GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HAIR GROWTH: TIP 2

Tip 2: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! Curly, Kinky, Coily, and Wavy hair needs plenty of moisture to stay strong and grow long. Despite its strong looks, curly hair can easily break especially when dry. Use products that contain natural moisturizers such as organic aloe vera gel, organic coconut oil or Shea butter. Also avoid shampoos that contain harsh cleansing agents, such as sulfates that strip the hair of its moisture and always use a moisturizing conditioner on your hair.

Product tip: Use Donna Marie's Spiral Smoothie daily moisturizer to quench your thirsty curls and kinks. Sulfate free shampoos such as Donna Marie's Mango Butter Oasis, is a gentle sulfate free shampoo that cleanses and moisturizes without stripping the hair of its natural oils.

RoCk ThIs! :Urban Updo Glam

I styled this model Janelle for a Mahogany Magazine shoot. She's rocking her natural with a braided/pin-curl combo. The model's hair was cornrowed on one side going upwards and the rest of the hair was curled with a ceramic curling iron, then pin-curled for extra hold. The pin curls were released after about 3o minutes then gently pulled apart to create this, hot natural look!

To maintain this style, use a light moisturizer such as Donna Marie's Spiral Smoothie, to smooth down your curls and keep them hydrated and shiny!

PRODUCT REVIEW: CoCo Curly Butter

Best seller, Coco Curly Butter is my all in one, 98% natural, curl styling and enhancing cream. It literally molds and shapes your curls while removing knots and tangles. Your hair does not become stiff or hard as this product is packed full of moisturizing agents such as sweet almond oil, honey and aloe vera gel. It's great for the summer heat as it has enough moisture to beat the humidity, leaving your hair frizz free.

I developed it after frustration with commercial brands that promise better curls, while lacking better quality ingredients, ugh! Who wants to use products with ingredients they can't even prnounce? The more natural brands were too expensive, so I found a cheaper alternative. I MADE MY OWN! I started playing with and mixing all the ingredients that my hair loves, I consulted with chemists on mixing and preserving the product, I got the products tested at a lab for preservative efficacy and VOILA, CoCo Curly Butter was born!


This product is excellent for all curly hair types as well as texturized hair and works wonders on twists and braids!


Here's how to apply the products:

Blow Dry with A Diffuser

Note: These are my personal pictures of a model that I used for my product line. Please do not copy these images.

GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HAIR GROWTH

Hello Naturals! It's Wednesday and that means it's time for my hair growth tip of the day!

Here is a part of the piece I wrote for the Motowngirl.com July newsletter on how to maintain healthy hair growth. Check it out!

A growing number of women are tossing their relaxers and embracing their beautiful natural hair. As we "go natural" our consciousness about the health of our hair increases. The majority of us want healthy, long, strong, and beautiful hair, but many are puzzled about how to achieve this goal. As a Natural Hair stylist, the number one question I receive from clients is "How can I make my hair grow and stay healthy?" If you have decided to go natural, you have taken the first step! While there is no magic potion or pill that will instantly grow your hair down to your back, the following tips will help you maximize your hair growth potential and minimize damage!


Tip 1: Avoid harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients.

This is the most important tip. The root of your hair is alive and needs nourishment to grow and remain healthy. Avoid products that contain ingredients that harm the hair - such as mineral oil, petroleum and silicones. Harsh ingredients have the potential to dry out your hair, clog pores and impart a heavy buildup on the hair, which minimizes growth. Instead, use products that contain natural ingredients that promote hair growth such as rosemary, hibiscus, and nettles.

Stay tuned...next wednesday I'll give you Tip #2!

CURLS, KINKS, AND WAVES...What's your hair type?

Hello again natural beauties! I think we need a moment of clarity on hair types before I go any further. First and foremost, I personally can't stand the word "nappy" to describe "natural hair". It just has a negative ring to it (if some of you love it...by all means keep the party going). I've never heard anyone call someone nappy and meant it in a positive way. Instead, I'd like to call the hair like I see it. Our hair is CURLY not nappy! To describe the different curly types, I think Curly, Kinky curly, and Wavy are more appropriate. Anyway, I'll be using these terms frequently throught this blog so I wanted to give heads up before doing so. Sooooo, without further ado, here is a breakdown of curly hair types (courtesy of Andre Walker) for your reference:

Type 2-Wavy: Type 2 hair falls into the great divide between Type 1, straight hair, and Type 3, curly hair. A relatively unusual type, wavy hair tends to be coarse, with a definite "S" pattern to it. By that I mean the wave forms throughout the hair in the shape of the letter "S". Your hair is wavy, or Type 2, if it curves in the "S" shape while lying flat against the scalp

Type 3-curly: If you're a Type 3, your hair has a lot of body and is easily styled in its natural state, or it can be easily straightened with a blow-dryer into a smoother style. Healthy Type 3 hair is shiny, with soft, smooth curls and strong elasticity. The curls are well-defined and springy: pull out a strand of hair and stretch it; it won't snap in two. Damaged Type 3 hair is usually frizzy, dull, hard and dry to the touch, with fuzzy, ill-defined curls.

There are two subtypes of Type 3 hair. Type 3A, hair that is very loosely curled, like Julia Robert's or Susan Sarandon's, is usually very shiny with big curls. The shorter the hair, the straighter it gets. The longer the hair, the more defined the curl.

Type 3B, on the other hand, is hair with a medium amount of curl, ranging from bouncy ringlets – think of Shirley Temple – to tight corkscrews – think of actress Cree Summer or Tracey Ellis Ross.

Type 4-Kinky Curly: Kinky curly hair-your hair falls into the Type 4 category, then it is kinky, or very tightly curled. Generally, Type 4 hair is very wiry, very tightly coiled and very, very fragile. Like Type 3 hair, Type 4 hair appears to be coarse, but it is actually quite fine, with lots and lots of this strands densely packed together. Healthy Type 4 hair won't shine, but it will have sheen. It will be soft to the touch and will pass the strand test with ease. It will feel more silky than it will look shiny. Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg and the actress Angela Bassett are all Type 4s.

Welcome Natural Beauties

ROCK YOUR NATURAL IS ABOUT LOVING YOUR NATURAL HAIR! Your beautiful fro', kinky twists, kinky curls and waves, and so much more is more than today's trend, its a part of you! Here, we embrace our natural hair and give a big "No Maa'm" to all those who have nothing but negative things to say about our hair. We're doing away with Imus' "nappy headed h*es" and Glamour magazines's "natural hair is not for the workplace" ideaology. Bye Bye "Good hair/bad hair antics".

Rock your natural...it's hot, its beautiful, and its real!

p.s. I'm not here to rag on my sistas who like to wear their hair straight. I'm also not here to exclude any race. All women with naturally curly, kinky, wavy or straight hair are welcome to this site!!!

Welcome. Happy reading!