Natural Hair FAQ's

I've only had hair color my senior year in high school (with a relaxer) so I do not know anything about hair coloring. I do know a lot of naturals use Henna because it is not harsh and provides a lot of extra conditioning. Check out this link for information about Henna or read Hair Color 411 for more information.

The fear you have is completely normal. Just about every woman I know had some type of reservation about going natural. Whether if it's how they are going to look, what they are going to dowith their hair or even what others may say. I'm not going to lie, you are going to get some reactions. Esp. if you have longer relaxed hair and chopping it all off to two inches. Girlfriend, you will look great! It just takes some getting use to. It was a shock for me too going from collarbone length micros to hair that barely touched the bottom of my ear.

What I like to suggest to women who feel the way you do is accessorize. Go out a buy a few pairs of nice earrings and neck jewelry. If you wear makeup, go buy a pretty new shade of lipstick and eyeshadow. Buy or make a pretty, bright scarf. I'm telling you, it will make a world of difference and you will look great!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at the individual strands if the strand is shorter than the majority of the rest of your hair, that strand has broken off. Also, look for a small white bulb on the end. That means the
strand has naturally come out of the scalp. Shedding is apart of the hair growth process. It can also occur with the change of seasons. If you are experiencing heavy shedding, I would consult with a professional.

There is no way to "wash" or weaken a relaxer. A relaxer straightens the hair by permanently breaking the protein bonds within the hair shaft. Once they are broken, they can never be reformed again.

The only thing some concoctions can do is make your hair so dry and brittle that it will appear that it was not straightened. This will only cause even more damage than you may already have. Sorry but the only way to get rid of a relaxer is to cut or trim it off.

For hair types, check out this link. Try not to get caught up with classifications though. These hair types are mostly helpful when taking to other naturals on hair messages boards to determine what hair products to try etc.

I personally don't think there is a strict answer to these types of questions since we're all different and do different things with our hair. I also believe it depends on your lifestyle (do you workout or work outdoors) and the outside temperature as well. So it's difficult to answer. I do a daily conditioner wash about everyday in the warmer months and in the cooler months once a week (sometimes more). I trim 1/2 inch off every 8 weeks like clockwork and my hair thanks me. On the other hand I know of a couple of women who do not trim at all or rarely and their hair is doing fine so I recommend you monitor your hair and that will be the best way to determine the frequency of shampoos and trims.

Dull hair usually means product build up. Do you clarify your hair? I use a warm water/baking soda mixture and it helps to get rid of product build-up and it makes my hair sheeny.

Also are you doing regular deep conditioning treatments? I am not sure where you live, but if it's cold and you where you hair out a lot, you should be doing deep conditioning treatments at least twice a month if not every week. Adding a little oil (such as grapeseed oil) and/or honey to the deep conditioner and provide a good treatment for your hair.

ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) mixes are great for the hair because it does a number of things. This helps provide "slippage" for detangling, it helps balance the hair's ph level, helps to clarify the hair and seals the cuticles. Don't worry about the smell. It should dissipate within a few minutes as long as you don't use much.

Here's a list of some recommended carrier oils:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the best oils for your hair, skin, body, etc. It's filled with antioxidants, and incredibly moisturizing.

Jojoba Oil is excellent due to its chemical makeup similarities to our natural sebum. Excellent for ALL types of skin and hair.

Avocado Oil is highly and super moisturizing, making it perfect for dry, damaged hair.

Castor Oil is said to strengthen hair, but I've always had to dilute it. It's very thick, so don't overuse!

Visit the 'All About Oils" page for more info.

I don't need oil or shampoo. If you don't use lots of oils and hair gel/pomades, there are alternative things you can use to cleanse your hair and oil does not moisturize the hair.

Don't become a product junkie. I know it takes time to figure out what works on your hair and what doesn't, but once you figure it out, stick to it.

Treat your body well. Drink water, eat right, take some vitamins, exercise. Your hair, skin and body will thank you!

Don't worry about hair growth. Focus on the health of the hair the growth will follow.

Stay away from the following: some alcohols (see the above question), heat, petroleum and mineral oil. These do nothing but harm our precious hair.

CONDITION! I can't stress this enough.

Don't comb your hair when dry! This WILL cause breakage. With your wet hair and lots of conditioner, use a wide tooth comb. In fact, use a detangling conditioner with a 'slip-factor' to assist with combing.

The more expensive products are not necessarily the best products.

Read the ingredients in products.

Make homemade stuff like sprays, conditioners etc.

Be careful with hair accessories that snag the hair or is placed iin the same spot all the time. It can cause breakage.

Watch that hairline. Make sure your brastrap headband (etc.) is not too tight.

TRIM, TRIM, TRIM! It will help your hair to prevent knots and tangles.

Learn to styling and take care of your hair yourself. Nobody cares about your hair as much as you do. :)

Lastly, have fun! I love being able to wear a REAL big afro to 70's parties and to switch up my hairstyle, length and texture often. It's fun confusing people. lol

More than likely it is growing, it's just breaking off once you gain a little length. What has helped me to maintain the length in that area includes doing scalp massages, keeping it moisturized with water and always oiling the ends - every night. I always had trouble with that section, but once I started to do those things, my hair back there actually grew and did not break off! Here's another thing - be careful how you tie you scarf you go to sleep. The friction combined with the tossing and turning can lead to breakage. By the way, those 'bee-dee-bees' are actually really short coils, just thought I'd add that. ;)

Try these suggestions:

Look into what you're putting into your body. Are you drinking enough water? The suggested amount is 8 - 8 oz. glasses daily.

Try washing hair less and condition (and deep condition) more.

Have you thought about trying the no-shampoo method? This is a "quiet" secret (lol) that many curlies/naturals use to help the health of their hair. This also helps stop my hair from drying out.

Where do you live? If you are in a cold climate, you hair will dry out. You may want to look into wearing headwraps or hats/caps with lining to keep your hair from drying out.

Are you misting it daily? What I do is use a mixture of distilled water, a bit of olive oil and essential oil (for smell) and spritz nightly before going to bed. When I wake up my hair is so soft and moisturized. I also oil my ends after doing this to seal in the moisture where it needs it most - the ends. Some hair products that has worked for me for moisturizing includes: Elasta QP Mango Moisturizer, Liv, and Hollywood Beauty Olive Crème. Also try Organic's Shea Butter or Vita Cream.

• For dandruff, here's a link that give some suggestions that may help.

• Check your hair routine. Maybe you are using too many products, or you're being heavy handed with the styling product. (Too much product on the scalp can cause build-up, itchiness and flakes.

• Try the Apple Cider Vinegar Mix. (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS)

• It is a reaction to the shampoo that you're using. Consider switching to a gentle shampoo.

• Try using light carrier oils such as jojoba, almond or avocado, or essential oils like rosemary and tea tree oils (dilute the essential oils) directly on the scalp. Stay away from heavy grease and petroleum filled products.

• If you oil your scalp, you may want to stop for a bit and see if that helps. It can actually make the condition worse.

• Lastly, consider visiting a dermatologist if all else fails.

Good luck!

First, I would like to suggest you figure why your hair is thinning. Tight braiding, wearing the same pattern of cornrows, pulling your hair back to tight into a ponytail or even heavy stress may lead to hair loss. If you don't know why your hair is falling out, I would say consult a professional and do some research on alopecia. It's going to take time and patience during this time so hang in there.

To grow (or try to grow) your temples back, try massaging lightly with a mixture of vitamin E and rosemary oil. Click here to view the exactly measurements. Here's some other advice: be gentle while combing and brushing. If you use heat, discontinue using it at least until the hair recovers. Be sure that you don't wear hairstyles that pull and tug the hair.

ACV mixes are great for the hair because it does a number of things. This helps provide "slippage" for detangling, it helps balance the hair's ph level, helps to clarify the hair and seals the cuticles. Don't worry about the smell. It should dissipate within a few minutes as long as you don't use much.

According to the Andre Scale, if I had to choose I guess I consider myself mostly 4a (small tight coils) with a little 3c (size of a fat marker) in the crown and edges.