About Hair Regimens....

Quite a few people have asked me, "what did you do to make your hair grow so long?" There is no single answer to that question. Growing your hair long depends on many factors, and therefor no ONE thing can make someone's hair grow long. This is why it is important for everyone to develop a hair 'regimine'. A hair regimine is what you do to keep your hair healthy (healthy hair ALWAYS grows long). If you follow a stable hair regimine that keeps your hair healthy, you WILL see the results (long hair). So, how do you start? Gather the products you know work for your hair and write them down. Write down how often you will use them, and for what purpose. If you have gaps in your regimine, you need to research and find the right product to fill in the spaces. If you need an example on what a good hair regimine is, click here to view the "About Me" page and see my hair regimine. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me! I will gladly answer any questions you may have. I will have a Step-By-Step Guide on creating a hair regimen coming soon!

Another question, to be answered shortly!

Hello everyone,
I recieved another question:

"hi my hair is growing great it is on my shoulder but is thinning what vitamins and shampoo would y recommend and do you brush your hair?"

This is a great question, and I will be answering it shortly so stay tuned!

Natural/homemade Neutralizers

I recently got a question about natural/homemade neutralizers for after relaxing, which is a very good topic. Here's the question:

"how do i make a homemade neutalizer for relaxed hair? I had a formula but lost it."

First of all, thank you for your question. Neutralizing your relaxer is probably the most important step when relaxing. A relaxer is actually a chemical reaction taking place in the strand of your hair. The normal pH of our hair is around 4 or 5. When we relax our hair, the pH is heightened to around 12 or 13, causing the bonds in our hair to break and become straight. Once the hair is straight, we stabilize the hair by bringing it back down to it's regular pH of 4 or 5. This is where the neutralizer comes in. Leaving the hair to stabilize itself can lead to damage and breakage. This vital step cannot be skipped or "under done". Now, you ask about a recipe for an all natural neutralizer.

Remarkable Conditioner!

If you are looking for a great conditioner for your hair, you may want to try Organic Root Stimulator's Olive oil Replinishing Pak. I use this conditioner frequently, and it works great. If your hair is in need of a moisture and a little bit of protein (for strength), their "Deep Penetrating Conditioner" may be a perfect fit for you. The main ingredient in this conditioner are soybean oil and olive oil. Following them are hydrolyzed collagen and amino silk acid, which are proteins. Further down the list are great ingredients like orange oil, panthenol (Vitamin b-5), chamomile, sage, nettle, rosemary, aloe vera...the list goes on and on. The conditioner is thick, but not too thick and has a very "fresh" smell. The only downfall to this product is that it comes in a small pack enough for one use. The pack is very affordable, available for under $2. This may not be a downfall if you are looking to try this product out on your hair, however, if you love the conditioner you will have to keep purchasing the small packs. Try it out!

UPDATE!

I've added a navigation bar across the top. Now you can ask me any question may have regarding hair, or anything else! I will answer your question by writing a full article that you and other users can read. Don't worry, it's all anonymous! Click the "Contact Me" link at the top of this page to start asking. I want to hear from you ( :

Homemade Face Mask For Acne

I tried this face mask made up mostly from honey and cinnamon and absolutely LOVED it. You can make it at home yourself easily if you have the ingredients. It's for acne-prone skin, but will also work for everyone. Click here to learn more. Just thought I'd share.

10 Random Hair Tips

There are a lot of little things that you can do to improve your hair. Here are a few random hair tips. Enjoy! 

1. Rinse your hair with cold water. After washing and conditioning your hair, do a final rinse with cold water. This will help seal your cuticle and keep the moisture in your hair. It will also give your hair extra shine. Remember, warm water opens the cuticle (when washing) and cold water closes it.
2. Condition with honey! Honey is a great way to condition the hair naturally. Try adding honey to your conditioner after washing, or if you're brave try it alone.
   

Tips for Hair Growth (Vol. 2)

ALL ABOUT VITAMINS!!!
Vitamins are a great way to grow your hair long, healthy, and thick! I highly recommend them…Not only do they improve the health of your hair, they also improve the health of your body (internally), skin, and nails! So here ya go! Vitamins that everyone should take to maximize their growth potential.

Intense Moisturization from Deep Conditioning with STEAM at home!

Is your hair in need of intense moisturization? If so, why not try deep conditioning with STEAM at home? This steam treatment is a great way to open the hair folicle and allow it absorb a great amount of moisture. This treatment is great if you do not have expensive equipment that you would find at a salon (i.e hooded dryer). I tried this and it left my hair feeling gorgeously moist. It also had loads of shine and bounce once I straightened and styled it. Try it out:

Remarkable Moisturizer!

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave in conditioner is a great moisturizing product! Don't be discouraged by the name, it's not just for "long hair" or "split ends". When I use it, I put a small amount (dime-sized) in the palm of my hand. I apply that small amount mostly to the ends of my hair (they often need the most moisture), and then to the rest of my hair. A dime-sized amount is all I use because this product can be heavy if too much is used since it is water-based.

Got Dandruff? Try this...

For years I was plagued by dandruff. I tried every dandruff prodcut on the market, but they all seemed to make my dandruff worse, and make my hair dry. Finally, after some research on Google, I came across something called and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. I tried it, and it worked beautifully. Since then, I have incorporated it into my weekly regimen. In addition to having dandruff-free hair, I also have conditioned, strengthened, clarified hair with extra shine and bounce. Here’s how to do it:

Tips for Hair Growth (Vol.1)

I bump into a lot of black women who are dissatisfied with the length of their hair. All black women, no matter what hair texture, have the ability to grow their hair long. I’m going to give you some basic tips on keeping the hair healthy.
Many women say “My hair won’t grow”. I hate is when I hear some one say this, because it is completely false! Hair is growing all the time, it is just a matter of retaining length. For example, compare you hair to your nails for a moment…your nails grow, but will break off unless you take good care of them; however they can and will grow back. The same concept applies to your hair. Your hair will grow, but you can only retain length if you take great care of your hair!

Relaxing 101

Most African-American women I know relax their hair. I have no problem with relaxing, but most women fail to realize that relaxing is strictly cosmetic and does not benefit the hair in any way. Relaxers weaken the state of our hair and leave it vulnerable to damage. Because the hair is left weakened, women who relax their hair must take extra precautions in order to keep the hair in a “normal” state after the hair is relaxed. Here are some tips to make sure you are being as safe as possible when relaxing:
____________________________________________________________________________________
1) Pretreat the hair!
Chemicals in a relaxer imbalance the hair’s pH. This means before you relax, you should pre-treat the hair. Many stylists tell their clients “not to scratch” their scalps 24-48 hours before a relaxer. However, that is not all that should be done. A protein treatment followed by a deep conditioning treatment should be done 24-48 hours before relaxing. Protein will help strengthen the hair before a relaxer. Protein can be drying to the hair, so be sure to do a deep conditioner to restore moisture. A healthy balance between moisture and protein is the key to hair growth, so be careful not to over-do either, especially protein. Too much protein will cause the hair to become hard and snap, while too much moisture causes the hair to become mushy and weak. Aphogee has a great line of products for protein treatment.

Welcome!

Welcome beauty lovers!
an introduction to hair

I absolutely LOVE all things beautiful. and despite popular belief, loving beauty does not make one shallow. self beauty is something that a lot of women struggle with, especially women of color. My favorite thing to talk and give advice about is HAIR. As all African-American women know, our hair defines us. I am in love with the array of hairstyles that can be achieved by our hair. but, like silk, it can be easily damaged. Most black women relax their hair, or straighten it in some type of way. Whether straightened or natural, I believe black hair is beautiful. I know this may sound cliche, but however cliche it may be, it is the truth.

This blog was created to discuss black hair, and to help black women learn how to take better care of their hair. I have found that most black women struggle with their hair, and do not know the basics of keeping a healthy head of hair. A lot of black women believe that their hair is healthy, but upon a closer look, discover it is not. Many things from the products used to the weather outside play a role in the health of our hair. And I’m here to explore them all, share the wealth, and then some.

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About Me

I absolutely LOVE everything about hair! I am an African-American woman who has been natural for the past 7 years. I've been learning everything there is about African-American hair for the past 4 years, and I must say I have learned a lot! So why not share what I've learned?

my Answers to Regimen Building 101

*You
How would you describe your hair now? About bra strap length, thin but dense strands.

What are your goal for your hair? All around healthy hair thick and just above waist length. I'm fully natural.

How will you achieve these goals? Strictly following this guide and sticking to it no matter what.

When do you hope to acheive these goals by? Hopefully by June 23, 2012. My birthday : )

...Mark this date on your calendar.....  MARKED!

Who is your hair "inspiration" and why? I would have to say  the ladies with long natural hair that is healthy and remarkably beautiful. I don't have any specific person.

*Washing/Conditioning
How often will you wash your hair? once every 10-12 days. More depending on how my hair feels

 What products will you use?
I will do an Ayurvedic rinse as my wash with amla and shikakai (by Hesh)

Will you Preshampoo your hair? If so, with what product(s)?
Yes, I will Preshampoo my hair overnight with my homemade amla oil. Sometimes I will Preshampoo with the conditioner I describe in this article.

What conditioner will you use? I will use either herbal essence hello hydration or Jasmine's Shea conditioner rinse (this is not made by me, I have no ties to this vendor. We just have the same name lol). I also sometimes use sally's hair one.

How often will you deep condition? 
I will deep condition every time I wash my hair.

 What technique will you use to deep condition?   
I will either use the steam method here, or a self hearing cap for at least an hour.

Will you conditioner-wash between shampoos? No

 If so, with what product? N/a

How will you take care of your hair after a wash? I will usually apply my leave in moisturizer, seal then apply a heat protectant. I will then put into 6 braids and let partially dry. Reapply heat protectant, then blow dry and flat iron.

*Moisturizing/Sealing
How will you wear your hair from day to day In between washes? I will always wear my hair in some type of protective style.


Will you use protective styling? Yes. Here are some cute protective style I like to wear (in variation).

How often will you moisturize your hair with a leave in conditioner? Every day, focusing on my ends.

 What leave-in conditioner will you use? Aveda style prep smoother. Love it!

What oil will you use to seal in moisture? My homemade amla  oil

Will you be using any other method to moisturize/ maintain your hair? I pretty much covered it. I may baggy my ends every once in a while overnight.

How will you maintain your hair at night? I will wrap, Bantu knot, roll, or pin curl to maintain my hair. Wrap with a satin scarf.

*Heat styling
How often will you be using heat? Everytime I wash. My hair retains length better straight.

What measures will you take to prevent heat damage? Always using a heat protectant , pretreating my ends, moisturizing them daily.

What will you use as a heat protectant? Chi iron gaurd and aveda style prep smoother.

How often will you trim split ends? I usually trim by the solar calendar. Click here for more info. Other than that I will trim as needed (search and destroy).

Will you apply any special moisturizer to your ends? Aveda style prep smoother.

*Growth aids
Will you be using any growth aids? Yes.

 If so, which one? I will be drinking the protein shake I make for breakfast to maximize growth. I may also look into adding sulphur to my amla oil mix to help with dandruff and aid in growth.

 How will you use it? Daily!

Will you be performing any other type of growth rituals (I.e scalp massage, scalp oiling, etc)? If so what? Scalp massage with amla mix nightly.

*Lifestyle
Will you be ingesting anything to help with hair growth? yes What? As stated above, the protein shake. I will also be taking vitamins. I have a vitamin guide here.

How often will you exercise? As much as I can, I need to get better with this!

Any special foods you'll be eating for growth? Intake healthy foods high in protein.

Develop your regimen by answering these questions in Regimen Building 101. Get inspired, and have a healthy hair journey!
Best wishes,
-Jasmine