Monthly Archives: February 2010

How to Wear and Care for Natural African Descent Hair Styles

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , , , , , ,

This is a cool article on natural hair maintenance for African Americans.  I don’t agree with everything the sista says about locs, but leave a comment and let me know what you think.  She claims you can’t walk into a salon and leave with locs, which isn’t true. because you can walk in with a fro and leave with locs these days. It may take them 6 months to a year to mature, but you can definitely walk out with a fresh head of locs.  Also I don’t like the way she says that locs are “the most “do-nothing” hair style you will ever wear” . It’s true that locs are low maintenance, but i hate when people try to attach a lazy tone to the style of locs or people who wear them.

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel, Publisher http://healthylocsblog.com & Master loctician.

How to Wear and Care for Natural African Descent Hair Styles

Natural African descent hair is full bodied, full textured and full of possibilities. Men and women of African descent are choosing to wear their hair without the use of chemicals or heat. During the revival of African traditions and culture in the 1960s, natural hairstyles were embraced by people of African descent regardless of age, sex or profession. Afros, cornrows, braids, dreadlocks, sister locks and twists are easy to care for and highly expressive hair styles. Weaves and perms will cost you far more time and money to maintain. Prolonged chemical use may cost you your hair growth and your health. Embracing a chemical-free approach to styling will reward you with thicker, longer hair.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Shampoo for people of color
  • Cream conditioner
  • Hair and scalp moisturizer
  1. Step 1

    Shampoo your hair an average of once a week. More frequent shampooing strips your hair and scalp of vital oils; less frequent shampooing allows a buildup of oils and dirt. Avoid clear or translucent shampoos. These shampoos do not supply the oils needed to restore the oil balance to your hair. Look for a creamy shampoo rich in proteins and vitamins. Condition your hair for at least 30 minutes. Natural conditioners such as mayonnaise or whipped raw eggs are inexpensive and veru effective for this. If you choose to condition with eggs, apply two eggs 30 minutes before you shampoo. If you choose mayonnaise, use enough to thoroughly cover your hair from the scalp to the ends. Always rinse well. Avoid excessive use of hair dryers. Towel drying is best, although exceptions can be made if you are in a hurry or you have to dash out into the cold right away.

  2. Step 2

    Apply a hair and scalp moisturizer. Avoid pomades or products containing petroleum jelly. These products do not penetrate the scalp: They only serve as a water or moisture retardant. Wearing your hair naturally frees you of that worry. Look for products that are rich in herbs and vitamins.

  3. Step 3

    Afros or naturals: This can be stylish at any length. Use a rubber tipped rake. The rubber on the tips helps to reduce breakage. Use a softener or braid at night to reduce tangles. Avoid using water in a squirt bottle for this purpose; the rapid evaporation only dries your hair and scalp.

    Cornrows: A good choice for transitional periods. Corn rows are similar to French braids, except for size. Cornrows are always braided close to the scalp. Traditional cornrows are small to medium in the size of the rows. If you are stopping the use of relaxers and perms, you may choose to cut off the chemically treated hair. Cornrowing allows fast growth during this period. Section your hair into a desired pattern. Do not braid too tightly.

    Braids: Can be worn in various sizes. Small braids give a fuller appearance. Adorn your braids with beads, shells, or other ornaments. As with cornrows, be careful not to braid too tightly. Always take your braids down to be shampooed. The extra step is worth it.

    Dreadlocks: This is the most “do-nothing” hair style you will ever wear. Just follow steps 1 and 2. Do not use a comb or a brush and over time the locks will form. This takes patience. You cannot go into a salon and walk out with dreads. The secret is in eliminating the combing, brushing, or cutting of your hair. You may encourage the lock size by separating large locks as they form. Use your hands to stimulate your hair and scalp. If you have the patience to stick to it you will be rewarded in time.

    Sister Locks: These are very similar to the classic dreadlock, although they are smaller and you can begin them in a salon. The hair is sectioned according to a desired pattern. Part your hair into a lock size that will achieve the desired density. Create small lock sizes around your face. Use traditional braiding to form the lock. Do not twist because it will eventually come apart, and create a weak point in the lock. Over time the start of the lock will decrease in size and be vulnerable to breakage. Do not overcompensate with large beginnings that will expose the scalp.

    Twists: A temporary styling which is normally worn short. Part your hair into small sections for small twists. Twist each section. Form is best kept when done while wet and allowed to dry. Wrapping your hair in a towel or scarf at night also helps to preserve the form.

By Deborah Mazon

Conditioners For African American Hair Care

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , , , ,

During the winter months you’ll notice that your hair and scalp tend to be dryer to to the affects of the colder weather. A great way to fight against this is to have a great moisturizing conditioner as part of your natural hair care regimen. Below is a wonderful article on how to accomplish this. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Peace 🙂

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Master Loctician & Publisher of http://healthylocsblog.com

Conditioners For African American Hair

To keep African American hair looking beautiful, healthy and shiny, a very important part of hair care regime is conditioning it properly. Read on to find out about conditioner for African American hair.

Today, if you go to any local drug store and go to the shampoo and conditioner aisle, you are bound to be overwhelmed by the wide variety of choices available in hair care products . So, how can you select a conditioner that will suit you, out of all the choices available. The reason that there are so many choices are because all of us have different textures of hair. African-American hair tends to be more dry and brittle than other types of hair and hence can be difficult to manage if proper hair care is neglected. For any African-American, a crucial part of hair care regime is using conditioners. So, let us try and see how can we find the best conditioner for African American hair from the myriad of choices available.

Conditioning your hair is one of the most important steps to manage curly hair and keep your hair healthy and beautiful. Using a conditioner helps protect your hair from things that can cause damage. It is vital that you know what hair conditioner is, what hair conditioner is designed for your hair type and how to properly apply it. Hair conditioner is a moisturizer for your hair. Moisture gives your hair strand elasticity, strength, and beauty. Especially for African-American hair, moisture is very important because of its texture.

Selecting a Conditioner for African American Hair

What most of us tend to do while selecting a conditioner is to look at the brand name. While that is not completely wrong, there are other aspects that you have to take into consideration. It is important to read the labels of the conditioners to make sure what you are getting and how it will help you. The following are a few points to remember while choosing a conditioner for black hair.

Avoid products that contain Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben, Petrolatum and Mineral Oil and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This is because these products dry up the hair and are not suitable for conditioner for curly hair.
Look for conditioner for African-American hair containing rosemary, coconut, jojoba or olive. The ingredients are great for conditioner for natural hair. Luckily, many products on the market are infused with these ingredients. Always look for these ingredients on the label on the back of the conditioner bottle.
Always use a cream based conditioner instead of a gel based conditioner which can dry out curly hair. Moisture is extremely important for curly black hair and hence, cream based conditioners for African-American hair are the best option.
Most hair care professionals advise to opt for leave in conditioners. This is because leave in conditioners act as a protection from heat and normal wear and tear and also keeps the moisture locked in the hair, till the next wash which is important for maintaining curly hair.

By queenchn

Black Love In 2010 (Valentines Day Special)

Scalp Care

Ok so I know this isn’t a post about hair care, but since Valentines day is upon us I wanted to share 2 interesting videos about the state of black love in 2010 and see what your views are on the matter.  These are 2 videos about Black Women in Atlanta, GA & Washington DC, 2 cities that are known as “black meccas” or “chocolate cities” .  So take a look and then leave a comment to let me know your views on the issue. Peace 🙂

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Master Loctician

Five Most Popular Reasons for Thinning Hair on African American Women

Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , ,

This is a really good article about the issue of hair thinning with African American Women. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Peace 🙂

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Master Loctician

Five Most Popular Reasons for Thinning Hair on African American Women

As if black women didn’t have enough “hair issues”, there is yet another that many are plagued with: thinning hair. Men of all ethnic groups are typically plagued with receding hairlines. Nonetheless, it can be particularly distressing when black women discover that their hairlines are beginning to dissipate before their very eyes. But what some women don’t realize is that the thinning has much to do with what they’re doing (and having done) to their tresses. In the attempt to affect that perfect style, African American hair is often manipulated in ways that create cumulative damage. There are actually some pretty explicable reasons for this kind of damage.

Unbe-weavable Thinning

Many women have their hair weaved while they’re attempting to grow out an unflattering haircut. Others wear weaves to cover already thin areas. Ironically, the weaves themselves are frequently damaging to the hair. For instance, when hair extensions are glued in, they must be removed with a substance designed to dissolve the glue. Some weave-wearers actually pull their own hair out, by failing to remove the extensions properly. The destruction isn’t always seen right away. But over a period of time, constantly pulling these track extensions results in thinning in the areas where the weave was applied. The same sentiment also applies to lace front wigs: the glue used to secure the wigs must be applied in such a way that the natural hairline is not affected. Nonetheless, those who are not schooled in the correct way to apply and remove these units often do more damage than they realize.

Braids Should Help, not Hurt

Another popular reason why black women see the hair literally falling away from their edges is because of the way their hair is braided. In short, having your hair braided shouldn’t hurt. Seeing redness, bumps, or excessive scaling around the edges each time your hair is braided means that it is being braided too tightly. Some hairstylists don’t know the strength of their own hands. Other stylists braid tightly at the customer’s request, in an attempt to maintain the style as long as possible. Again, if a woman wears this fashion for a long period of time, having her braids “touched up” frequently, the breakage will occur. In many cases, the breakage becomes so severe that the hair fails to grow back.

Chemical Over-Processing

Chemical relaxers are the primary cause of hair damage. Over-processing runs rampant in the black community, as women don’t like seeing their new growth popping out along their edges. But this incredibly sensitive area of the head should be left alone to grow out for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Continuing to get touch-ups on these areas makes them weaker, especially since the probability of inadvertently re-processing the shaft is highly likely. If you have ever wondered why you can’t seem to get the front of your hair to grow as long as the back, it is probably because this area of your scalp is never afforded the chance to catch up with the rest of your hair.

Allergies to Products

There are also so many styling products on the market that African American women fail to appropriately test them to see if their skin is compatible. Every woman can’t handle the harsh chemicals in some of the styling products. Some gels and waxes used to smooth edges actually contain alcohol, which ultimately is a drying agent. Coupled with the extreme brushing and manipulation, the hair can literally be brushed into “thinness.” Read ingredients carefully to make sure that you’re putting something in your hair that won’t damage either the shaft or your scalp.

Genetics

Yes, there are definitely genetic issues that will cause a black woman to experience thinning. Sometimes, the thinning accompanies aging. Some suffer from a condition called androgenetic alopecia (female hair loss.) But in essence, if you’ve noticed that hair seems to be leaving the crown or other areas of your scalp, there may be a dermatological issue at hand. The hair sheds naturally. So seeing a few hairs in your brush or comb is certainly normal. But if you notice that the hair left in your comb seems a bit thicker than it should be, you should definitely keep an eye out. Gather the hair, and place it in a plastic zip loc bag. This may sound strange; but doing so will help you to gauge exactly how much hair you’re losing. Your dermatologist will also be better able to diagnose a problem if you can attest to how much hair has been lost—and over what period of time.

By Ayana G

Healthy Locs working out with personal trainer Delta Brogden Part 2

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, Videos, Wellness, , , , , ,

In part 2, Juliette Samuel (esthetician) interviews personal trainer Delta Brogden of Change Is Now Fitness as he does a workout session with Nyesha Samuel (aka Healthy Locs). Nyesha has been working out with Delta for 6 months at the time this was filmed. This is the perfect video to get you motivated on a new healthy change in your life. Enjoy ! http://skincareguide.nyrajuskincare.com/, http://wellnessbymanymeans.com/, http://healthylocsblog.com, http://www.changeisnowfitness.com/

The Best Shampoo For Dry African American Hair

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , , , ,

We all know that our skin goes through some trying times in the fall/winter when the weather is colder, but most people don’t know that your hair can also become very dry like your skin.  It’s important to find products that are going to help renew moisture to your hair and keep it healthy. Below is a great article I found on how to do that very thing. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Publisher/Master Loctician for healthylocsblog.com

The Best Shampoo For Dry Hair
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Faber]Tim Faber

Cold, windy weather can bring on the toughest of hair challenges – dry hair.  With static electricity, increased damage, and wind-blown hairstyle destruction, winter weather can wreak havoc on our hair and leave the best style hard to manage.

Of all the hair problems we are asked about – and the toughest to fix – are those related to dry, fly-away hair.  When cold weather strikes, we are overwhelmed by the number of calls we receive for the best shampoo for dry hair. Low humidity and cooler temperatures bring with them gusty and high wind together with a constant moving from a warm office or home into the elements.

Removing clothing – hats, scarves, sweaters and coats – creates static electricity that leaves hair clinging to the sides of our heads with un-manageable difficulty.  Wind and sun reduce scalp oils that protect and coat the hair shaft and can dry-out hair and reduce moisture, resulting in increased breaking, lack of hold, and loss of control and body.

The best shampoo for dry hair involves taking a closer look at active ingredients as well as paying close attention to your hair care regimen.

Lack of moisture is the biggest problem to state the obvious.  Shampoos that topically infuse moisture stand the best chance of reducing fly-away and building strength.  Moisture and adequate hydration act to “plump” the follicle shaft and facilitate nutrient delivery, improving the root, bulb and cuticle health. Improved health and scalp circulation reduce breaking and split-ends while adding control and fullness.

The best ingredient we have seen is Jojoba Oil.  Jojoba Oil is a naturally derived oil from a shrub indigenous to the western United States. Jojoba Oil mimics sebum, the natural hair oil secreted by sebaceous glands associated with all follicle pores.  Jojoba Oil helps to coat and strengthen the shaft and works to rebuild protein bonds that add strength and helps lock-in moisture.

The best shampoo for dry hair is one that delivers protein protection while infusing moisture.  Hydration is the key to reducing fly-away and increasing control of hard to manage hair. With added moisture you’ll reduce frizziness and split-ends while increasing manageability over your hairstyle !

Healthy Locs interviews Chris-Tia Donaldson of ”Thank God I’m Natural”

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Podcast, Scalp Care, , , , , , , , ,

I decided to try something new for you guys and do a podcast (audio interview) for a change 🙂 In my first podcast for the blog I decided to interview Chris-Tia Donaldson of http://thankgodimnatural.com/ .  She also has a book of the same name (Thank God I’m Natural) which is available on her website as well as on Amazon.com. You can also find her book at Barnes & Noble bookstores. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Peace 🙂

Click below to hear our interview

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dr. Cornwell (Sisterlocks) on “Good Hair” Part 2

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , , , , , , , ,

Part 2 of a really good video that I found on “The natural family” and their view on the movie. LMAO at the brotha in the video that said there are 3 things he won’t talk to sistas about 🙂 Let me know what you think of the video. Peace 🙂

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Master Loctician

Dr. Cornwell (Sisterlocks) on “Good Hair” Part 1

Loc Care, Natural Hair Care, Scalp Care, , , , , , , , ,

Really good video that I found on “The natural family” and their view on the movie. Let me know what you think. Peace

Healthy Scalp, Healthy Locs

Nyesha Samuel – Master Loctician

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