3 Steps to detangle 4c hair

Often times in life you have to do things you don't want to do. Life sort of forces you to do unpalatable things like satisfy Obligations, pay bills, and dangle your hair. At lest one of these things can be painless. 

Keep reading for my top tips when dangling fine 4c hair.

When attempting to detangle fine, kinky hair, you  must remember  1 thing: be gentle! Your kinky curls and delicate treat each strand with love, as you section, separate, and remove shed hairs. Because your hair is tightly coiled, shed hairs often get ensnared in your mass of curls. These rogue hairs can cause tangles as the work their way down, ultimately leading to breakage. How often you detangle  Depends on the condition of your hair, and current hair style. If you are wearing your hair in out styles, (twistout, braidout, fro, bantu knotout) you should detangle once or twice a week. Limiting how often you manipulate your hair will lower your risk for mechanical damage. While on the other end of the spectrum, going long periods of time without taking time out to  detangle will lead to knots, locks, and breakage.  Having a successful natural hair journey will require you to find  balance when caring for and styling your kinky hair.

3 Steps

4c Kinks: No Definition, But Plenty of Influence

Picture this: You see a woman strutting down  the street, fly from curls to toe. Her care free attitude, the sureness in each step, she exerts “Dopeness’  with each gesture, and you cant help but notice! You think to yourself “YASSSSS” or, you want to do a slow clap to celebrate her fierceness.  We have all seen this lady. In fact, sometimes we Are these ladies. She is an influencer.  Her style, her attitude, or general way of life captures attention. Some will  admire her. Some will make fun of her and say ‘who does she think she is’? One thing is for sure, most everyone will notice her. This is what is like to have natural 4c hair, in a world of relaxed and weaved styles. Some will embrace & complement it, & even join in on the journey. Others will make fun, or suggest a relaxer. Everyone will notice.

The Point of No Return : How to Bounce Back

The Point of No Return : How to Bounce Back

After years of abuse, your hair is giving up.  Years of bad practices have taken its toll on your hair and scalp. You have done each and every hair no-no twice. You slept without a bonnet. Went weeks without conditioning. Kept the same weave in all year. Braids have serious Hang time? Avoided trims. Relaxed your hair every 3 weeks. Used the iron on the hottest setting every day. Skipped the heat protectant. I’m talking about all the naughty things. Now you are left with thinning hair, bald spots, and splitting ends. Is your hair is getting shorter, but you are not cutting it. What do you do? Don’t fret There are a few things you can do to get your hair on track.

Shedding VS Breakage

Shedding VS Breakage

Each day, you are losing hair. As your hair goes through its cycle of growth, you will lose 50-100 strands of hair a day. With thick tightly coiled hair, it may be tricky to tell if the hair in the sink is normal shedding, or a sign of something more serious. There are a few things you can do to help you determine if your hair is shedding or breaking.

Detangle

Understanding hair loss from medication

Understanding  hair loss from medication

There are many medications on the market that cause temporary, and permanent hair loss.  Some blood thinners, acne medications derived from vitamin A, some anti-depression drugs, and some high blood pressure medications can cause temporary hair loss. Often times busy doctors will not go over all the side effects of prescribed medications. Be sure to do your additional research on any prescribed medication. For some medications, the side effect of  hair loss is unavoidable.  The good news is

Moist Curls 101

Sealing Natural Hair 

The act of locking moisture in the hair, specifically the ends. For sealing to be effective, you must First use a water-based moisturizer. You can use plain water,  a leave in conditioner, or a cream that has water as its first ingredient. Sealing your hair is the 1# step to maintaining healthy hair in between wash days. 

Temporary Color

Indigenous

Curls

Counts Down the Top Temp Colors For Type 4c Curls

These Temporary measures can make your curls POP with bright, and subdued colors. Each method can be rinsed out after a few days. Looking to make a statement with out the commitment? Try these easy and simple methods to add a splash of color to your curls. Be sure your hair is well moisturized before giving these colors a go! 

Spray

4 Oils To Re Grow Hair

Looser Curls Over Night | Flexi Rod Set Results, and Details

Looser Smoother Curls 

Over Night 

Flexi Rod Set

By Mionna of JustMiBlog 

Instead of doing the regular twist out, I decided to try something different.


Flexi Rod Set on Transitioning Hair

I bought a set of flexi rods back when I was transitioning. I was at the point where I couldn't wear my hair straight anymore because my roots were taking over!  I only used the flexi rods one time & the results were great!! Here's what it looked like, and here's what I used!

Saves Thin Hair, and Grows Thick Curls

Ginger

A Cure for Slow Growth, and Thin Hairlines?





A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. I have tested Ginger powder and pure Ginger by stirring a teaspoon into a deep conditioning masque, and hair oils. I have found ginger powder aids in scalp circulation, the immediate tingle wakes my scalp up! The moment the warm masque was applied, I could feel the  A pinch of pure ginger powder may be able to benefit those with thinning hair, and slow growth issues acting as a fertilizer to help give hair a natural growth spurt! 

Fresh Ginger root contains magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and vitamins, that help in making your hair stronger, healthier and shinier. One way to extract the goodness of fresh ginger is to warm the chopped, or grated root in olive oil.  I have mixed this ginger oil and used on my hairline. I belive the combinitation of JBCO and this Ginger oil has helped me to re-grow sparse areas, and strengthen my delicate 4c strands. 

Why Did You go Natural -- Hairspiration

    

Weather you Big Chop or transition, going natural is quite a journey. Going natural 

can inspire a healthy lifestyle, A new spiritual connection, a new outlook on life, or simply a

new look. 

We Asked a natural community of over 50 thousand curlygirls

 WHY They Went Natural

Here's what a few had to say:  

      Sensitive scalp. didn't want to relax anymore. Nothing deep or spiritual.

      via mobile · 

 Got burned in the back of my head with a perm one good time. That was enough for me lol.

via mobile · 

 My scalp was hurting from the perms. So one day I just stopped perming my hair.

 via mobile · 

My hair was thinning n shedding. .no one else could tell because it’s so thick but I could....& now it’s healthy!!...9 months later 

 via mobile · 

My perms were not lasting...plus I think my hyperthyroidism was making the perms worst...

 via mobile · 

 Money was tight for a couple of months so I kept delaying my perm. Then I realized that my hair was amazing!

 via mobile · 

The relaxers were damaging my hair. It was dry, brittle and kept breaking. I went natural and all of that stopped 

 via mobile · 

Pretty much hated that relaxer...the process you go threw  all the money you spend. The breakage, the chemicals on my skin (your skin is an organ and absorbs those chemicals)

 via mobile · 

I thought my hair would fall out while on A prescription if I relaxed it since I already had a thin spot on my crown due to burns so I quit. Thought about going back after I got off the medicine 6 months later but I just kept going with the encouragement I received. I have been transitioning for a long time. Almost done. Wish I had big chopped but whatever. Lesson learned

via mobile · 

I have always hated perms, but was not allowed to make the decision to stop until i went to college and started taking care of my own hair. After that, i ditched the relaxers and started learning to care for my own hair

via mobile · 

 Sudden allergy to perms

via mobile 

I honestly don't remember exactly...it was 19 years ago, but I know I was sick of perms, wanted the freedom, but I think it was mostly because I wanted to loc my hair.

 via mobile 

I started to exercise to lose weight and better my health. Along w/ that came the struggle of trying to revive and maintain my daily sweated out relaxed hair. I decided that my health was more important and that it was time to do away w/ some things that I no longer needed.. I bc'd..my weight went down and my confidence went !UP! I'm loving my journey.

 via mobile

For my daughters. They are watching our every move. 

 via mobile

SOUND OFF! Why did you grow out your curls?

Team Natural In the New York Times! Style Section

Add this to the list of "Things that Make Me Smile"!

The Afro as a Natural Expression of Self

By  RUTH LA FERLA of the New York Times 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/fashion/the-afro-as-a-natural-expression-of-self.html?src=dayp&_r=0


if you are a NYT Subscriber, Comment on NYT site to show your CurlySupport!

Oil Rinse for strength & shine

What is an Oil Rinse?

An Oil rinse (Pre Poo)  is yet another way to help your strands retain moisture. Users rave about the frizz busing qualities, and shiny results. Here’s how you do it:

1-Wash your hair with shampoo. If you are only co-washing, rinse your hair ensuring it’s completely wet.

2- Part hair into four sections (or more depending on hair’s thickness and length).

3- Saturate hair and scalp with the oil of your choice. Don’t be fooled by fancy products and packaging, take it back to basics with natural products from the pantry like jojoba oil, meadow foam seed oil, avocado oil, amla oil, argan oil, and coconut oil, which are all great mixed together or used singularly. (You can use a bottle if you mix multiple oils together.)

4- Using the tips of your fingers gently massage the oil from root-to-tip stroking in a downward motion.

5-Cover hair with a plastic cap and leave the oil on hair for a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour (You can decide on a longer length of time at your own discretion.)

6- Detangle hair using a wide-tooth comb, your fingers,  or a Denman brush and rinse the oil with warm water

7- Follow-up with your regular conditioner. Rinse out with cool water to remove oil, and lock in shine.

Here are a list of oils you can use. Many of these oils can be found in local beauty supply, grocery , and health food stores.

Lavender Oil: It is a good treatment for dandruff and itching, helpful in controlling hair breakage and improving hair growth. Most widely known to treat alopecia areata, a condition where you lose excessive hair in patches. Daily massage with lavender oil has proven to help significant re-growth and gives you the results in a few months. Lavender oil blends well with many other essential oils including jojoba, rosemary and tea tree oils.

Chamomile Oil:  chamomile is known to  soothe the nerves  and it does the same for your hair and scalp, in fact it is the most soothing of the essential oils for the hair and scalp. Chamomile helps to retract skin cells that have been inflamed from chemical procedures, and harsh weather conditions and helps with itching scaly scalp and dandruff.

Peppermint Oil: helps to stimulate blood flow to the root of the hair. 

Rosemary Oil – The oil is derived from the rosemary plant and is very useful for dandruff problems and flaky itchy scalp. 

Tea Tree Oil: is a great moisturizer for the hair, it helps to keep the scalp free of bacteria and fungal problems. Tea tree oil unblocks the sebaceous glands and encourage the flow of the scalp’s own moisturizing oils while clearing away dead skin cells. 

Lemon Oil:  helps with the treatment for dry scalp.

Myrrh Oil: helps with the treatment for dry scalp, dandruff problems and under-active sebaceous glands. Use instead of lemon oil if your hair is not oily.

Fragrant Oils For Hair

Fragrant Essential Oil Suggestions:

Rosemary,

Lavender,

Sandalwood,

Jasmine.

great for Scalp Massages: Put 3-5 drops on your fingertips and lightly massage into scalp.

Carrier Oils

Another type of oil for hair is called carrier oils. Carrier oils are also known as base oil or vegetable oil they are usually derived from seeds or nuts. Carrier oils are best used as natural and unadulterated as possible 

List of Carrier Oils and Their Benefits To Hair

Jojoba Oil – The debate is whether jojoba is the king of the carrier oils. Jojoba is great for all hair types and has an ability to inhibit excess activity of the sebaceous glands making it the perfect choice for people with oily scalps that still need conditioning. Likewise it can be used for dry hair as it helps to moisturize your hair properly.

Olive Oil – Only olive oil that is labelled “extra virgin” guarantees that the oil has been cold pressed from freshly harvested olives and does not contain chemicals. 

Coconut Oil - Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats Vitamin-E and Vitamin K and minerals such as Iron. Coconut oil is considered one of the best natural nutrition for hair and is in contention with olive and jojoba oils as the king of the carrier oils..

Castor Oil – is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean. Castor oil is a colorless to very pale yellow liquid with mild or no/low odor or taste..

Vitamin E Oil -  Vitamin E contains valuable antioxidants that help to keep the immune system up and improves circulation to all parts of the body, including the scalp. When added to homemade products it can extend shelf life!

Avocado Oil- is extracted from the king of the ‘hair’ fruits avocado. It is full of vitamins that your hair needs like vitamins A, E, D and potassium. If you want a super deep conditioner treatment without having to buy a commercial preparation, you can add avocado oil to the other carrier oils and you will definitely feel and see the difference. 

Supermarket Finds For Your Curls!

Things You Can Buy

 at the Supermarket 

For your Curls!

One popular question is, “What items can I buy at the supermarket for my hair?”

Make  your next run to the grocery, A curly success! 

Here is a list of Oils, and products that you can buy at the supermarket, and use on your hair.  

Add/seal Moisture

Coconut Oil

Coconut Water

Banana

Avocado Oil

Grape seed Oil

Honey

Sunflower Oil

Sesame Oil

Crisco*

Olive Oil

EVOO

Vegetable glycerin

Flax Seeds

Aloe

Aloe Gel

Cleansing

Spring water

Lemon/ lemon juice

Black tea

Rose water

Bacon soda

Yogurt

Apple Cider Vinegar

Strengthen

Carrot Oil

Mayo

Eggs

Aloe Gel

Avocado

Almond oil

Anti-itch / styling

Peppermint Oil

Flax Seeds

Ginger

 What are Your MUST HAVES from the Supermarket?  

Protection From Your Protection?

Protective style Maintenance 

Curly  Micro Braids

Protective styles allow your strands go weeks without manipulation damage.  However naturals must make sure to care for the curls underneath the style.  My 1^st year natural I spent much of that time with my hair in protective styles. Here are my top tip for having a successful protective style.

Too often I hear of people complain that a protective style ruined their hair. Follow these tips to save your strands, grow that hair, and give yourself a break from daily styling.

Tip 1

Moisturize | Before  | During | After

For curly girls, moisture equals soft healthy hair. Be sure to moisturize your hair prior to styling. Before I twist or braid my hair I deep condition, and seal with heavy creams and butters.  I also make sure to keep my curls hydrated, spraying my ends, and/or oiling my scalp every 2-3 days while my hair is protected. Only thing protective styling gives you a break from; is styling. You should still continue a moisture routine with your protective style. Moisture is also the key to a successful low shedding take down. I use my water based homemade mist to moisturize my strand as I take down the style. I also use the mist to loosen and remove any lint tangled in my hair.  Since using water based moisturizer, while taking down my styles I notice less shedding, and easier detangling after wearing protective styles for weeks.

Tip 2

Check the Tension, Check the heat, or do your own dirty work.

Your hairstyle should not hurt. If it does, follow these tips when Hair Too Tight? Save yourself a headache, and speak up while the style is being installed. If you are uncomfortable while in the chair, you will be uncomfortable at home.  Many styles require the stylist to straighten or stretch your hair. Be sure the hairdresser is treating your hair with love. Use heat protectants, and cooler settings ALWAYS.  If detangling your hair requires special skills, I suggest you arrive at the salon with the dirty work already done. I confess, detangling my hair is a Job in itself; sometimes I rather pay someone to deal with it.  But I rather save my stands, and gently finger detangle my strands myself.  I don’t use combs or brushes. I have not tried to tell a hairdresser to finger detangle, I may try that as an experiment, and see their reaction…

Tip 3

Don’t overdo it

I know protective styles can be an addiction. There are just so many options! Braids, twists, weaves, wigs, buns, and so on. Be sure to know when it is time to let the style go. Micro braids, when worn too long, can pull the hairline, causing hair loss.  Weaves can block the scalp, preventing you from moisturizing it well, or itch. Some brands of extensions can strip the hair of moisture no matter how much you moisturize.  Be sure to switch up the type of protective style you get. 







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Low Manipulation Hairstyles for Curly Hair

Tea Rinse | For Naturals....

Tea Rinses 

Hair rinses are usually the last rinses we add to our hair when we are done with conditioning. There are different types of hair rinses; protein, herbal, sealing, & moisturising.

The Current JBCO Challenge has only one downside. Build Up! I'm seeing many other benefits such as softness, shine, & the moisture from wash day is long lasting.  Before I Cowash (According to the challenge rules), I will try  incorporating peppermint leaves into a tea rinse to combat build up. I fell deeply in love with the smell, and cooling tingle from the peppermint oil in my refreshing mist. The Results: Its a refreshing smell and my hair felt so soft. No JBCO residue!

What To Do

*I used pre packed fresh mint leaves from Tesco, you can use any company in a mint flavor.

* After boiling some water (about 500ml -750ml)  I drop some leaves into it and let it stand for about 5-10 mins. If you don't have any fresh leaves, use an extra tea bag for a more concentrated rinse. 

* I left it to cool in the fridge while I deep conditioned my hair. I Rinsed the Deep conditioner with cool water, then followed with a cold tea pot full of this mix.  I strained the infusion before I  poured it on my hair.

* After rinsing my hair with the mint tea, I wrapped my hair with an old cotton t-shirt to absorb the water from my hair. My hair became soft and smelled really nice!

*After the rinse I follow my Sealing regimen according to the JBCO Challenge. Here are the results of my Bantu Knot Out after the rinse on damp sealed hair. 

So Go On, Try The Mint Tea Hair Rinse and Share Your Experience With Us. Are You IN the JBCO Challenge with Us? Join Us!

4 Trimming Methods for Curly Hair

Keep Those Ends In Check!

1.  Blow Out Hair and Trim Dry-  Cut the hair when it’s straight (or at least stretched with the heat of a blow dryer). This technique is  highly recommended for a proper trim by many stylist. The Stylist can accurately gauge full hair length and extent of split ends. This should be done 2 times a year to minimize tangels, knots, and breakage. 

2. Clipping Curly Hair Wet – Some prefer this technique because the hair is flexible and can be stretched and detangled for trimming.  The downside is that you can’t see ends that need to be removed or the actual shape of your hair.  Curly hair is ribbon shaped. Depending on your curl pattern this technique may work best for you. 

3.  Dusting – There are many Youtube tutorials on this technique.  The hair is plaited in two-strand twist and the ends of the twist are cut.  I use this method every 3 months. Not only is it impossible to see what you’re cutting but your hair will be different lengths.   This is the best way to get helmet shape hair where the hair is flat in the back and lacks movement.  I don’t recommend this as your only method of trimming your ends, But it helps in between trims, keeping ends healthy and knot free in between major cuts.

4. Dry Cutting- which is cutting your hair while it is curly and dry. This method is for shape-styling curly/coily hair. Some believe is the best method if you always wear your hair in its natural curl pattern state. This method is great if you are looking to cut those perfect curly bangs. 

happy trimming curlies! 

Trichonodosis | How To Avoid this Length Killer!

Affecting Strands Across the Globe 

Trichonodosis

How To Avoid this Length Killer! 

Trichonodosis  (knotted hair) A trauma induced knotting of the naturally curly/wavy/coily hair. This traumatic knot can cause breakage, and lead decreased length retention. These Single strand knots are usually found on the lower part of the hair strand. The knots fracture  the cuticle and expose  the cortex where these knots form.  So now these knots are weak points on the hair strand since the cuticle layers are now bent into a knot shape, making detangling natural hair even more complicated. These single strand knots can reduce your length retention. 

These knots are weak points on the hair strand since the cuticle layers are now bent into a knot shape, they simply intertwine with itself or other strands of hair, making detangling natural hair even more complicated, they are normally on one strand of hair, or more than one strand all together in one knot. 

Because tightly curled hair is not oval or round, like straight hair, but ribbon-shaped and does not lie flat, it creates spirals which when pulled and released may lead to entangled hair forming knots

Half-hitch knots have a pattern and possibly could be detangled if they are not tight.

Shed hair, before leaving the scalp, tends to tangle with other hairs forming knots on its way down the hair strand.

 

How to Save Your Tresses

Wrap up your hair at night. Hair that's free during the night will be tangled and knotted in the morning. Use the pineapple or the mini pineapple method to preserve curls, and reduce tangles. 

Wash and detangle hair in sections

Rock Low manipulation/protective styles

Keep your natural hair in a stretched state as often  as possible

Styling should prevent friction and knot creation. Wearing the hair up means that hair is in a fixed position and is not forming meet and greet knots with all of the other spiral hair strands. This is a hard one because I like wearing my hair out and intend to do so when it gets to my desired length. However, because I know when my hair is out it means that it’s freely moving around tangling with other hair, I keep it moisturized  and  finger comb out any loose knots before they form into tighter ones.

If you find yourself with a Single Strand Knot, use a safety pin and put the needle right in the middle of the knot and gently loosen your damp stands. I also unravel loose knots with my fingers using my Home Made Detangling Mist & Lotion For Curly Hair 

Sometimes, when none of the above works. I cut these knots with a pair of barber’s scissors if the knots are close to my ends. If they are too high up on my hair strand, I don’t cut it, I  just can’t bare to. 

Since making adjustments to my styling and detangling, I notice less SSN (Single Strand Knots)  I do not straighten my hair often so the knots close to the root don't bother me.

Keeping your hair moisturized and  your cuticles closed will also cut down on the single strand knots.