Laura Quailey’s Holiday & Sleek Looks – FLHBeauty

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By Laura Quailey

This particular weave that I’ve used is Brazilian Virgin Remy Hair –Candy Curly. I love this look as it is carefree, fun, natural looking and extremely low maintenance which is always a plus when on holiday. You can also get it wet! So no issues with swimming!

As well as being great for the sun it also bodes well in the winter and is what I call rain, wind and snow proof! i.e. despite whichever way our lovely English weather decides to manifest itself, you won’t end up with that stuck your finger in a socket fraggle rock look half way through your day! ;o). This is a full head weave with a little of my hair left out for a more natural look, I’ve used a triple barrel iron on my own hair to get that tousled look to blend in with the weave.

The second photo is my sleek, layered , sophisticated look, again using Brazilian Virgin Remy Hair – Straight. This isn’t a full head weave that I have but tracks so I have my hair out to give a more natural look and feel.

A little about myself… I am a former web designer and accounts manager recently turned online entrepreneur. I love all things to do with hair & beauty so decided to set up a website selling European and Afro-Caribbean Hair & Beauty products at competitive prices called For Love of Hair & Beauty –www.flhbeauty.co.uk

P.S the hair I have on in the photos attached can be bought here:

Candy Curly
http://www.flhbeauty.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=2323&category_id=282&manufacturer_id=128&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=32

Straight
http://www.flhbeauty.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=2261&category_id=282&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=32

Hair Tong for tousled look
http://www.flhbeauty.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=2395&category_id=244&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

The Natural Black Hair Revolution Is Here

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The Natural Black Hair Revolution Is Here!

Author: Shannon Rose

The Natural Black Hair Revolution is Here!

Calling all Black women! Calling all Black women! Join the Natural Black Hair Revolution now! You no longer have to hide your glory under wigs and weaves or mutilate it with creamy crack! Calling all Black women! Calling all Black women! The time to free yourself is now! Free yourself from the stigma that says our hair isn’t as manageable, versatile or beautiful as anyone else’s!

Sistas, take off those wigs and cut out that weave. Throw out the creamy crack (perm) and put down the flat iron! The science for natural African hair care is upon us and in full affect. Unlike the not too distant past, the knowledge and information concerning the maintainence, care and upkeep for natural African hair is everywhere, in fact there are many hair care lines that have gone commercial. We now have no excuse for hiding under wigs and weaves, because we don’t “know how to deal with our hair” or worse, we think other textures of hair is more beautiful than our own.

Natrual+Hair+Rev.+article+pic+5.JPGThe notion that black hair doesn’t grow or that its unmanageable is a fallacy. Granted, there’s no faster hair care than just throwing a wig on, but where is the pride in that? Why do we want to continue to announce to the world that we don’t think we look good unless we are wearing the White woman look? If we continue to buy into what the world thinks of us then we will continue to pass on the legacy of self hatred to our future generations, its as simple as that. Granted, fake hair isn’t the only manifestation of self hatred in the Black community, but it is certainly a strong example. We’ve been protesting and marching for damn near 100 years for the world to grant us equal footing in all aspects of life, isn’t it time we attribute the same fairness to the hair that grows out of our head? Indeed, the stigma that society has placed on the Black female characteristic is deep rooted and goes back centuries, but is time for sistas to step into the 21st century and FREE OURSELVES!
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Truth be told, transitioning from chemically treated hair, wigs and weaves is the BIGGEST step. If you’ve never worn your hair natural and don’t know anyone that wears their hair naturally, you may be wondering how in the world do you make the change. My advice is to first get educated. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of YouTube videos of sistas demonstrating natural hair care. There are also many excellent websites and blogs like CurlyNikki.com that are the best guides you could ask for on natural African hair care.

Natrual+Hair+Rev.+article+pic+10.JPGThe second step would be to just stop creamy crackin’ (perming)! Let your new growth come in. Some sistas decide to go all in and BC (BC = Big Chop) their permed hair right away and rock a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro). Others would prefer to have more length before they cut of their perm and continue wearing a wig or weave. I would suggest however, if you are going to wear a weave while you transition, get the old school weave where your hair is corn rowed first and then the weave is sewn in. Just make sure your beautician doesn’t pull the thread too tight and maintain a weekly deep conditioning regiment. Its also good to transition with braids. Simple box braid styles are easy to care for and help you maintain a professional look at work. Again, however, if you use synthetic hair, make sure its not braided too tight, deep condition regularly and don’t keep them in longer than one month.

Natrual+Hair+Rev.+article+pic+4.JPGNatural African hair care is actually pretty straight forward, moisturize, moisturize and moisturize. Although there are many retail products out there, we can actually care for our hair pretty well with everyday household items or things we might find in the kitchen. For instance, I use coconut and olive oil to give myself a hot oil treatment before I co-wash (co-wash = wash w/ conditioner). My hair loves coconut and olive oil and reveals beautiful, soft and shiny curls from a two-strand twist out. Many natural African hair conditioning methods contain other household items such as, avocado, castor oil, shea butter or honey. Add one leave in conditioner and you can create your own deep conditioning regiment.

Natrual+Hair+Rev.+article+pic+6.JPGOne very key thing to remember as you are becoming the natural you, keep the heat to a very low minimum. Nothing breaks off our hair like heat. If you want to wear a blow out, make sure you only do it once a month and that may even be a bit much. As well, dust (trim) your hair RELIGIOUSLY every eight weeks. The key word here is dust, don’t give yourself a haircut, just trim enough off to get most of your crunchy ends.
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In order for the world to respect us, we must first love and respect ourselves, as we are. Yes, YOU ARE YOUR HAIR! We are Black women. We are our color, our lips and our hips! If we weren’t we would be someone else. It is up to us to conquer that fear and stigma, no one else can do it for us. If we don’t stop wearing the stigma, then the stigma remains.

Natrual+Hair+Rev.+article+pic+9.JPGThis is my first blog on natural African hair care and there’s much more to come. You don’t have to go it alone, there is so much information on the Internet, in the blogosphere and in the community, I don’t know why every sista isn’t natural. Black hair is beautiful and Black women are beautiful when we wear our hair naturally. Now go ‘head and Grow Your Natural!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-articles/the-natural-black-hair-revolution-is-here-4990923.html

About the Author

I’ve been part of the Natural Black Hair community since 1993 so I feel compelled to write about my natural hair journey. More on the subject of Natural Black Hair Care can be read at:

http://growyournatural.blogspot.com

Black Hair and Chemical Relaxers

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Black Hair and Chemical Relaxers

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It estimated around 70 % of Black women relax their hair. However, alarmingly approximately 67% of these will suffer a side effect ranging from breakage, being the most common, to shedding; to alopecia; to chemical burns. Long-term use of relaxers is implicated as a factor in the development of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia, and believed to be a factor in the development of severe contact dermatitis.

The Structure

The structure of hair consists of polypeptide chains connected by ends bonds and interlinked with side bonds. There are 3 types of side links: disulfide bonds, salt bonds and hydrogen bonds, all of which work together to form an incredibly strong structure.

Disulphide bonds are the strongest links and account for about a third of the hair’s strength. Hair relaxers work by altering the chemistry of these bonds.

The Process

Relaxer creams have a high alkalinity level which is required to open the hair cuticle and allow penetration of the chemicals into the shaft. Once inside, the chemical reactions break the cross bond attachment allowing the polypeptide chain to be free to adopt its new shape. Hence wise your hairdresser must continually smooth your hair to coerce the chain into the required straightened position. Neutralizer is then applied to deactivate the chemical reaction and normalise the pH level.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is commonly found in relaxers as it by far the most effective straightener. Nevertheless, the pH of Sodium Hydroxide can exceed 13.0, whereas the normal pH of hair is 5. It is an extremely corrosive chemical also used in hair depilatories, as well as drain pipe cleaners due to its effectiveness strength. Other chemicals used tend to be marketed as No-Lye products, using chemical such as guanidine hydroxide, but work very much on the same principle. Although these may reduce scalp irritation, they tend to have a higher pH than sodium hydroxide. They also tend not to straighten the hair as well and so retouching is required more frequently. In addition, no-lye relaxers work by removing moisture from the cortex causing the hair to become dry and porous. So overall these have the potential to be more damaging. Unfortunately for some, once the disulfide bonds are broken not all reform cross links, leaving the hair in a weaken state.

However, some of his damage can be prevented by undertaking a thorough evaluation of the hair type and condition before applying a relaxer. This should consist of 3 tests:

· Elasticity Test

Strong hair exhibits good elasticity, whereas reduced elasticity indicates a pre-treatment regime is required before continuing with a relaxer.

· Strand Test

This provides an indication of the outcome, particularly in terms of elasticity. If the hair shows signs of reduced elasticity and breaks easily, then the relaxer should be delayed and a treatment programme followed.

· Porosity Test

Ideally should be undertaken on different sections of the head to assess cuticle damage. Damaged cuticles feel very rough in texture as opposed to the smoothness of healthy strands.

Overall while relaxer applications can be damaging to the hair, the key to prevention is, knowing your hair type and the type of relaxer you intend using. With proper care, conditioning and understanding, you can help to avoid the pitfalls which affect the majority of women who relax their hair.

Follow Sonia Evelyn as she shares her knowledge as an expert writer in the field of hair breakage and natural black hair care. For a free monthly article that provides further facts on hair care products, click A is for Alcohol or visit http://evelynproducts.com/

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The 10 Greatest Black Hair Growing Tips of All Time

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Most Black women want to grow long hair past their shoulders but believe that it is not possible. There are thousands of hair tips out there, some are great and others are outrageous. To save you years of research, here are the top 10 tips that made the greatest difference in my hair growth journey. If you follow these tips alone, you will soon have the long hair of your dreams.

Tip #1: Always Use a Shower Water Filter Most of us that live in big cities have highly chlorinated hard water. A shower filter is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce harmful exposure to chlorine and other tap water contaminants. The chlorine in tap water strips the hair of natural oils, which can cause drying and damage your hair. With the use of shower filtration, your hair and skin will be able to retain moisture. Using filtered also extends coloring and highlights because it is chemical free.

Tip #2: Always Use a Wide Toothed Comb Fingers are the most natural way to separate tangles in your hair. A wide toothed-comb emulates this. It is good for all hair types and lengths. If you can, use your fingers to detangle your hair most days. Only use a wide-toothed comb to comb out your hair before and after washing and during styling.

Tip #3: Never Use a Brush Many believe that a boar’s hairbrush is good for your hair because the bristles are natural. But any type of brush is too rough for your hair. Brushes can rip out your hair, cause breakage and permanently damage hair follicles. Many black women suffer from Alopecia, where the front and sides of their hair have permanent hair loss. Brushing and wearing tight hairstyles usually cause this. To prevent permanent hair loss, avoid wearing slicked back hairstyles.

Tip #4: Rotate Brands of Shampoo and Conditioner Even if your hair seems to respond just fine to the same shampoo and conditioner that you have been using for a while, it is still important to switch products every few months. When our hair adapts to a certain product, it tends to be less effective over time. When you switch up, you protect your hair from product build-up and re-energize your hair. Switching brands improves the long-term health of your hair and scalp, because each product will have different ingredients that affect the cuticle of the hair differently.

Tip #5: Wrap or Roll Your Hair at Night Wrapping your hair at night is the best way to protect you ends. When you are asleep, you have the potential to move around and fray your ends. Many suggest using a satin pillowcase but your ends will still rub against the pillowcase. Also, when you wrap your hair at night, your hair will look great the next day, so you will have no need to wear a tight ponytail, or use heat styling tools.

Tip #6: Always Keep Your Ends Trimmed Many times we wait and wait to go to the hairdresser because we don’t want our hair cut. Once we get there, we plead and beg her not to cut off too much. But the reality is that only when we cut off all the damaged ends will we start seeing length. All the split ends must be cut off to stop the split from traveling up the hair shaft.

Tip #7: Always Comb your Hair From Tips to Roots Every time you hear a hair snap or break, that was hair loss that could have been avoided. The reason that you should start combing from the tips first is that you can easily detangle any knots or tangles without pulling or ripping hairs unnecessarily. Combing from the tips to the roots definitely causes you to be gentler on your hair. Which cause less breakage, damage and way less hair falls out.

Tip #8: Keep Your Scalp Clean Having a clean scalp allows hair to easily and effortlessly grow out of your scalp. Keeping your scalp clean promotes hair health, by keeping your pores open and allowing your scalp to breathe. Applying shampoo directly to your scalp, when washing, rids your hair of product build-up, dirt and residues. Most of what we think of as dandruff is really product build-up, dirt and grime, due to washing our hair less often than we should. Always avoid putting conditioners, leave-ins or oils on your scalp. They clog pores and follicles. Do not grease your scalp. Greasing you scalp causes more dandruff and dry itchy scalps, clogs pores and follicles, it does just the opposite as once believed.

Tip # 9: Wash Your Hair Once a Week It is a myth that black hair should only be washed every two weeks or once a month. When you wash your hair less often, it becomes dry and brittle and it breaks off. Your hair needs and craves water. Water is the most important nutrient for your hair. Your hair also benefits from the vitamins and nutrients in your shampoo and conditioner.

Tip # 10: Always Rinse Your Hair with Cool Water Always wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water. Do not use hot water on your hair because it strips away natural oils and causes your hair and scalp to be dry. When you rinse with cool water, it closes the cuticle of your hair and locks in the nutrients from the shampoo and conditioners. Your hair will be healthier and shinier.

As you can see, growing long hair takes time and patience. If you follow these hair growth tips, not only will you grow long hair, but you will grow healthy hair. Incorporating great habits and eliminating bad habits is key.

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Black Hair and Alopecia

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Black Hair and Alopecia

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Traction alopecia is a common form of black hair loss. While this type of alopecia is seen worldwide, and common to Sikh men and Japanese women due to their traditional hair styles, it is most widely seen in African-American women and men.

Alopecia’s  are believed to be the fifth most common dermatological complaint among Black people, with chemical and traction  alopecia’s the most common.Population studies show a prevalence of 17.1% in African schoolgirls and of 31.7% in women inflicted, with numbers steadily rising.

There are 2 types of traction alopecia, marginal and non-marginal. Marginal traction is caused by appliances such as tight curlers and rollers, where the hair loss pattern reflects the use of these objects. Whereas a non-marginal pattern occurs created through effects like hair buns creating hair loss in the area where the bun actually sits. This type of alopecia for this reason is often seen in nurses.

Causes

Traction alopecia is mainly caused by damage to the dermal papilla and hair follicle, through steady pressure over time. Normally induced by various hair styling practices (e.g. use of braids, hair rollers, weaves, twists, locks, or “cornrows”) Cornrows are most frequently blamed due to the repeated steady high pressure overtime.

The pulling causes hair to loosen from its roots; however, hair loss occurs secondary to follicular inflammation and atrophy. Often the loss is symmetric and along the hairline adjacent to the temples.

Traction Alopecia can also occur due to over processing of the hair.Chemical treatments which use products such as dyes, bleaches, or relaxers can damage the keratin structure rendering the hair extremely fragile.  The hair then falls out very easily with brushing or combing.

A form of scarring alopecia also may occur in post-menopausal women, associated with inflammation of hair follicles and subsequent scarring

Signs

Individuals usually complain of itching and dandruff at first which is usually followed by patchy areas of hair loss. Other signs may include:

  • Scalp shows signs inflammation with scales and pustules.
  • Symmetrical hair loss.

Treatment In the initial stages, this hair loss is reversible but with prolonged traction,once scaring occurs and hair follicles are damaged beyond repair, alopecia can be permanent.

Hair styles that put unnecessary strain on the hair root must be changed for looser, less traumatic hair styles.

If you are going to wear your hair braided then it is advisable request that your stylist does not pull or plait them tightly and likewise hairdressers specialising in braids and locks should warn their clients of the possible dangers of prolonged tension.

To summarise the key to stopping traction alopecia is detecting it early. African-American women, who suspect they may be vulnerable to traction alopecia should change their hair styles and seek professional advice.

Follow Sonia Evelyn as she shares her knowledge as an expert writer in the field of natural black hair care and chemicals in cosmetics. For a free monthly article that provides further information on hair care, click A is for Alcohol. For further reading visit http://evelynproducts.com/.

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Top 5 Black Hair Growth Myths

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Top 5 Black Hair Growth Myths

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Why is it that black women have such a hard time growing lengthy locks? Black women don’t have to struggle with growing our hair. The following 5 myths have contributed to the lack of hair growth in black women.

1. Black Women Can’t Grow Hair: This is just an out and out lie. Do other ethnic groups have a genetic monopoly on long hair? Is there something special, or flawed, about black hair that prevents it from growing? Is there some funky gene tied to melanin that prevents hair growth? No, no, and no. Black women can grow hair. Black women do grow hair. Don’t you have to go for a touch-up on your relaxer or color every 6 to 8 weeks? Then your hair is growing. The question is how to keep it on your head. Black hair has special needs and can’t be treated like straight hair, which leads us straight to our other myth.

2. Only ‘Mixed’ Women Can Grow Hair: Another long-standing lie. There is a reason that mixed women tend to have longer hair. Sometimes, not all of the times, ‘mixed’ women have a looser curl. The looser the curl the more that it retains moisture. The more moisture it retains the less breakage occurs. Also, every bend in a curl is an opportunity for breakage. Looser curls have less bends than tight curls. The hair stays on the head and length is achieved. Tight, kinky curls are very dry. They require extra care and attention to achieve long lengths, but with proper cultivation they can grow just as long as looser curls.

3. Greasing the Scalp: This comes from the dryness of kinky hair. In an effort to give moisture the scalp is often coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. While natural oils are an integral part of a black hair growth regimen, petroleum jelly and mineral oil are not. These products coat the scalp and suffocate the hair follicle. Hair growth slows down and sometimes stops completely.

4. Dirty Hair Grows: This is another myth that arose out of the dryness of kinky hair. In an attempt to prevent the dryness we feel after shampooing, many of us stop washing our hair for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. Again, the scalp must be clear of debris for hair follicles to thrive and produce hair. Dirty hair is just that, dirty. And it doesn’t grow any faster.

5. Relaxed Hair Can’t Grow: Many of us have seen black women with long beautiful dreads and have drawn the conclusion that we must go natural to get length. Relaxed hair is much weaker than natural hair and will break faster. You will get length fast if you go natural. However, if relaxed hair is nurtured and cultivated it will grow just as long, just as fast, as natural hair. All you need to know is how.

These are the top 5 hair growth myths. Black women can grow their hair. We just need to be taught how to care for and nurture our hair.

One of the authors of Maximum Lengths, a black hair growth manual. For more information please visit, [http://www.growblackhairlong.com]

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Choosing Straighteners For Black Hair

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Choosing Straighteners For Black Hair

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Many African American women will spend several years using straighteners to style their hair. This can cause major damage if it is not done correctly. It may not happen right away, but the problems can gradually develop over time. This is why it is so important to know how to properly groom and care for the hair.

Some mothers will start using chemicals on their daughters’ hair during childhood. This is almost always done out of good intentions. In many cases, it’s because the hair is so tight with curls, that combing the hair can cause pain in the scalp. This is especially true for girls who are “tender headed.” Putting a permanent straightener in the hair makes the strands more manageable and decreases the tension thus taking the pain out of styling.

That’s the positive side of using chemical straighteners. Unfortunately, there is also a down side to this because it can cause major damage, especially if the processing is not done correctly. Most beauticians will recommend that a person leave the hair relaxing to a professional.

This is not an option for everyone. Going to the beauty salon can cost anywhere from $50 to over $100 dollars, depending on how many and what types of treatments are used. Also prices can vary from one stylist to another.

This is why many people choose to apply their perms themselves. Before doing this, it is important to research the various products that are available. Start by asking friends which treatments work best for them and which ones they advise avoiding. Learn from the experiences from others and this can save you time and money, not to mention this may spare you from hair loss.

Take into consideration your hair type. Are your strands fine or course? These factors can help you determine which product will work best for you. It will also help you decide if you need a mild, regular, or super straightener. Carefully read the ingredients and the warning labels to see if it will cause an adverse reaction to other chemicals that you may already be using.

Jenna Gray is a writer who does extensive research on health related issues with a strong emphasis on natural ways for healing the mind, body, skin and hair.. It is extremely important to be cautious when using hair relaxers due to the harsh chemicals. For more information about African American hair care, see the article titled How to Apply Hair Relaxers on African American Hair. The article provides in depth information on preventing damage.

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Black Hair Growth – Hair Growth Vitamins

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Black Hair Growth – Hair Growth Vitamins

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Black hair growth and hair growth vitamins go hand in hand. Vitamins are the absolute best thing to use when it comes to African American hair growth.

Within your scalp – in every pore under each individual strand lies a multitude of minute blood vessels that are connected to the tip of every strand on your head. These blood vessels transfer the necessary nutrients to grow your tresses long. Blood filled with vitamins and minerals will make your hair grow faster.

Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals will slow down your growth rate. Sometime it might even cause excessive hair loss. This is because your tresses are not receiving enough nutrients to grow so the blood supply will cut itself off from the strand – the result in turn is, hair loss. Please take note that malnutrition is only one reason as to why hair loss may occur. There are several reasons as to why one may be loosing a substantial amount of hair.

Taking vitamin H which is biotin – will thicken and strengthen your locks. It is recommended that you take vitamin B along with biotin – as you might begin to break out with acne if you choose to take biotin alone. Biotin can be found in egg yolk, milk, rice or liver.

Vitamin E is filled with antioxidants – it makes the blood circulate properly, allowing more nutrients to flow through the little blood vessel and in turn increasing hair length. Vitamin E can be found in leafy green vegetables or raw seeds and nuts.

Sulphur will speed up your current growth rate. It can be found in milk, nuts and certain vegetables.

If you choose to take supplements – it is very important to drink a lot of water to get maximum results from hair growth vitamins. It you do not drink enough water – you will pass all the essential vitamins and minerals through your urine. You would have then wasted the supplements you just ingested.

African American hair growth can speed up tremendously when incorporating the right vitamins and minerals.

For a FREE A to Z step-by-step guide to growing your hair long, please visit LongBlackHairSecrets

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Tips for Natural Black Hair

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Summer Tips for Natural Black Hair

Summer! It’s that time of year again. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy the warmer weather. To me, summer is a time of hanging out in the backyard with my family, going to the park, the beach and generally enjoying the summer fun. The heat, sweating and salt water/chlorine can really dry your hair out. While I usually wear my natural hair in a curly shake and go, I noticed that I must keep my hair moisturized as much as possible during the hot summer months.

Here are some tips that I personally use to keep my curly natural hair in shape:

Moisturize

Water is your best friend. Drink lots of it to keep your entire body hydrated. You’ll need it on those hot summer days. After washing your hair, saturate it with your favorite conditioner. It can be any conditioner, as long as it works for your hair. I let it sit on my head for about fifteen minutes, with or without a plastic cap. Then I rinse it lightly, being sure to leave some of the conditioner behind. The leftover conditioner coats my hair and offers some protection from the summer sun. I allow my hair to air dry and find that it is soft to the touch.

Mayonnaise isn’t just for bread and tuna salad. Mayonnaise can be an excellent conditioner for your hair because of the eggs and the oil that it contains. If your natural black hair is dry and brittle, mayo may be the solution you need. It’s an inexpensive, effective conditioner. Try this recipe: Mash ½ very ripe avocado and mix it with a small jar (approx 1 cup) of real mayonnaise. Apply to the hair and pop on a plastic cap. Leave the mixture on for about 30 minutes (or longer), then rinse out thoroughly. This will leave your hair very soft and moisturized.

Use Protective Styles

As I wrote above, I usually rock a curly afro most of the time. The problem is, I often find that this style dries my hair out the fastest. So what’s a natural doll to do? Read on.

Get rough and stuff with your Afro Puffs. I think that Afro puffs can be a protective style if you thoroughly moisturize the ends. Form your puffs, mist lightly with water and rub just a bit of 100% pure aloe vera gel on those ends. I’ve found that it’s easier to moisturize the ends in a puff than the ends in a shake and go.

Braids or cornrows. Braids don’t always mean sitting in a salon for three or four hours while someone pulls at your head. If that’s your style, go for it, but I just can’t sit that long! Try braiding your own hair in three or four braids and pinning them up. I can’t cornrow to save my life, but for those who have that skill, I’ve seen some beautiful styles. Both styles will suit you well for pool and beach swimming and look stylish too!

Twist and Shout. While my daughter’s natural hair isn’t as thick as mine, the hair still requires the same kind of attention. I like to put her hair in two-strand twists as soon as I finish with washing and conditioning. Twists are cute, bouncy and can be migrated into a lovely twist-out style. On top of it, they are easy to do and quick to complete. Use aloe gel or other water based cream for the twists.

Cover Me. When walking the boardwalk, hanging out in the backyard or taking a walk in the heat, wear a hat. Not only will the hat keep you cool, but it will also protect your hair from the hot sun. The sun heats your hair just like a hair dryer does, and can dry it out just as fast. Wear a cute hat to keep the sun away.

I hope these tips help you keep that natural hair protected during the hot summer months. Enjoy and have fun in the sun!!

Christine Lowe Woolard is an author who lives in the lovely Garden State of New Jersey with her husband, three children and American Bulldog. She embraces natural and home remedies for her family. Discover more natural health articles and safe natural remedies that may save you a visit to the doctor at http://naturalblackmom.com

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Black Hair Care – 7 Simple Steps to a Hair Regimen For Long, Healthy Hair

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Black Hair Care – 7 Simple Steps to a Hair Regimen For Long, Healthy Hair

Are you looking to have long, healthy hair? Others have found it hard to achieve good results because they lack an effective regimen, and have dry, damaged hair that breaks off. Here is how you can overcome the obstacles in seven simple steps.

1. Moisturize and seal your hair DAILY. Some people will tell you that you only need to do this after a wash, but trust me, moisture is one of the most important ingredients in healthy hair that doesn’t break off. I personally moisturize and seal twice a day, and I believe that this process was critical in my ability to retain length. But please do it a minimum of once a day.

2. Cover your hair at night. If it is straight, wrap or cross wrap it and tie a scarf around it. If it is curly, put it in a couple of twists or braids and tie a scarf around it or throw on a bonnet. But please, cover it with something. All that moving around you do at night? (Trust me, you do, ask your husband.) You are breaking off hairs right and left!

3. Spend at least half of your waking time (half the day, half the week, half the month, your choice) in protective styles. These are buns, tight curls, clips, anything that keeps your hair off your shoulders. I know, I know, you love wearing your hair down and whipping it back and forth, but that friction is causing breakage, which is the number one enemy in hair growth and retention.

4. Wash your hair once a week. Any less, and your scalp is too dirty for proper hair growth. Any more is too much manipulation of wet hair, and our hair is most fragile when wet.

5. Alternate between moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and protein shampoo and conditioner. Our hair needs a fairly equal balance of both to thrive.

6. Deep condition at least once a week, either with heat (under a hooded dryer) or overnight before wash day.

7. Dust your ends every three months to keep split ends at bay. Any more frequency will hinder all of your progress.

These basic steps will create a regimen that is the starting point for those looking to grow long, healthy African American hair. It will arrest all of the damage and start you on the path towards the hair you’ve always wanted.

M.L. Daniels is a hair guru who has discovered the secrets to growing long, healthy black hair. Her website is where she shares all of the inside info. Head over to Black Hair 411 and buy everything you need for long, beautiful hair at super affordable prices!

Black Hair 411: http://www.blackhair411.blogspot.com

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