Search Results: Tasha Swearingen

By Tasha Swearingen · Published April 3, 2012

Many naturals like to avoid adding chemicals and other unnatural things to their hair as much as possible. At the same time, they might need something to add depth and color without causing harm to what they’ve worked so hard to obtain. Luckily, mixing henna and indigo can do this and will provide fantastic results if done correctly. Bonus: it’s also a helpful way for naturally curly girls to cover up grays!

When using henna to dye your hair, avoid prepackaged “henna hair dyes.” While it may seem easier to use something that is ready-to-go, you’ll pay for the convenience. Many of these ready-to-go henna hair dyes have ingredients besides henna mixed into them. Additionally, since you have no control over the henna mixture, you risk your hair coming out a different color that you may anticipate. Often, you will see these listed as “natural” or “herbal” henna hair dyes.

The following is known as the “two-step” henna hair-dyeing technique, though there are clearly more than two steps. The “two steps” refers to doing henna and following it up with indigo for dark brown/black curls.

How To Mix Henna & Indigo

• Step 1: Protect your workspace! Indigo will dye surfaces blue, and the henna-indigo mixture can turn surfaces any shade of orange, red, blue, green or black. Cover your countertops, floors and any other area you think might get a drop of the mixture during the process. Also, don’t use your best towels (it’s a good idea to have “hennaing towels””> and put on some old clothes. This is also the time to make sure your hair is free of tangles.
• Step 2: For shoulder-length hair, put 200g of henna powder in a bowl. For dark brown curls, a good mixture would be 100g of Jamila or Rajasthani Twilight plus 100g Dulhan. You can double the amount of henna (400g total”> if you’re unsure about how much you’ll need for the length of your hair. It would be best to make too much — and know to adjust the amount next time — than to not have enough!

• Step 3: Bring about three cups of distilled water to a boil, then toss in three bags of green tea and allow that to brew for a few minutes. Let the tea cool to room temperature. Then, slowly pour the tea (bags removed”> into the henna powder using a wooden or plastic spoon until the mixture is the consistency of a thick batter.
• Step 4: Cover the bowl and seal it tightly, then let it set in a cool, dark place for 12 hours. If you later find that this quantity of henna is too much for the length of your hair, then you can separate the henna into two parts after it has set for 12 hours. Wrap one part in clear plastic wrap and wrap it up in aluminum foil, store it in a freezer bag, then place in the freezer for your next use. Just let the mixture thaw out, and then jump right into step 5!

• Step 5: Add 4 tbs of honey and approximately 1 and 1 1/2 cups of your favorite moisturizing conditioner. A good choice would be CURLS Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner for dry hair or Curl Junkie’s Curl Assurance Smoothing Conditioner for curly hair that tends to frizz.

Slowly pour the tea (bags removed”> into the henna powder using a wooden or plastic spoon until the mixture is the consistency of a thick batter.

• Step 6: Separate hair into four sections, put on some gloves, and dive right into the henna mix! Start at the roots and apply with hands the same way you would any hair dye.
• Step 7: Wrap your hair in plastic wrap, then wrap with a towel to catch any drips and allow the henna mixture to sit on your hair for four hours. Note that this length of time varies depending on your hair type and porosity. Type 2s may find that three hours is sufficient while more dry hair, such as type 4 coils, may need to wait the full four hours. Some curlies prefer to leave the henna mixture on overnight so as not to deal with waiting, watching and rinsing immediately.
• Step 8: Put on a new pair of gloves, then dunk your hair into a filled tub to remove most of the henna mixture. You can get the remaining henna out in the sink. Then, mix together 50g of indigo powder, a dash of salt and enough water to make a very thick paste.
• Step 9: Using glove-covered hands, apply the indigo mix to your hair. Adding indigo to henna’ed hair is what will give your hair that dark brown/black color!
• Step 10: Wrap your hair in plastic wrap and cover with a shower cap. Then sit under the heat for one hour.
• Step 11: Finally, hop into the shower and rinse everything out of your hair! It may take a few rinses before everything comes out completely. Follow this up with a deep condition.

How do you mix henna for fabulous color?

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 30, 2012

You know your hair is a decent length when it’s wet, but somehow, once it dries it loses several inches. If you’re growing your hair out naturally, this can be somewhat discouraging — especially if you took the plunge and did a big chop. The truth is, ALL curlies experience some type of hair shrinkage. However, if you’re a type 4, you’re particularly prone to a lot of shrinkage. So how can you accurately measure the length of your hair and your overall growth progress?

What is Hair Shrinkage?

Shrinkage is the difference between what your hair looks like when it’s wet and gently stretched to its maximum length and what it looks like when it’s dry. It happens to all curls, from type 2 to type 4. However, it’s definitely more noticeable in type 4 coils because type 4s have tighter curls. For type 2s and some type 3s, shrinkage is hardly noticeable, since the hair won’t look all that different dry than it does when it’s wet. For type 3s with super-coils, it’s pretty noticeable as well. Some type 3cs and type 4s have even reported losing as much as eight inches once their hair dries!

Generally, type 4s have a lot of shrinkage. In fact, type 4s can look like a type 3 when wet! As a child, my hair was more type 4 and I longed to have it look the way it did when wet (like a type 3″>. I had no idea how to lock in that look, but I probably would have given anything to get it! As an adult who has gone through years of relaxers, my hair is now wavy/straight when wet and type 3c/4a when dry.

How to Measure Hair Shrinkage

Step 1:

When your hair is wet, separate your “tester” section from the rest of your coils and secure the rest of your hair in a clip. You’re going to measure just a small part of your hair and you don’t want the rest of it getting in the way as you do.

Step 2:

Gently hold the tester section as straight as it will go to get maximum length, then measure the length from root to tip. You could also do two or three “tester” sections, which will give you an idea of what parts of your hair tend to shrink more/less.

Step 3:

When your hair is completely dry, measure its length from root to tip. The difference is the amount of shrinkage you have.

Why Knowing Your Amount of Shrinkage is Important

If you are new the world of natural hair, let me let you in on a little secret: a lot of us are length obsessed! We look at women like Corinne Bailey Rae, Solange and CurlyNikki and dream of one day having manes as long as theirs. In doing so, we use healthy products, eat healthy diets and take as much care as possible to not damage our coils, in order to encourage growth.

Understanding the amount of shrinkage that occurs from wet to dry on your coils helps to avoid becoming discouraged. Coils grow just as quickly as other hair types, but because they shrink up when they dry, it is often hard to tell. Continuing on the natural hair journey, and avoiding reverting back to creamy crack or heat processing, is a lesson is learning to love and understand your body the way that it naturally is. Shrinkage is part of that process, but discouragement shouldn’t be!

Combating Hair Shrinkage

Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything you can do to stop the shrinkage completely. It’s pretty much just the nature of having coily hair. However, you can do a couple of things to at least slow it down or lessen the amount of shrinkage.

Try putting your hair in bantu knots while it’s still wet. Alternatively, you could put it in twists. Let it dry this way and then shake it out when it’s done. By doing so, you’ll give your hair a great new look while keeping some of your true length.

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 30, 2012

We say it all the time over here at NaturallyCurly, but the textured hair community is gaining steam and respect and garnering attention from major hair care brands that are hopping on board the healthy hair products boat and sailing away with us!

Don’t believe it? Well, just check out L’Oreal Paris’ newest addition to their “Ever” line: EverCrème, a sulfate-free moisture system.

Yep, that’s right! L’Oreal Paris is releasing a sulfate-free, moisturizing hair care system that will battle your dry hair thus decrease frizz, increase shine and show off more defined waves, curls and coils.

Here’s the deal, curlies, this sulfate-free moisture system will give your dry hair a triple action hydration thanks to a blend of botanical oils that treat and smooth hair’s surface while wrapping, reinforcing and conditioning. Of course, no conditioning system is complete without a conditioning cleanser, and L’Oreal Paris hasn’t slacked in stepping up their game.

In addition to releasing their sulfate-free conditioners, L’Oreal Paris is also pushing out a new low-shampoo Cleansing Conditioner that is low lathering and acts as a shampoo and deep conditioner in one, so you can section, comb and detangle before ever stepping out of the shower!

Even better for you fine haired curlies out there, the EverCrème Collection is free of heavy waxes that can coat hair and weigh it down. Instead, the collection boasts a long list of botanical oils that enrich the line including camellina, apricot and grapeseed oils.

Wrapping up the entire line, EverCrème also includes a sulfate-free deep nourishing masque, sulfate-free nourishing shampoo and conditioner, sulfate-free nourishing leave-in spray and sulfate-free intense nourishing shampoo and conditioner. L’Oreal Paris products also include all vegan ingredients too!

So if you are interested in trying out a major brand’s first sulfate-free and low-shampoo hair care collection, then GET ON IT!

L’Oreal Paris is getting on your level, so let’s get on theirs. 

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 16, 2012

If you’ve ever tried scrunching your gelled waves while they are wet, you may have been disappointed watching them just flop back down on your shoulders.

Additionally, if you didn’t distribute the gel throughout your hair completely, you’ll notice two different hair textures when the hair dries: one decently scrunched, the other dry and somewhat frizzy.

What can you do to make sure that ALL of your hair scrunches together in gorgeous clumps and defined curls? Try pumping them while you scrunch!

What It Is

We first heard about the scrunch ‘n pump method from one of our CurlTalk users, CSteen85. Her initial post spawned four pages of replies, so we knew she had to be onto something! CSteen85 explained how when she pumped, with a specific regimen, she was always very happy at how defined her curls looked and at how all of her hair was gelled:

“When I take my hand away, I’m left with a really soft-looking clump! I did this all over my head to apply the gel and diffused and got gorgeous clumps!”

According to our CurlTalk users who participated in the forum discussion, the scrunch ‘n pump method prevents frizzies. It also helps to keep your hair detangled as it won’t be intermixing all day.

How to Scrunch ‘n Pump

To do the scrunch ‘n pump, shampoo and condition your hair according to your usual method (co-washing, no-poo, shampoo & condition, etc.”>. Then, coat your hands with your favorite hair gel and scrunch your hair by the handful. You’ll want to do your hair in medium sections to be sure the gel gets incorporated. Pump each handful eight times. Why eight? We don’t know, but it’s what our scrunch ‘n pump inventor recommended!

Another CurlTalk user, Jillipoo, recommends holding each handful a couple of seconds before releasing. She says it really helps to define your curls. “It’s like the curls need to be “started” or something,” she added.

What You Need to Know

The time it takes to do the scrunch ‘n pump depends on a couple of things. The length of your hair will determine how many sections you’ll want to divide your hair into. In addition, the smaller the sections, the longer it will take. This method works best with curlies who don’t have super long hair since medium length hair will let you grab the entire section from tip to root in one palmful.

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 13, 2012

Scrunching is a term used to describe what many type 2s and 3s do to their hair when they apply product. The process involves coating the hands with hair gel or mousse, then grabbing the hair into your palm, making a fist and holding for a second. Curlies and wavies do this two or three times per section of hair, and they find the technique produces amazingly defined curls.

Type 4s, on the other hand, really don’t need anything to give their curls definition. Type 4 IS definition! Type 4 curls are usually very tight curls, which means you don’t need to do anything to make them even tighter. So how do type 4s apply hair products?

Ignore all the “scrunch it in” reviews you see on YouTube from type 3s, even type 3Cs. Type 4 girls find the “shake and go hair” method works well for them most of the time. After you do your washing routine, section off your hair into about four different quadrants. Be sure that hair is soaking wet, then section by section apply a leave-in and then a gel. As you apply the product, finger comb or rake it through the section beginning at the root. As your reach the ends of your hair, lightly grab your hair and shake. This “shake and go hair” technique allows for the product to set within your curls.

How to Apply Gel

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 12, 2012

Clipping your hair is a great way to give it instant lift at the roots where it might otherwise be flat. Curly hair looks great, but has a tendency to fall flat at the roots for type 2 waves due to gravity. Fortunately, you can offset gravity’s force and add body back to limp roots quickly and easily by using jaw clipping.

What You’ll Need

To start, you’ll need some jaw clips. You can either use the small ones or regular sized ones, depending on your hair density. If you want a ton of volume, and have a ton of hair, go big! Smaller clips will give you some volume, but not an overpowering amount.

The number of clips you’ll need depends on the size of the clips as well as how much volume you’re looking to add. If you just want a little volume in the front, you’ll only need a few clips. If you’re looking to add volume to the front and crown of your hair, you’ll want extra.

Also, be sure that your hair is damp when applying the clips. As hair goes from damp to dry, its shape is determined. Adding jaw clips to dry hair will only disturb the curl pattern.

What to Do

Comb through your damp, towel-dried hair as you usually do either using your fingers, a wide-toothed comb or whatever you usually use. Separate the hair that you want to clip. For most people, this means sectioning off from temple to temple with a part going through the crown area. Secure the rest of your hair so that it isn’t caught up in the hair you’ll be clipping.

Separate the top part of the hair that you sectioned off into at least five sections with a part going from the front of your hair toward the back of it. Alternatively, you can separate the front part of your hair into two sections, then clip off to the sides of that part.

If you have a product that you like to use for added volume, now would be the time to apply it. In fact, if curls tend to slump by midday, it would be a good idea to apply a volume-enhancing curl cream. You’ll then clip off the sections that you’ve divided your curls into, then let it air dry. If you’re in a hurry, you can dry it with a diffuser.

Once you remove the jaw clips, the look isn’t that impressive. But after you flip your hair upside down, give it a shake, then stand back up, you’ll be amazed at the volume your hair has.

Additional Benefits

In addition to the added volume you’ll notice immediately, you’ll also notice that your hair will now have root curl. Instead of coming out at the roots straight and curling somewhere down the hair shaft, your hair will show an instant curl straight from the scalp. For wavies, this means more curl, and for curlies, less triangle head. It’s a win for everyone!

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 8, 2012

So you’ve applied this product that’s supposed to help control your curls and tame your frizzies. You read the label and followed the directions explicitly – or so you thought.

Either way, the results weren’t quite what you were expecting. Could this be a bad product for your hair type? Or could the solution be as simple as making sure your hair was wet enough or wasn’t too wet for the product to work?

The Dilemma

Almost all of us have experienced this at one point or another. On our quest to get the perfect curls without midday frump or frizz, we apply a product on our hair that promises to keep our curls in check. The bottle said apply to wet hair, but did that mean soaking wet or towel-dried/damp hair?

Type 2s tend to have thinner hair that holds in moisture a lot longer than our coily type 4 counterparts. So the question then becomes, at what point can we apply these products that are meant for a wet application? Should we do it as soon as we get out of the shower, or after our hair has had a chance to dry some?

The Solution

If you’re adding a leave-in conditioner or curl cream to your hair, scrunching it into soaking wet hair and then patting any excess drips with a microfiber towel can actually have amazing results!

However, wavechaser, one of our CurlTalk users, recently shared the results of her experiment, which was to see if the amount of water in her hair made a difference. In her own words, “Who knew scrunching into damp hair would help so much!” For type 2 wavies, applying product to damp hair can be much more beneficial than applying product to completely wet hair.

Overall, it depends on how porous and coarse your hair is. The more porous it is, the drier your hair can be when your apply product. The less porous it is, the better products will work when applied to wet hair. The opposite is true for how coarse your hair is. If your curls are very coarse, apply products to wet hair. If your hair is fine, apply products to damp hair.

And, always remember wavies, DO YOU!

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 6, 2012

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Now that we’ve given you the information on your hair type, how about diagnosing the types of frizz you’re having? Different products and techniques work to control different types of frizz, so the first thing is figuring out your frizz type.

Surface Frizz

This type of frizz only occurs on the surface of the hair. That is, it’s on the outer layers of your hair, but not on the layers underneath. Almost any Curly has dealt with this type of frizz. If you live in a humid climate, you probably deal with this all the time since humidity can definitely “activate” surface frizz.

Poof Ball Frizz

As the name suggests, the poof ball frizz looks like a giant poof ball. Curls are nearly unrecognizable once they’ve reached this state. To be blunt, it looks like a hot mess.

Application Frizz

This type of frizz results from over-applying products, thus touching your hair too much.

Spider Web Frizz

This type is very much like Fly-a-way Frizz, except it tends to linger around the top of the hair. Different strands of hair separate from one another, creating a “web” look on the surface of the hair. Causes for this type of frizz range from the wind to not enough hold. Additionally, Spider Web Frizz can be the result of a bad reaction to hair products.

Halo Frizz

Frizz that centers on the crown of your head.

In-The-Curls Frizz

Just like it sounds, this type of frizz occurs within the curls. In-The-Curls Frizz takes away from the smooth look of your curls. Some of your hair will look great while other parts are frizzy.

Frizzy Tubes

These types of curls are both good and bad. The good: they tend to prevent the rest of the hair from frizzing. The bad: they also prevent the rest of the hair from looking good. Usually curlies with spiral “tubes” (often our Type 3s”> have this issue.

Frizz At The Ends

Just the opposite of Halo Frizz, this type of frizz occurs at the ends of the hair.

Product Frizz

This type of frizz is the direct result of product. You can usually see this on curls who have loads of envy-inducing shine. Not all curls with perfect shine have this issue, but for those who do, it detracts from the pleasant shine. Unfortunately, the products used to create shine often make Product Frizz more apparent.

Crimped Frizz

This type of frizz happens when individual pieces of hair have a sort of “crimped” look to them. It’s generally a result of suffocation, heat and humidity combined.

Dry Frizz

This type of frizzy hair is essentially bone dry. It both feels and looks extremely dry.

Fluffy Frizz

This is very similar to Poof ball Frizz. The difference is that where Poof ball Frizzy hair is together in one massive poof, Fluffy Frizz means your hair has separated into individual poofs. It’s generally the result of a lack of moisture.

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Frizz Solutions for All Textures

Now that you’ve pinpointed the type(s”> of frizz you’re experiencing, what can you do about it? Since all types of curls have, undoubtedly, experienced one or more of the different types of frizz, it’s hard to say which products will work best for specific types of frizz. There are too many variables to consider.

Are you a type 2 with Poof ball Frizz? Perhaps you’re a type 3 with a mixture of Fly-a-way Frizz and In-The-Ends Frizz? Or maybe you’re a type 4 with In-The-Ends Frizz? Thankfully, there are products that tend to work best for certain hair types.

Type 2: Wavy

Curl Junkie’s Curls in a Bottle ALWAYS gets amazing reviews from all types of curlies, many of whom are 2s and 2/3 combos. Coffee-Coco’s Curl Creme Lite is another great choice for type 2s who tend to have finer hair that cannot tolerate anything that will weigh it down. In addition to adding moisture (a major cause of frizz”>, this product will kill the frizzes and give your hair some definition.

Type 3: Curly

Blended Beauty’s Curly Frizz Pudding gets rave reviews from our 3b and 3c curls. It’s an aloe-based curly pudding that helps define and shape curls while controlling the frizz. Curlies also report getting fantastic results from AG Hair Cosmetics’ Curl Trigger Curl Defining Spray. This spray helps eliminate frizz while trapping in moisture and shine.

Type 4: Coily

Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo is a great choice for type 4s who often have a lot of product buildup. This shampoo gets great reviews from our type 4s who need something to break through dirt and product while, at the same time, controlling frizz. You can combine this with their Macadamia Heat Protection Gloss, which will strengthen the hair and leave it soft while keeping the frizzies under control. Remember that Type 4 hair tends to be naturally frizzy and that is no indication of health, especially if you do not have natural curl definition. These tips are more applicable for tighter textures that do have curl definition, which can be observed while the hair is wet.

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 5, 2012

If you’re battling with unwanted hair, you’ve probably tried shaving, waxing and buffing it away. These techniques are good and you can do them in the comfort of your own home. While the time you’ll remain hairless depends on the type of removal you’re doing, it will grow back over time.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, literally damages the hair follicle underneath your skin. This procedure is permanent, so you might want to learn a little about it before you rush to get it done.

The Down-low on Lasers

Laser hair removal involves using a laser with intense heat to burn the hair follicle under your skin. Some procedures use a combination of energy and heat. Either way, this process prevents the hair from re-growing. Generally, the procedure involves multiple sessions before reaching permanent hair removal. Overall, the process can take anywhere from six months to a year and a half, depending on how long you go in between treatments.

Be sure to check with the specialist who does your laser hair removal to see which options are available should you experience an unexpected re-growth. In some instances, specialists offer continual treatments, free of charge, until you finally reach permanency. That’s how sure they are that laser hair removal works!

The Who & “Ow!”

According to the Mayo Clinic, although anyone can get laser hair removal, the procedure is most effective for those with light skin and dark hair. Women who have had horrifying experiences with waxing or who are sick of cutting themselves while they shave every few days might consider laser hair removal as well.

In preparation for your sessions, you will likely have to shave the area prior. You will then undergo treatments that last about fifteen to twenty minutes each time. Most who have had this done say the actual treatments feel like a pinch under heat. The pain isn’t described as excruciating, and you should no longer feel the discomfort by the time your session ends.

Laser hair removal is not a surgery, so you will be able to get up and walk out at the end of your session.

Some dermatologists also offer laser hair removal. Alternatively, there are clinics that specialize in just laser hair removal. No matter where you go, be sure that the doctor you’re seeing has had training and certification in laser hair removal.

Dollar Signs

There’s no doubt that shaving and waxing, while not permanent, are inexpensive options. If you want permanent hair removal, though, you’re going to have to pay for it.

Costs vary depending on where you have your treatment done. In addition, each person’s situation will be different, and you probably won’t get an exact quote until after you consult with the physician. That said, treatments could range from $100 per session to hundreds of dollars per session.

Would you pay for permanent hair removal? 

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 2, 2012

If you were born in the 80s, you’re probably cringing at the thought of something you did being “retro.” After all, “retro” is, like, stuff your PARENTS did.

We children of the 80s are now in our late 20s and 30s, but calling 80s hair styles “retro” is going too far, right?

Well, maybe not. You remember the big hair, the fluff chick, the perms and the purple streaks? If you haven’t been keeping up with the MTV Awards, or any award shows recently, these styles are coming back – with a vengeance!

The texture revolution sure is taking off, but let’s take a look back at the celebrities and styles that inspired the very beginnings of this grass roots movement.

Gnarly Curly Celebrities

Curlies of the 80s had some icons we admired, in part because they weren’t afraid to rock their bodacious locks. Some of our favorites are Lisa Lisa (from Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam”> who had long, dark curly hair. She often wore her hair clipped at the top with the rest flowing down in a massive wave.

And who could forget our favorite material girl? That’s right, Madonna totally rocked the headbands and bangles with her edgy (well, relatively speaking”> fashion sense.

Then there was the infamous and beloved Whitney Houston. We’re still getting chill bumps having to write in the past tense about her. But truth be told, the woman was an idol and in the 80s, her hair had a voice all its own.

Getting the Throwback Look

In the 90s, you never would have believed that a decade in to the new millennium you would want to rock the same textured styles you did in middle and high school. But trends have a way of coming back like that, and those of us involved in the texture revolution like to think that this time around, it isn’t just a trend!

So how can you get these throwback, curly, 80s hair styles? Easy!

For all hair types, consider teasing your hair. You can tease it and wear it up in a Madonna-inspired updo that’s really easy to do.

Simply gather your hair into a ponytail in the back of your head. Working with small, ½” wide sections, curl your hair into several ringlets. You’ll then spray the curls with hairspray to help them hold in place. When you’re done, lift the ponytail up some, from the bottom up, and clip it into a bun/very messy ponytail using just a few bobby pins. You aren’t going for perfect here; actually, the idea is a messy shortened ponytail. Top it off with a headband and you’ll look so diesel!

Imogen from Bubble Dreams has a good tutorial on just how to do this, and she looks adorable! Plus, her style is inspired by Rihanna, meaning that even RiRi has jumped on the 80s hair styles bandwagon. Or, perhaps she’s leading it?

What do you think? Are the textured hair trends of the 80s back in vogue? 

By Tasha Swearingen · Published March 1, 2012

Most of us have heard of having transplants for vital organs, such as the kidneys or the liver. Hair transplants on the eyebrows or eyelashes, however, may be a bit new to us. Many curlies have absolutely gorgeous eyebrows and thick, long eyelashes. Others are not so lucky.

For those individuals, hair transplants might be a good solution.

Naturals & Hair Transplants

Some curlies might opt do for eyebrow and eyelash transplants because they don’t like the eyebrows and lashes they were given at birth. Others — whether curly or straight — might have a need for hair restoration due to a trauma at the hair follicle, or because of a condition such as alopecia.

In the past, hair transplants were only for those who lost hair due to medical conditions. These days, you can find a surgeon who will do a transplant to enhance the hair you already have. For instance, if you want thicker eyelashes or want to form a great eyebrow arch, finding a doctor to perform the transplant for you is relatively easy.

The Transplant Process

For an eyebrow transplant, a surgeon will remove a strip of hair-infused skin from another part of the body, like your head, and then reposition it on your eyebrow area. This hair must have the same texture as “normal” eyebrow hair, so the surgeon will search your entire scalp for the perfect piece. This means the surgeon will be looking for hair that is finer than the majority of your hair. Carefully, the hair then goes into a pre-determined incision through micro-grafting one or two pieces of hair at a time.

Prior to the surgery, which is done under mild anesthesia, you would need to work with your surgeon to decide on the exact shape and contour for your eyebrow. You would also need to talk about post-surgery care, such as how you will trim your eyebrows once the transplanted hair starts growing.

Where to Get it Done

Surgeons trained in doing hair transplants perform the eyebrow and eyelash transplants. Eyebrow transplants are especially delicate procedures, which is why only a few surgeons actually do it. A good start would be to have a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon, since that person specializes solely in hair restoration.

Variations on the Transplant

Your options for hair transplant are limited to the type of hair you have. Since the hair for the transplant comes from your head, you do have to stick with your natural hair follicles. However, you have options with regard to just how much hair you want transplanted, as well as how thick you’d like your new lashes!

Would you get an eyebrow or eyelash transplant? Why or why not?

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 27, 2012

Sexy men are good eye candy and sexy, curly men are just plain hot! While male celebrities may not have to go through quite as much work as to keep our curls looking good as we do, we appreciate them just the same. Whatever it is they do or have done to their hair, it definitely pays off, and we get to reap the visual benefits!

Adrian Grenier

You may remember him from “The Devil Wears Prada” or more recently from the new “90210.” Wherever you can remember him from, we are SO JEALOUS of his perfect type 3 curls! You just know they’d be gorgeous if he let them grow out even more. What’s more, I bet he spends hardly time at all getting those curls to look like that. Ah, the life of a man.

Joe Nichols

Recently nominated at the CMC 2012 Music Awards in Australia as the “International Artist of the Year,” Joe Nichols is just plain sexy, and we’re quite sure he knows it! He has insanely perfect type 2 waves that are sure to make you wavies envious.

Lenny Kravitz

Don’t think we weren’t going to include some sexy kinkies! Lenny Kravitz has had various hairstyles over the years, and these days he’s sporting it a little shorter. Still, we totally love when he grows it out a little, especially in those dreads! He is hot, his voice is sultry and his hair is perfection. I bet I could give him some homemade product advice, show him how to apply it and become best curl friends. Or get married. Whichever.

Gabriel Aubry

Another type 2 hot one, Gabriel Aubry’s half-smirk, half-serious smile makes us melt! His smoking good looks and those soft curls framing his face in such a way that he seems deep thought makes it hard to look away. On the other hand, maybe it’s just that we can’t think of anything but dreamy deep thoughts when we stare into his eyes. Either way, I’d kill to run my hands through those curls, if he’d let me, of course!

Redfoo

Known for rocking the beat with his nephew Sky Blu, together forming the duo “LMFAO,” Redfoo definitely knows how to work the ‘fro! Looking past the, well, kind of over-the-top tacky outfits and colossal glasses he is always sporting, I’m completely falling for his ‘fro!

Brody Jenner

Brody’s sexy celebrity curls just make us swoon! We can’t tell if it’s those beautiful brown eyes of his or that pouty mouth he has when he smiles that captures us, but his curls are totally in control. I love how he can keep his hair short and still have curl definition. Toss that cropped curly ‘do advice over here, Brody!

Adrian Grenier

Joe Nichols

Lenny Kravitz

Gabriel Aubry

Redfoo

Brody Jenner

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 22, 2012

You’ve done your research on the best way to care for your natural curls and decided that the no shampoo method is best for you. So far, you love the results and can absolutely tell the positive differences in your hair. In fact, you’re starting to resent all the money you’ve spent on crappy shampoos over all the years.

If only your partner didn’t think that doing without shampoo was so gross! Is there any way to change his mind?

Educate

Does your partner think you’re the only one on the planet who has gone the no shampoo route? Unless he’s hanging with us on CurlTalk or surfing the blogosphere for natural hair blogs, he may honestly think you’ve lost your marbles or that you’re the pioneer in the no-poo movement.

Assure him that you’re not the only one, and then show him some no-shampoo blogs. A lot of bloggers like posting many pictures, and our bloggers are no exception! Your significant other may be amazed to see how gorgeous hair can look even without shampoo.

Demonstrate

Show him that using no shampoo can be even BETTER than using shampoo. Point out the money that you’re saving by not buying expensive, quality shampoos. Let him see that you do still rinse your hair and/or use conditioner, but that the shampoo itself is just hurting your hair.

Some curlies choose to cut out all shampoos, hairsprays, gels, leave-ins and even regular conditioner. Others choose to use a small amount of conditioner every couple of rinses. Whatever your regimen, keep your significant other well informed and let him know exactly what it is you do and why.

Commiserate

Try to understand where he’s coming from and get to bottom of his concerns.

Is it that he wants to be able to run his fingers through your hair, but the thought of greasy hair makes him gag? Show him that he can still do this, and that no shampoo doesn’t mean your hair is dirty.

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 20, 2012

We all know that dedicated curlies go through extensive hair care regimens to keep their curls looking fabulous. In doing so, we often end up spending gobs of money on good, quality hair care products (no cheap sulfate-infused shampoos for us!”>. If you’re on a budget, this can definitely cause a financial strain, especially if there are multiple curlies in the house, or if you have different hair types. The solution? Learn to share!

Besides the obvious benefit, such as cutting down on costs, sharing curly hair products can lead to some bonding time. For instance, if it’s Friday night and you both need to do a deep condition, you can hop in the shower together, wash-up together and then put the conditioners on together. Of course, a deep condition means about 30 to 60 minutes of down time while the conditioner sets. We’re pretty sure you can find something productive to do with your significant other while you wait!

Another benefit of sharing is that it should cut out the issue of one person using “your” shampoo or using the last little drops of your conditioner. If you’re sharing, you both know what you need and how much of it you need, so hopefully your S.O. will be so kind as to let you know that the two of you are running low on something.

Bottom line: sharing is fun! You’ll get cut down on costs and get to experiment with new things simultaneously , such as making homemade hair masks or scalp massages.

Sharing with Different Hair Types

So you’ve decided you want to share and can see all the benefits, but you both have different hair types. Does this disqualify you from being able to share? Nope!

You may not be able to share everything, but there are actually products made for multiple hair types, so choose something that works well with this situation.

We love reading the reviews curlies give products on CurlMart! Part of what we find helpful is seeing what hair type someone has and how that affects his or her review. Some of the best products out there seem to work well for varying hair types. For instance, Curl Junkie’s Curl Assurance Smoothing Lotion gets glowing reviews from our reviewers who range from type 2a to 4c and everything in between. You can’t go wrong with that stuff, which is probably why it’s one of our top five picks for moisture!

If shampoo is what you’re looking for, Elucence’s Moisture Benefits Shampoo is not only extremely cost-friendly at just $6 a bottle, but it’s also a favorite amongst our reviewers with type 2-4 curls.

Things to Keep in Mind

Final Thoughts

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 16, 2012

Ayurveda suggests that there is a strong connection between the mind and body and that only by being in touch with both can we achieve optimal health and wellness. Included in health and wellness is how we care for our hair. Ayurveda offers ideas and regimens that can help your scalp and encourage the growth of your hair.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to medicine. If you aren’t familiar with holistic medicine, it encompasses the entire body (“whole body””> rather than addressing just a few symptoms that may be present at the time.

For instance, instead of looking to get rid of a cough and a runny nose, a holistic practitioner will want to look at your overall health, including diet and nutrition, and look at ways to improve your health and get to the root of the problem. Ayurveda follows the constitutional model of holistic medicine, according to the Ayruvedic Foundations. This means that everything suggested in ayurveda is specific to the individual based on assessment, observation and conversation with the individual.

How Ayurveda Affects Your Hair

Hair is just one aspect of your body, but ayurvedic medicine suggests that caring for your head and scalp can benefit not only your hair but also the rest of your body. It also suggests that you take care of your hair now (rather than wait until you have problems with it”> for lifelong benefits.

An ayurvedic hair regimen involves massaging warm oils into your scalp. You can add a number of herbs to the oil, but be sure to choose herbs that are “hair-friendly” or you could end up with a ratty, dry mess. Jo Somebody, a user on CurlTalk, says, “Simplicity is best when first starting.”

While you may read about several different herbal concoctions being added to oils for ayurveda, you need to choose oils that will work best for your hair type.

A good, simple first-time ayurvedic treatment is Kalpi tone. This comes in a box and is a mixture of some of the common herbs people use for ayurveda. It’s great for beginners because you don’t have to come up with your own supplies of different herbs and don’t have to wonder if you have the right amounts of each. The instructions on the box tell you to mix this powder with water, and then apply to your hair.

However, some of our CurlTalk Curlies have shared their own experiences, which include adding a touch of honey to the mixture or adding a smidgen of their favorite moisturizing conditioner. Sasha-Shae Shaw from Afrouniquely gives a great pictorial on applying Kalpi tone, including her before and after pictures.

Alternatively, you could mix your own selection of ayurvedic hair care herbs, such as reetha powder, amla, shikakai, and neem, into warm oil and then massage the oil into your scalp. This regimen will work to prevent dry scalp and flaking without dandruff-free shampoos (which can actually worsen dandruff issues”>. You can also mix henna powder in with the oil, though several curlies report difficulties getting the henna powder out of twists.

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 14, 2012

Last night you had an “exhilarating” night with your man. Everything went as planned, right down to the food, cuddling and your hair! Perfect!

What no one bothered to tell you – or what you were too enthralled last night to think about – was that the next day, you’ll look slightly (okay, tons”> different from your drop-dead gorgeous looks from the previous night.

What’s a curly girl to do to keep from looking like death run over the next day? Easy – prepare for hot second day hair!

Wash-and-Go

If a shower is possible, you’ll probably feel much better after taking one! You may not be used to the wash-and-go method, but if you’re going to be in a hurry – say, to get to work the next morning – it might be something you’ll have no choice but to do.

Prepare for this in advance by making sure you have your favorite shampoo and conditioners ready, along with any type of leave-in conditioners you might usually use.

Clip It

No matter how your hair looks the next day, jumbo claw clips are practically a godsend. Whether your hair looks fabulous or like a fiasco, claw clips can help you save face. Choose clips that work with your hair (which is something you should know well in advance”>.

Smaller clips are good for thinner hair while the larger, sturdier clips are good for thick or coarse hair. You could also use a couple smaller ones and create a hairstyle out of them. For instance, you could part your hair and clip back just the front part on one or both sides. On the other hand, you could use one large clip to make a bun in the back of your head.

Twist It

You know that look that you just LOVE after a twist out? Well, you can do that the night before and look even better in the morning! When your night ends, put your hair in twists and you’ll have a great look the next day. Just dampen your hair and separate it into two-inch sections. For each section, apply a curl cream, and then divide each into two parts. Twist the two strands around each other, secure with a tiny hair band and you’re done!

Let that sit overnight and you’ll have a great look in the morning when you remove the twists. If you’ve never done a twist out, it’d be a good idea to experiment with this sometime before your special night, just to be sure you like the results you get.

Braid It

If all else fails, braid that hair! Braids are not something most curlies usually consider as an option. After all, your hair is already curly; many curlies are in no rush to add more waves to that. However, braids can totally save you especially if you have no time for fancy hairstyles and aren’t thrilled about a wash-and-go either.

You can braid your hair wet or dry. French braids, plaits, and pigtails are good styles that work well with curly hair. You decide which braiding style will best suit wherever you’re going the next day!

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 13, 2012

Sex appeal isn’t just about what your body looks like, it’s also about your personality and how you carry yourself. To help boost your confidence, you should take care of what you have, whether that’s stick-straight hair or kinky coils! Your man will find your self-assurance highly attractive! Try out some of these hot and sexy curly hairstyles before your steamy night!

Curly Updos

Natural curls are sexy! There’s no doubt about it. So you might be wondering why we’d suggest hiding all of those curls in an updo. Just keepin’ it real. If you wanna be sexy and comfortable, choose a hairstyle that’ll let you focus more on what’s going on in the room and less on messing up your hair.

If you want, you can go for a sophisticated, polished bun. While your hair is damp, use a wide toothed comb to get through it, then start combing your hair back while tipping your head back. Grab your hair right into the center of your head, then wind it around itself in a bun.

If you are going for the sexy schoolteacher look, secure it tight with bobby pins and spray any loose ends with a light hairspray. However, if you want something that’ll let you shake it out while you’re being sexy later, avoid the hairspray and don’t make a super tight bun.

Check out some more ideas for curly updos.

Ponytails

If you’re thinking ponytails are for “innocent” looks, think again! Try putting your hair into two low-ponytails and adding a sexy, dominating outfit and see what happens!  If you want a little more bounce to your hair than a bun will give, but still want the convenience of having it kept back, try a sexy ponytail! You can wear ponytails low and near the neck for a more “serious” look, or way up high (think “cheerleader””> for a fun, sassy look!

You can also go for a more relaxed look by gathering your hair into a ponytail, and then, before you make that last sweep of your hair through the ponytail holder, release the band to hold the hair in place. This gives you the convenience of having your hair up in a bun while still looking relaxed and comfortable!

Check out some more ideas for simple and sexy ponytails.

Free Flowing

For some of you, putting your hair up is anything but sexy. Some girls don’t feel like they’re themselves unless they can just shake it all out (or attempt to hide behind their hair”>. In addition, many men want to actually SEE their girl’s hair, maybe even run their fingers through it (type 3 curlies are now squealing at the thought of insta-frizz!”>.Whatever the reason, you can feel confident wearing your hair down. Heck, you can even stand in front of the mirror and practice your “sexy poses” until you find one you like.

Tip: If you keep your head close to the end of the bed, you don’t have to worry about rolling around on your loose hair; just pull your hair out from under you and let it hang over the side of the bed!

Final Thoughts

By Tasha Swearingen · Published February 10, 2012

Valentine’s Day is an open call for romance for all couples! Thus, you’ll want to look and feel your sexiest for this special day. If you’re gonna rock it for Valentine’s Day, you’ve got to pay attention to everything about your looks – from head to toe!

Type 2s:

Type 2 wavies need to focus on not putting anything too heavy on their hair and on keeping their waves shiny and soft. One product that’s great for all hair types is Curly Hair Solution’s Curl Keeper, which aides in forming curls, adding moisture and keeping the frizzies out of your hair. Reviewers with 2b and 3a hair tell us that they absolutely LOVE this for their hair type.

“I’ve looked all my life for a product like this (sadly I’m now 38″> and it’s a shame I haven’t found it sooner,” says one reviewer with type 2b hair.

A 2c wavy tells us, “I have to say…it’s AMAZING! Wonderful product! Gave me bouncy, shiny, defined, frizz-free [hair] that STAYED all of the above after my hair had finished drying.”

Type 3s:

You type 3 curlies are known for your trademark spirals that make the other curlies envious! However, you also deal with frizz that is sometimes about as unpredictable as the weather. To combat this for Valentine’s Day, try Curl Junkie’s Coffee Coco Crème Lite which is great for taming frizzies on dry hair or keeping things under control on damp hair.

Several of our 3c curlies sing the praises for Aubrey Organics’ 100% Organic Jojoba Oil. Most of them are using it as an overnight treatment and find that they love the results in the morning. You could use this the night before Valentine’s Day, or use it for second-day hair and apply it before you go to bed that night.

Type 4s: