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November 25, 2012 By Anastasia Nam

10 Tips To Growing Black Hair Longer – Oklahoma

10 Tips To Growing Black Hair Longer

The common thought is that black hair grows slower than all other types of hair.  In actuality, all hair types average a 1/2 inch of growth every month.  The treatment you give your hair is the determining factor to growing and retaining your hair.  Some women may practice superstitious rituals like having a strict daily vitamin regimen or follow a lunar calendar to determine when to cut their hair.  Unfortunately there is no magic spell or hair growth tonic involved to get hair to grow.  Committing yourself to healthy hair practices and giving your locks some TLC are all that you’ll be required to do.  Below are 10 tips to help grow your beautiful black hair stronger and longer.

Details of traditional hair style from the lan...Source: pexels.com

1. Have a healthy lifestyle – Taking care of the inside will help the outside.  Your choices in what you eat and drink go a long way in effecting the health of your hair. Choosing fresh fruits and raw vegetables, drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise will show a difference in your hair health.  Often people who are deficient in vitamins and have unhealthy diets will have drier more brittle hair.

2. Hydrate and moisturize – Black hair is naturally drier than other hair types.  Using products which replace moisture and hydrate the hair make a big difference.  Choosing shampoos and conditioners with formulas created to be used on damaged or dry hair are not always found in the “ethnic” hair sections of the store.  Look at all the available products for different hair types which can help with moisturizing.

3. Regular trims – Visit your stylist regularly to get hair trimmed.  Though this doesn’t sound productive to growing hair, it actually does help since trimming helps rid the dry, damaged and split ends which slowly work up the hair shaft and can cause more damage and slower growth in the long run.  Discuss with your stylist your goals in growing out your hair and the length you’d like to achieve.  Your stylist will know how much to trim and what type of time schedule will be best for you.  The length of time between trims will also depend

on the overall health of your hair, you may visit your stylist every 6 weeks or every 3 months, only your stylist will be able to determine the best timeframe for you.

4. Protective styling practices – As your hair length increases you may be tempted to style and wear it loose, letting it blow in the wind and show how long it’s growing.  Choosing to wear hair in a protective style helps keep the length and health of your hair.  Protective styles can keep your ends, which are the driest section of your hair, from coming into contact and rubbing against your clothes, pillows or chairs.  When you keep the ends styled up you prevent possible breakage and moisture loss.  Nighttime protective styling is just as important as daytime and using satin or silk hair covers or pillowcases is better than cotton.  Ponytails which are too tight, braids which are worn over an extended period of time can lead to breakage. Show kindness to your hairline and hair by choosing hairstyles that protect and are gentle will help reach your hair growth goals.

5. Brush less – Black hair which is brushed less thrives and flourishes over black hair which is brushed too much.  Less is more when it comes to brushing black hair.

6. Turn down the heat – Occasional use of curling irons or flat irons is okay as long as heat isn’t turned up too high on these appliances.  Finding a way to minimize practices in heat styling will go a long way in helping your hair grow.  You and your stylist can talk about different hair styles which don’t require so much heat.    Find wraps, wet sets and twist styles which are gentle.

7. Relaxing with TLC – Black hair is most often damaged from the use of chemicals, especially the use of relaxers.  There are alternatives to hair relaxers and discussing the best relaxers to use with your stylist is essential in finding which relaxers are best for your hair.  Making sure your hair health is a top priority when using these chemical processes is very important and having a stylist who is on-board with you regarding this will make all the difference.  Stick with your stylist, the less people using chemicals on your hair the better and you’ll feel confident knowing your hair is being treated the best.

8. The right tools and accessories – It is often overwhelming when looking at all of the accessories and styling tools available.  The best choices for black hair will be the tools and accessories which work with the natural texture.  The right ones won’t pull on the hair, rather they will be gentle with the hair.  Losing less hair from the tools and accessories chosen means you’ll keep more hair on your head to grow.

9. Crucial conditioning – Having healthy black hair is dependent on conditioning.  Choosing the correct shampoo and conditioner along with the right leave-in conditioner will matter greatly.  Speak to your stylist about a deep conditioner for using once per month or between salon trims which will be most beneficial in working with your daily and leave-in conditioning practices.  When black hair is well moisturized it is less likely to dry out and break meaning it can grow.

10. Keeping it natural – Many women have rediscovered their natural texture.  Those women who have started down a path of stopping chemical processes like relaxing now have less damage and breakage and more growth over time.  They’ve also learned to work and style their natural black hair after some practice and talking with their stylists.  Many black women aren’t familiar with their natural texture because their hair has been constantly relaxed since youth.  It may seem devastating that cutting off all of your relaxed hair at once in order to grow it in length is the right method, but it is the easiest way to get back to your roots and begin on a chemically natural hair regimen.

Growing black hair longer can be accomplished when TLC is given to your hair and when you work with your stylist.  Adding length and reaching your hair growth goals by using the tips above can make all the difference.

Filed Under: Hair Styles & Cuts Tagged With: African American, African American Hair, Beauty, Black Hair, grow long hair, growing, Hair, Health, Info & Advice, long black hair, Long hair, Relaxer, Shopping, Stylist, TLC

November 12, 2012 By Anastasia Nam

Hair Relaxer Alternatives

Hair Relaxer Alternatives

Since the 1950’s, relaxing curly, kinky or wavy hair into sleek and straight styles to make it more manageable has been the trend.  Relaxing the hair is done by using a chemical process that changes the natural curling pattern of the hair.  Hair relaxers offer a convenient style and makes straightening a simple and quick process.  The downside of using hair relaxers is the damage that occurs and has opened many up to alternatives, especially chemical free options which can provide the same results without harming their hair.

Afrikaans: 'n Vrou se hare vóór en ná haarvers...
Afrikaans: ‘n Vrou se hare vóór en ná haarversteiling deur middel van ‘n haarstrykyster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Current formulas for hair relaxers most often contain lye.  Many variations to hair relaxer formulas have worked on finding a way to minimize the chemical ingredients that so often cause damage to the hair.  These are called, ‘no lye relaxers,’ though they still include chemical additives.  Lye remains the basic root ingredient to chemically formulated hair relaxers and is the main cause for permanent damage and hair breakage.

In general when relaxing the hair, the hair bonds are broken and the cuticle layers erode, making the hair straight and easy to comb.  However, the hair is now weaker and easily damaged as it has lots its elasticity as well.  The results of the damage can be burning and scalp damage even bald spots.

What are the alternative options available?  The most common is a natural relaxer, sometimes referred to as a texturizer.  This formula contains no lye and is gentle to the hair.  It does not completely straighten the hair but does loosen the curly pattern and soften the bonds instead of breaking them down.  Using a texturizer very tight curls are loosened and loose curls have a wavy look while wavy hair is made fairly straight.  Texturizers may also improve the condition of the hair while still allowing for styling options.  Vitamins and minerals, along with amino acids are added to the formulas which add to the health of the hair.  A flat iron can be used to assist in a more straight look to the hair when a texturizer is used.

A new breakthrough in a natural alternative for hair relaxers is called a ‘Bio Ionic System’ or ‘Thermal Ionic System’.  The active ingredient in the formula is ammonium thiglycolate.  This system is a way to provide 6-9 months of straight hair.  This system cannot be used on relaxed hair straightened with lye formulas.  Consult with your stylist if your prior hair relaxers have used lye before you use this type of alternative.

Because there is a demand for straight hair through the use of hair relaxers, many are seeking alternatives to the traditional chemical relaxers available on the market now.  Though there is no true chemically free natural alternative readily available, speaking with your stylist may help you and your hair relax, knowing it has been treated with the best process for you.

 

Filed Under: Hair Straightening Tagged With: alternative, hair relaxer, hair straight, Hair straightening, Relaxer, relaxers, straightening

June 11, 2012 By Anastasia Nam

Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture – Oklahoma City Hairstylist

Women are embracing their natural hair texture. For the past few years there has been a growing movement in hair styling to forgo harsh chemical treatments and relaxers. Many women are tired of the way these treatments damage their hair and irritate their scalp, let alone the economic side of the coin. Relaxers and straightening treatments can be pricey and time consuming to maintain. African American women who have made the choice to go natural is up 25% from last year. Many celebrities are showing up in the media and on red carpets with their hair styled naturally.

http://www.bellasugar.com/Viola-Daviss-Green-Eyeliner-Oscars-2012-21948798
Bella Sugar

Hairstyles have long been a symbol of status and self expression. Women are now breaking free from the stereotype of long straight being the perfect hair. No longer happy to alter their natural hair texture, women of all races and ages are finally embracing what nature gave them. Along with this trend come some special considerations for the care of natural hair. Naturally curly hair can be more fragile than straight hair, so it needs extra care to keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Moisture is your hair’s best friend. Use a moisturizing shampoo/conditioner system. Look for products which contain olive oil, shea butter, and Argan oil. These oils keep your hair soft and manageable and nourish your scalp. Moisture will also help keep your hair from becoming frizzy and brittle. Avoid products with sulfates and styling products with alcohol in them since they will dry your hair out.

Use an anti-frizz serum. Each time you shampoo and condition you hair use an anti-frizz serum. These serums coat the hair shaft and keep the cuticle layer smooth. They also create a barrier between your hair and the elements. While moisture may be your hair’s best friend, humidity is not and anti-frizz serum will help keep your natural hair from blossoming on humid days.

Be gentle with your hair. Never brush wet hair, always use a wide tooth comb. If you do want to use a flat iron or curling iron, apply heat protecting product first. When you need to untangle your hair, start at the ends and work up. Use short gentle strokes to remove any knots or tangles.

Wear a silk or satin headscarf to bed. This will help keep your hair from becoming matted and tangles. You can use a silk or satin pillow case instead if you like.

Keep up on your trims. This is an excellent tip no matter how you wear your hair. By keeping up on your regular trims, your stylist will remove any damaged and split ends. She will also be able to monitor your hair and scalp’s health and give you recommendations on how to care for your new natural style.

Call now to book an appointment. Anastasia is a salon hair stylist in Oklahoma City, OK. Out of town appointments welcome.

 

Filed Under: Hair Styles & Cuts Tagged With: African American Hair, natural hair, natural texture, Relaxer

May 10, 2010 By Anastasia Nam

Choose the Right Straigthening for your Hair

Hair straightening before and after
Image via Wikipedia

There are two basic kinds of straightening:

  • CURL RELAXER: only relaxes curls – does not produce stick straight hair, inexpensive, can last 1-3 months based entirely on individual hair and proper care (3 months would be exceptional)
  • PERMANENT STRAIGHTENING (thermal reconditioning): produces long-lasting, stick-straight hair, can last 6months with proper care

Curl relaxer isn’t really meant to get  your hair “straight”. You’ll have wavy hair. It’s just mean to do what it says – relax curls. How long it lasts can depend on quality of product, and is affected most by your individual hair. Usually, you can discuss it over the phone, make an appointment, and go right in to have it done.

Permanent straightening is more serious. Get a free consultation to start. Your stylist absolutely needs to know if you’ve ever used boxed color, permed your hair, etc. and how long it has been, to make the best recommendation. Let the stylist see and touch your hair in person. You can often get the straightening done the same day – just be aware, permanent straightening is a 5-6hour process, and it’s costly. So bring enough cash, and plan to stay a while. Scheduling for early enough in the day (e.g. at least 2pm) is a good idea.

Be very selective: The choice of straightening products by stylists varies widely. Some cheaper products produce hair damage, and some products emit harmful fumes (e.g. formaldehyde). The stylist can burn your hair if products are improperly used (e.g. without proper protective conditioners in the process). Cheaper products also can last only a fraction of the time, causing your investment to evaporate. It is not advisable to choose this process casually from an inexperienced stylist, especially if they’re price-cutting (they’ll have to cut corners on the process to make up for it). Pay a little more, and keep your hair – it is worth doing this right.

Anastasia utilizes the highest quality straightening products with great care and experience. If you’re near Oklahoma City and would like to schedule an appointment, call and book one now.

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12200 N. May Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73120
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