Black / African Hair Tips

[laineybugz]

Hi girls, I'm mixed race with shoulder length afro hair that I have been relaxing since a young age. I wanted to ask if any of you have ever had hair extensions or if any of your friends/relatives have had them-what quality hair did you/they use or what's the best?I have had them done once but I don't remember the name of the hair used.There's so many-Premium now, yaki etc.

Your help would be appreciated

 

[chaka]

i would suggest using Motions Hair lotion. you can get it at any black hair store, or if you live in the States, you can get it at the drugstore even! (to the original poster)

 

[chaka]

you guys should all read Hair Story by Ayana Byrd. amazing book chronicling black hair in america.

 

[silk skin paws]

I recently decided not to use relaxer on my hair anymore. It's been a total of 5 years of relaxer, relaxer, relaxer... so it's time to throw in the towels and try something new. I don't feel like cutting off my processed hair. I'm so not ready for that. I wanted to take the plunge in June BUT I'm not so sure.

 

[greeen]

^^ you can always try braids and twists, that's what I did while I was in a semi transition stage. I didn't have a perm but my hair was straightened so much and so often it looked pretty stringy even while wet. I had two strand twists in for about 6 months. try nappturality.com for tips

 

[WheresMyUmbrella]

I recently decided not to use relaxer on my hair anymore. It's been a total of 5 years of relaxer, relaxer, relaxer... so it's time to throw in the towels and try something new. I don't feel like cutting off my processed hair. I'm so not ready for that. I wanted to take the plunge in June BUT I'm not so sure.

Braids are great for transitioning. Just don't get them too tight or too small -- you don't want to pull your hair out.

 

[silk skin paws]

Actually I cut my straight ends off. I couldn't deal with two textures anymore.

 

[tuckbud14]

relaxing African hair

I have what is basically the most unruly, kinky, solid hair there is. I'm black and my fro is unmanagable, plus i'm under the opinion that it looks best on skinny people. So, does anyone know how to relax it so that I get ringlets instread of kink and frizz (think steel wool. seriously. it was my nickname in middle school) I don't want to all out straighten it, but i would like something permanent, preferable curly where i could actually pull it into a pony tail without pulling a muscle or breaking a comb (and yes, both of those things have happened more than once.) i've already tried at home relaxers, and we had to leave it one for two hours past the time, and it did nothing. when i press it, it looks great, but i really want pretty curly bouncy hair that obeys the laws of gravity. I know it's asking for a miracle, but if anyone could offer any suggestions, i would SO GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!

 

[skyred]

Well, I'm really not a hair expert, but maybe you can try a texture releaxer. i hear people use it when they want to managae their hair, without a real realxer. It keeps your hairs natural texture, ( your hair would still be curly), without really it being bone straight. Maybe someone can give you more infomation.

 

[SanDiego]

i have had braids before, weaves, extensions the whole nine.
If you get a weave its good to go with silky straight hair for the top and micro Yaki for the bottom usually all silky straight gets too tangled and you will find yourself frustrated brushing it all the time. but its really straight and lays flat for the top and the micro yaki does well underneath it gives a little more volume so the weave isnt thin looking.

I have had braids before i like to go with human hair for braids. you can wash it curl it whatever you need to do easily, the thing with mixed hair is the frizz factor. talk with your stylist before getting it done because you may need to go with synthetic hair to keep it from frizzing up so much.

I hope that helps. I have to warn you about the pain. I am tenderheaded so braids really hurt for the first 2 days or so then it wears away and your hair starts growing out.
I would go with a sewn in weave instead of bonded becuase bonding glue is murder on your real hair

 

[WheresMyUmbrella]

I have what is basically the most unruly, kinky, solid hair there is. I'm black and my fro is unmanagable, plus i'm under the opinion that it looks best on skinny people. So, does anyone know how to relax it so that I get ringlets instread of kink and frizz (think steel wool. seriously. it was my nickname in middle school) I don't want to all out straighten it, but i would like something permanent, preferable curly where i could actually pull it into a pony tail without pulling a muscle or breaking a comb (and yes, both of those things have happened more than once.) i've already tried at home relaxers, and we had to leave it one for two hours past the time, and it did nothing. when i press it, it looks great, but i really want pretty curly bouncy hair that obeys the laws of gravity. I know it's asking for a miracle, but if anyone could offer any suggestions, i would SO GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!

Where are you in California? If you live in SF, I can give you the name of a stylist who can give you exactly what you want.

 

[tuckbud14]

thanks skyred and wheresmyumbrella. i'll definitely ask about texture relaxer and i don't live in SanFran but if you could tell me what the stylist would do, what process, that would be nice. thanks again!

 

[Belle Princesse]

Bumping for more tips and such. How is everyone wearing their hair and what are their regimes like? I've come at a loose end and have been flatironing my hair for the past month or so, bad I know but I don't know what to do with my hair, I need a style for the summer because humidity is no joke!

 

[cyberfruit]

I've been wearing my hair with a scrunchie tying it back. It makes a curly "poof" in the back of my head (I've become well known for it ^^; ). I have so much hair, so my mother won't let me wear it down to school (even though I'm 17). I straighten my hair every once in a while but that takes an excess of 2 1/2 - 3 hours, so it doesn't happen often.

I'd like to know a way to tame the frizz so my hair wouldn't look so bad.

 

[lyght]

aww... this post was a nice read. i wasn't even expecting to find anything like this on tFS..

but yeah, i have locks--it's been about 3 years since i started locking it. my hair has been natural for abooouut..hm 10 years now? sheesh, i'm gettin old! haha i 'em..i wash & retwist just about once a week because i don't like it to look frizzy. it looks great up, down, back...however i decide to wear it (to me, anyway lol). i can even braid them and let it sit overnight & in the morning i have wonderfully wavy locks ...and it's growing like crazy!

 

[WheresMyUmbrella]

Two semi-recent discoveries that have changed my effing life:
- Giovanni direct leave-in conditioner
- Mizani MoistureFuse conditioner

My hair is sooooooo soft. Give them a try!

 

[WheresMyUmbrella]

Bumping for more tips and such. How is everyone wearing their hair and what are their regimes like? I've come at a loose end and have been flatironing my hair for the past month or so, bad I know but I don't know what to do with my hair, I need a style for the summer because humidity is no joke!

I don't do anything with my hair during the summer ... just rub on some leave-in and pull it back. Otherwise, I just get temporary twists or braids.

 

[Kawari]

aww... this post was a nice read. i wasn't even expecting to find anything like this on tFS..

I know, and this thread isn't even very long.... You live in Hawaii? I just moved from there. I miss the weather!

You're hair is pretty. I've been going natural lately, after cutting off all my permed hair. It's quite shor and really uneven. I should probably go to a salon and have someone cut it correctly.
The problem I have though is dealing with my hair in the morning. I know I should wrap it, and I usually do, but I still feel like I have to wash it everyday.

 

[BlkLadyLaw]

Love this thread. I have been using Carols Daughter hair products lately and love it. They mainly use all natural ingredients. I also ordered this book about black hair care on Amazon and have been following some of the tips lately which have helped. I do my own relaxed hair as I hate the long days in salons so I need all the education I can get. I wash weekly typically, more if needed, and following the book advice I comb a leave in conditioner through my wet hair and then rub on oils. I pull it back in a pony tail and let it dry naturally like that....sometimes overnight while I sleep. I blow dry out the ends when they are just slightly damp so I use the blowdryer for a shorter time. The roots come out straight typically even with an old relaxer and the hair comes out so soft from the oils onces it dries. I also followed the books advice and use Caruso steam rollers on my hair in the mornings to style versus hot curling so much. I trim my own ends periodically as stylists get too scissor happy for my tastes and after months of trying to get one inch of growth that is not in my plan. I do my own relaxer. I add clip on extensions sometimes that I make myself and wear those mixed in my own hair to add some body and length and it protects my own hair from daily styling. The amount of black hair care products out there is daunting. I'd love to hear more about what products people swear by.

One another note did you all see or hear about this documentary about apparant antitrust monopolistic activity going on in the beauty supply industry that is pushing out black owned supply shops and manufacturers? There are multiple parts in separate you tube videos. It blew my mind.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE

 

[RubyJewelStone]

I'm black (technically mixed) and I wish I never relaxed. Maintenance is such a pain and I can kiss any notion of a natural 'fro look goodbye. Unfortunately, I'm unwilling go natural and chop the relaxed part off.

But all that breakage I'm getting is depressing. I'm not sure if I need protein or moisture. Maybe both.