Black / African Hair Tips

[cinnamon-toast]

my hair has been breaking since its soo dry. my hairdresser says my routine has too many proteins. I have noticed two other points.

when my hair isn't straight, its hard to distribute any oils through it.
all the hair that naturally sheds gets stuck/tangled instead of falling out when straight (more tangles, more knots/breakage when brushed)

do you think if i kept it straight (blownout) it might be better in the long run?

Yep. That's why I straighten/flat iron my hair once or twice a month. It helps cut down on the damage that can be done with my hair in it's natural state--i.e. being dry, tangles and knots.

 

[gia0202]

what do you do to stop the heat damage from taking its toll?have you noticed its effects on your hair?
when my hair is straight, it feels silky soft, but when I wet it to shampoo it, it feels crazy dry (nasty)
is that what the breask btw appts are for--to combat that?

 

[gia0202]

aby--I was thinking of switching to the karite conditioner by rene furterer. I sued ot pu toil in my hair as a leave in conditioner but i decided to buy a real one from aveda (for coarse/curly hair)

 

[Aby]

I always heard rave reviews about karite by Furterer so it's definetely something I would try!

 

[cinnamon-toast]

what do you do to stop the heat damage from taking its toll?have you noticed its effects on your hair?
when my hair is straight, it feels silky soft, but when I wet it to shampoo it, it feels crazy dry (nasty)
is that what the breask btw appts are for--to combat that?

I really haven't had any issues with heat damage from flat ironing. My flat iron (a Solia) comes with temperature control and I don't set the temp any higher than 375-400 degrees (Fahrenheit). And I don't "touch-up" my hair with it very often, if at all, after the initial flat ironing. My curls always snap right back when I wash.

 

[Belle Princesse]

I personally feel if your hair can stand the heat then blow drying/flat ironing can be a better alternative, my hair just breaks like crazy if I leave it in it's natural state; I have to wash weekly though otherwise it will also start breaking.

In regards to heat damage I use a leave-in that protects from heat and serum...that's it...no problems thus far.

 

[cinnamon-toast]

Oh yes. I always use a heat protectant spray.

 

[gia0202]

i jsut washed my hir from the last blowout--it was soo dry. i fifgured I will let it be natural for hte next couple weeks (give it a break)as a side note, I used furterer's karite conditioner and it foams up. weird huh? its not shampoo...

 

[kahlilg]

Best Shampoo and conditioner? I did a quick search but didn't really find anything. My favorite is Motions because it keeps my hair soft.

 

[gia0202]

did you guys know that creme of nature shampoos have some sodium hydroxide in them? that is the active ingredient in no-lye relaxers.

 

[zzirvingj]

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!

I second the Giovanni Direct!!

 

[Aby]

Never heard of Giovanni but I'll do a little research. On the other hand, I used Mizani's products once or twice and it's really good too.

 

[zzirvingj]

Never heard of Giovanni but I'll do a little research. On the other hand, I used Mizani's products once or twice and it's really good too.

I love it! I've been using it for about a year now and it really makes me hair feel moisturized. I have 4a/b natural hair that tends to get kind of dry and I have a bottle with 1 part Giovanni mixed with 1 part water that I use to spritz my hair with as a moisturizer daily. Also, on wash day I use this leave-in as well.

You can buy it from Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppe:

 

[cinnamon-toast]

did you guys know that creme of nature shampoos have some sodium hydroxide in them? that is the active ingredient in no-lye relaxers.

Wow. That's not good. Maybe that's why it makes people's hair feel so "soft" when they use it. Sneaky bastids!

 

[kahlilg]

I love it! I've been using it for about a year now and it really makes me hair feel moisturized. I have 4a/b natural hair that tends to get kind of dry and I have a bottle with 1 part Giovanni mixed with 1 part water that I use to spritz my hair with as a moisturizer daily. Also, on wash day I use this leave-in as well.

You can buy it from Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppe:

I'll try it! thanks!

 

[gia0202]

i just heard that lye is a necessary ingredient for all natural soaps. but i am going o lookinto this.

 

[Aby]

I love it! I've been using it for about a year now and it really makes me hair feel moisturized. I have 4a/b natural hair that tends to get kind of dry and I have a bottle with 1 part Giovanni mixed with 1 part water that I use to spritz my hair with as a moisturizer daily. Also, on wash day I use this leave-in as well.

You can buy it from Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppe:

Thanks but I don't think it's available in France.

 

[gia0202]

i love terax. they have great products for dry curly hair. try to miele shampoo and crema conditioner. the leave in conditioner is decent as well.

 

[SHSH]

carrot oil anyone lol, its a great leave in conditioner that leaves it real shiny and soft like butter

 

[MizBlue]

Hello all!
so glad there is a forum like this!

Okay, so this weekend i discovered Coiff control by Federic Fekkai, its applied after shampoo and your moisturizing conditioner and right before styling, all you need is a pea size amount on your palm and style as usual.
I wear extensions cut in a bob and it works wondefully!

Also, I'm trying out a new conditioner by B smooth, it is a penetrating/moisturizing conditioner ( sister company of Affirm) that leaves hair feeling silky and smooth.
both prods. were recs from stylist and they will be staples of mine from now on.

I have very course, thick hair and I'm not doing perms as much, reason why I'm wearing extensions.