Tag: Natural Hair

18 Vegan Foods for Gorgeous Hair

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair, Recipes, Vegan Life

Natural-women-eating-healthy-foods1I’ve been vegan for a little over a year and it has served my hair well so far. I hate to admit it but it’s been about a year since I’ve trimmed my mane and when I went to my stylist he only had to trim off 2 inches, which is awesome for a year of growth. In addition to great hair care maintenance, I owe my locks to a well-balanced diet.

It’s pretty easy to get the vitamins and nutrients you need for healthy hair and body on a vegan diet if you’re consuming enough food. Vegan foods are practically bursting with nutrients to make your hair, skin, and nails look fantastic, not to mention your mind and body.

If you’re considering including more plant based foods in your diet to improve your locks, check out these 18 vegan  foods for gorgeous hair.

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7 Habits for Longer, Thicker, Natural Hair

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

7 Habits for Longer, Thicker, Natural Hair

Women are constantly asking me for tips on how to grow longer and stronger hair. The fact is, unless you have a medical issue your hair is growing. So it’s all about creating habits that will allow you to keep the hair already of your head and prevent it from prematurely breaking off.

Below are 7 things you can do to improve the health of your hair for longer, thicker, stronger hair.

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5 Travel Essentials for Your Natural Hair Emergency Kit

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

natural hair travel kitAs you read in my last post about natural hair, I’m always on a plane and traveling while curly can be a daunting task. Considering I’m on a plane every other week, I think I have the travel essentials down to a science. Check out these 5 items that you need for perfect hair days on vacation.

  1. Satin/Silk Headscarf– It’s one thing to have good 1st day hair but in order for your ‘do to last all weekend or week, you need to protect it. Satin/Silk fabric is closest to the fibers of our hair, and will help you retain moisture. Cotton fabric which is typically on hotel bed sheets will absorb all the moisture.
  2. Satin/Silk Pillow Case– I always bring one satin pillow case. As a little germophobe this makes me feel better than sleeping on a pillow case that’s been slept on by thousands of people and it’s a good to use as a back-up in case your scarf comes off, or if you want to sleep without a scarf.
  3. Leave-In Conditioner– Leave-In conditioner is a curly’s best friend. It will help detangle, clean, and style your hair. You can use it as a co-wash and follow it up as a styler. To save on space, I typically mix a little oil into my leave-in conditioner, therefore I don’t have to carry oil separately.
  4. Styling Tools– Be sure to bring a wide tooth comb or denman brush if you’re planning to detangle (I’m a 5 finger kind of girl, myself). Consider the styles you want to use and bring the proper items including; soft-bristle brush, rollers, bobby pins, and headbands. My go-to is always the scrunchie. When all else fails, my hair goes directly in a bun.
  5. Empty spray bottle.
    You’ll definitely need to refresh your curls while on vacation and the spray bottle is the best way to do so.

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5 Tips to Moisturize Low Porosity Hair

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

Moisturize low porosity hair Porosity is a measure of how easily water and other substances can enter and exit the hair strand.  Low porosity hair is hydrophobic, which means it repels water from the surface. This type of hair results in flat, tightly sealed cuticles that is more resistant to moisture loss and absorption. Knowing your hair’s porosity will help you make better product purchasing decisions and adjust your regimen accordingly.

To determine your porosity, gently pull a strand of your hair (maybe more strands if you have multiple textures) and drop it in a glass of water. If it floats to the top then you have low porosity curls, if it sinks to the bottom of the glass then you have high porosity hair and if it stays in the middle then your hair is considered regular.

If you have low porosity hair, check out these techniques for getting moisture into your strands:

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5 tips for long healthy hair

5 Tips for Long Healthy Hair

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

5 tips for long healthy hair

To achieve healthy natural hair it takes consistent, diligent, and purposeful care. Average hair growth across all races is approximately ½ inch per month, totaling six inches a year.

Most people tend to fry, dye, weave up and blow dry their hair, which ultimately causes damage. This can cause hair to break off  at the same rate as its grows. The difference between hair that doesn’t go past one’s shoulder and hair down one’s back is length retention. Here are 5 tried and true tips for optimal length retention.

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Are You Over Moisturizing Your Hair?

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

Maintaining the Balance: Protein & MoistureWhen you begin learning how to care for natural hair, a word you will hear often is moisture. It’s true that you must moisturize your hair to keep it healthy. This is especially true for those with curly or textured hair because the curls and waves of the hair make it more difficult for that natural oil your scalp produces to travel to the ends of your hair.

While it is important to consistently moisturize your hair, it is important to note that it is possible to overdo it. Over moisturizing your hair can make your strands just as weak and prone to breakage as dry hair. Dry hair usually looks and feels; dull, straw-like and easily breaks when pulled or combed. Over-moisturized hair tends to look limp, oily, damp and mushy.

It’s important to always be conscious of your hairs’ condition. Everyone’s hair is different. If your hair feels dry every day, then by all means, moisturize daily. However, there are some people who can go days before re-moisturizing, because their hair doesn’t feel dry on a daily basis. If your hair doesn’t feel dry, leave it alone. Or, as they say, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.

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5 Tips for After Color Hair Care

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

tips for after color careSummer is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to add a little pop of color to your hair. While there are plenty of different options to color your hair, there are a few tips that you should take note of in order to maintain healthy color treated hair.

Coloring Process

It’s recommended that you don’t transition your hair more than a few shades lighter or darker than your current hair color. Making an extreme transition will increase your chances of permanent damage to your hair. Also, you do not wash your hair before you dye it. The natural oils in your hair protect it during the dying process.

Consult a Professional

The at home kits are tempting because they are cheap and quick, but when you are making such a major change you definitely want a professional to handle the job. A professional should have the experience to mix the right colors for your skin tone and make any corrections throughout the process if necessary.

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Tips for Easily Detangling Natural Hair

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

3 ways to prevent natural hair breakageOne of the biggest complaints I hear from people on the verge of giving up on their natural hair is maintenance. And maintenance generally refers more to detangling than actual styling and upkeep. Detangling is simply separating the strands of your hair to remove tangles and shed hairs that can cause matting, knots, and breakage. Proper detangling is key to overall hair health, so take a look at the tips below to cut down on your detangling time and to make it more efficient.

Wet Detangle

When the hair is wet and full of conditioner, it is in the ideal state for detangling. The water and conditioner provides enough slip to make it super easy for your fingers or styling tool to glide through the hair. Although the strands are most fragile when wet, the hair is flexible, elastic, and loose enough in this state to withstand a comb when used carefully with conditioner.

Styling Tools

There are a few different styling tools to use for detangling including a wide tooth comb, paddle or vent (Denman) brush, and my personal favorite, your five fingers! Combs with tiny teeth, boar bristle brushes, brushes with balls at the end of the bristles should be avoided.

Finger detangling is using your fingers like a comb. When finger detangling, you should be able to gently undo minor knots and tangles. You can use this as your only detangling tool or use it before using a brush or a comb.

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3 Ways to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping

by Ashley, posted in Natural Hair

satin

Many naturals still struggle with their hair – especially at bedtime. You can achieve the perfect look one day and then struggle to preserve your styles and prevent tangles for great second or third day hair. Here are 3 ways to preserve styles, prevent matting, and reduce damage for your natural hair styles:

Satin or Silk Scarves

The key to healthy hair is moisture. Cotton material robs your hair of moisture. Furthermore, the weave of cotton fibers can cause individual stands to tangle and break. Satin or silk provide a smooth barrier that hair strands can glide across without the risk of damage and friction. Be sure to use a satin or silk scarf to wrap your hair at night. It will act as a barrier between your hair and pillowcases while maintain the moisture levels in your hair.

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