Why wearing a Satin Bonnett/Scarf is beneficial to your Hair!

Protecting your hair at night is important no matter who you are, and what hair type you have. If you're trying to grow your hair longer, this is a must. Protecting your hair at night means: keeping your hair from rubbing against your pillows and sheets (and getting tangled with your hair!) at night while you are sleeping. You must use either 100% silk (I recommend the most) or satin- which is a silky-like, smooth texture, but it is not silk. You must use one of these two because they are the only material that slides against your hair without catching it in its fibers and causing breakage, it holds in your hair's moisture (instead of drawing moisture out like cotton and other materials do) and also allows your head to breathe (if it didn't, you could end up with some scalp issues).

 

These are different methods for different people.

• If you have a straight style, and wrap your hair at night to protect it: I would recommend wrapping your hair, and then tying a silk or satin scarf around your head. Then, cover with a satin bonnet to prevent the scarf from falling off.
• If you have naturally wavy, curly or kinky hair, or you styled your hair that way and want to preserve it for the next day: you can either put your hair in a loose ponytail on top of your head and cover it with a silk or satin bonnet, if you did a twist out, braid out, or bantu knot out, you can re-do those twists, braids, bantu knots, and cover with a satin or silk bonnet.
• If you have any type hair and your scarf or bonnet will just not stay on, or you just do not want to put something on your head at night- you can purchase a silk or satin pillowcase so your hair gets the same benfits as wearing a silk or satin scarf or bonnet. Some women wear a bonnet or scarf, and sleep on the pillowcase as double protection in case their scarf or bonnet slips off.

To Co-Wash or Not to Co-wash,That is the Question!

Cowashing, Cowashing!!!

I am an absolute believer in co-washing- which is the process of cleansing the hair without the use of a shampoo, instead you are using a conditioner. However another issue that I run into as a stylist is buildup! buildup!buildup! as a result of constant co-washing. Lets talk about the effects build up has on the hair and scalp.

Buildup is a the deposit of styling products that is left on the hair.Buildup on hair tends to choke the hair making it heavy, lifeless and dull. Rinsing your hair in hard water produces a mineral buildup, which makes your hair weak, brittle and lusterless, and more prone to breakage.When the residue from styling products combine  with the mineral build up, the hair can become susceptible to hair loss and the accumulation of dirt and grime. All of this buildup needs to be cleared from the hair at least once a month to continue the growth of long healthy hair. The use of a clarifying, or detox shampoo can remove all this excess buildup returning the hair back to its original state.

Effects of Buildup

• Lack of Luster and shine
• Heavy and lifeless
• Growth of dry brittle hair, that is hard to manage and style
• Easily tangled and rough
• Hair has a sticky coating
• Appearance of flaky substance that is not dandruff
• Hindrance in cleaning and conditioning the hair
• The hair looks damaged and coarse
• Hair gets electrified on combing or brushing

Treatments and Solutions

• Use clarifying or detox shampoo to restore the sheen and beauty of your hair.
• Use water soluble waxes.
• Do not use 2n1 shampoo and conditioner
• Diluted soda bicarbonate can be used to rinse the hair and remove hair spray build up.

Loving Your Natural Hair

"My hair is so nappy, its so dry, I cant deal with it, I'm getting a relaxer!" As a stylist I hear these words every single day. I remember my natural journey path it was a true learning experience. All of a sudden I had this huge amount of hair to deal with. From research, through trail and error, I have learned how to care for and maintain these natural locs!

I am writing this post to encourage everyone transitioning to natural or those considering, To stay encouraged its not the end of the world! Its your hair! Being informed is the key to managing your mane.

 Surprisingly the number one thing I see with women who are "new to natural" is breakage and heat damage and lots of it. The breakage is from lack of knowing how to care for your hair and heat damage from constantly cranking up the heat on those flat irons. Here are some tips that I believe can help.

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. Here is the link to Super Oils for your hair http://miyamiahair.blogspot.com/2012/10/super-oils-for-natural-hair.html

2.The Shampoo you are using is stripping the mess out of your hair.
If this is the case try using a sulfate free moisturizing shampoo. Always purchase the shampoo for your hair type, for example if your hair is dry- buy moisturizing shampoo, if your hair is limp, volumizing shampoo, color-highlights, they are shampoos out there that cater to you specific color. There are colors for brunettes, black, blondes, and reds.
3. You are shampooing entirely too much( the same holds true with Relaxed Hair).
Begin to learn your hair try shampooing every two -three weeks, and in between shampoos, co-wash with a clarifying conditioner.To do this apply the Clarifying conditioner, detangle from root to ends, rinse! That's it! Click here for a list of product recommendations. http://miyamiahair.blogspot.com/2012/11/product-recommendations.html

3. Your shampoo method is overly rigorous.
Do you scratch and rub your hair all kinds of crazy ways while shampooing? And after your rinse your hair is stuck together like a matted mess?To avoid this section your hair in four quadrants like so
Take one section emulsify a good amount of shampoo in your hands and apply to the first sections, gently massage the scalp to remove dirt, buildup, and oils from your scalp.Gently Finger comb the   rest of the shampoo through to the ends.

Repeat on the remaining sections.Rinse. Repeat the same steps when conditioning.
D. Chemically/Heat Damaged Hair.
Do some research and find a stylist that you trust, to begin treating and caring for your hair.Little by little have your stylist to remove those ends as your hair grows.If you don't trust stylists invest in a good pair of hair cutting shears and begin to trim your hair little by little until all of the damaged it gone.
C. Control The Heat
 I suggest investing in ceramic/tourmaline flat irons where you can control the temperature, and always keep the temperature under 400 degrees. This will also help your hair be able to revert back to its natural curl pattern when shampooed.

Flat Iron VS Relaxer.. A Must Read!!

Something that has been the topic of discussion, what I have come across lately is the Flat Iron vs The Relaxer.  Recently going Natural for African American women, has been the thing to do. Millions of African American women are ditching their relaxers and, growing their Natural hair out. Now, Alot of these Natural women still want sleek, straight hair, so instead of Relaxing their hair, the flat Iron has become apart of their daily routine. Now we all know that Flat ironing your Natural hair, enough times at a high enough temperature can alter your natural curl pattern. So is going Natural actually better than getting a Relaxer if you are the type of women who loves the sleek smooth, tamed look. Better Yet, The real question would be, What do you prefer Heat Damge, or Chemical Damage??

Heat Damaged        
Dry Looking Hair
Straggly Ends
Thinning
Breaking
Shedding
Straight Ends That Will Not Revert Back To Natural Curl Pattern                                                                    

Chemical Damage
Hair Looses Its Natural Moisturizers
Dried-Out, Frizzy Hair
Dull Appearance
Breaking
Shedding
Hair Tangles Often

The main thing to realize is that heat and chemically damaged hair  really cannot be reversed. At some point,the damaged, straight ends would need to be trimmed away so your hair won’t continue to break, look dry, dull and gray and thin out. The same goes for split ends. Split ends are a problem that is common, but there are no productsthat truly remedy split ends, besides the hair cutting shears.

Your goal should be to care for your hair in the best possible way. Always remeber less is always better! Too much of anything can be harmful!

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