Salon Visits: Is it really necessary once you're natural?!

I get asked this question all the time but would like to know what you think.  Is it really necessary? Why or Why Not?

For my thoughts, check out the most recent article I wrote on thecoilreview.com 

Naturally Yours,

Meko

Trimming Natural Hair | Why, When, How, Who & More

madamenoire.com

By Denisha

As you can see, I left out the "What?" because we already know what. Trimming! This topic has always sparked wide and varied opinions. While it is true that everyone has different needs when it comes to hair care, trimming is something that everyone needs in order to maintain healthy hair. There is a lot of misinformation out there so let's get the facts straight. Let's get to the bottom of the Why, When, How, Who & More!

Why should I trim my hair?

For so many reasons! In addition to improving the appearance of your hair, regular trims get rid of split ends and prevents them from occurring in the first place. Don't worry too much about losing length, let's focus on the health of our hair. Besides, hair grows at an average rate of 1/2 an inch a month so every six months, for example, you will have 3 inches of growth. If you trim off 1/2 an inch you will still have 2 1/2 inches of growth! And if you are getting your hair trimmed consistently you won't need to take off that much. Before you know it you will have thick and beautiful healthy hair!

When should I trim my hair? How often?

Well, that really depends on how you style your hair. If you wear your hair out and manipulate it every day you may need to get a trim more often than someone who wears protective styles most of the time. For example, if you wear styles with your own hair such as twist outs, rod sets, flatiron and use heat often, you should trim at least every three to four months. If you wear protective styles such as weaves, wigs and kinky twists, you would only need to trim every five to six months because your ends are usually protected and therefore less susceptible to breakage.

How much should I trim?

Again, that depends on you. Some people have more breakage than others. As mentioned above, your styling technique will determine how much you need to trim. If you use a lot of heat or manipulate your hair frequently your hair will break off more than someone who doesn't. A good rule of thumb is to trim at least a ¼ inch past the “see-through” ends. See through ends are a result of breakage and split ends that will continue to split up the hair shaft resulting in more hair breakage and thin ends. Broken ends that are severely damaged and thin cannot be made healthy again no matter what product you use.

Wet or dry?

Opinions differ on this one but the fact is that curl patterns on the same head aren't uniform. You cannot get an accurate trim on natural hair while it’s wet whereas doing it on blown out hair will allow you to see where the damage is and what needs to be cut off. From a professional standpoint, a dry trim is the best and most accurate way to get a good, healthy trim.

Who should trim my hair? 

Anyone can trim hair but it is your best bet to see a professional stylist for a good trim, preferably one who specializes in natural hair care and knows how to trim natural hair. It may save you a little money to do a self trim but the benefits of a professional trim far exceed the cost. And as noted above, it’s worth it!

Mayonnaise as a Deep Conditioner???

Source: reluctantgourmet.com

By Denisha

Yes, that's right! Our mothers used it and our mother's mother used it. But what are the real benefits of using mayonnaise as a deep conditioner? Let's break down the main ingredients:

1. Water ~ That one kind of goes without saying, doesn't it? Well, I'll say it anyway. Hair needs water to maintain its elasticity, or ability to stretch. Since water is the ultimate moisturizer, water-based products are best for really getting the greatest moisture benefit.

2. Soybean Oil ~ It nourishes the roots, penetrates deep inside the scalp, and helps to prevent dryness.  It also protects, nourishes, hydrates and firms the hair. It is highly beneficial for dry, color treated or perm hair.

3. Eggs ~ Raw eggs contain a significant concentration of essential proteins and nutrients. Because of the high protein content, eggs can be used to strengthen hair follicles. Likewise, the nutrients work much like conditioners to add volume, shine and texture.

4. Vinegar ~ Makes hair smoother, shinier and easy to manage by de-tangling hair and reduce frizz.  As well as stimulating the scalp and helping to produce hair growth.

5. Lemon Juice ~ Lemon juice has proved itself in the treatment of hair care on a wide scale. If applied correctly it can treat problems such as dandruff, excessive shedding  and other problems related to the hair and scalp. It also gives a natural shine to hair.

In a nutshell, mayonnaise is made of oil, vinegar, lemon juice, egg yolks, and most importantly, water, blended to form an emulsion. Oil provides your hair with essential conditioning moisture while eggs are an effective protein treatment. Protein and moisture are an ideal treatment for dry or damaged hair and can keep your hair healthy whether you are natural or relaxed. And the best part is that it's inexpensive and you already have it in you refrigerator!

How To:

You can do this on dry or damp (lightly spritzed with water) hair. Before you shampoo hair, apply mayonnaise and cover with a plastic cap. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes then rinse completely. Then proceed to shampoo and condition hair with your favorite products. That's it! Enjoy!

Thecoilreview.com Guess Blogger

Good Morning Everyone!


Our very own Simeko has had the privilege of being a guess blogger on Thecoilreview.com.  Click here to read her article about 6 harmful hair habits. Enjoy! ~ Denisha

Source: blackgirllonghair.com

Embracing Your Natural Hair ~ Transitioning

By Simeko

So, you’re thinking of or decided to go natural.  What now?  The hardest part of going natural is changing your mind-set.  Most people believe that naturally tight curly hair is not good hair, not beautiful hair, and just takes too much time and energy to care for.  Well, let me ask you this; what do you consider good hair and/or beautiful hair?  Shouldn’t it be the natural texture hair that God has blessed each and every one of us with, which is hair in its healthiest state?  And yes, caring for natural hair may require more time and energy but doesn’t anything worth having require some kind of nurturing.  What you put into your hair is what you will get out of it!  With that said; there are three important requirements for a smooth transition; Moisture, Strengthening & Protection.

If the following two steps are followed closely, they will provide you with everything you need to successfully transition from relaxer to natural with minimum breakage.

Step 1 - Choose the right products

 Most, if not all, things that we put in and on our body (including our hair) should be beneficial to our health.  Think about it, what is the general purpose of eating food?  Is it not to supply our body with nutrients and energy to stay alive & healthy?  Same goes for the products we use on our hair.  These products should provide your hair with ingredients that will moisturize, strengthen, and nourish it. 

Maintaining a good balance between moisture and protein (hair strengthener) is essential for healthy hair, period.  If any of the two are thrown off balance there will be breakage.  Natural and chemically treated hair requires lots of moisture.  So, it is imperative for one who is transitioning (consisting of both natural and chemically treated hair) to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  Now, moisturizing does not mean putting grease or oil on your hair and scalp.  These products do not moisturize, they lubricate & nourish (well, only if they have nourishing ingredients, if not, then they just coat the hair and scalp).  The only true moisturizer is H2O (water), period.  So, in other words, if the first ingredient in your product is not water, then it most likely is not a moisturizer. 

Hair is primarily made up of a protein called keratin, which makes it strong.  When the hair is chemically processed or relaxed, it is in its weakest state because the bonds that makes the hair strong has been broken down to alter its natural state.  So, strengthening the hair with added protein is especially vital for individual who have relaxers and/or transitioning.  Although protein is needed to strengthen the hair, you want to be careful not to overdo it.  Yes, treating your hair with too much protein can make it hard, leaving it vulnerable to breakage, which is exactly what you are working against. 

Hair receives nourishment both inside and out.  Healthy hair growth starts beneath the scalp within the follicle.  Here is where the hair receives nutrients (from our blood) and sebum (oil to that lubricates the hair).  So we can see that what we put in our body is just as, if not more, important then what we put in our hair.  Nourishment that we put in the hair comes from products that consist of natural carrier and essential oils such as coconut, olive, jojoba, peppermint, sage, nettle, just to name a few. Some of these oils not only aid in softening our natural hair texture making it more manageable but they also help increase blood circulation which promotes hair growth. 

Most, if not, all the ingredients in your product should be natural.  Unfortunately, you will not find truly natural hair products in beauty supplies or department stores.  Most natural products are either sold in health food stores, specialty stores or online.

As the saying goes; everything is not for everybody (even with all natural products)!  So, how do you choose hair products that would benefit your hair?

1.        Analyze your scalp and hair. 

2.         Research Ingredients and their benefits.

3.         Choose products that would address your hair care needs.

Step 2 - Choose the right styles

 Choosing styles that protect your hair from breakage as it grows out is key to reaching your maximum hair length.

Here are some questions to consider when choosing a hair style that’s right for you.

1.        What style would look good on me?

2.       Is this style best for my hair type and my lifestyle?

3.       Will this style protect my hair from breakage?

4.       How often should I trim my hair?

If you find that you are uncertain about any or all of these questions, you can consult w/ a stylist that specializes in natural hair care or look through hair magazines or surf sites online that cater to natural hair care.

Some styling options for transitioning are:

The BC (BIG CHOP) – cutting off all the chemically treated hair and rocking a natural cut while your hair goes out.  Now, it takes a lot of confidence to wear this style but you certainly avoid any potential damage to your hair. 

 Braids/Twists/Weaves/Wigs – These styling options are good because they last up to 2 months and your hair is not being stressed by combing, brushing, or tugging at it every day.  However, care should be taken when wearing these styles as well.  If put in too tight or too small, they can cause traction alopecia which would defeat the purpose of growing your hair out healthy and long.  The key to maintaining your hair while braided, weaved, or wearing wigs is keeping the scalp & hair clean, moisturized, and nourished. 

 Setting or Naturalizing (naturally texturizing) as we like to call it – These styles are accomplished by setting the hair to give it a naturally textured looked.  They generally last up to 2 weeks and should be covered at night with a silk or satin bonnet to help preserve the set.  The key to getting the best set that will last is using the right products. 

 Thermal heat straightening – This option allows you to temporarily straighten the natural hair to blend textures as the hair grows out.  Care must be given when choosing a heating appliance to straighten your natural hair because too much heat will not only permanently alter or straighten your natural hair but can damage the hair as well.  For best results without damaging the hair, an electrical heating appliance with a temperature control setting should be used.

If you are still uncertain, have questions or need a comprehensive consultation,

please call us today @ (862) 438 - 8630