The point of a protective style is to maintain the health of your hair. How healthy do you think it’ll be with constant stress put on your edges or other parts of your hair if that style is done too tight? You’ve seen it: your girlfriend comes skipping out of the braid shop with a fresh set of box braids or cornrows that look AMAZING! You go to take a closer look and she winces “no, no… don’t touch!” Upon further investigation, you can tell that your buddy has just gone through a face lift via super tightly braided baby hair. *sigh* Hold on, maybe this “friend” was actually YOU! *gasp* “Neat” ≠ tight ladies and gentlemen! But wait, I’m not just talkin’ braids! I mean weaves too… sew-ins to be exact. Think about it: your stylist wants to make sure your Remy lays nice and flat so she may give you a…
Have you incorporated scalp massages in your hair care regimen? I’ll admit, I always start out strong and then fall off at some point but I’m making a concerted effort to be regular for best results. Why Scalp Massages Work It’s rather simple: massaging the scalp with the pads of your fingers improves blood flow and circulation to the scalp. This increased blood flow helps carry essential nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles which (TADA!!) stimulates growth. Pretty cool, I think. Scalp massages also have emotional and overall health benefits, helping you to relaxing and de-stress… much like a good ole back rub or spa massage. How To Do It Use your carrier oil of choice (Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, etc.). Apply to your fingers or directly on the scalp- you don’t need a whole lot. Using just the pads or tips of your fingers, massage your…
Consider this a continuation of yesterday’s post…This is probably one of the main tips I find myself stressing to newer naturals time and again. Being length-obsessed can be counterproductive. Even worse, comparing the length of your hair or growth rate with the likes of popular vloggers Naptural85, NikkiMae (Natural Chica), Taren Guy or really anyone for that matter can be frustrating and frankly, discouraging. Everyone’s hair is different. Plus, what we see in YouTube videos is the result of years of growth and I’m sure, trial and error. Have you ever gone back to their early stuff? *cue Drake’s “Started From The Bottom”* Even if you may be at the same point in your hair journey as your “hair crush”, there are so many factors involved (diet, exercise, regimen, genetics…) as to why their growth may seem to be on >>fast forward>> while yours is seemingly on «pause». I’ve been there…
It’s simple: shoddy efforts reap shoddy results! Your scalp health is just as if not more important than the health of your strands. Healthy hair cannot grow from an unhealthy, buildup laden scalp so make sure you set aside enough time to clean it thoroughly. We all lead busy lives but we always seem to make time for the things we really feel are important. If the overall health of your hair is important to you, you will do what’s necessary to maintain its health. Skipping steps or rushing through the process will only do more damage than good so take your time and do it right. I know you’re thinking, “but it takes soooo long!” Hey! I know a few naturalistas who turn wash day an all-out affair complete with a relaxing soak in a bubble bath, glass of wine in hand! You don’t have to dread washing your…
