Breaking Down The Basics About Hair
Hair Type 4: Oil Rinsing
Posted by: In: Blog 04 Apr 2013 0 comments Tags: , ,

hairtype4oils

Oil rinsing is using essential oils or hot oil treatments to rinse hair. This is often referred to as pre-pooing the hair before your normal wash routine.

When I first found out about oil rinsing, I was clueless as to what it was. Naturally, I began researching the purpose and discovered that oil rinsing has many effects including combating dryness, providing strength to strands, and adding shine to dull hair. I began pre-pooing (oil-rinsing) to strengthen the strands and to promote growth by giving the scalp a massage with the oil while I waited to rinse the oil out. The results were incredible. It seemed to have given my hair life. It seemed sleeker and much shinier. You should give it a try even if you feel as if your hair is in a healthy state; this is guaranteed to give it an extra boost.

Brahmi Oil

The first oil that I ever used to oil rinse was an Indian brand, Brahmi Oil. Massaging this oil into the hair and scalp gives hair the additional nutrition to prevent hair loss. By massaging, you increase the blood circulation to the scalp, so with the aid of this oil, you are also strengthening the roots to promote healthy hair growth. This product is a coconut oil base and a part of a network of Ayurvedic oils to stimulate hair growth.

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Pros:

  • After the first use, hair was noticeably softer and shinier
  • With continued use, hair seemed to grow in healthier
  • Promotes hair growth rapidly
  • Also used as a relaxation therapy oil when massaged into the scalp
  • This product uses all natural ingredients

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Cons:

  • My only complaint with this oil is that it smells horrible
  • This product is also very pricey

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Buy Brahmi Oil $19.99

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The second choice I recommend to do oil rinsing with is Extra Virgin Olive Oil, also referred to as EVOO. This oil preserves and restores the elasticity of your hair. It helps rid the hair of pollutants accumulated from normal daily activities (sweat, sun, etc.).

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Pros

  • Excellent Sealant: Use this oil for sealing moisture into your hair.
  • Makes hair softer
  • Makes hair noticeable lighter instead of weighted down
  • Can be used as a detangler
  • Can use this oil to do an HOT (hot oil treatment)
  • All natural product, no harmful effects

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Cons

  • Can be messy when applying

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Buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil $24.43

 

Coconut Oil

This oil has been used for centuries as hair oil. Coconut Oil helps build strong strands, provide nourishment that is not available in daily diet and also gives a healthy scalp.

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Pros:

  • Holds moisture in
  • Great for styling with heat
  • Nourishes dry/brittle hair
  • Stimulates healthy hair growth
  • Promotes a healthy, clean scalp for maximum growth potential
  • All natural product

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Cons:

  • None

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Buy Coconut Oil $14.39

When considering Oil Rinsing, always check the ingredients just in case you may have an allergy. There are so many oils out there that can be used as an alternative to the above mentioned. Essential oils are usually mixed with the above oils to provide added strength, to rid itchiness, stimulate scalp or to further condition the hair. Some like peppermint oil or rosemary oil in their EVOO because you get a tingly-scalp-stimulating effect when placed in the hair/scalp.

Usually oil rinsing is done as a pre-poo (before shampooing hair). There is another way to oil rinse as well. You shampoo first, then oil rinse (leave oil on the hair/scalp for 15 minutes), then rinse out the oil. You can follow-up with a moisturizing conditioner.

Hair Type 1: Baby Powder for Greasy Hair
Posted by: In: Natural Hair 29 Mar 2013 0 comments

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Baby powder is an amazing and very popular remedy for oily or greasy hair. Of the four different hair types, type 1 and 2 straight hair benefit greatly from the use of baby powder. Because those two types of hair become greasy or oily easily and more often, the application of baby powder helps remove the excess oil. The powder can also be used for oily or “sweated out” weaves when the oil or grease has become an issue.

Baby powder can be found at retailers such as Walmart, Target, Family Dollar,and Rite Aid. Most beauty retailers have it stock as well. Anywhere that has a baby section… you wil find baby powder! (This includes grocery stores!)

Application of this product is very easy and can be done in 4 quick steps:

Step 1) Hold the bottle of baby powder over your hand and squeeze lightly. One or two slow and easy pumps should give you the right amount that you need. If your hair needs more or less, you can find the perfect amount for you by adding a small amount at a time.

Step 2) Rub the powder in your hair with your finger tips or with the palms of your hands. DO NOT SPRINKLE DIRECTLY INTO YOUR HAIR!

Step 3) Brush or comb your hair until the powder is visibly gone.

Step 4) Enjoy your instant results!

After this process is completed, you will notice the results immediately.

*This method can also be used for human hair weaves, synthetic extensions, and wigs!

Hair Type 3 & 4: Dominican Hair Salon?
Posted by: In: Blog, Natural Hair 25 Mar 2013 0 comments Tags:

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If you have Hair Type 3 or 4 and looking for the straight “blowout” look with a cheap price tag, then YES! Dominican salons typically does a wash and set. Then they straighten the hair with a super hot blow dryer.

Dominicans have a lot of experience with curly hair

Ninety percent of the population of the Dominican Republic are blacks or mulattoes. Mulatto is the South American term for a person who is mixed African and Caucasian or Indian. They may speak Spanish, but it is undeniable that the expertise of a Dominican Salon is with ethnic hair types.

Dominican Salons offer better results for half the price

You will typically pay less than $50 for a visit. The salon visit usually consists of a shampoo and deep conditioner soak under a dryer. The hair is then set in rollers, you choose the size, then dried again under a very hot hooded dryer. The rollers are removed and the hair is combed out with a hot blow and round brush applied with practiced technique. The result is soft and set curls that will keep for as long as two weeks.

Dominican salons use hair products that you will only find in their salons

Dominican salons favour shampoos and conditioners that have been used in the Dominican Republic for decades, and they bring these products to their stores. They are usually put in unlabelled bottles and you will not find them in retail or outlet stores. Dominican salons also favour natural products like avocado, coconut oil, cinnamon oils, garlic, aloe, olive oil and wheat germ.

Dominican salons specialize in curly and “kinky” hair

Dominican stylists developed their techniques in a climate that is very hot and humid. Imagine what heat and humidity can do to curly hair. Dominicans have found ways to work in these conditions and have come up with methods to set curly and kinky hair that withstand heat and humidity. They do not resort to hot irons or strong chemicals to straighten hair because those techniques will only destroy hair faster in hot and humid climates.

2013 Top Five Homemade Hair Rescues
Posted by: In: Blog, Recipes 22 Mar 2013 0 comments Tags:

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Let’s face it; most of America is not in the financial class to have the luxury of buying expensive hair products. I’m talking about the products that promise to promote healthy hair growth, stop breakage, bring out the shine, or even grow hair six inches in three months.

African-American women alone spend more money on hair care products than any other race. Not talking about a few hundred dollars here and there, studies show the amount we spend on hair care products surpasses the half a trillion dollar mark annually, just in our hair care alone.

So, how can we cut this cost down? The answer is simple! Create treatments from the comfort of our own kitchen at little to no cost at all. We could save ourselves so much money if we used home remedies to fix our everyday hair problems. There are plenty of ways to fix whatever problem you’re having with just a simple home recipe.

Top Five Homemade Hair Rescues

1. Mayonnaise

Combats dry hair, adds shine and adds intense moisture from roots to the ends and overall is a great conditioner. If your hair is dull, limp, breaks easy with a crunchy sound, then this homemade remedy will help.

Instructions:

  • With a spray bottle, dampen hair with a few sprays.
  • Hair should not be wet enough to drip. Grab the jar of mayonnaise you plan to use. Brand really does not matter since they all have egg protein.
  • Scoop out some mayo and place it into a medium sized bowl or cup. The amount of mayo you will need for your hair depends on the length and thickness of your hair.
  • In sections, place mayonnaise in hair from the roots to the ends of hair. Put enough in to where you are comfortable with it and to where the hair is saturated enough.
  • After you have completed each section, place a plastic cap on for at least 20 minutes.
  • When desired amount of time has passed, rinse mayonnaise out of hair with warm water.
  • Follow up with a sulfate-free shampoo. In some cases, you may have to shampoo hair more than once to wash the mayo out.
  • Rinse with cool water.
  • Style as desired.

(There are some people who prefer to shampoo the hair first and then apply the mask. Then follow up the mask with another shampoo wash.)

*Some people like to add oils or an egg to the mayonnaise mask. It really depends on the individual. Mayonnaise is made up of mostly eggs anyway, so it doesn’t hurt to add another egg. Oil suggestions include olive oil, grape-seed oil and avocado oil.

2. Baking Soda and Yogurt

This treatment helps with removing dirt, buildup, and oils while also providing enough moisture to protect the hair once the dirt is stripped from the hair. It will provide a shine and give the hair some bounce.

Instructions:

  • Mix yogurt and baking soda together to form a paste.
  • With freshly shampooed hair, apply the mix.
  • Leave on hair, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Rinse out with warm water.
  • If you like, you can follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.

3. Eggs

Eggs are known to be great for protein treatments. They provide strength, elasticity, prevents splits and breakage from occurring with your hair, while also preventing frizz.

Instructions:

  • Depending on the length and thickness, use 1-2 eggs.
  • In a bowl, stir the eggs until the yolk is mixed in.
  • Apply thoroughly through the hair, and you can choose to leave it uncovered or covered.
  • Let it set for 20 minutes.
  • Rinse out with warm water.

4. Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal helps with dandruff, when your head is feeling itchy or you have a dry scalp. It’s rich in vitamin B, and softens the hair and hair follicles. It conditions all the way from the scalp to the ends of the hair.

Instructions:

  • Use 1 cup of oatmeal, preferably not the Instant Oats.
  • In a blender, beat the oats until it is in a powdered form.
  • Now you add ½ cup of water and ¼ cup EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil).
  • Blend thoroughly.
  • Now apply the mask to your hair.
  • Evenly distributing throughout hair.
  • Massage into your scalp.
  • Leave on hair for 15 minutes.
  • Rinse with warm water.

*For those with thicker, coarser, or longer hair, you may need to double the recipe.

5. Onions and Honey

Yes onions. Believe it or not, onions bring about hair growth. Onions help in regenerating hair follicles. It’s great for stimulating the scalp, while promoting healthier and faster growth because of its richness in Sulfur. Also, the honey helps keep the hair moisturized!

Instructions:

  • Peel one or two onions.
  • Place the peels into a blender.
  • Blend until it becomes a liquid.
  • Extract the liquid and mix it with 1tbsp of honey.
  • Apply the mix to the hair and scalp; allow it to sit for 45 minutes.

(You can massage the hair if you’d like to.)

  • Rinse thoroughly.

*In order to get rid of the smell, use a no sulfate (smell-good) shampoo. You should do this treatment once a week in order to see results.