It is obvious that as black women, our hair is different from our lighter skinned sisters. Their hair waves in the wind, ours protrudes stubbornly, standing against it and so on… Proponents of natural hair styles—i.e.: braids, twists, afros, corn-rows—say that giving in to perms in a way, is like denying your worth as an African American woman. In slavery days, we all know that slave owners and their sons raped black women and the children produced looked white. Soon people began to notice that mixed women with hair that appeared white seemed to have it better than the kinky haired women. In light of this, it is easy to see why some proponents of natural hair feel the way they do about perms and relaxers.

On the other hand, proponents of perms and relaxers feel that they should not be forced to inconvenience themselves with the task of caring for natural hair. They would rather straight iron, curl, and go than sit, tease, braid, twist…etc. And they have a point. All political and racial arguments aside, there is the element of beauty that I feel is the biggest argument of all.

Aesthetic value. The aesthetic value of natural and processed black hair varies across a broad range of colorful spectrums. We have blonds of varying degrees, brunettes, rainbow colored, coal black, brown, gold, and other colors in accenting dreadlocks, cornrows, braids, and straight flowing hair.

Black women should choose the hair that they feel is truest to them and work it well. Many women who go natural feel an increased sense of beauty and freedom. Women who get perms feel an increased sense of beauty as well. They find that their hair is easier to do and complements their style.

I feel that black women should not have to choose one way to wear their hair. As a student at an HBCU I see all of the beautiful, diverse styles black women wear and love them. I would hate to see us loose even one.

1.  Wash your hair;
2.  Use the small comb to make small parts;
3.  Use the mirror to make sure the parts are the way you want them.
4.  Put a rubber band around the part, like a small pony tail.
5. Then braid the hair raping it around the rubber band to get it close to your head.

Good luck.

Image via Wikipedia

• Wash hair daily, preferably in the mornings.

• Use a shampoo formulated for oily hair.

• Leave the suds on the hair for several minutes.

• Choose a simple hair style.

• Set your dryer on a medium or cool temperature. High heat might activate sweat or oil glands.

• Rinse hair with lemon juice or vinegar diluted with water and poured over the hair during the final rinse.

• Blend two egg yolks with a couple of drops of lemon juice; work into the wet hair and leave on for several minutes before rinsing.

• Don’t wear tight hats or bands.

• Comb your hair; don’t brush it.

• Since perms and coloring are well-known drying agents, they are sometimes used as treatments for overly oil hair.

It grew continuously for that long, then, rested about three months. At the end of its rest, it turned loose and came out with your comb

Image via Wikipedia

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Give that naked hair follicle just beneath the scalp another three months, and it will grow another strand to start the cycle all over again.

For every 10 of your scalp hairs, nine are growing at about one-third of a millimeter each day (about one inch every two or three months), and one is resting just before shedding. (Eyebrows are different. They have a 10-week growth phase before shedding.) To calm your fears, a normal person loses about 50 to 100 scalp hairs each day just as part of the typical cycle of hair growth.

You lose more hair in certain situations: during severe emotional stress, during rapid-weight-loss diets of under 800 calories per day, after a high fever, after major surgery, after blood loss, and three to four months after childbirth. It may come out by the handful in these cases. But it almost grows right back within six months or so.

Another cause of hair loss might be medicines you’re taking. Blood thinners like warfarin and heparin increase hair loss in about one out of every two people taking them.

Other hair-loss causing drugs include amphetamines, the blood pressure medicine propranolol, the arthritis medicine oral gold, and L-dopa.

There’s one drug that actually causes some hair growth – minoxidil. Originally used as a drug to lower blood pressure, researchers noticed that it seemed to reverse the balding process in some people.

The problem is that it works best in those whose hair loss has just begun. It doesn’t help people who’ve been bald for more than 10 years or whose bald spot is larger than four inches across. And it works only as long as you apply is to your scalp twice a day. If you stop, the new hair growth stops, and your bald spot enlarges again. It isn’t cheap, either: the prescription drug costs $40 to 50$ per week.

Medical Source:

Your Good Health, Harvard University Press Cambridge, Mass.

My rule for makeup, less is more. Its simple, use a tinted moisturizer, lip gloss and some mascara for a everyday look. For a more dramatic night time look, add some eyeshadow with heavier mascara for a darker eye. Too much glitter or sparkle in eyeshadow can accent any wrinkles, a gentle glow is enough.

Keep your teeth white. Pick up an overnight teeth whitening kit at your drugstore. Yellow teeth can age you no matter how old you are. Visit your dentist and keep up with your teeth cleaning appointments. There are lip glosses available now that combine teeth whitening agents with colors that make your teeth look white.

Next, your hands look can age you like nothing else. Before you go to bed every night treat your hands with an overnight moisturizer the same way you treat your face. During the daytime make sure you keep your hands protected with a sunscreen. Before you know it, your hands will look smoother, and younger.

While you are concentrating on your hands don’t forget your feet, an at home pedicure is fast and easy. Soak your feet in some Epsom salt, then treat them with a moisturizer. Before you go to bed, treat your feet with vaseline. In the morning they will be so soft and ready for nail polish.

Last but not least, wear clothing in your correct size. Sometimes people try to cover flaws with baggy clothes. This only adds pounds, and makes you look bigger and older. A visit to your local department store for a bra fitting will make a huge difference in your look. Wearing the correct bra size will take off years, and its free.

Walk tall with confidence and good posture. After spending some time on yourself you will see how great you feel and younger you will look. Don’t forget to stay out of the sun and to wear a sunscreen, the sun can age you like nothing else.

David our manager is on vacation. The rules are bendable at the salon when he is gone.  Luz is in charge. I just have to kiss her butt to have a little breathing room, nah I’ll try to see where I can push it, with out being obvious in the nicest way possible. I go to lunch at 4 o’clock. I do my ritual, go to vitamin Shoppe and buy my organic food bar, I should buy in bulk. I walk back and to my amazement the salons lobby is filled. The mid morning shift is unpredictable. A couple women in the lobby, if I time it just right and clock in, I’ll probably skip some drama. Either way, I welcome the unknown with lightning bolts of positive energy. I punch in and call my next client, “Rob!” “Have a seat Rob, my name is Jason, how do you like it?” Rob says, “Take it all off!” I cautiously check the waiting room and adjust my speed. If I hurry up; I’ll get the woman who looks like medusa next. So plan b, I’ll milk it. It’s a Beautiful day outside, huh Rob?”  I said. You get the story, and it works like a charm. Time is money.

The eighties music keeps playing over the radio station and I try to remain calm. My long hair does fit into the scenario, the morning crowd does not and is a bit old fashioned but I love them any way, as long as they tip. “So what will it be young lady?” I said. She has one foot on the grave, and another on a banana peel!

When choosing a cut for fine hair, it’s important to work within the boundaries of your particular hair type. Fine hair isn’t going to be coarse no matter how many styling products are applied. Some women with straight, fine hair try to alter the texture by getting a perm, but this usually creates more problems than it solves. Fine hair is prone to damage and breakage from harsh chemical treatments. The result? Fine hair that’s also broken and damaged.

Keep in mind that some haircuts work better for fine hair than others. The right cut can often dramatically change the appearance of even the finest hair. Here are some tips for choosing the best cut for fine hair.

Take off some length

Sometimes cutting a few inches off of fine hair will give it the lift it needs to look fuller. If you’ve always had long hair, there’s no need to make a drastic change. Start by taking off an inch or two and see if it gives your hair more volume. If you plan on keeping fine hair longer, cut the ends as bluntly as possible to add fullness. If you’re still not satisfied, you can always cut more. Don’t take off too much hair too quickly if you’ve always been a long haired gal.

Try a bob

A bob may be the perfect cut for fine hair. The crisp, clean cut lines add fullness and the shorter length gives fine hair additional lift. The length of a bob should be dictated by face shape. An oval face with good bone structure and a defined chin can be enhanced by a shorter bob that hits at the mid cheek level, while a weaker chin looks best with a bob that hits below chin level. A graduated bob is another option to add additional body and definition to fine hair. Bangs can be used to camouflage a high forehead or accentuate the eyes. It can be helpful to try on wigs that are cut into a bob style to see which cut is most flattering to your face before getting the actual haircut.

Add some layers

Layers, particularly around the crown, can add additional volume to fine hair. When hair is layered at the crown, it can be blown dry with a round brush to add additional height and lift. Layering is best for fine hair that’s not thin since layering removes hair and can make very thin hair look even thinner. Consider going shorter, to at least shoulder length, if you have hair that’s both fine and thin and you want to add layers.

Add some highlights

Once you have the perfect cut, consider adding highlights to your hair. Hair coloring coats the hair and enhances the texture, giving subtle to body to limp, fine hair. Plus, strategically placed highlights can give the illusion of having more hair. Don’t try to do this yourself. Have it done professionally.

Remember, fine hair doesn’t have to be limp hair. Choosing the right cut for fine hair can make all the difference in how your hair looks and feels.

What causes those annoying flyaways? Flyaway hair occurs when the hair strands pick up electrostatic charge from the atmosphere and repel one another in much the same way two ends of a magnet with the same charge repel each another. The problem is made worse by combing the hair excessively when can generate additional electrostatic charge, dry air and heat, and lack of moisture on the hair shaft. Although factors such as dry air and heat can’t always be avoided, there are steps you can take to tame flyaway hair. Here are some suggestions:

Add a humidifier to your home

The more moisture that’s present in the air in your home, the less chance that you’ll experience out of control, flyaway hair. A moist environment can also help keep your clothes from sticking together due to static, and even reduce the risk of contracting a cold by keeping your mucous membranes moist.

Brush your hair properly

Avoid the tendency to over brush or over comb you hair which will just make the static problem worse. Invest in a brush with static free bristles and use it regularly. These brushes can be purchased in most grocery stores or online.

Always condition your hair

A good conditioning treatment is critical for counteracting flyaway hair. Conditioner helps to eliminate electrostatic charge and tame pesky flyaways. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week to further reduce electrostatic charge.

Use the right type of hair dryer

The best kind of hairdryer to use for flyaway hair is an ionic ceramic hairdryer. This type of dryer is designed to remove static charge during the process of drying your hair. Use it on as low a heat as possible as over drying your hair will only make the flyaways worse.

Use Static Guard

If the above measures fail to solve the problem of flyaway hair and you need to fix it fast, spray a small amount of Static Guard onto your brush and lightly brush it through your hair. You should see immediate improvement.

If flyaway hair is a problem for you, these steps should help to return your hair to its former, orderly state.

Advantages of layering your hair:

• Layered hair can be quite flattering to your face

  A layered haircut is usually quite flattering to the face. The layers tend to deemphasize facial imperfections and enhance the appearance of your eyes. A skillfully done layered haircut can beautify almost any type of face shape. If your face is a bit too round, layers added to the crown can create height that will deemphasize fullness. Wavy bangs and layers can also soften a square shaped face. A layered cut can be designed so that the layers fall at certain levels to emphasize your best facial features. Almost anyone can look good in a skillfully cut layered hairstyle.

• Layered hair can make you look younger

  Medium to shorter length hair with subtle layering tend to be immensely flattering to a more mature face. In fact, the simple act of layering can sometimes take up to five years off of your face. Layers cause fine lines to be less noticeable and gives a subtle lift and youthfulness to the face.

• Layered hair can be a fun change

  If you’ve always had straight, blunt cut hair layering gives you a chance to experiment with an entirely new look. Almost everyone can benefit from a change in hairstyle once in a while. It’s an inexpensive way to dramatically change your appearance

Disadvantages to layering your hair:

• Layered hair requires significant upkeep.

  If you have straight, fine hair, you may end up using lots of styling products and spending a great deal of time with your blow dryer if you layer your hair. Although some people are blessed with the type of hair texture that allows them to jump out of bed and run a brush through their layered hair and be presentable, most people don’t fall into this category. Take the time factor into account before making the decision to layer your hair.

• It can be a problem if you’re athletic.

  If your hair is layered, it can be difficult to keep it out of your face during exercise sessions. If you’re accustomed to pulling your hair back with a band before exercising, with layers you’re probably still going to have strands falling into your face no matter what you do. This can be annoying to serious athletes.

• It can be expensive.

  Layered hair requires more visits to the hair salon for touch ups than a standard blunt cut which just needs an occasional trim. This can get expensive and time consuming.

• Layered hair can be limiting.

  When you have layered hair, you’re more limited in the ways you can wear it. With blunt cut hair, you can pull it back into a sleek ponytail or sweep it into an updo. With layered hair you’ll always be dealing with short pieces falling into your face.

Consider the pros and cons before making the decision to layer your hair. It can seem like an eternity when you’re trying to grow out a haircut you’re not happy with. Is layered hair for you?

A word of caution: I am not a professional hair stylist and my advice is not to be taken as a guaranteed result. Everyone has different hair, and dye will work in different ways on different people, so this may not be the guide for you. Also, be prepared for possible failure, because it’s incredibly hard to get everything right the first time.

Recommendations

• DO NOT attempt to dye without previous experience. If you really have your heart set on dying please make sure to try temporary dyes before using anything permanent or consult a professional.
• Have someone with you because they can help you and keep you entertained during any wait periods
• Make sure to go over any regulations at your school or workplace to avoid future headaches over dress code
• Check out some sites like Beeunique to find the dye you want and testimonials of people who have used them.

Bingo Dabber Result

The Bingo Dabber

Surely, you must think it’s crazy to simply rub some ink all over your hair and assume it will take perfectly. I can assure you that it is rather foolish. You may have seen references to using bingo dabbers, or even Kool-Aid to color hair, but personally I do NOT recommend these methods to anyone no matter how desperate you are for that head of striking hair. It’s messy and will run with every droplet of water or sweat that it comes into contact with. Not only that, but it will stain your clothes and skin, so unless you wish to appear like some sort of alien reject avoid this way of dying your hair.

Maintenance

There isn’t any way to maintain hair dyed with bingo dabbers, and it will likely come out the next time you wash your hair. The best solution is to use something other than bingo dabbers if you want something that comes out easily. You can find cheap spray cans of temporary hair color that are just as effective and make much less of a mess.

Temporary dye result, 1 month fading

Dying without Bleach

If you are looking for a nice temporary way to have spectacular hair, this is the way to go for you. It requires little time or effort depending on what dye you use and what kind of hair you have on your head. Since you are not bleaching or lightening your hair in any way, it is possible that it will not have the desired effect so don’t expect too much. Usually, the best result is with blonde to medium brown hair, because anything darker will prevent most of the color from showing through.

Leaving the dye in for longer than suggested may increase the length of time your hair stays your chosen color. However, make sure to read or research your dye, because some chemical dyes will kill your hair. Don’t leave the dye in for longer than suggested unless it specifically states that it is non-chemical, or better yet, a vegetable based dye. Those particular kinds of dyes can be left in for a very long time.

Maintenance

Temporary hair dye is, of course, temporary and won’t last as long as more intensive dye treatments. With every wash it will fade until it is unrecognizable from its original color unless touched up frequently. The best way to avoid excessive fading is to stay out of harsh sunlight or swimming in chlorinated swimming pools.

Bleach and dye result

Bleaching and Dying

No matter what your hair color is, dye will always take better if it has been bleached beforehand. This is due to the fact that bleaching lightens your hair and makes it more porous so that it absorbs dye better. Depending on how far you’re willing to go for great color there are several levels of bleaching.

1. Lightener ∕ mild bleaching
2. Moderate bleaching
3. Heavy bleaching

*Note that heavy bleaching will cause hair damage.

Once your hair is bleached, you can apply your preferred dye product. It’s in your best interests to follow the directions that come with the product you bought. If you want your hair to turn out the shade that is shown on the box or bottle, you should try toner. Bleach makes your hair yellow, and by using a purple or blue hair toner you can neutralize the yellow and prevent any unwanted transformations of hair color.

Maintenance

This form of dying will last longer than anything temporary, especially with heavier bleaching. I recommend that you don’t wash your hair immediately after you’ve done your dying and rinsing seeing as your hair has gone through a lot of punishment by this point and needs time to recuperate. Your hair will stay rather crispy if you have done heavy bleaching, but with enough patience, it will settle down into something manageable.

Additional Tricks

• A shower cap or plastic bag over your hair will intensify the power of the dye
• When rinsing the dye out of your hair the first time, rinse it a second time with vinegar because it will seal the dye in
• Depending on what type of dye you are using, you may leave it in overnight for longer lasting color
• Avoid excessive hair washing. It may sound rather disgusting, but it does prevent fading and helps regenerate the natural oils in your hair after bleaching.
• Chlorine from pools will strip the color out of your hair, so it may be best to not to dunk your head under
• Invest in a good shampoo that is specifically for color treated hair
• Don’t use a shampoo with a high PH balance, because it will fade your hair quicker than regular shampoo