Our blog is available on the Amazon market for download on your Kindle devices RIGHT NOW! *takes applause* This is a very big accomplishment for us & we’re so excited! The subscription is just $0.99/month! Please don’t stop supporting us now! I know we’re still in our beginning stages but we want to push all of our tips and information as far as we can to as many people as possible.

Now, I know what you’re thinking I would love to support..but I don’t own a Kindle.

IT’S OKAY! Amazon has FREE, yes F-R-E-E Kindle downloads available for the following devices:

• iPad
• iPhone
• iPod Touch
• Mac
• Android Tablet
• Android Smartphone
• Windows Phone
• BlackBerry
• Mac
• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8
• Windows 8 Tablet

Now we KNOW you have at least one, possibly two or three of those devices listed. You’re reading this very post on one of them!

This is a very huge milestone for Ciara and I and we would greatly appreciate the support from you all. Please keep spreading the word about us & SUBSCRIBE!

Thank you! Much love!

[P.S--down below is a picture of what our page looks like on Amazon.com! & Please fill out the contact form so we can keep you updated with e-mails, etc! Feel free to leave Instagram & Twitter names as well!]

Firstly: You get small loop hair extensions available value. on-line sites boast an oversized  variety of products reduced because of lower overhead that comes with an internet business.  The goal is to sell the merchandise cheaply, instead of increasing prices and expenses  coveremployees rental store additionally to different expenses.
Secondly: After you take lists of on-line retailers’ e-mail weekly or monthly, you receive a  notification couponsor any sale, in order that you’ll be able to store on small ring hair  extensions.

Thirdly:On-line sites area unit showing you lots of “before” and “after” footage. you’ll be  able to see footage of ladies with short or shoulder long hair designs instantly become  reworked by twenty in. hair extensions! You seldom see such photos in stores!
The fourth: As “before” and “after” footage, some sites on-line beauty post step by step  photos to assist you set in hair extensions reception. the primary time you are trying to  chop the extensions, it should take your time to find out to chop or whorled in. however the  pictures area unit terribly helpful associate degreed it’s unlikely to urge that luxury if  you get an extension to store nearest beauty.

Fifth:several sites on-line beauty 100% satisfaction guarantee, thus you’ll be able to come  the merchandise if it’s to not your feeling, freed from charge.
Six:Several on-line retailers sell hair extension merchandise in bulk. you’ll be able to get  an out of this world value for multiple strands of hair extension to last you a year or two!
On-line shopping is very easy in the modern society,you can choose a 20 inch hair extensions  ever time,and you must can be find a good one for yourself.

So in about 2 days, I will be 12 weeks post. This seems like a very long relaxer stretch for some reason! I don’t know if it’s because I have been so busy or because I am just ready for this stretch to be over! I remember back in March when I was worried whether I would have enough new growth to relax at 10 weeks, like I had planned to do while in Hawaii … the answer would be a resounding YES!!!

I have about 2 inches of new growth in the front and some places in the back and about 1.25-1.5 on the sides. For some reason, it seems like my front grows fast, but never gains any length over time! However, the back is growing out just fine!

I am eager to do a length check after I get my relaxer in a few weeks!!

Here is a shot of the new growth … coming in wavy and puffy as ever! 

On a different note, while I am happy about how my hair is growing out, I can’t help but wish it looked longer from the front. What I mean is that I would love for my hair to drape over my shoulders and look longer than shoulder length! It is amazing how different the length can look from the back and from the front. I took a few pictures to illustrate what I mean. I was under the impression that BSL hair meant that the hair should come close to the nipple … when all my hair is down, it comes nowhere close. A few pieces are close, but the mass of hair makes my length look less. *SIGH: Long hair problems, I suppose!*

SEE???????? And don’t mind the ugly face I make on the second picture!

I am sure that the length in the front will come, but I can’t help but wonder when I will have boob hair (hair that covers the nipple). At the rate I am going, I will have to be classic length!!!

So … I will talk a bit more about my plans for the last 2 weeks of my relaxer stretch this weekend. I just wanted to do a quick post on my new growth!

Here’s the deal. Box color happens. You know. I know it. You want to do your own color because it makes you feel like you have become kindred spirits with the Hollywood spokesperson by using that product, power to you. That being said – when you decide to have your hair colored with professional Salon color – don’t deny that you used the box color. Here are the reasons why;

- more often than not, a stylist can spot  a bottle job at 100 paces.

- don’t even get me started about arguing that the box said “professional quality”. If there wasn’t a Salon within two feet of you and a stylist was mixing the color – it ain’t professional.

- lying about using box color makes you sound like, well, a thirteen year old girl who is afraid of her mommy.

- no one is born with natural white blonde and orange streaks.

- Box color and Salon color don’t always mix. It is possible for a chemical reaction to take place and your hair can start to resemble Carrot Top or Kermit the Frog.

- in some cases, the hair can begin to break off. Yes, I said break off. I have seen it. It wasn’t pretty.

- last but not least, how could you do that to your kindred spirit? What kind of friend are you?

Why people choose to lie about using box color is beyond me and I don’t know why they try to lie to me about it. I had Mrs. Spencer, my grade two teacher believing we had two foster babies at our house and I was too busy helping my mother to be able to finish my spelling homework. I had that gig going for 3 weeks until the day my mother brought my spelling book to school because I forgot it at home. Long story short..the jig was up, the room spun a little and I had extra spelling homework for weeks. The point of sharing that tale…(pardon my french), you can’t bullshit a bullshitter. I know you used box color. You know you used box color. Admit it. Own it. Move on.

To be honest, it isn’t so much the color of your hair that gives away the fact you used box color, it is the look on your face when asked the question. The look in question is a mixture of a deer caught in the headlights mixed with a child being caught with their hand in the cookie jar. No matter the age or gender – the same look crosses the face of the person who is asked “Have you used box color on your hair?”. Jesus…it’s not like you were asked if you shoot heroine or if you knew all along where Bin Laden was. We just need to know what is on your hair so we can be sure you leave with the color you want. It’s really not that big of a deal. No judgement…well, not at my Salon.

* IMPORTANT TIP* if your stylist does not ask you if your color is professional Salon color or box color – get up and leave. Run! Think about it…a true professional and someone who takes pride in their work wants to be sure you receive the best color and service. You are their best advertising.

Davines Oi and MoMo Fluid

Since Honey Clouds Salon introduced new Italian hair care line called Davines in the end of April, I have tried almost everything what they offer including those products that claim to be anti-frizz:

• Oi – Absolute Beautifying Potion and
• MoMo Fluid – Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid.

If you are a fan of Moroccan oil, you will LOVE Davines Oi! It eliminates the frizz, but not only that, it smoothes the hair and makes it incredibly soft without making it greasy or sticky, no one will ever notice you have anything on your hair! MoMo Fluid is a sweetly smelling liquid hair moisturizer that, again, not only makes the frizz go away, but nourishes the hair, the ends of the hair (most importantly) and makes it feel exceptionally soft and taken care of. No matter which product you decide to use, you will see the difference right away and even a bigger difference over longer period of time! If you have tried Davines before, it’s time you expand the line you have at home and if you haven’t, these are the perfect products to experience the intensive hair care Davines provides to the whole world from one of the nicest European countries  - Italy.

Check out the hair services we do using Davines products ->

http://www.honeycloudsspa.com/index.php/hair/haircuts

Honey Clouds SPA & Salon

(818) 366-4718

18000 Chatsworth Street

Granada Hills, CA 91344

Well appears you can get that using beer. I was on youtube and came across one of my favorite vloggers, Hair Crush’s video about it. I was surprised because I never thought you could use beer to treat your hair. Check out her video here:

One of the first things a person notices about you is your hair. It is a huge part of your image. If you expect people to see you positively and respect you, your hair has to look and be healthy, inside and out. Use the following information to get the hair that you desire.

It is okay to use styling products on your hair as long as you refrain from using them every day of the week. Use then every so often and make sure that they do not contain alcohol, which will only serve to damage hair and make it dry and brittle.

For a quick and easy on the go hair tamer, try a dab of your favorite hand lotion. Simply rub a small amount into the palm of your hand and stroke your hair in a downward direction. This will tame frizz instantly and even offer the benefit of conditioning your hair, as well.

A TIP! A handy tip to leave you with hair that contains no knots is to comb the conditioner through your hair with a wide-toothed comb when you are applying your conditioning treatment. This will ensure the product is spread through the hair evenly, while removing any tangles you may have at the same time.

When you are using products for your hair make sure that you apply them directly to the hair and not on the scalp. This is important because adding hair products to your scalp can clog the pores of your head, which could lead to hair damage and/or loss of hair.

Moisturize your curly hair with natural essential oils. Regardless of ethnicity, curly hair is prone to dryness and breakage. While there are many moisturizers on the market, simple oils such as jojoba and coconut are most easily utilized by your body. Furthermore, they are inexpensive!

Your lifestyle influences the way your hair looks. Being stressed, not getting enough sleep or smoking tobacco means your hair will not look good. You also need to maintain a balanced diet so that your hair gets all the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Get rid of your bad habits and you should see a difference!

A TIP! Set aside the notion that getting your hair trimmed often facilitates quicker growth. Healthy hair grows roughly the same amount each month, approximately half an inch.

Do not style your hair with heated appliances every day. Overusing your curling iron, flat iron, blow dryer, curler or other products can cause fried, frizzy hair. Allow your hair to air-dry as often as possible, and give your hair a break from heated styling tools. If you must use these tools, apply a heat-protective spray or balm to your hair prior to use.

Distribute your hair’s natural oils throughout all of your hair. To do this, begin by bending over and brushing your hair. Start at the scalp and brush down towards the end of your hair. Once your hair is brushed all the way through, massage your scalp with your fingers.

While it is practical to use a blow dryer, you should limit the amount of time that you exposure your hair to the heat that is generated from them. Always towel dry your hair as much as possible so that you will spend less time exposing it to so much heat.

A TIP! Hair should not be washed daily. If you have not had a day where your hair has gotten excessively dirty, then do not wash it.

Drink more water! Your hair needs water to thrive especially during the winter months. Increasing your water intake will help no matter what your hair type is. Start carrying a bottle with you and make sure that you are going through at least a few bottles every day. Your hair will thank you.

Taking care of your hair is a daily affair. One hair care mistake can take a long time to repair. Your hair is as important to your beauty as your skin, nails, and teeth. Use the previously mentioned tips to have gorgeous, healthy hair that will turn heads and bring a smile to your face.

Anyway after another hard lesson learnt about the importance of water and hair, I’ve been diligent as hell watering the thirst strands and occasionally pulling out shed hairs on a daily basis.

And while going through my notes on all things hair,  I came across the following statement ‘Water also helps maintain pliability, which keeps the hair shafts from fracturing’,  from the journal article Ari L. Horvath, Solubility of Structurally Complicated Materials: 3. Hair, The Scientific World JOURNAL (2009) 9, 255–271).I think it’s available online if anyone wants to bore themselves with hair facts.

Simply put what the sentence means is that hair dryness causes hair to break (well there goes my Length Retention Challenge). The words Shaft, Fracturing, and Hair in the same sentence certainly put me on notice and for the last five days at least, I’ve been vigilant in spraying my hair with water. Also note I always apply a little oil to my hair after spraying it with water to seal it in.

You can of course add water to hair via the use of a water based hair lotion which tends to kill two birds with one stone rather than the tedious two steps I’ve just described. I just haven’t found a hair lotion I’m actually happy with so I use oil and water separately rather than together like in a hair cream or hair lotion.

I also didn’t use a leave-in conditioner. I noticed that after using the Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner two weeks ago, my hair felt like it retained moisture more so than without it. I’ll review the product after I’ve used it a few times (haven’t bought it yet but I intend to).

In other hair news…my bald spots…Yes I have distinct bald spots that have plagued my hair line for the past 9 years. They are finally filling up. One of the contributing factors to this regrowth is castor oil. Cheap, thick, and stick castor oil applied every second night followed by my scalp mixture of essential oils (I owe you an update on what my essential oil blend now is).

Notes on Photos….

Still struggling to take decent photos with my camera of my hair. I got my sister to take these. I look a little goofy and my hair looks dark brown rather than black (which is unfortunately my hair colour!), and the fro is another from a bantu knot twist out which I do very rarely although recently I’ve doing more of… Why, because they are easy.

On Saturday night, I was able to show my immense support and witness the Website preview launch for Madame You, a social network engineered by the ladies of Techturized.
These lovely ladies are sincerely incredible and what an awesome event it was. Not to mention the lush venue iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa where I will be booking an appointment very soon.

Madame You offers Women of Color with natural hair AND relaxed hair a place to share our hair stories together, get educated about our hair types and shop for hair products that are best for our hair ALL IN ONE SPOT! You are in luck because the site is now available and ready for you to sign up and get involved. These ladies have a great story to share indeed, so check it out and support Madame You. The event was also sponsored by Design Essentials.

The Founders of Techturized & Madame You:  Chanel, Jesse and Candace

Jesse gave me a lovely scoop on Madame You with the website preview!

The ladies with Publicist Janelle of Urban Suite PR

All of the ladies with host & Atlanta Make-up Artist Mimi of MimiJonline

Chris the DJ and Chanel’s Hubby

Yours Truly

With Love,

Chantay ❤

Related articles

Meet the Minds Behind Madame You, Innovative Black Hair Social Network (goodblacknews.org)

Techturized Creates Natural Hair Social Network (diasporahypertext.com)

Techturized wins 2013 TAG Business Launch Competition (bizjournals.com)

Blond hair is the result of having little to no pigmentation in the hair shaft (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There could be numerous reasons and causes behind hair loss concerns in an individual. Depending upon the country you live in and age group you belong to, there could be multiple causes and reasons that can be considered responsible for hair loss in females. Most of the time, females consider having long-length hair and sometimes they style them short and edgy as well. Female hair loss could be really traumatic because hair are considered as their only styling phenomenon.

According to the statistics, more over 30 million females in the United States alone suffer from the issues of consistent hair loss; as long as the problem of hair loss is increasing at a rapid pace, treatments and remedies are also identified at the same pace as well. However, as a female, it doesn’t take much more time than adolescence to confront the consequences of hair loss once you have several responsibilities to fulfill. You would observe several strands of hair going down the drain and think what might be causing the consequences. Here is a list of things that you could take into account as some highlighted causes of female hair loss.

Female hair loss is caused due to the blockage of hormone receptors. These receptors perform the functions of growth hormone transformation and transfer and when they are blocked, hair growth is terminated and stopped. Certain enzymes that are performing the growth and development of cells and tissues can also induce hair loss as well because of lack of functioning of enzyme receptors.

Imbalance in the immune system of body can also cause female hair loss on consistent basis. The balding issue that is caused due to this aspect is known as alopecia areata in which inflammation and irritation is also experienced in most of the cases as well. When your immune system is not working like it is supposed to, you lose hair in the form of patches and groups. The recovery of this kind of hair fall is slow and you won’t be able promote hair re-growth that much easily.
Pregnancy and menopause could also cause female hair loss as well. During both of these stages, your hormones become imbalanced causing hair growth to become affected.

So, above mentioned are some of the highlighted reasons behind female hair loss. However, these are only a few, if search around a bit more then I am sure that you would find plenty more with ease. However, the ones discussed in this piece of writing are the most highlighted ones.

Towel Drying Your Hair

Most people grab a towel for their hair before heading into the shower. This makes sense because they are prefect at absorbing moisture. A towel just works and in some cases it might work too well. Instead of taking the towel to your head, try using an old t-shirt. It will absorb the water without leaving your delicate strands completely dehydrated.

Go Old School

Have you ever watched an old black & white movie where a woman sits in front of her mirror stroking her hair with a huge elegant brush? Chances are that’s a boar bristle brush and it might seem a bit old school but they work wonders on your hair. They help to evenly distribute oil from root to tip, leaving your hair looking healthy and shiny. They are also a perfect solution for damaged strands that need a more gentle touch.

Stop Being A Wet Head

When your hair is wet it’s more vulnerable to breakage. This is especially true if it hasn’t been de-tangled using a wide-tooth comb. While styling your hair, you can prevent breakage by either first letting your hair air dry, flat ironing it, or by finger combing along with a blow dryer. Once your hair is dry then you can use your brush to shape it.

Bedtime Braids

Braiding your hair before going to bed is an excellent way to protect it during the night. If you frequently wake up with a tangled bed head then this tip is for you. By braiding your hair less pressure will be put on your individual strands while you sleep. You’ll wake up with less tangles and most importantly less breakage.

Silky Goodness

Are you sleeping on cotton pillowcases every night? Most people tend to purchase cotton sets. However, these fabrics tend to absorb moisture from our hair and skin. You will also find that the texture of cotton pillowcases leads to increased morning tangles. Treat yourself to some silk or satin pillowcases. Your hair will love you for it.

For more great hair news and tips, check out the Arista’s Facebook Page! Arista is Kansas City’s premier hair extension studio. Stop by our hair salon in Leawood, KS today or give us a call at (913) 210-1120.

What you will need: curling iron, hair elastic, hair clips

1. First spray your hair with a heat protectant, this is just to keep your curling iron from damaging your hair. (This step is optional)
2. Then gather all of your hair into a high pony tail. The pony tail should be on the very top of your head.
3. Separate your pony tail into sections; this is to ensure that you don’t miss sections, it also makes the hair easier to manage.
4. From each section start grabbing pieces of hair and curling them however you like.
5. Once you have curled all the sections take out the pony tail. You will have loose natural looking curls.

Here’s a video that I made on my YouTube channel that shows you exactly how I like to do my quick curls.

This year, as anyone who knows me or lives within 500 meters of me will already know, I’m committing to my hair. I’ve decided to commit to it with the same vigor I’ve previously applied to my degree, career and becoming a 16-year-old ballerina, in the hope that I can once again get it long, thick and healthy. And if it ends up resembling Michelle Keegan’s in the process then this can only be a bonus.

To give you some background, my hair had been in the same just past my shoulders style for probably the past 4 or 5 years. My ends have always been a little split and ‘ratty’ and I’ve been an avid investor in hair extensions since I was about 16. I’m naturally brunette and found out in my teens that I’m severely allergic to hair dye which means that colour-wise there’s no other options for me. The only advantage to this is that it has been easy for me to match hair extensions and have them look reasonably natural as there’s nothing worse than bad, fake hair. Despite this, my trusty ‘rat baby’ extensions (there’s a funny story to this) have failed me on occasions such as holidays and that awkward moment when a new partner runs their fingers through your hair only to get them wedged in an awkward hair/clip/weave mangle. Not my finest moment.

To begin my hair-intervention I firstly had four inches of ratty ends chopped off in the new year. (Incidentally my sister’s a hairdresser who has spent years under my scrutiny barely being allowed to graze my ends so this was like Christmas all over again for her!)

My hair was then thicker, healthier and shorted then it had been for many years, ready for the hair committal to commence. Annoyingly, there aren’t any pictures of me with my hair down freshly cut that I can compare the growth to so far but I thought I’d share my progress before doing a grand reveal at the 6 month and 1 year mark.

My first investment was in Michael Van Clarke’s – ‘Three more inches’ haircare range.

Three More Inches

Product & pricing-  This range includes a shampoo and conditioner at around £17 each (250ml) as well as a pre-wash treatment (£29 for 500ml).  The key is to soak the hair in the pre-wash treatment and leave overnight or for a few hours prior to every second wash. The key ingredients are natural cashmere proteins and amino acids and the product is free from silicone and paraben which are apparently what make your hair feel and smell nice, but do not nourish your hair from within.

Promise- “Following the 3″‘ More Inches System slows down the ageing process so your hair stays healthier and grows longer before it dries out. It will be easier to manage, more vibrant looking, and hold its colour for longer, giving you more inches of youthful, silky, supple, sexy healthy hair.”

Verdict- One of my best friends (with gorgeous, glossy hair) told me that this shampoo, conditioner and pre-wash treatment was the key to long, luscious locks. Despite the slightly high-price tag, I’m willing to try anything this year and so have given this range a two month-long trial. At first use, I found my hair to feel drier than usual but put this down to the lack of evil sweet-smelling chemicals found in conventional shampoos. The pre-wash treatment is not the nicest thing to sleep in and it makes you feel as though you have super, greasy hair but once washed off, you can really tell a difference and my hair did feel shiny and thick. The only other downside to the pre-wash treatment is that you have to refrain from using other hair products such as hairspray and heat-protection spray as this will stop it from working.

Overall, my hair does feel much thicker and has grown quite quickly, with a few people commenting on this, although I have also stopped using my straighteners and trying to let my hair dry naturally more often, so I feel that this will have gone a long way to contributing to the growth. I will definitely continue using the pre-wash treatment as I feel that this is the real gem in the set but once I run out of the shampoo and conditioner I think I’ll move onto a different range.

Stay tuned for my next post on the 6 month review and also the new F.A.S.T haircare range that I’ll be experimenting with.

BDG

xx

Hair is something almost everyone has, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with. For some people, great-looking hair comes naturally, but for many others, it requires a lot of work. Whether your hair is thin or thick, flat or poofy, the advice in this article will help you.

Protect your hair! If you use heat to style your hair, make sure you take extra care to protect it. While flat-irons, blow-dryers, and curling irons may give you beautiful hair one day, they may leave your hair frizzy and lifeless the next. Always use products that protect your hair from heat, and invest in a ceramic flat iron.

Make sure to clean out your brushes and combs, and wash them periodically. A good rule of thumb is to clean them with soap and water around once a week. This will minimize the amount of build up that you will incur on your hair follicles and you will have healthier hair.

If your conditioner doesn’t keep your hair as soft as it should, consider using a leave-in conditioner as well. A good leave-in conditioner can be applied right out of the shower, and will give your hair the moisture it craves. You may also want to try a deep conditioning treatment.

Drink more water! Your hair needs water to thrive especially during the winter months. Increasing your water intake will help no matter what your hair type is. Start carrying a bottle with you and make sure that you are going through at least a few bottles every day. Your hair will thank you.

When you are in the shower and washing your hair, make sure you turn your hot water down, whenever you are doing your washing and conditioning. Hot water can dry out and irritate your scalp and this can cause flaking and dandruff that is unattractive and also, hard to get rid of.

There are several products available on the market which give you the beach effect. These sprays may be called “salt spray” or something like that. Mix up eight ounces of water with a teaspoon of salt to make up your own mixture. Add ten drops or so of lavender oil, and you have bottled ocean water.

Ensure that you get enough sleep and rest every night. A healthy amount of sleep a night is around 6-8 hours a night, depending on your body’s physiology. If you get enough rest you will have a healthier body that in turn will make your hair shinier and more healthy than ever.

During the winter and fall, remember not to stay out when it is cold for extended periods of time. Multiple things can happen in cold weather. Your hair can dry out or face a serious reduction in oils and nutrients. When going out for extended periods, cover your hair for protection.

Get your hair wet before diving into that swimming pool. Wet hair absorbs less chlorine than dry hair does. If you don’t use a swim cap, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner right after getting out of the water. This will limit the amount of damage the chlorine does to your hair.

When your hair is wet, do not use a brush or comb. Your hair is more brittle when it is wet and the comb or brush will break it severely even if you are extremely gentle. Use your figures or wide tooth pick to untangle any knots as your hair air dries.

A handy tip to leave you with hair that contains no knots is to comb the conditioner through your hair with a wide-toothed comb when you are applying your conditioning treatment. This will ensure the product is spread through the hair evenly, while removing any tangles you may have at the same time.

Do not wear your hair in tight ponytails or buns. The tension on your hair will eventually damage it and make it weaker. Do not style your hair too tightly and let it loose before going to bed so that your hair can relax after the tension of a ponytail or similar style.

One of the things that you can do during the day to restore blood flow in your scalp is to give your head a massage. This procedure can also help to reduce drying of your hair, as you are keeping your head and scalp active. Rub your hands slowly through your hair, in order to improve your overall hair health.

When you wish to obtain healthy hair, it is not necessary to wash it every single day. Every second or third day with a shampoo and conditioning product that is designed for your hair type is the ultimate goal. Washing it daily will only leave it looking washed out and dull.

When choosing a brush to use on your hair, choose one with soft bristles, instead of hard ones. There are brushes available that are made of animal fibers or soft bristles that will be easier on your hair and not cause any type of damage to your beautiful hair!

Brushing your hair excessively is not something that you should do. While brushing frequently and thoroughly may appear to enhance your hair, you may be doing damage. Over brushing can pull out hairs from the follicles, damaging individual hairs.

Avoid brushing wet hair. Your hair is susceptible to damage when wet. Wait until your hair is mostly dry to begin brushing. If you have to comb your hair because it is tangled when it is wet, a comb with wide teeth that has tips that are rounded is recommended.

If you have very oily hair, use one of the many home remedies! There are many household ingredients, such as lemon juice or vinegar, that can remove unneeded oil. They also produce an attractive, healthy sheen. So, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on hair products. Instead, use common household items.

Make sure you are getting proper nutrition and rest. Stress, on its own, does not make your hair fall out. Normal hair loss is from 50 to 120 strands each day. Stress does, however, use up additional resources and when your body becomes deficient, hair loss can result. Resources include the B Vitamins and other important nutrients. Additionally, poor sleep over time wears down your body’s adrenal system, impacting hormones, which can also trigger hair loss.

Do not wash your hair immediately following having your hair colored. Wait at least a full 48 hours after getting your hair colored to wash your hair. When your hair gets wet it opens the cuticle. So it is best to leave it dry, allowing your hair to seal in the color.

You should avoid “thinning” haircuts, as these layers can actually maximize your hair’s volume and make it look even larger. To tame big hair, utilize the many styling products and tools on the market. Oils can help tame dry, fuzzy hair, while a dab of pomade can help strands stay put.

If you want volume, wash your hair and lean over so you can comb your hair from the base of your neck. Blow dry this area before you flip your hair back. You can also use a shampoo designed to give more volume to your hair but drying it upside-down is often the best solution.

A healthy diet is necessary to get great looking hair. Hair is organic and alive, and therefore requires nourishment to grow. A poor diet that is deficient in certain nutrients will lead to dull, unattractive hair. If the deficiency is serious, it can cause hair loss. Be sure that you’re eating right so that you have the best hair possible.

When it comes to hair products, it’s best to go natural. Chemicals aren’t always the ideal thing to put in your hair. Try using henna instead of hair dye, and try using home remedies in place of costly products. You’ll be surprised at how much healthier your hair will look.

It’d be great if the only effort hair required was washing! Unfortunately, for many of us, it takes a lot more work. Now that you’ve read the suggestions in this article, you know what you need to do to get your hair looking beautiful. All you have to do is put in the effort.

This conditioner is ideal for naturals whose hair dislikes protein conditioners but needs a bit of strengthening.  The key is the coconut oil, which binds to the hair thus reducing keratin loss. Honey, a humectant, is also added to the mix to impart moisture retention.  I get the best of both worlds – moisture and strength – with this conditioner.  I personally use two servings of the recipe because my hair is really thick, dense, and naturally dry.

Ingredients:
4 tbs of extra virgin coconut oil
2 tbs of pure honey
(depending on hair density or length, you may use two servings of this recipe)

Instructions:
Place the coconut oil and honey in a small cup and place the cup in a large bowl of hot water.  Allow the cup to sit in the water for a few minutes until the mixture is warm.  Pour the mixture onto freshly washed but towel blotted hair.  Put on a shower cap, and wrap with a towel to prevent mixture from dripping onto face. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse out 80-90% of the conditioner, and style as usual.

Credit: http://blackgirllonghair.com

Not a full year of growth. After 2nd big-chop

A great question came in from a reader in the Ohio area.

“What made you decide to go natural?”

I realized I never shared the story. Also, there will be more than one author on this blog so there should be a few answers to this question in the near future.

Phase 1: Relaxers stopped working

I’d moved from Ohio to Georgia and noticed that it took a much stronger relaxer (brand and strength), to achieve the same looks that I’d become accustomed to. I was a teenager so the stylists in the salons attributed the change to my hormones, similar to how some pregnant women are not able to color their hair to the desired result using the same methods. Everyone was telling me that my chemical make up and I didn’t understand, but about six months after I made changes in brands and strength, the problem showed up again. There were many braid breaks taken in this phase. I actually learned how to cornrow (braid to the scalp) as a result of the struggle.

Phase 2: Relaxers started to burn like never before.

Having spent the majority of my childhood with a regular relaxer, I was no stranger to the rules; “Don’t scratch before you relax!”. However I’d taken a job out of high school in Chicago (that’s a sophisticated way to say I joined the Navy), and we were not in a position to do much outside of shampoo for a period of ten weeks. Equipped with all my years of experience, I purchased a Regular relaxer from the Navy Exchange and applied it per the directions. I’d never felt a burn quite like that. I felt like the scene in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X where the water was turned off in mid-process. I walked away with a decent amount of hair but I had scabs on my scalp, evidence of chemical burns, and I couldn’t touch up my new growth until I was sure that everything healed. This is when I fell back on my quick-weave talent and kept my hair involved in some type of total coverage weave. The benefits were gaining a couple of clients in the barracks, but I joined with a full head of hair and I was headed to my next duty station in shambles.

Phase 3: Dead scraggly ends.

I was stationed in New Orleans at Naval Support Activity, (which is now Federal City), and the Exchange salon was very reasonably priced. I could easily maintain a weekly appointment for less than $35-$40. My cosmetologist, who quickly became my very good friend Merle, made it all make sense. The relaxers stopped working partly because of my hormones, but also because I’d built a resistance to the chemicals over time and excessive exposure. The same way that medicines start to lose their effectiveness, it rings  true regarding chemical processes. The lightbulb went off and I thought about how many times (between salon visits) I decided to touch up my own relaxer and I’d read a box label that stated “New Formula”, which means that the companies are aware that the formulas need to change to maintain our brand loyalty, however in doing so we are being exposed to stronger chemicals. Merle is also who inspired me to consider cosmetology because of how much I would pick her brain in the chair and come back with information I’d researched on my own.

Phase 4: I got over myself.

There was a certain level of vanity attached to me even having to think twice about going natural. I had never seen my natural curl pattern and my only memory of it was associated with hot comb burns, breaking teeth on the blow dry attachment and strife in general. I was honestly not invested in maintaining my own curls until about four years into the process. It was in that time that I was away from my stylist as a result of Hurricane Katrina and I’d learned through trial and error that I actually had more freedom and flexibility without a relaxer. I found ways to achieve every look I desired without the aid of straightening chemicals.

I ended up on this path because it was the one that benefited me th most. It had absolutely nothing to do with any spiritual path, mother nature, “overstanding” the significance of the power in the spiral or any other cliché label that people try to attach to this choice. There are many people who will say silly things like “She went natural for the wrong reason”. Honestly, there’s no such thing. If being vain and jumping on a fad leads you to making a healthy decision, we (The OohMyHair.com crew) extend you the same welcome as the sister that wants to get in touch with her heritage. We promote self-love and good information. There can be many triggers that lead you here.  We hope to have the content and answers to help you stay. As always ask questions when it stops making sense. Enjoy!

PHOTO: Usweekly.com

So, let’s dissect the look from head to toe, shall we?

Let’s start off with that fabulous hair of hers!  It looks really intricate from the front, like it would take hours at home, right?  WRONG.  Here’s a back view of the fabulous coif — just a messy pony!

PHOTO: Usweekly.com

1.  Start with clean hair, I recommend spritzing roots with a volumizing spritzer, like Paul Mitchell’s Volumizing Spray Root Lifter ($14 | available here)
2.  Curl hair with a 1.5″ barrel curling iron, by wrapping one inch strands around the outside of the barrel.
3.  Keep out two front sections to frame the face.
4.  Pull back all the rest of your hair at the nape of the neck, leaving loose open curls for texture.  Secure with a hair tie and pins.
5.  Grab a one inch section from the pony tail and wrap it around the hair tie to hide.
6.  Add a great holding spray like Sebastian Shaper ($19 | available here).

Want Ashlee’s Make Up and Manicure?  We’ll dissect that next.

And that’s it, a quick fabulous Ashlee Simpson inspired ‘do.  Want more details?  We’ll be creating great YouTube tutorials for our DIY girls out there.
Plus, we’re open for appointments for your special events!

To begin with -it was just an idea, and I was very skeptical about maintaining natural hair. However I decided to chase this idea and after some research I came across some amazing women that have gone natural, and it was just the inspiration I needed! For me the best and still my favorite  source of help came from Naptural85. This woman is amazing! she has inspired me to take going ‘natural’ to next level.

Going natural for me doesn’t just mean cutting out hair straightening and relaxing, it means cutting out any products that are not organic certified, NO toxic craziness, paraben SLS etc! (yaaah)