HHCB: Conditioner

Decades ago hair conditioner was developed by a well known perfumer to soften men's hair, mustaches, and beards. Decades later silicone was added to this product and it became what we now have and know as modern hair conditioners.

The benefits derived from hair conditioners depend on the type of hair conditioner that is used. It is important to know that all hair conditioners are not created equally. There are thick conditioners, leave-in, ordinary, and hold conditioners. Thick conditioners are typically what many refer to as your deep conditioner. Ordinary conditioners are less thick and work well for many as a cowashing conditioner. Leave-in conditioners are even lighter and are applied and left on the hair after the washing process. Hold conditioners, not use often by many naturals, are conditioner the act like gels by which they are used to hold and set styles.

Conditioner and Natural Hair
For natural hair, conditioners can enable the detangling process to be easier by giving the hair some "slip." If your hair is ever extremely tangled, try applying a lot of conditioner and finger detangling first before using a detangling comb/brush. One of the biggest debates that you may notice in the natural hair community is the -cone vs non -cone conditioner. This is a decision that you will need to make for yourself as to which conditioner you prefer. Some individuals do just fine with silicone conditioners while others hate the way that their hair responds to the -cones in those conditioners. -Cones are ingredients used in some conditioners that can leave a plastic-like coating on the hair and may prevent the hair from absorbing moisture. Note: I said "may." I personally use -cone conditioners with no problem.

Co-washing is frequently mentioned with the topic of conditioners. Co-washing stands for Conditioner washing and it simply means to use conditioner as you would a shampoo for washing your hair. -Cone free conditioners are typically favored for this hair care technique. I prefer to co-wash by applying my deep conditioner to dry hair and then rinsing thoroughly.


What conditioner is best for you?
Choosing a conditioner can be overwhelming when you don't know your hair's needs. So the first step is to access your hair. Choosing a moisturizing conditioner for dry hair. Choose a protein-enriched conditioner for weak hair or choose a reconstructing conditioner for damaged hair. It is important to keep in mind that not all conditioners will work the same for all people and just because the bottle says it will do something does not mean that it is true. When selecting a conditioner to try, look for some samples. Save your hard earn dollars and avoid buying full sized products that may not work for you.

Get the Most Out of Your Conditioner
If your hair is thick, apply the conditioner in small sections. You will actually use up more product by just slapping on the conditioner in any kind of way. Read reviews and ratings, make your purchase decision based on what is important to you. I live by the "5-ingredient" rule before I purchase something new. Once you figure out which ingredients your hair loves, purchasing products will become easier.

Some Helpful Links
-Cone free conditioners
Chlorine fighting Conditioners
Deep Conditioning Tips


My Favorite conditioners: My Regimen

Read the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts.

HHCB: Conditioner

Decades ago hair conditioner was developed by a well known perfumer to soften men's hair, mustaches, and beards. Decades later silicone was added to this product and it became what we now have and know as modern hair conditioners.

The benefits derived from hair conditioners depend on the type of hair conditioner that is used. It is important to know that all hair conditioners are not created equally. There are thick conditioners, leave-in, ordinary, and hold conditioners. Thick conditioners are typically what many refer to as your deep conditioner. Ordinary conditioners are less thick and work well for many as a cowashing conditioner. Leave-in conditioners are even lighter and are applied and left on the hair after the washing process. Hold conditioners, not use often by many naturals, are conditioner the act like gels by which they are used to hold and set styles.

Conditioner and Natural Hair
For natural hair, conditioners can enable the detangling process to be easier by giving the hair some "slip." If your hair is ever extremely tangled, try applying a lot of conditioner and finger detangling first before using a detangling comb/brush. One of the biggest debates that you may notice in the natural hair community is the -cone vs non -cone conditioner. This is a decision that you will need to make for yourself as to which conditioner you prefer. Some individuals do just fine with silicone conditioners while others hate the way that their hair responds to the -cones in those conditioners. -Cones are ingredients used in some conditioners that can leave a plastic-like coating on the hair and may prevent the hair from absorbing moisture. Note: I said "may." I personally use -cone conditioners with no problem.

Co-washing is frequently mentioned with the topic of conditioners. Co-washing stands for Conditioner washing and it simply means to use conditioner as you would a shampoo for washing your hair. -Cone free conditioners are typically favored for this hair care technique. I prefer to co-wash by applying my deep conditioner to dry hair and then rinsing thoroughly.


What conditioner is best for you?
Choosing a conditioner can be overwhelming when you don't know your hair's needs. So the first step is to access your hair. Choosing a moisturizing conditioner for dry hair. Choose a protein-enriched conditioner for weak hair or choose a reconstructing conditioner for damaged hair. It is important to keep in mind that not all conditioners will work the same for all people and just because the bottle says it will do something does not mean that it is true. When selecting a conditioner to try, look for some samples. Save your hard earn dollars and avoid buying full sized products that may not work for you.

Get the Most Out of Your Conditioner
If your hair is thick, apply the conditioner in small sections. You will actually use up more product by just slapping on the conditioner in any kind of way. Read reviews and ratings, make your purchase decision based on what is important to you. I live by the "5-ingredient" rule before I purchase something new. Once you figure out which ingredients your hair loves, purchasing products will become easier.

Some Helpful Links
-Cone free conditioners
Chlorine fighting Conditioners
Deep Conditioning Tips


My Favorite conditioners: My Regimen

Read the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts.

HHCB: Shampoo Basics

This post ended up long so here is the outline:

• Don't let someone dictate when and how you clean/shampoo your hair
• Sulfates are harsh ingredients that strip the hair of natural oils
• Your shampoo choice should be based on your hair's needs
• Prepooing is helpful for protecting your stranding from being stripped during shampoos
• There are various cleansing methods for your hair's needs: shampoo, low poo, no poo

If you want more....keep reading. If not, thanks for stopping by :)

-----

When embarking on your natural/healthy hair journey it is likely that you will come across a number of individuals that have differing views on shampooing or the types of shampoo that you should use. Some will tell you that shampoo is not good for your hair and you should not use it because it is too drying. Others may tell you that that you can use shampoo but you should be sure to only use certain kinds/brands of shampoos. I am not going to tell you what to do but I will try to instead supply you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your hair.

One of the ways to best understand the product you are using is to understand the ingredients that are in the product. Some of the common ingredients found in shampoos and their meanings can be found here.

Before selecting a shampoo you should access your hair care needs. Is you hair oily, dry, or maybe you have a lot of product build up? Individuals with oily hair may find it beneficial to shampoo more often than someone with dry hair. Then again a person with dry hair may opt to not shampoo at all and stick with the co-washing method. Keep in mind when shopping for shampoos that not all of them will do what the bottle says that they should do.

Many naturals find it helpful to prepoo before shampooing. This is actually a method I love to do. I coat my hair from roots (not scalp) to ends with oil, the oil choice is up to you, and let the oil sit on my hair for about an hour. Then I shampoo my scalp only and the suds run down the length of my hair to cleanse the strands. See my wash regimen here: (23) Wash Day Regimen.

If you find that some shampoos are too harsh on your hair you may want to look into sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates are harsh ingredients used in shampoos that strip the natural oils from our hair. Afro-textured hair has a tendency to be dry so the need to keep our natural oils is crucial to our hair’s health.

If you find every shampoo that you have tried to be too drying for your hair there are options for cleaning your hair that do not include soap suds. Those include baking soda, Apple Cider Vinegar rinses, and/or the Deva-Curl NoPoo.

Still confused? Try this guideline:
Oily hair/scalp – try to shampoo weekly, more if needed

Dry hair – if you choose to shampoo, prepoo ahead of time or use only a low/no poo method

In-between dry and oily – shampoo when or if needed

Listen to your hair (not someone else’s) and it will tell you what it needs and when it needs it.

To see my shampoo choices, view My Regimen

What are your thoughts on the shampoo process?

See the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts

HHCB: Shampoo Basics

This post ended up long so here is the outline:

• Don't let someone dictate when and how you clean/shampoo your hair
• Sulfates are harsh ingredients that strip the hair of natural oils
• Your shampoo choice should be based on your hair's needs
• Prepooing is helpful for protecting your stranding from being stripped during shampoos
• There are various cleansing methods for your hair's needs: shampoo, low poo, no poo

If you want more....keep reading. If not, thanks for stopping by :)

-----

When embarking on your natural/healthy hair journey it is likely that you will come across a number of individuals that have differing views on shampooing or the types of shampoo that you should use. Some will tell you that shampoo is not good for your hair and you should not use it because it is too drying. Others may tell you that that you can use shampoo but you should be sure to only use certain kinds/brands of shampoos. I am not going to tell you what to do but I will try to instead supply you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your hair.

One of the ways to best understand the product you are using is to understand the ingredients that are in the product. Some of the common ingredients found in shampoos and their meanings can be found here.

Before selecting a shampoo you should access your hair care needs. Is you hair oily, dry, or maybe you have a lot of product build up? Individuals with oily hair may find it beneficial to shampoo more often than someone with dry hair. Then again a person with dry hair may opt to not shampoo at all and stick with the co-washing method. Keep in mind when shopping for shampoos that not all of them will do what the bottle says that they should do.

Many naturals find it helpful to prepoo before shampooing. This is actually a method I love to do. I coat my hair from roots (not scalp) to ends with oil, the oil choice is up to you, and let the oil sit on my hair for about an hour. Then I shampoo my scalp only and the suds run down the length of my hair to cleanse the strands. See my wash regimen here: (23) Wash Day Regimen.

If you find that some shampoos are too harsh on your hair you may want to look into sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates are harsh ingredients used in shampoos that strip the natural oils from our hair. Afro-textured hair has a tendency to be dry so the need to keep our natural oils is crucial to our hair’s health.

If you find every shampoo that you have tried to be too drying for your hair there are options for cleaning your hair that do not include soap suds. Those include baking soda, Apple Cider Vinegar rinses, and/or the Deva-Curl NoPoo.

Still confused? Try this guideline:
Oily hair/scalp – try to shampoo weekly, more if needed

Dry hair – if you choose to shampoo, prepoo ahead of time or use only a low/no poo method

In-between dry and oily – shampoo when or if needed

Listen to your hair (not someone else’s) and it will tell you what it needs and when it needs it.

To see my shampoo choices, view My Regimen

What are your thoughts on the shampoo process?

See the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts

HHCB: Is long hair possible with my hair type?

The simple answer: Yes.

How does human hair grow?
All human hair goes through a growth cycle. The cycle includes the phases of anagen, catagen, and telogen and they can all occur at the same time but on different strands of hair. This is why some hairs shed when others do not - shedding is normal and it will happen. Read more about each phases by clicking on the words.

A way to enhance your hair growth and encourage the growth of healthy hair is to adjust your diet and lifestyle. Eat healthy balanced meals and exercise. When your body is lacking things it needs it will start to pull from other areas of your body - like your hair. For that reason a lot of people take vitamins (that they say are for hair growth) and those vitamins help keep the ENTIRE body balanced. The right foods and vitamins can promote hair growth BECAUSE they can help you with having a healthy diet. When it comes to your body - you get what you give it (for the most part). The importance of exercise in regards to hair growth lies in the ability of exercise to reduce stress.Being overly stressed can contribute to hair loss issues.

Other factors that can affect hair growth include hormonal issues, chemicals, nutritional factors, certain disease, and stress.

How fast does hair grow?
Knowing this information can potentially save you money on products that claim to grow hair. Hair grows between  0.5 - 1.0 inches a month. If you are practicing healthy hair techniques (moisturizing, protecting your ends, etc) then you should retain at least 6 inches a year with the slowest average growth rate.

Your hair grows but your length is evident by means of retention. Hair breakage, a contributor to the lack of length retention, will be discussed in a future post.

References
Hair Growth Guidelines to Promote Hair Growth
How Fast Does Hair Grow? 
How Does Hair Grow?

HCCB = Healthy Hair Care Basics
 

HHCB: Is long hair possible with my hair type?

The simple answer: Yes.

How does human hair grow?
All human hair goes through a growth cycle. The cycle includes the phases of anagen, catagen, and telogen and they can all occur at the same time but on different strands of hair. This is why some hairs shed when others do not - shedding is normal and it will happen. Read more about each phases by clicking on the words.

A way to enhance your hair growth and encourage the growth of healthy hair is to adjust your diet and lifestyle. Eat healthy balanced meals and exercise. When your body is lacking things it needs it will start to pull from other areas of your body - like your hair. For that reason a lot of people take vitamins (that they say are for hair growth) and those vitamins help keep the ENTIRE body balanced. The right foods and vitamins can promote hair growth BECAUSE they can help you with having a healthy diet. When it comes to your body - you get what you give it (for the most part). The importance of exercise in regards to hair growth lies in the ability of exercise to reduce stress.Being overly stressed can contribute to hair loss issues.

Other factors that can affect hair growth include hormonal issues, chemicals, nutritional factors, certain disease, and stress.

How fast does hair grow?
Knowing this information can potentially save you money on products that claim to grow hair. Hair grows between  0.5 - 1.0 inches a month. If you are practicing healthy hair techniques (moisturizing, protecting your ends, etc) then you should retain at least 6 inches a year with the slowest average growth rate.

Your hair grows but your length is evident by means of retention. Hair breakage, a contributor to the lack of length retention, will be discussed in a future post.

References
Hair Growth Guidelines to Promote Hair Growth
How Fast Does Hair Grow? 
How Does Hair Grow?

HCCB = Healthy Hair Care Basics
 

HHCB: Know your hair & Love your hair

How well do you know the history of African American hair? Just Madame CJ Walker? There is more to it.

When people ask you why you are going natural it can be impressive to have some more information to throw their way that highlights our history. Not everyone will appreciate it but I found this information interesting enough to share.

Among Afro-textured individuals there are differences in texture and thickness of hair. Some utilize typing systems to distinguish the differences while others just opt to use descriptive terms. However, there is a meaning behind the difference in textures. Historical research claims that the hair texture of African-Americans stems from the body's evolution and attempt to address the need of protecting the head from the sun's strong UV rays in Africa. Centuries ago hair was used as a way to define identity and status among Africans. Hair groomers, although not paid, during that time were held in high regard and the craft of styling hair was passed down from mothers to daughters. In the past black soap, shea butter, palm oil, and argan oil were common products used on hair. (Sound familiar?)

Sadly the birth of the slave trade also birthed the beginning of self hate. Slaves were made to feel that their hair was messy, ugly, and unacceptable. As a result, slaves began to look for new ways to make their hair more acceptable. Things such as engine oil, kerosene, and cook grease were used on the hair in an attempt to make it look more acceptable in the eyes of others. There was actually a time in history in which afro-textured hair was outlawed; in public women with afro-textured had to cover their hair with a scarf.

Years later (and many hair care practices later) Madame CJ Walker came along and saved the day - so to speak - with her sulfur based products. Many African-Americans were losing hair because of the unsafe hair care practices that were happening within the African-American communities. A few decades after Walker's death the black power movement came around and afros became a symbol of power and pride. Even some of our parents had afros :)

Trends change and those trends also involved preferred hairstyles:
Heat Straightening
Conks
Relaxers
Afros
Jherri Curls
Dreadlocks
Weaves
and now our natural texture becoming more and more accepted.

The history of black hair is long and can fill a book. This post barely skims the surface, there is so much more. The part of our history that stuck out for me was the moment in time in which our natural texture was illegal. The things we take for granted....

I feel that I have to say: Having relaxed hair does not mean that you have turned your back on your culture. Times advance & change and it is unreasonable to expect people to stay the same.

References
Do Blacks Need to Relax Their Natural Hair to Get Promoted?
For many black women, hair tells the story of their roots
GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS OF BLACK HAIR

Have you learned anything about the history of afro-textured hair that stuck with you? 

Please share.

HHCB: Know your hair & Love your hair

How well do you know the history of African American hair? Just Madame CJ Walker? There is more to it.

When people ask you why you are going natural it can be impressive to have some more information to throw their way that highlights our history. Not everyone will appreciate it but I found this information interesting enough to share.

Among Afro-textured individuals there are differences in texture and thickness of hair. Some utilize typing systems to distinguish the differences while others just opt to use descriptive terms. However, there is a meaning behind the difference in textures. Historical research claims that the hair texture of African-Americans stems from the body's evolution and attempt to address the need of protecting the head from the sun's strong UV rays in Africa. Centuries ago hair was used as a way to define identity and status among Africans. Hair groomers, although not paid, during that time were held in high regard and the craft of styling hair was passed down from mothers to daughters. In the past black soap, shea butter, palm oil, and argan oil were common products used on hair. (Sound familiar?)

Sadly the birth of the slave trade also birthed the beginning of self hate. Slaves were made to feel that their hair was messy, ugly, and unacceptable. As a result, slaves began to look for new ways to make their hair more acceptable. Things such as engine oil, kerosene, and cook grease were used on the hair in an attempt to make it look more acceptable in the eyes of others. There was actually a time in history in which afro-textured hair was outlawed; in public women with afro-textured had to cover their hair with a scarf.

Years later (and many hair care practices later) Madame CJ Walker came along and saved the day - so to speak - with her sulfur based products. Many African-Americans were losing hair because of the unsafe hair care practices that were happening within the African-American communities. A few decades after Walker's death the black power movement came around and afros became a symbol of power and pride. Even some of our parents had afros :)

Trends change and those trends also involved preferred hairstyles:
Heat Straightening
Conks
Relaxers
Afros
Jherri Curls
Dreadlocks
Weaves
and now our natural texture becoming more and more accepted.

The history of black hair is long and can fill a book. This post barely skims the surface, there is so much more. The part of our history that stuck out for me was the moment in time in which our natural texture was illegal. The things we take for granted....

I feel that I have to say: Having relaxed hair does not mean that you have turned your back on your culture. Times advance & change and it is unreasonable to expect people to stay the same.

References
Do Blacks Need to Relax Their Natural Hair to Get Promoted?
For many black women, hair tells the story of their roots
GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS OF BLACK HAIR

Have you learned anything about the history of afro-textured hair that stuck with you? 

Please share.

Back to the Basics: Healthy Hair Care Basics

The natural hair community is huge and there is so much information out there that you can read for days and still find something new. However, with this movement the newbies sometimes get lost in the crowd. Many of us tend to forget to discuss the basics and take the knowledge for granted. Each time a new person goes natural they need that same hand holding that most of us needed at one point.

So for a few weeks now I have been working on compiling an outline of information that details the basic knowledge that most naturals seem to have - the Healthy Hair Care Basics. I am hoping that this will serve as a resource for each wave of new naturals or newbies on their healthy hair care journey.

I am still open to suggestions and information to cover. So if you find yourself wondering about something that everyone else seems to know, please ask or send a message. Also, if you notice a question that is repeatedly asked and you feel should be common knowledge - please send it my way. I hope this series helps out a lot of people.

Back to the Basics: Healthy Hair Care Basics

The natural hair community is huge and there is so much information out there that you can read for days and still find something new. However, with this movement the newbies sometimes get lost in the crowd. Many of us tend to forget to discuss the basics and take the knowledge for granted. Each time a new person goes natural they need that same hand holding that most of us needed at one point.

So for a few weeks now I have been working on compiling an outline of information that details the basic knowledge that most naturals seem to have - the Healthy Hair Care Basics. I am hoping that this will serve as a resource for each wave of new naturals or newbies on their healthy hair care journey.

I am still open to suggestions and information to cover. So if you find yourself wondering about something that everyone else seems to know, please ask or send a message. Also, if you notice a question that is repeatedly asked and you feel should be common knowledge - please send it my way. I hope this series helps out a lot of people.