We all want healthy hair. Time and time again we have been told to make sure and keep your
"MANE" hydrated. So what do some of us do? We condition our hair, sometimes too often and too long which only results in "Over-conditioning." The signs that you are over-conditioning your hair are:
Limp hair when dry or wet
Rubbery feeling when dry
Mushy feeling when wet
Loss of curl definition in naturally curly hair
Overly stretchy hair
To prevent over-conditioning the hair follow the instructions on the conditioner's bottle. Deep condition once a week or perhaps twice a month depending on the condition of your hair (chemicallytreated, damage) or your hair's texture. Do NOT exceed the time allotted for efficient conditioning. The cure for over-conditioned hair is to use a clarifying shampoo and a protein treatment at the first signs of over-conditioning. I highly recommend getting this done by a professional as to not cause further damage.
This is my with my new PURPLE color by Adore. It's a mix of Purple Rage & Violet Gem.
I recently uploaded a new video to my youtube channel. It was motivated by my new hair color and the challenges that it may bring. I usually do not participate in product reviews on natural hair products because I honestly have not been pleased with many of them that are on the market. Many of the ingredients do not fair well with natural afro/curly hair in my opinion. So in my case I have always opted to use simple oils such as Vegetable Glycerin and butters like Shea Butter to keep my hair groomed. This new hair color had me trying new things. Check out my video and rate it then comment to let me know your thoughts on the product. Are you willing to try something new? Check it out & become a "TheGlamourBOXinc" youtube subscriber.
I tried Mizani's Supreme Oil Shampoo & Conditionerfor the first time today. Now understand me when I say that I am a person who is very leery of trying NEW products. I feel like if it works for me then hey I'm fine with it. I took out my hair weave today after wearing one for months on end out of pure laziness. My hair is natural and is very curly, I have a so much of it. Yes, I am a licensed cosmetologist and YES I get lazy with my hair. But, the one thing I do is I take care of my real hair. I take the extensions out, shampoo, deep condition and trim my hair every 4-6 weeks. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually liked this product. I am a lover of Mizani's shampoo and conditioning products. I am however leery of products that are always labeled "For all Curl Types." Natural hair products scare me a lot. Besides it being good to my hair and resotring its moisture, it also has a nice light scent. Here are the pros and cons. PROS
Protective styles are a great way to give yourself and your hair a break, especially if you have natural hair like I do. They range anywhere from braids to sew-in extensions. Abuse of protective styles has been a major concern of mine. I am a licensed cosmetologist, so I come across all types of mishaps and self-inflicted hair trauma. The key to wearing these styles is to make sure they are installed properly and by a licensed, and experienced hair technician. Here are some ways to ensure that your real hair is getting the TLC it needs while donning these styles.
-NEVER GET YOUR HAIR EXTENSIONS SEWN ONTO YOUR EDGES.
-NEVER LEAVE YOUR EXTENSIONS IN FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AT A TIME & MAKE SURE THE TRACK IS TIGHTENED SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRACK IS NOT PULLING ON YOUR HAIR UNDERNEATH.
-GET YOUR HAIR SHAMPOOED AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH AND MAKE SURE IT IS THOROUGHLY DRIED TO PREVENT MILDEW AND POSSIBLE HAIR LOSS.
-ALTERNATE YOUR WEAVE STYLES AS TO NOT CAUSE TRACTION ON ONE PARTICULAR AREA. ie: alternate parts from left to right.
-KEEP YOUR EDGES MOISTURIZED WITH A PRODUCT THAT USES ESSENTIAL OILS, OR PURCHASE ESSENTIAL OILS FROM A HEALTH FOOD STORE. ****(stay away from petroleum-based products, they will clog up your pores & inhibit hair growth)****
-WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR EXTENSION INSTALLATION, MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR REAL HAIR DEEP CONDITIONED AND TRIMMED, AND PLEASE WEAR YOUR OWN HAIR AT LEAST FOR A WEEK
I often reminisce about the 1990's because it was then that I had experienced some of the best times of my life. I was always a stylish child and turning 13 in 1993 only added to it. After seeing Josie, one of the "Fly Girls" from the sketch comedy series "In Living Color," my friend Tanya and I decided that we wanted them too. We just thought Josie was too beautiful and so were those braids. Yes, she had them before Janet wore them in "Poetic Justice." When "Poetic Justice" came out they were dubbed "The Janet Jackson" braids. It's 2012 and they have made a comeback thanks to a true fashionista, Ms. Solange Knowles! I absolutely adore her and her style. Many women are reluctant to wear the long box braids, but not me. I wear them proudly! I love the 90's and I am glad that along with the braids, Doc Martens , neon colors (nails/spandex)*and cut off shorts have made a comeback. Now if we can just work on 90's music making a comeback that would make this woman VERY happy. Check me out below in my rendition of the braids that I did myself.
Me (RaiNa) sitting on the stoop in Queens =) I love my 90's braids &
my boots! The 90's totally rock!
Spring is upon us and summer is not too far behind, and so we must continue with our NATURAL HAIR CARE REGIMEN. Many naturalistas have questions on what products they need to use. I’m going to help all of you to narrow down your search by telling you what ingredients you need to look for so that you won’t waste your money going thru an array of shampoos, conditioners or styling products. While some products may appear natural because they use the word “NATURAL” it does not mean that it is. No two products are created equal. Here is a list of the DOs and DO NOTS when it comes to ingredients you should look for and a list of those you should shy away from.
Natural Hair DOs
Products w/natural oils (can be purchased from your local natural health store/found in natural haircare products)*
coconut
carrot seed oil
grape seed oil
2. Natural Butters
shea butter
cocoa butter
3. Food derived proteins and essential oils *
lemon
orange
geranium
lavender
vegetable glycerin
Natural Hair Do NOTS (these ingredients are synthetic and prevent moisture from entering the hair shaft)*
Stay away from products that contain:
-Parabens (methyl-propyl-, butyl-paraben, etc)
-Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS or SLES)
-Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly)
-Propylene glycol
-Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethalnolamine (TEA)
-Imidazoldinyl, urea and diazolidinyl urea
-Silicone
-Ethxylated ingridients (those starting with PEG- or ending with -ETH
READING LABELS CONCERNING HAIR PRODUCTS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS READING LABELS ON FOOD ITEMS. PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO HEALTHY HAIR =) Here is a video on my haircare regimen that perhaps you can use as a guide =) Enjoy
