Maximize your length with retention

I may have mentioned before that one question I get A LOT (so I keep answering) is "What can I use to make my hair grow?"  In my opinion hair growth aids are only as effective as the techniques you use to retain the length that you gain while your hair is growing. There are a lot of suggestions out there for ways in which you can go about retaining length. It's easy to get overwhelmed so I have tried to compile a list of the suggestions that are pretty consistent from source to source.

Protective styling - This can include low manipulation styles and minimal heat use. Many individuals feel strongly that protective styles only include twists, cornrows, and/or updos. For those of you that, for numerous reasons, opt to wear styles that don't include twists or braids; there are other options. Those options can include buns, wigs, and phony ponys.

Balance - Moisture and protein. Too much of either can lead to breakage. Examine your hair and give it what it needs when needed. Sometimes following a strict regimen can do more harm than good.

 

Healthy diet - You can't put junk in your body all day every day and expect your hair to flourish. When your body is lacking nutrients your hair will be one the last to get those nutrients once you put them in your body. Think about it this way - what happens when you put cheap gas in your car? It sputters, backfires, and drives terribly. A good grade of gas does so much better. Treat your body like the temple that it is.

Gentle hands - Handle your hair like a fine $10,000 silk scarf. Take it from me - I use to yank the combs thru my hair and brush roughly, I stayed at the same length for years. After I learned to treat my hair like I truly loved it I started to see results. Presently, I am not afraid to trim off a few inches here and there because I know that my hair will grow and that I can retain the length. One of the biggest lessons I learned for handling was to detangle from ends up to the root. I used to actually start at the root! Big NO NO.

Product choice - It is more helpful for your strands that you choose a product that is beneficial for your hair type. If your hair likes silicones use them, don't stop just because person x said they were bad. If you get a better response from all natural products then use them. Just because someone said you can add something natural to something commercial and get the same effect does not mean that you have to do just that. It's your hair and even if you happen to come across a person with a similar type, it does not guarantee that the same product will work the same way for you.

In a nutshell:

• Low manipulation and gentle handling is key
• Minimizing harmful products and heat is helpful
• Moisture and protein can help your hair thrive
• Detangle from tip to root in sections
• Healthy hair begins on the inside

See some other tips here: Retaining Hair Length

Got additional tips and advice? Please share them below.

Luxe hair: Amika Hydration Cream

Hello Divas!

We are still snowed in in the A. I am still in shock.  But I am thankful for having a home, food, and heat during this storm.  God is good!

Right before Christmas, I received a new hair product to try from Amika.  Amika is a hair care company based out of Israel and specializes in hair styling tools and hair care products.  Apparently their Obliphica hair care products are all the rage.  They are specifically designed for curly hair.  The Obliphica line includes obliphica oil known to nourish the hair and restore natural moisture and balance and Morrocan Argan Oil known to produce remarkable shine to hair and also improve elasticity and reduce hair loss due to breakage.  I am always open to try new products on luxe baby's hair, so I thought we would give it a whirl.

I used the hydration cream on luxe baby after washing her hair.  The cream can be used on wet hair or dry hair if you need moisture.  The cream is very light weight, which I loved.  It has a very silky texture.  The cream instantly hydrated luxe baby's hair.  Her hair absorbed the cream immediately.  It made her hair soft and manageable.  I used a small palm size of the cream and easily twisted her hair without having to re-apply a lot of the cream.

Results

The cream made her twists very soft and defined without product build-up.  Her hair had a smooth and soft texture...not sticky at all.  Here is a pic:

Also, I am able to apply a quarter size amount every morning to smooth her hair and re-define her curly twists.  Not bad.

The Obliphica line also includes a curl defining cream, nourishing mask, pure obliphic oil, a serum, and spray.  So far I have been very impressed with the product.  I would love to try the curl defining cream to see if I can achieve more curl definition.  I think the hydration cream does an excellent job of curl definition, but maybe the curl definition cream is better.

Have any of you tried Obliphica oil or Amika products?  If so, please share.

Toodles!

Holiday Series #6: Carol's Daughter Feeling Nice Hair Kit

For the holidays, will you be on Santa's naughty or nice list? Me? I plan to be on the "Nice" list this year. For the holidays, my hair will also play nice with Carol’s Daughter Feeling Nice Hair Set. This kit includes a shampoo, leave-in conditioner, an all-over body sheen mist, and a nice headband. :)

The set ($40, USD) includes the following:
• Tui Shampoo: Infused with lavender, nettles and marigolds, the formula softens and rejuvenates stressed hair. Calendula flower heals the scalp, while Red Clover infuses hair with valuable nutrients. The shampoo smelled incredibly therapeutic and left my hair moisturized and thick! I have oily, fine hair and sometimes when I use shampoo made for dry hair, it can leave it feeling heavy. It actually made my hair feel healthy and light.. the natural ingredients in Carol's Daughter makes a huge difference.
• Tui Leave-In Conditioner: This flower-infused formula weightlessly conditions and hydrates hair and scalp, while repairing damaged, brittle locks. I use this in the morning to give my hair that extra oomph. I also use it for styling but a few sprays is all I need.
• Sugar-Dipped Vanilla All Over Sheen: Treat your body to a sweet and subtle sheen with this glimmering hydrator. This is my favorite! It smells delicious and like a sweet vanilla cupcake while giving your skin just the right amount of glisten.. don't worry you will not look like a vampire in the sunlight. (Twilight, anyone? ;))
• Playful Headband: Highlight your hydrated hair with this sweet holiday accessory. Perfect for the holiday outing but also great to wear just everyday. It's cute and makes you feel like a kid again!

WHERE TO BUY: Carol’s Daughter stores, carolsdaughter.com, and select Macy’s and Dillard’s nationwide
(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Heat and Your Natural Texture

Question: Why Won't My Hair Return to its Natural Texture After Pressing?

If you've pressed your natural hair for years (or even once with an iron or comb that was too hot), you may find some sections don't snap back anymore, even after shampooing. What happened to your hair's ability to revert back to its natural texture once water hits it?

Answer:

What happened is heat damage. Yes, your hair can lose its ability to curl and will remain permanently straight, and damaged. This happens when you use heat that's too high – it doesn't have to happen over time. One incident with a too-hot curling iron, flat iron or hot comb and this could happen. Even if you wear your naturally curly hair straight all the time, this isn't a result you want because the hair has been fried straight and is not healthy.

The only solution for the damaged hair is, unfortunately, to cut it off. If you have several damaged sections all over, you'll need to get rid of them, which means an overall cut. If you're trying to grow your hair longer, this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but it's necessary for the overall health of your hair. Once you cut off the damaged parts, you can start or return to a healthy hair regimen.

Source: Flat Iron Damage

---

The above question is a situation that many naturals can find themselves in after straightening.

I haven't received the following question directly but I have seen it a lot on numerous hair boards. This seems to be a frequent hot topic (no pun intended). 

My experience? I've never been relaxed but I did wear a press n curl for years. Since a stove top hot comb was used on my hair and I could hear the grease sizzle, I am pretty sure that I suffered some form of heat damage. For a few years the curls on one side of my head were looser than the other side. It's possible that those loose curls were a reflection of that damage. 

I used to think that over time my curls did actually revert but the more I think about it, I am convinced that reversion was not what was happening. I dye my hair (maybe twice a year) and that's no secret. Well, because I dyed my hair I could tell by the roots that my hair was growing however, my length always stayed the same. Breakage.

So now my train of thought? My heat damage grew out and broke off. Many lessons learned. I still have my pressing comb but I have not used it in years. I stopped pressing/straightening my hair regularly starting January 2005. I may straighten my hair 1-2 times a year and when I do, I now use my ceramic flat iron on med heat. So far I have not suffered any more damage, my curls revert (fast), and I am retaining length. 

I am sure that I am on the right path now when it comes to heat.

Living Proof Full Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Last month, I went to a session to learn more about the Living Proof haircare products- specifically their Full Shampoo & Conditioner & Full Root Lifting Spray. If you haven't heard of Living Proof before, you may heard of No Frizz products. The "Full" line is designed for fine, limp hair which I unfortunately have.. One of my biggest hair issues is having no volume.. and also having too much frizz! (Make that two issues!) What I love about this line is that the shampoo & conditioner duo uses a sulfate-free formula to clean the dirt, oil and any residue to protect your hair and nourish it back to life without weighing it down.

My thoughts?
The scent is pretty good- nothing citrus-y or floral so don't expect any of that jazz. You don't have to use a lot of the product each time- a nickel size of each is more than enough since the shampoo lathers really well and my hair feels so smooth after conditioning. Even though the products aren't meant to remove frizz, I feel like my flyaways seem less noticeable after using this.

Root Lifting Spray & Thickening Cream- After your wash, the Living Proof Full haircare line includes the spray and cream which will make your hair go the distance and give it its oomph! When I'm in a rush the spray is all I use- about a few pumps is enough. For the extra volume, I use the the Full Thickening Cream with its new technological Poly Beta Amino Ester-1 formula. I recommend curling your hair too or at least giving your hair some waves which gives instant boost.

Overall, I am excited that Living Proof has come out with this new line! Moderately priced from $14- $24, if you use these products wisely, each bottle can last a long time. (Remember a nickel sized amount is all you need!) Next time you're at Sephora, be sure to pick up one of their products!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)
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Best Tools for the Best Hair

The Best Tools for the Best Hair

Make your hair look like a hairstylist by did it by picking up these tools

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care article Pro stylists are very particular about which blow dryers, brushes, flat irons, etc. they use. Check out this roundup of the hairstyling tools they recommend, so that you can get your best hair -- ever. See tools

Trim your nails!

"Trim your nails!" is what I yelled at myself just now. I was braiding my hair for tomorrow's braid-out and heard my nail slice one of my strands. Typically, trimming my nails is the first in my regimen but tonight I just forgot. Lesson learn...again.

The "BC" and dryness

I have noticed that a lot of individuals that have BC'ed (Big Chopped) report dryness shortly after BCing. Is this something that comes with the territory or is it hit and miss kind of thing? Poll below:




Help a fellow natural: If you experienced dryness, how did you handle it?

Post henna

I stated that I was nervous about doing a henna treatment on top of blue-black dye but it turns out that I had nothing to worry about. The only thing is I lost my dark color and I am back to brown and my gray's are copper. Do I care? No not really, because color doesn't scare me.

Here's how my hair looked in the sun after the henna:

I did a simple henna mix with using only a strong black tea.

1 box Jamila Henna

2 Cups of black tea (2 reg size tea bags used in 1 quart of water)

I used Giovanni TTT was the condish to rinse out the henna and Giovanni SAS for my deep treatment.

**UPDATE**

Mini tutorial of my henna process:

How often do you deep condition your hair?

Feel free to explain your answer...why you don't deep condition or the benefits you get from deep conditioning.

Winner of Dove Body Wash and Hot Drugstore Find of the Week: Mega Profectiv Growth Lotion

Hello Divas!

I hope your Wednesday is as fabulous as ever!


The Winner of the Dove Body Wash contest is 3gees4me.  Yeah!  Contact me via email to claim your body wash.  I use it every morning and I LOVE IT!

Also for the past 2-3 months I have been using Mega Profectiv Growth Lotion on my hair as a heat protectant.  Strength of Nature sent the product out for me to test and so far so good.  The product contains wheat protein, oat protein, soy protein and horsetail extract.  These ingredients claim to strengthen and grow your hair.  It also contains olive oil, flax seed oil, jojoba oil for moisture and shine.  Lastly silk amino acids, avocado oil, coconut oil and grape seed oil are included for shine and heat protection.

This product is super oily so you only need a teeny tiny amount to distribute through your hair.  I originally started using it because it is a heat protectant and sometimes I use tons of heat on my hair.  I think it is doing a good job in protecting my hair form excessive breakage.  My stylist has not complained of any breakage in a month!  I am not sure if it is making any difference as far as growth is concerned.  But I love how it makes my hair super shiny and I feel like my hair is being nourished by all of those fab ingredients!

You can purchase Mega Profectiv Growth Lotion at any CVS and it retails for $4.99.

Toodles!

Scalp Experiment: Moisturizing

All winter because of the dry air if I do not moisturize my body properly or if I use a soap that is too strong my skin will start to feel tight, itchy, and a burning sensation all over. So I started to think....what if my scalp goes through the same thing as my skin?

-When my scalp is itchy I barely have flakes if I have any at all. So I assumed I didn't have a dandruff problem.

-I use the same shampoos and conditioners all year long but only itch during the winter season so I assumed it wasn't an allergic reaction to a product I was using.

-I don't do any weird treatments that would send my hair and scalp into a confused frenzy. And I only switch between two products at a time, just like I do in the summer.

So after days of going through process of elimination....my skin and hair started itching at the same time. A went to get the shea better for my skin, I glanced at the spray bottle of aloe vera....EUREKA! My scalp is just dry and when dry, it itches like my skin. Then I scratch like crazy and it gets sore.

To test my theory I have been moisturizing my scalp every other day with aloe vera....it has been working. To see if it was the aloe vera and not just a change in weather, I skipped a moisturizing session and the itching came back. I am convinced my scalp and skin just hate the cold as much as I do. Why oh why couldn't I figure this out about 3 months ago, LOL.

I also assume that the Castor oil wasn't making much of a difference with the itching because I was applying it to dry scalp - there wasn't any moisture to lock in. So now I oil after washing/co-washing and I have also added a midweek co-wash to my winter regimen. Although winter is near the end when as I make my discovery at least I will be ready for the next winter season.

Sources:

Prevent Itchy Scalp in the Winter

Scalp Itching

Soothe a Dry, Itchy Scalp

Curing Dry, Itchy Scalp in Natural Black Hair

Color Change: Natural Blue Black

After years of brown and red shades of dye I was ready to revisit black hair. I purchased Clairol Nice n Easy Natural Blue Black from Walgreen's for my new shade. Prior to dyeing my hair I read the instructions and saw that it was not recommended to use the dye on hair that was previously treated with henna. The instructions did not say why so I had to do my own research. I came across these two articles:

Henna & Traditional Color

Hair Color Removers

I did not do the remover instead I opted to take my chances with the color over the henna.

The steps I follow for dyeing my hair include:

1. Application of the dye according to the instructions

2. Leaving the dye on for 40-45 minutes

3. Rinsing thoroughly

4. Deep conditioning for a very long time. I prefer to DC overnight

5. Styling my hair in a style that embraces the natural curl

Why?

Dye on my hair can be very drying and it can also stretch out the curl pattern. By DCing for a long time the dryness I experience is drastically decrease. Styling in a curl embraces style helps keep my curls from stretching - preventing a change in my texture. If I style correctly I will have major shrinkage and that is my sign that my curls still love me.

Haircare for your HerCut line at Sephora

Earlier this month, I went to an event to learn more about HerCut products. Kyan Douglas from Queer Eye was there to personally tell us about them to achieve that "first-day haircut look"! My own personal haircare style is very simplistic- shampoo/conditioner and minimal hair styling products. But, I was so curious to learn about this new line.

Designed for your Cut, not Type- When I heard about Haircare for your HerCut, I was intrigued. I have never heard of haircare products that was designed in mind for your cut and style. It's usually made for your hair TYPE/PROBLEM- think: frizzy, curly, wavy, oily, dry, etc. The list goes on and on! HerCut's Catalysts are currently made for STRAIGHT hair, whether you have naturally straight or heat-activated straight.



What is HerCut's Catalyst? Currently available in 5 categories for your hair- Bob, Pixie, Shag, Blunt and Long, each catalyst contains polymer technology to use the shape of the hair to its advantage. I tried the Blunt (the fourth girl from the left) Catalyst and it made my hair look pretty darn amazing. My hair isn't exactly all even with blunt edges, but it is pretty much the same length. It felt flowy and shiny from root to tip and very put together. I haven't had a cut in a few months but it felt like I just had haircut.. weird huh? I definitely am going to use this after I wash my hair to get that "just-stepped-out-of-a-salon" look! (Cost: $28US)

To complement the Catalyst, use the HerCut's Shampoo & Conditioner- I found the Shampoo and Conditioner like the ones I have used in salons- cleans your squeakly clean but the scent was very strong. Again, I waited until my hair was very oily to test the shampoo. It worked well- my hair was clean for two days before it got back to its oily-self. The conditioner made my hair manageable and nice. (Cost: $22US each for a 10 fl. oz. bottle, which is a bit pricey for my wallet for shampoo/conditioner- but it's a nice gift to yourself!)

To see more pictures from the event,




(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Protein Treatment

I did my first protein treatment since my youth and I want to wait a few days to post the results. The verdict is in and I LOVE IT! I refuse to buy anything else so I made my own treatment.

1/3 Cup Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol

1 Large Egg

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

Apply to entire head (dry hair) and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Deep condition and style as usual.

I never did a protein treatment before because I ate a pretty high protein diet and I didn't want to overload. For the past few months my diet has been extremely poor and I could tell my hair was missing something. You know that voice in your head? It told me to try a protein treatment. I did and my hair feels so much stronger. As of this moment I have not decided if this is going to be a regular in my regimen. I will do it as needed.

Combating Dry Hair

"Dry hair is hair that does not have enough moisture and oil to maintain its normal sheen and texture."

-Medline Plus

It seems like the biggest and most frustrating problem with hair problem is dryness. I base this assumption off of the fact that I get asked about this topic a lot.

External factors that contribute to dry hair:

• Shampooing too often
• Using a harsh shampoos
• Environmental elements

Internal factors that can contribute to dry hair:

• Nutrient deficiency
• Illness

Some suggested ways to combat dry hair include:

• Shampoo your hair with care-don’t go overboard
• Use a conditioner (deep, leave in, or a rinse out)
• Trim frayed/split/knotted ends
• Use a no heat styling methods
• Protect your hair from the elements (weather)
• Do hot Oil Treatments

Alternative methods:

• Aromatherapy - add a combination of six drops of lavender, bay and sandalwood essential oils with six ounces of warm sesame or soy oils then apply the oil to the hair, wrap in towel for 15 minutes, then rinse
• Food Therapy - Eat lots of food high in omega -3 fatty acids, such as fish. Add flaxseed oil to your diet; approximately two tablespoons a day added to popcorn or potatoes can replenish lost hair and skin oils.
• Mayo - comb the mayonnaise through your damp hair, then wrap your head in a towel, let it penetrate for at least 20 minutes and then shampoo.

I personally prefer to combat dry hair by:

-Moisturizing and Sealing regularly

-Using a conditoner/water mix spritz on my hair

-Wearing hats when the air is dry

-Deep Conditioning Weekly

Treating dry hair was not an overnight process. It took a few weeks of me treating my hair with love. It has been well worth. I showed my hair love and my hair is loving me in return. Patience is a virtue

Home Remedies For Dry Hair

Dry Hair

Dry Hair Remedies

Yes to Carrots Hair & Scalp Moisturizing Mud Mask

At the Style Fixx Girls Night Out event I went to last month, their goody bag included a full-size jar of the Yes to Carrots Hair & Scalp Moisturizing Mud Mask. I have tried several of Yes to Carrots products already and really like their product line a lot! They use paraben-free, natural and organic ingredients.. so what's not to love? :)

I haven't tried any of their hair products, mostly facial and body ones so I was excited to try this mud mask for my hair. I would say my hair is more on the oily side, so I wasn't sure what benefits a moisturizing mud mask would have on my locks. Would it get more oily? Definitely not. Instead, after using this, I immediately noticed how incredibly soft and manageable my hair felt. It felt silky smooth and the ends of my hair didn't feel coarse or dry. (They sometimes do when I don't condition the ends.)

The packaging of the product is the same jar as their body butter. It has a flat top so convenient for me to place other shampoos right on top of it for storage purposes. It's also easy for me to just scoop it out of the tub.

Overall, I have felt my hair much softer. It hasn't weighed my hair down which is good because some products can do that. It's a great treatment once a week or once every two weeks, depending on your preference.



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Top 13 Drugstore Hairstyling Products

Top 13 Drugstore Hairstyling Products

Flawless looks come cheap with these products

Turns out, the commercials were right: you actually can get salon-worthy hair with drugstore hairstyling products. At least, that's what TotalBeauty.com readers say about these gels, serums, hairsprays and mousses. All of them gave our readers gorgeous 'dos -- without breaking the bank. See products

No. 13: Herbal Essences Shimmery Nights Shimmer Spray Gel, $6.29

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9

"If you want hair that glows and shimmers all night long, making your friends jealous, this is the perfect product ..."

No. 12: Finesse Curl Defining Mousse, $3.79

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.1

"I have wavy hair so this mousse helps to maintain what curl I have for the whole day without feeling heavy on my hair ..."

No. 11: Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum, $8.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.2

"It makes blow drying a breeze, and leaves a nice sheen on your hair without weighing it down ..."

Want to see what's no. 1? Click here!

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Pretty Curly Hair Photos

Pretty Curly Hair Photos

Check out all the celebs who are rocking curls on the red carpet

It seems like all of our favorite stars are throwing out their flat irons and opting for curls instead. Whether natural or curling-iron induced, these wavy and curly styles are a trend that's here to stay. See hairstyles

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L'Oreal to Answer Your Questions On At-Home Hair Color

Do you have questions on at-home hair color? Even if you are new at coloring your hair or have been coloring for the past 5 years, what do you want to know?

A team of hair color experts from L'Oreal will be answering YOUR questions next month. Please leave a comment with your question/scenario and they will answer them for you!

Questions must be received by Monday, August 24 11:30AM (Eastern) time.

Thanks!!

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