Showing posts with label hair care tips. Show all posts

Monday, October 15, 2012

Hair Care Extensions Keeping Them Beautiful

At-Home Care For Clip-On Hair Extensions
by Tiffany Windhurst

Clip on hair extensions are an ideal way to increase length and volume to your hair. They have progressed in reputation and are now available as synthetic hairpieces or could be made from natural hair. However, numerous women are not clear about the proper method to care for their extensions, resulting in unwanted tangles and unkept looking hair.

Caring for your extensions is really fairly easy, once you know the fundamentals. To begin with, a great, quality hairbrush makes all the distinction.

As a rule, wide paddle hairbrushes are best for longer hair that falls below the neckline. Brush your hair from the scalp straight down to the bottom of your extensions. Be gentle and don't pull at snags or tangles. If you find your hair has a small knot, use your fingers to gently pull it apart.

You should brush your hair before washing it to free it from tangles before it gets wet. Avoid flipping your hair upside down as this will create crossing strands which will knot. Wash your hair and the extensions gently without tugging or rubbing to prevent breakage and damage.

Once you are done, avoid tossing your hair up in a towel. Rather, leave it down and carefully pat it to soak up excess water, then allow it to air dry if you have the time. A light finger brushing when hair is wet will keep it from clumping.

Many women find their hair extensions tangle and knot easily during the night. You can wrap your hair in a silk scarf to help prevent this, or simply tie it back loosely. Avoid rubber bands as they can break the strands and are often difficult to remove.

When utilizing heated styling equipment, like hair straighteners, properly part and separate the hair in advance. Take care when utilizing any kind of heated equipment near the clips as excessive heat can trigger discomfort or even induce the clip to dissolve.

These few simple tips will save you a great deal of problems and disappointment, allowing you to appreciate the full life cycle of your clip on hair extensions.

More Information:

Discover more gorgeous beauty tips and advice at our beauty website.

Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article331866.html

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Argan Oil Benefits for African American Hair

Argan oil became a beauty icon just a few years ago and every since it has been flying off the shelves everywhere. This special oil which is known as Moroccan oil has amazing benefits not just for hair but for skin as well. It is very much like an anti-aging solution and a hair therapy all in one. Agran oil can also be used for dry skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and wrinkles.

How is it made?

“Pure Agran oil is derived form he kernels of Argan trees that grow in the Southwestern regions of Morocco. The kernels are then cold pressed to extract the vitamins that the oil offers including vitamin e and essential fatty acids” (Tiffany Washington, Is Argan Oil Worthy Of all That Buzz, madammenoire.com, July 2012). Many people consider it the miracle oil to sooth all ailments. Companies now more than ever invest in this golden oil because of the effective benefits and high demand of it.

The benefits for women of color

Agran oil soothes away your hairs ills. This popular hair oil treats dry, damage, coarse and color-treated hair. It creates a shine of health for your locks and gives it vital nutrients that the hair needs. Using this hair oil is perfect for those who use flat irons, curling irons and blow dries their hair on a daily basis. Argan oil is beneficial for all African American hair types and it is great at eliminating frizzy hair, while promoting hair growth. This product is good for all hair types.

Many stylists recommend that you apply it to your head to avoid heat damage. Substitute hair spray for Moroccan oil to reduce product build up. It adds a light beautiful shine with increase softness. Argan oil makes the hair stronger and improves its texture. It has essential nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin F and has UV ray protection (Jody Morse, Moroccan Oil: Benefits for Healthy Hair, Dailyglow.com, 2012). When shopping for Argan oil go for the purest because it won’t give your hair that heavy greasy feeling. If you want your hair to be healthy and always looking its best consider hair care products that have natural ingredients.

Argan Oil

$14.00

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Vinegar Hair Care Remedy Improves Hair Texture

How to Make Your Hair Silky and Shiny With Vinegar

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
To make your hair light, healthy, shiny, and silky, here are some great tips for using a natural product everyone keeps in the kitchen - vinegar!

Steps

With White Vinegar

Mix the white vinegar with water. This mix should be one part water and three parts vinegar.
Apply the white vinegar and water into your hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the mixture evenly, and massage your scalp to ensure you get the roots.
Wait for 5-10 min. Waiting for a couple minutes will allow the mixture to soak in.
Rinse the white vinegar out well. You may want to shampoo after the rinse to ensure you get all the vinegar out.
- Some people prefer to shampoo before adding the vinegar, as vinegar can be used to restore proper pH to your hair[1]. Play around with a few different patterns and see what works best for you.
Dry your hair.

With Apple Cider Vinegar

Get a bottle of organic apple cider vinegar. For best results, make sure it is also raw and unfiltered.
Mix the vinegar with water. There should be about 10 parts water to 1 part vinegar. If you want, you can also add a squirt or two of honey for moisture and shine [2].
Apply the mixture to your hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the mixture evenly, and massage your scalp to ensure you get the roots.
Shampoo and/or condition. Once you've let the mixture sit for a few minutes in your hair, rinse it out using your regular shower routine.
- Some people prefer to shampoo before adding the vinegar, as vinegar can be used to restore proper pH to your hair[3]. Play around with a few different patterns and see what works best for you.

Tips

Keep a spray bottle of one of the mixtures in your shower. Use it for stripping the residue from your hair as well as to keep the soap build up off your shower walls.

Warnings

Make sure the vinegar is mixed with water, because pure vinegar can burn your face.
Do not get the solution into your eyes as it will sting.

Things You'll Need

White vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Honey
Warm water
Hair
Towel

Sources and Citations

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Your Hair Silky and Shiny With Vinegar. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Natural and Colored Hair Care Milkshake Remedy

How to Make a Hair Care Milkshake

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Milkshakes are a yummy summer treat, or just edible all year round. Here's how to make a truly beneficial hair milkshake to boost growth, shine and even add some nice natural highlights, use this yummy shake once a fortnight, and you'll have stronger, shinier, softer and all round sexier hair.

Steps

In a glass, mix 3 tablespoons of Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix until the mixture is combined.
Boil hot water, add two bags of Chamomile tea to a glass and add boiled water until it is a quarter way up the glass. The Chamomile will help bring out red highlights. Brunettes and redheads should use Chamomile or if Chamomile is unavailable, substitute chamomile with 3 teaspoons of Cinnamon and 2 tablespoons lemon juice mixed. Blondes should use 5 table spoons of lemon juice only.
Mix the yogurt and honey with the hot water and tea (or lemon) concoction. This can be done by stirring or in a blender.
Cool the milkshake down for ten minutes and slowly apply to hair.
Leave in for 30-45 minutes and wash as normal in the shower.

Tips

Make sure to cool the shake before applying to hair to avoid burning.
Add other ingredients like olive oil, almond oil, castor oil, coconut oil and apple cider vinegar.
If you have oily hair, add 1 tsp lemon juice to your tea or hot water.
If you have dry hair halve the lemon juice or just add to your tea to any of the aforementioned oils.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Hair Care Milkshake. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

How To Cut Off Split Ends

How to Trim Your Own Split Ends

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Not every trim requires a trip to the salon. Taking care of your own split ends can keep your hair looking sharp between visits.

Steps

Obtain a pair of hair shears. Normal scissors will gnaw through your hair and cause you more split ends. You can purchase them online or at a local beauty supply.
Cut perpendicular to the hair strand. This will keep the end stronger than a slanted cut would.
Make the cut about 1/4” above the split to ensure a healthy end.
Try trimming against a light background if you have dark hair and vice versa.

Video

Dusting

Start with a section of hair and cut off the split ends of individual strands. You can use one of the methods described below if you wish.
- Take a small section of hair, and twist it. The ends of the hair will pop up out of the twist and you can see split ends and trim them.
- Spread out a section of hair with your fingers. Place your index finger over the top of the section, the middle finger adjacent and underneath, and your ring finger over. Basically weave it through these three fingers. As you slide your fingers down the section you should see bad ends popping out, so trim them. Continue all the way down the strand. Be prepared for eye strain!
- Take a section of hair, leave it loose and search through it for split ends.
Start on a new section and repeat.

Trimming

Ask a friend or family member to trim your hair. It's useful if they have some experience cutting hair. You can trim your own hair if you are careful.
Wash and condition you hair. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb while the conditioner is still in. This will separate your hair into sections.
Take a section and bring it forward, take the end of this hair section and hold it firmly between two fingers just above where you want to trim, and make the cut.
Bring the next section forward and repeat.
Make sure you comb your hair very well and do not disturb the ends of the section. It is also important to keep the cut and uncut section separate and cut the same amount of hair off each section.

Tips

It's recommended to use special scissors made for cutting hair, as normal household scissors will damage hair. Don't forget that hair scissors are very sharp and are designed to prevent the hair they grasp from slipping out, so if you pinch some finger skin in them by accident, you probably will have a pretty deep cut in your skin. Use with caution!
Products that claim to "heal" split ends are false. They will only temporarily glue split ends together. They may help prevent messy hair however.

Warnings

If you are a child, get an adult's help for this. It will turn out looking much better because a second person is in a better position to see whether a cut will leave a "hole" or make a portion of hair too short.
Unfortunately going to a professional and asking for a 1 inch trim to get rid of splits often results in the loss of much more hair than 1 inch. Part of this may be due to the hairdresser deciding that he/she knows better than you, and part of it may be not being firm or clear enough in your instructions.

Related wikiHows

How to Cut Your Own Curly Hair

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Trim Your Own Split Ends. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

The Perfect Shampoos For Colored Hair

Hair Fashion Of 2012 Include Vibrant Hair Colors: Are You Game?

Author: jaisikawilsonn
The 'Spring-Summer 2012' fashion week saw pastel-haired models scorching the ramp. The 2013 cruise-resort shows for Chanel and Marc Jacob also featured this chic look, which is now donning the covers of top fashion magazines. This has made sulfate free shampoo brands in demand, as you need the best products for your hair, if you want to maintain such looks.

Dare to color hair?

Applying crazy colors on the hair is not a new trend. For decades, we have seen rock stars and celebrities flaunting their hair in extra bold colors. Bright hues of pink, green, yellow, electric blues, or purples have always popped eyeballs and made us think, "what are they doing?"

Another question that comes to the mind is, "how do they take care of their hair with such colors?"

Well, the first question is a matter of personal choice, but the answer to the second question lies in sulfate free shampoo brands. They are gentle and natural-based shampoos, designed for all hair types, including color-treated hair.

This is the reason why you can see the 2012 runaway trend dipped in colors. It is time to come out of the recession and brighten up your moods. Another reason is that color products, nowadays, are not as harsher or darker as they were earlier. You can also get ammonia-free color products. The sheer range of choices in hair styling, coloring, and cleansing products have made people ready to experiment with daring make-overs.

Fairy tale hair
Colors make you feel happy. Shades like deep blue, magenta, turquoise, purple, and jewel tones look great on brunets, while lighter hues of pink, peach, yellow, rose, and gold look terrific on blondes. Gray, with a touch of lavender, looks lovely on ladies with elegance.

Hair care

According to dermatologists, bright hair colors last only for 15-20 days and then start to fade. You may need to apply hair gloss to maintain the sheen of the color. Moreover, you need to use shampoos and conditioners designed specifically for color-treated hair.

Remember, permanent dyes can strip off the natural oils from your hair, giving them straw-like texture. Use semi-permanent hair color instead, as it only gets deposited on the strands. Moreover, you should discuss with your stylist about the choice of the color and the correct technique to color hair. For example, if you are a brunet and wish bubble-gum pink hair, you may need to first bleach your hair to let the color set in better on the strands.

Ladies with thin hair must choose highlights rather than coloring their entire mane. Highlights add fullness to tresses. They should also use hair thickening shampoos.

Be careful while washing brightly-colored hair. Do you know the H2O molecules of water are responsible for fading the color? So, avoid being under the shower for too long. Make sure to use only the best hair products designed for colored hair. Keranique revitalizing shampoo is one of the products that falls in the best products category.

Celebrities, such as Kate Perry, Lady Gaga, and Minaj, are the pioneers of coloring hair crazy. Now, an increasing number of celebrities like Emma Watson, Carrie Underwood, Sienna Miller, and Lauren Conrad are flaunting delectable hair colors. You, too, can join the bandwagon, but make sure to use only the best sulfate free shampoo brands to avoid damaging your hair.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/hair-fashion-of-2012-include-vibrant-hair-colors-are-you-game-6152843.html
About the Author
Keranique offers a collection of top sulfate free shampoo brands, including Keranique revitalizing shampoo, voluminzing conditioner, hair thickening shampoos, and more. Visit the site to order these products.

No More Brittle Hair and Split Ends

Dry hair causes brittle hair and split ends. Dehydration of the hair can be set off from excessive heat and not properly moisturizing your ends. No matter what style you choose it will not appear attractive if it’s too dry and damaged. Hair breakage will occur and your hair loses its appeal. Applying heavy grease to the hair may add shine and moisture but it will weigh it down and it won’t be bouncy.

Using the right hair care product will not only give you the hair you deserve but it will add value to you hairs elasticity. And even so, not using a hair care product will do the same. I know you are wondering what I am talking about. I’m talking about oils, not just hair oils but oils that can be used in a variety of ways contributing to your health. I know you’ve heard of Olive Oil, right? Who hasn’t?

Whenever my hair is dry I use Luster’s Pink oil Moisturizer and Olive oil after styling my hair. This omega fatty rich oil gives hair life and shine without weighing it down. It is full of antioxidants which are good for strength, youthfulness and beauty on the inside and out. Olive oil has been castoff in my family for over 15 years. At first when I saw my mother using it I thought she was silly. I’d only known this particular type of oil for cooking not for skin care and hair.

As I got older of course I had experimented with a lot of hair care items to see which was perfect for my hair type. And believe me having thick and course hair is not easy to maintain. Sure, it’s stronger and easy to hold hair styles, however it was a pain to comb especially when it was time for a perm. I was reading the Ebony magazine one day and there was a topic that caught my eye. The topic was about stars revealing their beauty secrets. Tamara, the twin from the TV show called Sister, Sister said that “olive oil does wonders for her skin.”

Without hesitation I decided to try it out. I applied it to my hair and I have to admit I liked what I had seen. It instantly made my hair feel soft and smooth. It gave my hair a beautiful light shine and I was feeling it. Then I tried it on my skin and at first I didn’t see a difference, so I gave it more time. After a week or so I noticed that my skin didn’t dry out as quickly as it usually did before I started using the olive oil. My skin became softer and it appeared well nourished. I use it all the time, but you have to apply a small amount at a time because too much will soak through your clothing leading to staining and the odor of the oil.

According to Daily Glow.com “Olive oil is used for brief scalp massages to increase the blood flow that will then relieve brittle and dry hair.” It can be used as a leave in conditioner to promote hair growth in areas where balding and thinning is a problem. It reduces frizz, adds shine and aids in the treatment of split ends. http://www.dailyglow.com/reverse-brittle-dry-hair-with-natural-oils.html

Other essential oils are great for skin and hair such as coconut, jojoba and argan oil. The difference between the argan, jojoba and olive oil is that you can’t cook with the argan and jojoba oil like you would with olive oil. These oils are perfect for reversing hair damage. Argan oil is an excellent regimen for hair and skin. You simply can’t go wrong with either.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Black Women Hair Loss Solutions

African American Hair Loss

Author: Alanna Brown
In the United States, there are approximately 21 million women and 35 million men suffering some degree of baldness. Ninety-five percent of that is due to androgenic alopecia, which accounts for various ethnicities, including African American hair loss. But for this particular ethnic group, there are other alopecias that have historically caused significant hair thinning.
The Specific Causes of African American Hair Loss
In addition to androgenic alopecia, commonly called pattern baldness, there are two conditions present mostly among people of African descent.

Traction alopecia
Central cicatricial centrifugal alopecia

Traction alopecia is gradual hair loss as a result of constant or frequent harsh pulling on the hair. Most commonly seen in African American women due to the cultural styling of their hair, this condition can result from corn rows, braids, extensions, weaves, ponytails, and barrettes. The thinning will begin to manifest in a recession at the periphery of the scalp, meaning the frontal and rear hairlines, and behind the ears.
Central cicatricial centrifugal alopecia (CCCA) is another major cause of African American hair loss, however, it manifests at the top center of the scalp. This condition is the result of traction alopecia in combination with the continued use of abrasive chemicals and/or heated appliances. These chemicals, such as relaxers, bleaches, and dyes, weaken the keratin structure of the hair, thus undermining its tensile strength. For example, an amalgamation of chemical straightening and weaving in hair extensions will result in CCCA over time.
Curing African American Hair Loss
The same general solutions that exist for alopecia affecting Caucasians and other ethnic groups are also available to people of African ancestry. Rogaine (minoxidil) is an FDA-approved medication used to stop hair loss and possibly stimulate re-growth. It is available over the counter and administered topically. The only problems with Rogaine are:

It is not affective at restoring hair to the hairline, thus would only be useful for treating CCCA.
It currently exists only in a liquid formula, which is typically ineffective with, and not conducive to, the typical hair care practices of African American women.

An excellent way to permanently reverse African American hair loss is through hair transplantation. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a favorable method due to its single follicle extraction process, which leaves little scarring and enhances the overall result. However, with FUE or any hair transplant technique, the following specifications must be considered:

African American people typically have curly or kinked follicles, which are difficult to excise without a raised transection percentage. In addition, the follicle tends to have a stronger attachment to the surrounding tissue, making the hair more difficult to excise.

African American people have heightened scarring tendencies, including a tendency to keloid during healing.

To avoid raised transection rates and severe scarring, hair restoration surgeons must take special care when treating African American hair loss.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/african-american-hair-loss-5777998.html
About the Author
Author: Alanna Brown, content writer for DermHair Clinic
At DermHair Clinic, our goal is to impart the latest innovations for hair restoration, and to provide information on recent discoveries in the field.
Sign up for a free online consultation or visit http://www.dermhairclinic.com/

Perm Hair The Healthy Way

Straight, long, bouncy and healthy hair is what most of us desire. If you are looking to perm your hair or you have already endure the process of getting an perm there are steps you should consider to keep your hair healthy. Perming your hair is not just about getting it straight. It's about maintaing the nature of your hair by keeping it strong and beautiful. Because of the chemicals that are in a perm it can easily damage your hair. That's why it's important to do it the right way, always follow the directions of the perm kit.

Healthy hair takes effort and wise decisions when it comes to your locks. Deep conditioning is essential when it comes to caring for your tresses. Most of African American women desire long straight lively hair and in order to get it, you have to know what you are doing when it comes to maintaining it. When it comes to perming your hair follow these tips:

Always follow the directions in the perm product kit
Never leave the perm on no longer than what it says
Gently come your hair after shampooing it, don't comb so rough
If you hair get tangled, spray a detangling product onto your hair for easy combing.
Use the conditioner in the perm kit
Then use a hot oil treatment for added protection of your hair. Because after perming your hair your hair is fragile.
Try not to blow dry your hair and if you must set the blow dryer to a low setting. Or you can allow the hair to air dry if you have the time.
Wrapping the hair is a great way to style it and let it dry without the use of hot curling irons or flat irons. Unless you want to add a few curls or a hump to your hair after combing out the wrap.

The most important thing to remember when perming hair is to follow the directions and try to avoid as much heat as possible. Too much heat can damage hair and make it dry and brittle. Nourish your scalp by lightly greasing it at least twice a week and conditioning it once a week with a hot oil treatment and after that reduce to using hot oil hair treatments to every two weeks.

Monday, September 3, 2012

How To Grow Your Hair Long and Strong

How to Grow Long Hair if You Are a Black Female

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
If you are a Black female wanting to get over the stagnant hair growth hump, here are a few must-do steps for you!

Steps

The most important step in creating a growth-friendly environment is DEEP CONDITIONER! !!Deep conditioner is so important because Black women tend to have curly new-growth. These curly roots make it difficult for your hair's natural oils to move down the hair shaft and moisturize the length of your hair. Deep conditioning after EVERY WASH not only replenishes whatever nutrients were stripped from the shampoo, but it also strengthens your hair for whatever styles and weather your hair will see before the next wash.
The most effective way to wash your hair is with a solution of 50% shampoo plus 50% warm water. Mix the diluted solution ahead of time (about 5 minutes) and pour it over your hair when you are ready to wash it. Very gently work the solution through your hair at the scalp without tangling the length. Tresemme Moisture Rich and "KeraCare" Hydrating are both excellent shampoos. Wash hair as needed depending on your hair type and health. This could be every week with products designed for dry hair and which do not contain alcohol or harsh sulfates and which are pH balanced. Do not over-wash (once is usually enough), as over washing can cause damage, which will ultimately lead to breakage. While washing, rub your scalp very gently. This will reawaken sleeping follicles and promote thicker healthier hair. If your shampoo is normally thick, dilute it with warm water before using it on your hair. This will make the shampoo easier to rinse out which will allow you to treat your hair more gently as you wash it.
Use a protein re-constructor. "ApHogee Protein Re-constructor" is excellent for dry hair types. Doing so will make your hair healthy and strong. Relaxers and shampoos can be very damaging to your hair. Relaxers are made specifically to change the structure of your hair so that your hairs are straight. The main purpose of shampoo is to rip your hair of all bad elements, dirt, etc... Both then of course will also remove needed nutrients and shielding from your hair leaving it dry and fragile. These products can be used of course. You just have to be sure you understand what's happening to your hair so you know how to nurse your hair back to health afterwards.
Before applying the moisturizer, wet your hair with water. Apply a moisturizer (which does not contain petroleum jelly, petrolatum or mineral oil) to the hair. Start about 2 inches away from the roots and apply the moisturizer all the way to the ends. Do this daily or as your hair requires - you want your hair to feel soft and pliable. You may have to experiment with what works for you.
Apply a light oil (olive, avocado,sweet almond etc) sparingly. This may be used on your hair after applying a water-based moisturizer in order to seal moisture into the hair shaft and give your hair a nice natural shine. These oils should never be applied directly to the scalp because it may block your pores and lead to Alopecia or hair loss.
Make sure you use a heat protecting oil, moisturizer, or shampoo/conditioner when using blow dryers. The excessive heat causes dryness, damage and breakage. Air drying hair is a bad method for medium or long hair as water gets locked into the top of your hair and it can cause colds and brittle roots.If the volume of your hair is increased with air drying you can do one of two things: first: apply moisturizer, then air-dry. This will decrease the volume without causing damage; or second: apply moisturizer and use a dome or bonnet dryer on a cool or warm setting. Never use the highest setting unless you have strong hair.
Make sure you clip your ends every 6-8 weeks or every time you have your hair relaxed. When you have split ends and you don't cut them, they will continue to split all the way up your hair shaft, which will cause hair loss.
Comb it carefully to get your hair to grow long. Be sure to use a very wide-toothed comb with no seams and comb it gently from the ends first, as combing from the root's will detangle hair as you comb higher and higher. Never comb from the roots to the ends until your hair is completely untangled.
Avoid daily and/or excessive brushing of your hair, as black hair is fragile. Excessive brushing can strip the hair of its protective layers. If you are trying to smooth your hairline, brush gently, use a soft boar bristle brush, and make sure your hair is completely dry and moisturized.
Treat your hair from within by taking a multivitamin. Use a hair vitamin that will increase your hair growth rate and lengthen your natural anagenesis (growth phase). Also drink at least eight cups of water and eat healthy foods such as fish, fruits, vegetables and nuts, and by exercising regularly to provide good circulation to the scalp.
Consider going natural if you wish. However, relaxers have come a long way in the last 30 years and it is quite possible for African American women to have beautiful and healthy relaxed hair. But you may choose not to go under the chemicals and want a different look. Stop perming and learn how to take care of your natural hair texture. You can follow these rules just as permed female would with some exceptions, you will need more conditioner than instructed, a wide tooth comb (never use a brush, it will snag your curls). You will need to only wash your hair with conditioner (co-washing) instead of shampoo. Shampoo is harsh and will already dry your curly hair more than it is. Natural hair and perms can both be long and beautiful if you know what you are doing. With natural hair you may straighten it but to protect yourself from heat damage (hair that breaks and doesn't curl up or set).Try blow drying with a comb attachment and wet setting before you give it a quick sweep with a flat iron. There are many forums, videos and communities that you can use to chat with women who have decided to grow their hair in it's natural state. Remember to stop tugging on your hair and brushing it with bristle brushes, this will break your hair and cause you to bald, Traction alopecia. Use protective styling or styles that have low manipulation , twists/extensions, bantu knot sets. Remember when you braid your hair to braid loosely, or you will end up pulling out your fragile hair.
Relaxing - Do your homework on both relaxer products and hairdressers. You will need a quality relaxer and an excellent hair dresser to achieve healthy relaxed hair. The long hair forum is a great source of information. Now this is where all of your washing and conditioning treatments can either pay off or be sabotaged by damage. First of all, do not relax your hair more than once every 8-10 weeks. If you can stretch longer, even better. That is 4 times a year or every 3 months. Do not allow your hair dresser to apply relaxer to your previously straightened hair--it will become over processed. It should be applied to the new growth only.
Apply the relaxer. It is best to have someone else apply the relaxer because they have a full view of your head. Before you begin, rub a generous amount of scalp protectant in your hands and apply to the entire hair shaft. Petroleum jelly can be used. Pay close attention to the ends of your hair when applying the protectant. This is to protect hair that has already been processed. Next, apply the relaxer using the manufacturer’s directions. Follow the timing chart so you do not over process your hair. Be sure to wash out all of the relaxer with warm water. Apply a neutralizing shampoo and wash and rinse at least three times. If there are still traces of relaxer in your hair, continue to wash until all traces have been removed. Once all traces of relaxer have been removed, apply the neutralizing shampoo to the hair again. Leave the neutralizer in for 10 minutes. It is very important that you leave the neutralizer in for 10 minutes. Do not skip this step. Next, the neutralizer can be rinsed. Now you can apply the protein treatment, and then follow with the moisture treatment as previously discussed.
Moisturize your hair as often as needed. Black hair is dry because of the natural tight curl pattern. It is difficult for the oils from the scalp to make it down the hair shaft. Moisturize the hair ends with natural oils (olive, avocado, sweet almond,orange extract.)
Most importantly stick to it. Don't give up if you don't get immediate results, it will all pay off when you have long, sexy hair.

Video

Helpful tips to grow hair past shoulder length and beyond!

Tips

"HairFinity" consultations are a good resource for finding products that will work for your individual needs.
Make sure you have a healthy scalp, your hair won't grow if your scalp isn't clean and healthy.
Stop that chop-happy stylist. A chop-happy stylist is the hair dresser who grabs the scissors every time you show up. To grow hair long, you need to keep them from cutting so much of your hair. So how do you stop a chop-happy stylist and the scissors of doom? Here are a few tips
- If all else fails remember "money talks". If they don't trim your hair when you ask them not to, give them a huge tip and they'll never trim it again, unless you ask. Just be sure to tell him/her the tip is for respecting your wishes. Don't be cheap either! A $2.00 tip won't do, make it $15-$20 and you'll never have to worry about the scissors of doom again!
If your hair dresser cuts your hair behind your back without telling you, they don't respect your decision. If this happens it's time to leave and find someone who will respect your wishes.
Wearing your hair braided will help your hair grow because no heat is being put on it. Just make sure to constantly moisturize your scalp and spray your hair with braid spray so the braids don't dry out.
If extending time between relaxers, use Rusk Smoother Leave-in in wet hair. Wrap with a satin scarf, and sit under a heated dryer for 30 minutes.<
Trim your ends regularly to avoid the splits moving up the hair. Even though this seems like it may shorten your hair, over time you'll need to trim less and less and then the fruits of your labor will show.
Wrap your hair at night and cover it with a silk scarf or if the scarf slips a lot use a satin pillow.
Consider wearing silk robes and shirts as well during the day. Walking around with your hair brushing against cotton shirts all the time can cause your hair ends to break off. Otherwise, put your hair up in a protective style (bun or butterfly clip).

Warnings

It is rarely necessary to cut off more than an inch or two unless your hair is severely damaged. Getting hair healthy so you don't have split ends is the best way to get long hair.
Make sure your braids are not too tight because this can lead to thinning hair, especially around the temple area.
Keep heavy oils, "grease" and gels out of your hair. Gels tend to thin and break off hair, heavy oils and "grease" take away volume and movement and also break off hair. Only use light oils (i.e. olive oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, ...)

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Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Grow Long Hair if You Are a Black Female. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Keeping Your Permed Hair Healthy

How to Care for Permed Hair

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
If you have kinky or curly hair, you may have chosen to get a perm to make it easier to manage. Tired of your straight, lank hair, you decided to go curly. Whatever the reason, a perm can be damaging to hair unless you maintain it properly.

Steps

Get touch-ups only as needed. Have only the most unruly sections of our hair redone at touch-ups, because you shouldn't get a complete perm each time unless your hair really needs it. Perms contain harmful chemicals and should be used sparingly.
Don't wash your hair for at least 24 hours after getting your perm. This will ensure that it doesn't fall apart before the curl has a chance to develop. This will allow the perm to last for a couple months.
Use appropriate hair products. Shampoos should maintain curls and conditioner should deeply moisturize. After getting your hair permed, it will be stripped of lots of natural oils and moisture which needs to be replaced. Every morning you should comb through it gently so as not to undo curls, and then choose your styling product to reduce frizzy unmanageable curls and keep your style strong.
Scrunch hair daily. This is a beauty basic that will enhance your new style and create soft sultry waves.

Video

Tips

Detangle your hair carefully with a wide-toothed comb. Your hair will be more tangled than usual with curls, but if you constantly brush it, the style will come undone.
Experiment with hairdos. Just because you changed the texture doesn't mean your glittery hair clips, patent headbands, and ponytail days are over! Accent your style with cute accessories and styles.
Try not to use hairspray because if you use hairspray you will have trouble getting it out resulting in using more product's to get it out. It ends up hurting your scalp, getting it wet, and messing up your hair with all that pulling.
If you're going outside and it's snowing/raining, make sure you bring an umbrella! If you hair gets wet, it will either get flatter, or the perm will go away faster.

Warnings

Don't get your hair permed too often. Excessive contact with chemicals will permanently ruin and/or damage your hair. Also, don't brush the perm out of your hair.

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Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Care for Permed Hair. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.