray tresses, so that you can actually become “friends” with them. This brings me to my next point.

Use Products That Will Bring Out the Best in Your grays

As far as commercial brands go, there are all kinds that will help to bring the most out of your gray hair (just go to your favorite search engine and put “products for gray hair” in the search field”>. Yet did you know that there are natural ways to give your hair that silver sheen that is really quite stunning? First, it’s important to keep in mind that, aside from constantly coloring your hair, UV rays, medicated shampoos, heat damage, smoking and even minerals in your water (which is why you might want to wash your hair with a showerhead that has a filter attachment on it”> can also play a role in your grays looking dull instead of brilliant.

And as far as actual natural products go, apple cider rinses (on wash day”> can remove environmental toxins; fish oil, omega-3s, Vitamin E, biotin and zinc supplements can help to keep your grays strong and healthy; making conditioners that contain ingredients like yogurt, banana, egg and avocado can help to “tame” unruly gray hairs; avoiding products with mineral oil in them is wise because those can weigh your gray hair down while making it difficult for moisture to penetrate your strands and eating lots of protein can help to bring elasticity and manageability to gray hair. Oh, and Naturcolor is an herbal-based hair color brand that is designed to help your grays blend better. When you get a chance, check them out. You might be surprised what it can do for you.

Remember, There Are Ways to Slow Down Premature graying

What if you know, in the very core of your soul, that you are experiencing gray quicker than you should be? If that is indeed the case, there are some proven ways to slow the entire process down a bit. I’ll list seven of them here:

Stop chemically processing your hair so much

All that does is damage your hair strands, making them more vulnerable to graying. So, if you’ve been looking for a reason to go natural, avoiding premature graying just might be it.

Cover your hair up in the sun more often

Just like chemicals can damage your hair, so can heat; especially heat that comes directly from the sun. That’s why it’s a wise move that, when you know that you’re going to be outdoors for a long period of time that you put on a hat or scarf.

Pre-poo your hair with coconut oil

Remember how I said that hair needs protein? Something that is loaded with it and can protect your hair from the outside in is coconut oil. Just apply a teaspoon to tablespoon of it before washing your hair. Massage your scalp and make sure to cover your hair from root to tip. If you do this on a regular basis, you may notice that your gray is slowing down.

Shampoo your hair with zinc pyrithione

If you’re looking for a shampoo that can help to slow down the graying process, look for one that contains zinc pyrithione. It works because it’s full of antioxidants (something else that pigmented hair needs”> and it can protect your hair from UV damage.

Consume enough copper

Copper is a mineral that helps to make up melanin; that’s why it’s important that you have it in your system. Foods that are high in copper include dark chocolate, spirulina, sesame seeds, shellfish and spinach.

Take an L-tyrosine supplement

If you’re not familiar, L-tyrosine is an amino acid that can make you more alert, help to improve your quality of sleep, reduce depression-related symptoms, regulate your thyroid and, because it’s another nutrient that helps with melanin production, I’m sure you can see how it can slow down the graying process as well.

De-stress

The reason why stress can kick graying into high gear is because, when your cortisol (your natural stress hormone”> is elevated, that can affect the stem cells in your body that are responsible for creating hair pigmentation. That’s why exercise, meditation and getting no less than 6-8 hours of sleep, each and every night, are so important.

gray Can Be Absolutely Beautiful

Rihanna. Rita Ora. Pink. These are just some of the celebs who have dyed their hair gray or silver before — on purpose. And again, if you go to your favorite search engine and put “dyeing hair silver” and then click on the images that are available, you will see all kinds of pictures of women, some of them who are quite young, who have gray or silver stands and they look beyond amazing! It’s a reminder that, these days, gray hair isn’t just a “sign of the times” but a reminder that it’s trendy, it’s appealing and it’s certainly nothing to shy away from. So…don’t.

Photo: Unsplash

When it comes to taking care of your scalp (the “foundation” of your hair”>, if there’s one thing that I think is imperative that we all do, it’s learning the differences between what it means to have a dry scalp, dandruff and — whew — a scalp yeast infection. When it comes to dry scalp vs. dandruff, although both are prone to having issues like flakiness and itchiness, dandruff also often results in an oily buildup caused by a fungus called Malassezia. And, unlike doing things like steaming your hair, sleeping with a humidifier and even oiling your scalp (with a little oil like jojoba or grapeseed”> to ease a dry scalp, dandruff often requires the treatment of a dandruff shampoo, scalp exfoliation, tea tree oil applications, eating less sugar (Malassezia loves carbs”> and even seeing your doctor.

And what about a yeast infection on your scalp? How in the world do you heal it? That’s what we’re going to tackle over the next few minutes. Because while the mere thought of having a scalp yeast infection might sound semi-terrifying, it’s not as uncommon as you might think and there are some proven and effective ways to treat it.

How in the world do you end up with a scalp yeast infection?

So, let’s start here. Because it’s been reported that over 75 percent of women will get at least one yeast infection over the course of their life and eight percent will even end up with four a year, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve had a yeast infection before. And, as you may already know, they happen as the result of when the natural yeast (which is a fungus; generally, it’s one called Candida”> that is on our skin ends up growing out of control. Although it oftentimes happens in warm and moist areas (like our vagina, underneath our breasts and in the folds of our underarms; especially if an all-natural deodorant is used”>, yeast infections can show up, just about anywhere.

What causes a scalp yeast infection?

When it comes to your scalp, specifically, some of the things that can trigger this type of infection include medications, stress, harsh chemicals, living in a warm climate and a diet that consists of more sugar and carbs than anything else. Interestingly enough, health issues like diabetes and even taking antibiotics to get over an ailment can lead to this kind of a yeast infection too.

How do you know if you have a scalp yeast infection?

Some telltale signs of a yeast infection on your scalp include soft and white moist areas, crust on your scalp or around your hairline, greasy scales on your scalp and red or purple patches — not to mention the same incessant itching or irritation that typically occurs when you have a yeast infection anywhere else.

Schedule a doctor’s appointment

If you’ve had a vaginal yeast infection before, you probably recall being advised to see a doctor the first time it occurred, just to make sure that you had one. That’s because everything from an allergy to Bacterial Vaginosis to STDs like trichomoniasis, herpes and genital warts to even just your pH being thrown off (due to a shift in your hormones”> can all “mimic” signs of a yeast infection and it makes no sense to try and treat it yourself without knowing, for sure, that you have one. Same thing applies to a scalp yeast infection. There is no way to be certain what is going on without setting a doctor’s appointment (even if it’s at a local clinic”>, so that they can inspect your scalp and even send off for lab tests, if that’s what’s required.

How do you treat a scalp yeast infection?

If they do end up confirming that a yeast infection is what’s going on, there are a few different approaches that they might recommend. First, it’s not uncommon that they will prescribe you with the same antibiotic that you would take for a vaginal yeast infection (which is Diflucan”>.

Second, they might suggest that you use a prescription strength antifungal shampoo that oftentimes contains somewhere around two percent ketoconazole or they might opt for a corticosteroid shampoo instead. If you want to add to these some home remedies, massaging your scalp with a mixture of organic coconut oil (which has powerful antifungal properties”> and a few drops of either tea tree oil (it’s got potent antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties”> or lavender oil (it helps to kill yeast and soothe your scalp”> or rinsing your scalp with a half distilled water and half apple cider vinegar (it reduces inflammation”> rinse is pretty effective too.

How long does it take to clear up a scalp yeast infection?

While the symptoms should start to subside within a couple of days, it could take up to 2-8 weeks for the infection to clear up completely.

How can you prevent them in the future?

Remember how I said in the intro that it’s quite possible to have recurring yeast infections? I can attest to this because I have a fungal sensitivity (one that sometimes causes me to have recurrent yeast infections”>. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about keeping the yeast that is on your skin and in your system under control. Aside from consuming sugar and carbs in moderation, as it relates to your scalp specifically, there are a few other things that you can (and should”> do:

• Shampoo your scalp on a bi-weekly basis
• Exfoliate your scalp on wash days
• Be intentional about avoiding product buildup
• If you wear wigs, let your scalp breathe at night (to keep your scalp from getting too moist”>
• Take breaks from protective styles
• Don’t constantly cover your head with hats, hoods, etc
• Massage your scalp with antifungal essential oils (like peppermint, lemongrass and clove”> once a week
• Take a daily probiotic (to keep “good bacteria” in your system”>
• Drink lots of water
• Keep your stress levels down

There is nothing pleasant about a yeast infection, I don’t care where it is on your body. But now that you know more about scalp yeast infections, hopefully you know how to tell the difference between it and a dry scalp or dandruff, how to treat it and, most importantly, how to prevent it.

” alt=”6 Solid Reasons to DIY Your Shampoo (Along with a Few Recipes”>” src=”https://images.ctfassets.net/naq2t3kc7ito/4PBqpUFSd2GFIn6F832wjr/13e264dd146ad5087b20204c0bcbcee3/diy-shampoo-700.jpg”>

Photo: Unsplash

There is no way around the fact that it is super important to shampoo your hair. Not only does it help to remove dead skin cells, debris and product buildup, it can also get rid of odors that things like sweat can cause while helping to unclog your hair follicles, so that your tresses are able to truly thrive. While there are a ton of shampoo brands on the market, something that I’ve personally become a big fan of is homemade shampoos; either I will make them myself or I will purchase shampoo bars from merchants who make them. And you know what? My hair and scalp have only become so much healthier as a direct result.

Why? That’s actually what I’m about to share with you in this article. Whether you opt to wash your hair weekly or bi-weekly, here are six pretty good reasons why you definitely should at least consider making some shampoo yourself along with five recipes for you to test out (trust me, it’s not as hard to do as you might think”>.

The benefits of a DIY shampoo

1. You Know Exactly What’s in It

Although companies are legally obligated to share the ingredients that are in their products, let’s be honest — a lot of us don’t even think to read the labels, even though we should. When it comes to shampoo specifically, there are oftentimes all kinds of things in them that aren’t good for our overall health and well-being. Things like what? Parabens (they stop bacteria from growing in products yet also mimic estrogen in your system”>; sulfates (they provide lather and also create mutagenic properties which can literally alter your DNA sequence”>; sodium chloride (it makes shampoo thicker and can also lead to hair loss over time”>; alcohol (it can dry your hair out”> and synthetic fragrances (they can irritate your scalp”> — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Making your own shampoo means that you’re in control of what goes into it. And when you have that kind of personal assurance, you don’t have to worry about putting things onto your scalp and in your hair that could prove to be detrimental in the long run.

2. You Can Customize It to Suit Your Personal Needs

Another cool thing about DIY shampoos is you can customize them. So, instead of spending 30-plus minutes in drug and grocery stores trying to figure out which commercialized product can get closest to what you’re looking for, you can “design” your own hair wash. For instance, I made one shampoo that has both tea tree oil (for dandruff”> and honey (it’s a humectant”> in it. Since tea tree oil has such powerful antiseptic properties and it also is an oil (so it doesn’t strip my scalp’s natural moisture”>, it’s a win/win. In fact, you can make a few different kinds of shampoos to fit different occasions (for instance, one that reduces frizz, one that deep cleans and one that uber moisturizes”>.

3. It Can Be Much Less Drying

The beauty industry is a billion-dollar business and businesses are all about making money. So, why would brands — brands that are looking to make a mint off of what we buy — actually go out of their way to make more moisturizing shampoos when they can leave the conditioning elements out of them and sell us bottles of conditioner instead? Listen, I will be the first one to say that deep conditioning is an absolute must. At the same time, we wouldn’t have to do that so much if we were making our own shampoo; the kind that has moisturizing ingredients like coconut milk, a few teaspoons of herbal infused oil or some Aloe vera gel in it. (See what I’m saying?”>

4. Less Lather. More Clean.

As it says in the title, I will share a few easy recipes at the end of this. For now, if you’re someone who thinks that extra lather means extra clean, first, that’s not really true. Because a lot of us have been so accustomed to using shampoos that provide lather, we’ve been “programmed” to believe that although it’s more of a “cosmetic ploy” than anything. Still, if you’re someone who feels like you’ve just got to have a ton of suds, while castile soap won’t provide boatloads of bubbles, you will get some. The real bonus is you’ll be able to get what you want from a much healthier approach because castile soap helps to preserve natural oils on your scalp, promotes healthy hair follicles and even has a good reputation of soothing your scalp if you happen to have scalp eczema or psoriasis. In fact, castile soap happens to be a main ingredient in a lot of homemade shampoos. Rightfully so, too.

5. It’s (Typically”> Better for the Environment

A lot of the chemicals that I mentioned earlier? Not only are they not good for your system, they aren’t great for the environment either. And don’t even get me started on what all of those plastic containers are doing to our planet. I recently read that our world currently produces somewhere around 380 million tons of plastic every year and most of it ends up in our oceans or they become pollutants on some level. When you’re making your own shampoo, you can buy a couple of recyclable bottles and just keep using them over and over again. Then when, for whatever the reason, you’re ready to toss them, you can put them in a recycling bin so that they don’t create more trash. Yeah, this DIY shampoo thing just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?

6. It Can Be Cheaper in the Long Run

There are a lot of cheap bottles of shampoo that are on the market. While some work “OK”, you know how the saying goes — you get what you pay for. And if commercialized brands are ultimately going to pay their own role in brittle hair, split ends, dry scalp and who knows what else, isn’t it actually less expensive to spend a little more to buy pure products that will take better care of your hair overall? Yeah, my sentiments exactly.

5 Easy, Healthy DIY Shampoo Recipes

To make your own DIY shampoo, mix the ingredients together, put them into a flip bottle, and shake well before use. 

Castile Shampoo Recipe

• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• ½ teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil (sweet almond, avocado, jojoba, etc.”>

Aloe Vera Shampoo Recipe

• ¼ cup of Aloe vera gel (contains antioxidant and antibacterial properties and unblocks hair follicles”>
• ¼ cup of castile soap
• ½ teaspoon of Vitamin E oil
• 5-7 drops of orange (soothes dandruff and relieves dry scalp”> or jasmine (reduces frizz”> oil

Coconut Milk Shampoo Recipe

• ½ cup of coconut milk (uber moisturizing”>
• ½ liquid soap
• ½ cup of vegetable glycerin (a humectant”>
• 3 teaspoons of argan oil (awesome for hair growth”>
• 10 drops of lavender oil (kills bacteria and encourages hair growth”>

Maple Shampoo Recipe

• 10 drops of carrot seed oil (soothes texture and tames frizz”>
• 3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (a powerful humectant”>
• ½ cup of castile soap 

Honey Shampoo Recipe

• 3 tablespoons of Manuka honey (nourishes hair and reduces flaky scalp”>
• 2 teaspoons of liquid coconut oil
• 3 drops of lemongrass oil (reduces dry scalp and increases hair shine”>

We just announced the NaturallyCurly Best of the Best awards for 2021, awards voted on entirely by the NaturallyCurly community! And if you’ve been here a while then it will come as no surprise that SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie has won for two categories: Best Styling Cream for All Hair Types and Best Styling Cream for Type 3 Curls. This product has won several of our awards over the years, and if you’re curious about trying it then we have a full review from our writer Shellie Reneé. 

OK, So Let Me Tell You Why I’m All About ‘SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie’

So, here’s my true confession about this particular product. I’ve actually had a jar of SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle for close to a year before I even got around to testing them out. It’s mostly because I’m actually not a product junkie (anymore”> and I’ve been wearing my hair as a blowout, in cornrows or in medium-sized box braids, so there was no need.

Oh, but baby, when I took out my latest round of braids earlier this year, saw that my hair was gaining some real inches and so I decided to play around with a braided faux hawk braid-out? Let me just start this off by saying that when my editor asked me if I wanted to shout-out one of the products for this end of year piece, SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie is what I jumped up and down to do! I’ll share a few reasons why (then to be fair, also share some “words to the wise” to be aware of”>.

Photo SheaMoisture 

The Pros & Cons of SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

When it comes to SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, here are its strengths and weaknesses (to me, anyway”>:

The Pros

OK, so there are several things that I like about this product. First, that its first ingredient is water which means that’s what it has the most of in it. You can tell too because while the consistency of the cream is thick, it’s not sticky nor will it dry your hair out and, unless you apply a ton of it to your hair, it doesn’t leave much flaking when it comes to your end results either. If you apply it while your hair is wet (you know, for like a wash ‘n go”>, you will immediately see curl definition without a ton of shrinkage once it dries (one way to elongate a bit is to apply a little bit of Jamaican black castor oil during application process”>.

As I said earlier, I prefer it on braid-outs because, once my hair is dry (I usually apply mine to dry hair; long story”>, it doesn’t take forever for the cream to dry. Then, once I take my braids out, my hair is soft, it has a hint of sheen to it and it’s really easy to pull the braids apart (for volume”> without losing a lot of the braid-out’s definition. I also like that if you want more definition than your initial application, you can apply more of the product the following night (and braid it again”> and your hair will be curlier and shinier without really any buildup at all. In fact, you’d have to reapply for 4-5 days in a row before you can really start to “feel” the product on your hair. And because it makes my tresses feel so unbelievably soft and manageable, it’s almost like I have to remind my own self that it’s a braid-out and not my hair’s natural texture. Plus, if I wrap my hair up at night, I can easily keep a “fresh” look for about four days before needing to braid it up again. Beautiful.

Oh, it’s also a bonus that when I twist the ends of my hair with the cream (as I’m braiding it”> that it will curl up so that I don’t have to rod or roller set my hair to keep the ends from staying straight. And the price? It just takes things to another level. I’ve actually purchased some extra jars and bypassed the 6 oz. (I can get a good four braid-outs with that jar”> and gotten a couple of 20 oz. instead. No regrets on doing that either. Not one.

The Cons

As far as any downsides, there aren’t a lot of them. I will say that you might need a bit of a learning curve as far as how much your hair requires (based on type and thickness”> because if you go the “less is more” approach, you might not get the definition that you’re looking for and if you apply too much, the cream will not fully absorb into your hair and it could lead to some flaking that is kind of stressful to shake out. Also, even with a braid-out, depending on how much you use, you might not be 100 percent dry the next day. Still, it’s not the big of a deal because your look will still hold; you just might need to braid it again, so that your hair can “set” all of the way. Oh, and if you want more sheen (because it “finishes” on the “drier” side of things”>, you’ll probably need to “seal” your hair with a carrier oil like sweet almond or avocado. Just make sure to keep in mind that it could add to your overall drying time. Yet when you weigh all of this out, how can this be that big of a deal? In my eyes, it’s not. I’d do a commercial for this product if I could. For now, this review will have to do. Try it. It’s well worth it!

Have you tried SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie? What did you think of it?