5 WAYS TO MINIMIZE SHRINKAGE OF YOUR NATURAL HAIR

Hey y'all. I came across this article on shrinkage, a problem that I, along with many other curlies, face with their natural hair. I love big hair, so it's really frustrating when my mane shrivels up like a prune and does nothing for my visual aesthetic. I ranted about it in this post, and decided to research the topic further. Anyway, here are the main tips the author gives to avoid or prevent the shrinkage of your natural hair:

1. Twist or braid the hair in sections when it is wet – This is the most common technique for reducing shrinkage. The braids or twists are undone once completely dry imparting a beautiful texture on the hair or leaving it relatively ‘stretched’ out and ready for the next step of the styling process.

2. Hair treatments – There are various treatments that you can give your curls to leave them elongated when dry. The most popular of these are the dairy based ones like yogurt treatments, sour cream treatment or plain milk treatment. The common denominator in these 3 is the lactic acid that seems to stretch out the hair and some have reported up to 40% less shrinkage after using the treatments. Like anything else, this is a process of trial and error. Some people’s hair seems to respond to different treatments better than others. The fact that these are only temporary effects (lasting until the next wash), is also appealing to most as there is no damage to the hair. The caramel treatment is also worth a mention. It involves the use of molasses, honey, bananas and some vinegar blended together to a caramel consistency. This is an excellent moisturizing treatment and it also leaves the curls hanging lower even after the hair is dry.

Black and Beautiful

                                             

                                                Rotimi from Nigeria rocking her natural hair.

More pics after the cut.....

How to Twistout

My natural hair

May 15 ,2013

This is me......

I took this picture around April 2013,it's still on transitioning .

10 Things Never to say to a natural girl

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like compliments about their hair. Unfortunately, we natural girls hear things that aren’t really complimentary. Maybe it’s a straight up insult, ignorance  or sometimes it is a backhanded compliment, and sometimes  it’s just something that the other person could have kept to themselves. Personally I would prefer if you never said or asked the following:

1. ‘Your braids or twists look like Miss Celie’s.’ 
Say what you want but Oprah, and Whoopi have some nice hair on and off set.

2. ‘Are you going to do your hair?’, or ‘Why didn’t you comb your hair?’
I may DO something, I may DO nothing. I find beauty in little imperfections. My hair hair hates combs.

3. ‘Can I touch it?’ (while reaching for my strands) and/or after sanctioned or unsanctioned touching: ‘It’s much softer than it looks.’
Some days I don’t mind educating the masses about kinky hair. Other days I imagine drop kicking.

4. ‘Why don’t you wear your hair curly like ________ (someone with a completely different hair texture)?’
No two people are alike. Natural hair is versatile, and I can achieve nearly any style. Now mind your business.

5. ‘How did you get it to curl like that?’ or ‘How do you get your hair to do that?’
No one ever questioned my styling process when my hair was relaxed! But I’m happy to show you how.

6. ‘Aren’t you afraid of looking unprofessional?’
I tackle natural hair myths in this article.

7. ’I couldn’t go natural unless I had good hair’ and in the same breath… ‘You’re braver than I am.’
**Takes long, calculated look at the commenter’s hair, weave or wig**

8. ’Wow, your hair grew! I just seen you last week!’
Lets have a little chat about shrinkage……

Style Icon Sarah

9.   ‘Why did it look shorter before?’
Because it was in an updo? And because I have nappy hair that shrinks, a lot. I doubt it was shorter before, it was probably just nappier.  Good old shrinkage.

10. ‘I would cut my hair and go natural, like you but ______ (insert ignorant statement here).’

I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone isn’t going to like my natural hair. Good thing they don’t have to wear it!

What Happens To Natural Hair When You Stop Protective Styling?

This article is aimed at readers who require protective styling and minimal manipulation to be able to see and gain length. To be clear, this means keeping hair in twists, braids etc for a period of 3-4 weeks before undoing and reinstalling the style. People in this category will typically continuously have a braided or twisted style 95% or more of the time and the benefit of the protective style is only reaped as a result of spending a prolonged time (3-4 weeks) without undoing the hair.

This type of routine is best suited to people who are patient and who do not mind developing a fuzz halo (where the shorter hair starts to stick out and make braids or twists look frizzy). Sometimes, however, people need a break or indeed get bored of the routine, so what would happen if you decided to stop this protective styling routine?

1. You are very unlikely to lose length
If you stop protective styling, your hair is very unlikely to lose length unless you do something drastic to cause breakage. This could be heat styling frequently or at high heat, combing your hair daily when you never used to, start washing your hair free when you never used to, etc. If you are sensible and mindful of how you handle your hair, you will be perfectly able to keep your current length at the very least.

2. You are likely to gain little to no length.
If your hair is reliant on protective styling to gain length, you will be aware that more frequent handling is likely to impact your hair ends. For some hair, even low manipulation styles, for example, finger detangling to put hair in a bun, will actually cause some minor damage and breakage. However, what is likely to happen is that the hair growth rate will equal the breakage rate and therefore your hair length stays stagnant. For others, the breakage rate is slightly lower than the growth rate and therefore hair will gain length but not anywhere close to the retention rate seen while in the protective style routine.

3. You are highly likely to enjoy your hair.
The greatest advantage with not sticking firmly to a protective styling routine is the ability to switch styles more often. You are more flexible because your hair can be styled free or you can obviously opt to put in large twists or braids and style those. Enjoying your hair is not something that is often emphasised but it is a great way to know what hair length you enjoy managing, how your hair behaves in humidity and also how to manage your hair with weather changes. You may think that you want waist length hair but find out that actually at shoulder length, your hair is much easier to handle and style. You will never know unless you stop protective styling for a short time at various lengths.

4. A mini trim or dusting may be beneficial when you go back to protective styling
If your hair typically experiences some minor breakage when not in a protective style, it may be useful to do a mini dusting (cutting off a few millimetres at the ends) when you are ready to go back to protective styling. This mini dusting allows you to cut off damaged ends which may help split ends to form or propagate. Sometimes, you do not have visible split ends but this does not mean you are damage free. Taking the precautionary route and assuming there is damage will save you from doing a major trim later on.

5 Signs you are on your way to long hair.

                                                         By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom

Long natural hair is not something that happens quickly, it will take between 3 to 5 years to have that much desired hair down your back. If you are just starting your journey or if you have made some mistakes and wish to redirect your energy into results, here are some of the small but highly significant steps that will mark that you are on the right path.

1. No pain when handling your hair

As a child I learned to grit my teeth and bear the pain as my hair was combed with a fine toothed comb. My hair also did not gain length and often post combing it was easy to see why – huge hair balls always followed. It still remains very common to hear the word tender-headed especially in salons when in truth hair is being ripped out and hence the reason for the pain. You are making significant progress when you get to a point where you no longer associate pain with the detangling process. Some people do experience a general tenderness (dull ache/soreness) associated with combing and this is related to the fact that they are more sensitive to even gentle tugging, however pain should never be the result of combing.

2. No hair on the floor

The less the hair you see on the floor or on your clothes when combing, the better. Ideally you should only see hair in the tool that you use to detangle (so if you are finger combing, shed hair will be unravelled with your fingers or if you are combing with a brush/comb then the shed hair should be trapped with the comb). If you have a good method of combing that suits your hair texture then you will be able to greatly minimise breakage.

3. You are patient

Patience is a big part of handling natural hair. It is required in every aspect from the shorter periods of detangling and styling to the long term period of growth and retention where you have to give your hair enough time in appropriate styles to gain length. The moment when you realise that your hair cannot be hurried, the easier you will find it handle as futile attempts will be eliminated. For example, you can easily style your hair in 5-10 minutes but patience dictates that you must select what works best for your hair. It is easy enough to make a quick bun on dry hair but this will not work when hair is wet for someone with high shrinkage. In that case, it may be easier to place 5-6 twists on wet hair and pin them up into a style. Later when your hair is dry, you can style as you please.

4. You accept that your hair cannot do everything

Natural hair is versatile and in general can be styled in almost any way. However, not all hair can do everything well. Some people can wash their hair every day and it will look perfect. Other people simply cannot do the same as their scalp may become progressively drier or if their hair is longer, daily washing is unsuitable as it increases tangling. Some people can safely heat style their hair but others cannot. If your hair feels brittle or breaks after even a low heat blow dry, you may have to accept heat is not for you. Some people can sit in protective styles for months while others would either get hair unravelling or matting if they attempted to do the same. You have to do what works for you.

5. Your product hunt is over

You need to experiment with products to find which ones best suit your hair. There does come a point though when you eventually find your favourites. You can purchase other products because you want to try them out but it is out of curiosity and not out of necessity. You know what works for you and for what reason. For example if your hair feels particularly dry, you know which conditioner to pick out of your arsenal and how long to leave it on your hair for best results. If you need to add oil to your hair, you know which one or which combination to use and how often. You know that products will not grow your hair but rather help it to stay in good condition (i.e take care of the cuticle and maintain moisture).

Steps to longer hair in a year

                                                 By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom

1.  Accept that what you are doing does not work

You are doing it all, protective styling, moisturising and  deep conditioning but still you have not managed to move your hair an inch. It is time to face the facts – your current routine despite having all the good stuff really does not work.

It is time for a critical assessment. Do you keep a protective style long enough to ensure that you gain benefit from it? Do you moisturise at the critical points when moisture is needed (when taking down a style and when handling free hair) and do you avoid handling your hair at its weakest state (soaking wet)? Could you be doing too much to your hair therefore causing it to wear away and compromise length?

If you do not see results within 2-3 months, you need to make this critical assessment again. Do not wait for 1 year to go by. You should be able to see small increments in your hair length every 2-3 months.

2. Know when your hair breaks

The reason for hair staying at a stagnant length is because it is breaking just as fast as it is growing. It is really important to know when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage and this varies from person to person depending on your individual strand thickness and choice of styling. The most common breakage points are:

-during takedown of a protective style (especially at the ends)

-during detangling (both conditioner combing and dry detangling)

- while wearing hair free (due to tangling, shrinkage, knots and regular handling)

Once you identify why and when your hair is most vulnerable to breakage, you will be able to know exactly when you must protect your hair from damage.

3. Try something new

Having accepted that what you are doing does not work, it is time to try to do something new. If you have been conditioner combing, try dry or damp detangling  for a little while and see how it works for you.  Compare your results after 2-3 months and decide which one really works best for you.  If you have never deep conditioned your hair, try doing it for 2-3 months and see if your hair improves or not. If you only use heavy oils or butters on your hair, try light oils and see if your hair would equally be happy with those. Do not write things off before you actually try them.

4. Know when to stop

I am really all for trying something new but equally you should know when to stop. If a technique causes immediate breakage, stop using it. Do not think perhaps your hair is shedding more than usual, assume that the technique is not working for your hair and must be adjusted to suit your curls and kinks or not used at all. If you are deep conditioning 2-3 times a week and your hair is not moisturised, stop and reassess how you are conditioning (is your conditioner working, do you need to warm it up first, could you do with some protein, do you use a leave in/moisturiser/oil after washing).

5. Have realistic expectations

Finally hair takes a long time to grow. Many naturals cannot retain 100% of their growth. If your hair is susceptible to split ends then cutting them off will impact retention but provided at the end of the year you have kept some length, do not be disheartened. There are a small proportion of women who can keep all their growth but I feel that it is more reasonable to expect between 3-5 inches per year with a regular trimming or dusting routine.

Tips for Achieving for hair length goals 👩

                                           By Cipriana of Urbanbushbabes.com

How many endless pictures across the internet of length crushing hair have you lusted over, fantasizing about the day when you have finally reached your hair length goals but let’s be real, keeping your eyes on the prize can be every bit as frustrating as actually waiting for your hair to grow a couple of those precious inches, especially when you want your hair goals TODAY! These are tips I have accumulated over the years to help me reach my hair length goal…Patiently.

1. Do Protective Styles that You Can ROCK Right Now

Admiring styles you want to rock in the future is cool and like I mentioned, keeping your eye on the prize can be motivating but sometimes motivation needs to be balanced with the satisfaction of the here and now. Finding a protective hairstyle that you love can calm the strong yearning of your future hair goal, making the waiting process easier. So whether it’s a wig, updos, braids, twists, etc, finding a protective style you love will not only calm the storm but will help with low manipulation since your hair will not be a daily focus.

2. Find Hair Crushes with Similar Lengths

Similar to finding a hairstyle you can rock at the moment, finding women with similar hair lengths that you love will make you appreciate your hair in the moment, inspiring you and taking the attention off of what you don’t have.

3. Hide the Measuring Tape

Similar to losing weight, you are not going to miraculously lose the pounds you want in a day so why give yourself false hope in going on the scale every day? Well the same applies to your hair. I would suggest checking your length every 3-6 months.

4. Understand that Hair on Average Grows ½ inch every Month

On average your hair grows ½ an inch every month which translates to 6 inches a year but for some the growth rate could be anywhere from ¼ to 1 inch a month, adding up to 3 or 12 inches a year. But most of us can achieve up, a little less than or a little more than ½ an inch of growth every month.

5. Learn to Take Care of your Hair

Nothing helps you reach your hair goals faster with fewer setbacks than healthy hair care practices such as reducing or eliminating heat, sealing, moisturizing (watering), use of silk pillowcase or scarf, patience while detangling and styling, low manipulation, product usage, etc. Also as I always enforce, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put on or do to your hair topically. Remember “healthy” hair starts from the inside so watch your diet and stress levels.

6. Understand Terminal Length

Yes, due to genetics everyone has a predetermined length their hair can ultimately grow. Our hair growth or Anagen phase not only includes the hair on our scalp, but every hair on our body as well. Terminal length simply means the length your hair can actually grow if it was never cut or damaged in anyway. On average the Anagen phase (which is pre-determined by genetics) is anywhere from 2-6 years. Though some of us may even have a little longer or shorter terminal length, on average most of us are capable of growing at least 12 inches of hair (bra strap from nape area) and this is the shortest growth phase.

You will not accurately know your terminal length unless you are truly taking care of your hair and have found a regimen that works. If you want answers sooner a big clue is your family. Look at the women in your family or photos of female family members who were natural in their youth. See how long it took them to grow their hair out (assuming that, in childhood, their hair was being cared for properly.) For instance my mother is in her 50’s and has extremely thick and waist long hair as well as many of my cousins from the past on my mother’s side.

7. Low Manipulation

Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money…everyone wants mo money! Well if you want mo length then you need Lo Manipulation, Lo Manipulation, Lo Manipulation! Keeping your hands out of your hair on a daily basis decreases your chances in breakage that constant manipulation does not protect you from.

Natural Mum & Daughter😀

😃

Habits that lead to longer natural hair.

By Jc of The Natural Haven

Going natural is not going to automatically help your hair get longer (especially so if your curl is tighter).
Here is what I have observed

1. Long haired naturals (with a type 4 texture) LIVE in twists or braids (especially so in the beginning 2-3 years). The basic regimen is wash, condition and twist up for 3-4 weeks (and even longer). Hair is out for a weekend or a few days and then back to to the 3-4 weeks of twists.

2. Long haired naturals with a looser texture LIVE in protective styles. They do not typically twist up for 3 weeks but would regularly do so for 1 week then bun up or wear off the shoulder styles.

3. Natural hair thrives in a heat free regimen. This is especially true for people with thin strands. People with thicker strands can get away with murder. Type 4 hair is usually assumed to be thick and this is simply not true. Some have thick strands some have thin.

4. Most long haired naturals rarely if ever use extensions.

5. Trimming is more important than people make out. The less damage you have to your hair, the less you need to trim. It is not about trimming a quarter inch every 2-3 months but rather about examining the ends of your hair and assessing how much needs to be trimmed and how often (i,e look for split ends!). Splitting and thinning hair ends will not gain length. period.

Meanwhile the most common questions that people ask when it comes to growing hair are
1. Which hair product to use
2. Which washing method is best
3. How to avoid ‘chemicals’ in hair products
4. How to style hair
5. How little should we trim (emphasis on little)
6. How should I moisturise my hair
7. How can I make my hair soft
8. What can I apply to my hair/scalp to make my hair grow faster
9. What should I eat to make my hair grow faster

In my opinion, people have used different products and methods in their hair care and still gained length. The fundamental similarities are what we should see instead of investing time on the differences.

Hair,make up n her nails

How to know your hair is mosturiized

1. Moisturized hair is not wet

There is a big difference between wet, damp or misted hair and moisturized hair. To the touch, moisturized hair does not have a wet feeling. The moisture which differentiates it from dry hair is locked within the strand and not on the surface of the hair. Humidity or humectants (such as aloe vera, honey and glycerin) which act to increase the outer moisture of the hair do not change the fact that the hair is 100% dry to the touch.

2. Moisturized hair is a sound

The instantly recognizable feature associated with dry hair which is not moisturized is crackling. Dry unmoisturized hair tends to have a rasping sound when the strands are rubbed against each other. The drier hair gets, the more perceptible the sound becomes. Moisturized hair on the other hand is almost noiseless. The strands of hair can generally glide past each other and even where they tangle or knot, they do not make the same crunchy crackling of dry hair.

3. Moisturized hair is a feeling and a look

Moisturized hair is soft to the touch unlike dry hair where the texture of the hair is amplified making it feel rough. For those with natural shine/sheen or if a product with oil is used, moisturized hair will accentuate the shine.

4. Moisturized hair is flexible and strong

A very desirable property of moisturized hair is that it is more flexible and less susceptible  to breakage. Hair has a tendency to be able to stretch out and where tangles form, the hair does not tend to immediately snap. Where curls are present they will have a natural spring and where shrinkage is present, hair will be approximately 60-70% of its full length. The hair is not wet (i.e complete shrinkage) and is not dry (where hair can stretch to even 80-90% of its full length but has a tendency to snap when pulled or stretched).

5. Moisturized hair has all the above properties at the same time

As an example,  if you only add oil to your hair and no water, hair may feel soft to the touch and shine but may not be flexible and may still have a crackle to it when it is dry.

The principle way to identify moisturized hair is that it has to have all the properties described:

1. Not wet  to the touch

2. No crackling or crunching

3. Soft to the touch with shine (noting that shine is relative)

4. Flexibility and strength

Protective Styles for Natural Ladies

These are protective styles for Natural ladies.

Tips for Naturals Who Want Thicker, Stronger Ends

You have been natural for some time.  Your hair is growing, but your ends are thin, scraggly, brittle, weak, and/or split.  If this sounds like your situation, then understand that your ends do not have to be this way throughout your natural hair journey. Here are six tips to get you started towards thicker, stronger ends:

1. Trim away split ends and other damage

If you want to eliminate thin, brittle ends, then start first by trimming away any moderate to severe damage.  Though this step may sound obvious, many of us still hold on to such damage in hopes of keeping our length OR magically reverting back to healthy ends.  To put it bluntly, split ends need to be cut.  Severely worn ends need to be cut.  These weak points need to be removed. (Check out this post for various ways to trim natural hair.)  After your trim, you can then really focus on achieving thicker, stronger ends using the following steps …

2. Use a protein conditioner on your ends

The use of protein conditioners tends to be underrated in the natural hair community while moisture is usually at the forefront of our minds.  Though moisture is obviously necessary, protein can be beneficial in temporarily reinforcing the ends of our hair, particularly areas where the cuticle has been lost.  Such reinforcement can allow for thicker, stronger ends in the immediate moment (due to temporary patching of the cuticle) as well as in the long run (due to protection against breakage and splits).  Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner, if needed.

3. Lubricate your ends liberally prior to manipulation

Many naturals already know about the importance of “sealing” – application of an oil and/or a butter to the ends in order to help lock in moisture.  However, not as many naturals know about the importance of “lubricating” the ends, especially prior to manipulation of any sort.  So why is this process useful?  Well, application of an oil and/or butter to the ends can reduce friction that might otherwise cause knotting, tangling, splits, and worn ends.  Thus, it can be beneficial to not only apply these substances after you moisturize but also before you style (e.g., twist your
hair, bun your hair) or separate (e.g., undo twists for a twist-out, separate an old braid-out) your hair.

4. Keep direct heat usage to a minimum OR eliminate it altogether

While you may not experience immediate heat damage (that is, permanently straight strands), you can accumulate an abundance of split ends with the overuse of heating tools.  Thus, it is better to keep heat usage to a minimum (and that minimum varies from one natural to another) or to cut it out altogether.

5. Handle your ends gently AND as little as possible

The less you handle your hair, the less wear and tear you will experience, especially at the ends.  For some naturals, this means protective styling long-term while for others this means adopting a simple, low-manipulation style routine.  Also, when you are manipulating your hair, be very gentle at the ends; tugging, pulling, and tension can lead to splits and faster wear.

6. Moisturize your ends sufficiently and regularly

This last tip may seem like a no-brainer, but how many of us can be honest with ourselves about being on top of our moisture game ALL of the time … especially when it comes to the very ends of our strands?  The reality is that dry ends can transform into broken, thin ends over time, so make this tip a priority!

Do it your self; Hot oil treatment

by Naptural85

How to Use Olive Oil on Natural Hair

Olive oil is a fantastic conditioner for hair, but there are many other things about this essential oil that make it a great go-to for hair care.

It’s also one of the top emollients that can penetrate the hair better than others, and its lightweight nature makes it great for moisturizing.

Olive oil also contains anti-inflammatory properties that promote scalp health and prevent dandruff. Extra virgin olive oil is also rich in high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, an antioxidant important for hair growth.

Olive oil is not likely to cause an allergic reaction, making it ideal for sensitive skin and hair.


DIY Olive Oil Hair Treatment



Another great thing about olive oil is that it’s a cheap(not that cheap in North Cyprus) and easy way to add moisture to your hair. Here’s a simple olive oil treatment you can try for achieving beautiful hair at home.

Warm about a half a cup of olive oil in a microwaveable bowl or cup. The olive oil should be warm but not hot to the touch. If you have fine hair or prefer a lighter treatment, add coconut, sweet almond or jojoba oil.
Pour one tablespoon of the olive oil mixture into the palm of your hands.
Starting with your scalp, massage the oil into your hair in a circular motion using your fingertips. Finish by massaging the tips of your hair.

Place your oil-drenched hair into a shower cap or wrap it with plastic wrap.
Let the olive oil sit for between 5–45 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
Dry or Wet Hair?

Some women prefer applying olive oil treatments to wet and recently conditioned hair while others want their hair to be dry. If your hair is wet and conditioned, it will lock in the moisture and additional nutrients when the olive oil is applied.

The downside is that olive oil is already slightly more difficult to apply due to the hair’s slipper nature. If you apply olive oil to dry hair, it has a similar effect, but many argue it doesn’t lock in as many nutrients as the wet treatment. Even so, it’s less of a mess than the wet method.

Many users also recommend hopping in the shower and letting the steam do its thing to enhance the effects of the olive oil on the hair. Once you’ve washed it out, watch your step since the floor will be slick with oil.

By Samantha Berley

Does Trimming Hair Actually Make it Grow Faster?

Trimming could allow your hair to attain a longer length. It sounds strange but what my fellow lab rats discovered is that hair will grow until it reaches a critical length when it appears to grow slowly or not at all.

To understand why this happens, I will start by explaining why hair starts to taper (meaning the strand becomes thinner as it gets farther away from the scalp). Simply put, the cuticle wears away. Remember that the cuticle is not just one layer, it has several layers to it (jog your memory by clicking here).

As the hair grows from scalp to tip, the damage to the cuticle increases because the hair at the tip is older and has been subjected to more torture (combing, wetting, drying, roller setting, heat setting……..etc).

Cutting the tip of the hair off may be an excellent way to possibly trigger a new longer length.


Q: So why trim hair if you want longer hair?
A: Trimming hair when growth appears to be slow or stagnant can allow hair to reach a new longer length (read the first part here!). When the cuticle layer (outside covering of the hair) is thinned down, it no longer offers as much protection to the internal cortex. The hair at the end therefore becomes a split end hot spot.


Q: How much hair should be trimmed?
A: The first trim depends on damage. All thinning ends ideally should be cut off, this could be an inch or it could be 5 inches. Naturally it is a very personal decision if the hair cut could result in a significant appearance change, in which case you can be more conservative and just do several small chops.

Q: How often should hair be trimmed?
A: After the first trim, you can choose to let the hair grow and trim as little or as much as you like. If you are interested in getting to a new longer length then logically, you have to trim less than your hair grows. If you work on the half an inch a month growth rate, then cutting half an inch every 3 to 4 months may be logical.

Q: How do I know my hair has been trimmed enough?
A: I can only give a subjective answer to this question. I would say that after a trim, if you notice many split ends soon after, then you probably did not trim enough. If you trimmed enough, your hair should not split as much or as often as before.

By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom


Question for you naturals!!!

What is your view on trimming? Is trimming just cutting hair or is it useful?

Solange Knowles Shares Her Natural Hair Secrets

Solange Knowles is under the hot lights on set, but her demeanor is cool while hairstylist Chuck Amos coifs her strands into French rolls. Knowles's now famously impulsive act, chopping off her tresses in 2009, has transformed her into a natural hair icon. But that was never her intention. "I honestly was just tired of the energy surrounding my hair," she explains. "So when I cut it, I didn't think about what anyone else would think." We've been admiring her flair for switching up her hairstyles ever since. She's living proof that natural hair can be versatile, stylish and edgy. In the June issue of ESSENCE, she opened up about wearing and caring for her crowning glory.

ESSENCE: Are you surprised so many people are inspired by you?
SOLANGE KNOWLES: I am! I wasn't expecting that. I get women all the time on Twitter and face-to-face saying, "I did this [haircut] because you did." That's really, really humbling, and I think it's amazing.

ESSENCE: Is there any style that stands out as a favorite?
KNOWLES: I actually love my natural hair when it's in a twist out and it's been slept on for five days and revived by the steam of the shower. A lot of people say, "It's so beautiful. Why don't you wear it like that all the time?" Well, I'm in all these different places and working with different hairstylists, so it's important for me to wear it in a protective style.

ESSENCE: How do you feel about your hair now?
KNOWLES: I think many people, especially from other cultures, just don't understand the role hair plays in Black women's lives. I can now transform the energy surrounding my hair into something way more productive. Now that [my hair is] growing back, I'm kind of in that in-between stage. Previously, I would have said, "I'm straightening it again; it's just becoming too much work." But I think the key is to find styles that give me flexibility.

ESSENCE: What advice would you give someone who wants to go natural?
KNOWLES: I would say it's going to be a journey and you have to be 100 percent ready. I think many people are coming into it thinking it's going to be easy and it's going to be healthier. Just because you're natural doesn't mean you'll be able to wash, shake and go. It's a lot of work. If it's something you truly feel strongly about and it's going to represent you in lifestyle, hair care and health, then it's a worthwhile journey to take. I stand for people who are firm in their journey.

Don't go Natural if..........

By Jermeale of NaturallyLuvly.net

1. If you believe your hair will look like your natural hair crush
We all have our own unique natural hair texture. Your hair won’t look like mine. If you believe using the same hair products as me will give you the same results, then I have a house, car, and boat that I’d like to sell you. Your natural hair may look similar, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll have the hair of your natural hair crush. Remember that!

2. If you haven’t taken the time to research
Whether you decide to big chop or transition, there will be an awkward hair stage. Your hair will be short. If you’re expecting your hair to grow overnight, you need to wake up and embrace the hair you have. There are plenty of sites available to learn about natural hair such as Youtube, Fotki, and Google. Use your search engines!

3. If everyone else’s opinion matters to you
Being natural, you should know that not everyone is going to like your hair. Think about why you are going natural. Are you doing it for yourself? If you are doing it for yourself, then no one’s opinion should matter to you. Confidence is very important when being natural.


4.If you're too lazy to experiment with hairstyles
Natural hair requires work.  You have to learn what hairstyles you like and don't.  Once you find what works, then you can develop a routine.  You'll know how long it takes to do different styles and be able to plan your time accordingly.  Learning what works for YOUR hair is no easy feat, but that's where research comes into play.  Learning styles will take time and patience.  You’ll have to experiment with different looks and products until you find what works for you.

5.If you think everyday will be a good hair day
Absolutely not!  There are times when my hair is frizzy, but I embrace it.  My hair won’t always be perfect and I don’t expect it to be.  The best thing you can do is to find a quick alternative hairstyle for those bad hair days.  My solution to a bad hair day is a high puff.

Protecting your nape during winter

By Geniece of Beautifully Made

One winter during high school a strange thing began to happen to my hair. My hair was relaxed at the time and up until that point gave me little to no problems. I rarely used direct heat because my mother would roller set my hair and I regularly washed and oiled (didn’t know what sealing was then) my hair. Aside from lacking the thickness that only my natural texture could provide I was fine with my hair, especially because in the 1990s girls my age with natural hair was an unusual sight. However, this particular winter the hair along my nape began to break. I actually didn’t realize it until the hair went from about bra strap length to about four inches within a matter of weeks. Upon inspection it appeared as if someone had taken scissor to my nape and cut the hair clean off.  As my mother began to contemplate what might be the cause she realized that the wool scarf I had been wearing that winter was likely the culprit. Indeed it was and to this day I will NEVER wear a wool scarf. Avoiding wool scarves, especially if you wear your hair down, is perhaps the easiest way to avoid breakage along the nape. There are other helpful tips you might consider as well.

I find that because the hair along my nape will have the most contact with whatever I’m wearing the hair in that area is prone to lose moisture. Even if the hair is not in contact with an abrasive fabric like wool the constant loss of moisture can make the hair drier and thus more prone to breakage.  So what can you do to protect your nape hair?

1. If you wear a wool coat and your hair is shoulder length or longer try clipping your hair up when wearing your coat. Using a claw clip, flexi-8 or even placing it into a loose ponytail should allow you to maintain the style while keeping your hair off your shoulders.

2. If you like wearing stylish wool hats consider finding one lined with satin. If you cannot find such a hat, you may consider wearing a satin bonnet underneath hat. I’ve done this with cotton hats and find that not only does my hair not lose moisture but my style doesn’t suffer from frizz. You’ll have to remember to visit the rest room and quickly remove the hat and bonnet. Forgetting that you’re wearing the bonnet may result in awkward glances from colleagues and friends.

3. Regularly assess the health of the hair along your nape. Often this part of the hair is forgotten because breakage doesn’t necessarily impact the appearance of your styling. It’s only when you decide to wear a high ponytail or bun that your realize the hair along the nape is far too short.

4. Moisturize and seal the hair along your nape at least every other day. Even if other sections of your hair feel moisturized remember that this section is possibly drier.

5. If you have suffered breakage along the nape, consider flat twisting the hair horizontally even while you wear a twist out or braid out. If you hair is at least neck length the flat twist won’t be visible and protecting the hair this way gives it much needed rest. By the way, this is how my mother successfully got my broken nape hair to regain length after my wool scarf incident.