Our resident natural hair care professional Simeko Watkins-Hartley answers… What do you recommend for dry and itchy scalp? Dry and itchy scalp is usually a sign of your body’s way of letting you know that something is off balance. It can be caused by a number of things; environment, poor diet, stress, internal issues, etc. So the first step in finding a solution is finding the cause. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself: ● Do I have any medical conditions or taking any medication that may cause dry, itchy scalp? ● Am I getting the proper nutrition (vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids) through my diet daily? Am I drinking enough water daily? ● Am I using the right products/ingredients for my skin type? Am I properly moisturizing and oiling my scalp? ● Can my external environment be causing my dry scalp? Here are some practical suggestions…
I’m telling you, if hair care manufacturers didn’t exist, we’d still have everything we need to take care of our hair naturally right here on God’s green earth. Honey is one of those things! Honey is a natural humectant which means that it has the ability to attract and retain the water/moisture in the air. When applied to the hair, it acts as a natural conditioner and moisturizer making it soft and manageable. This may especially be of interest to those of us with kinkier textures where our hair tends to be rather dry, dull-looking and sometimes hard if left on its own. A great way to use honey in your regimen is to do a honey hair rinse. Simply dilute just a bit into a good amount of water- about 1 tsp in 4 cups of warm agua (so it mixes well)- and then pour it right onto your…
Our resident natural hair care professional Simeko Watkins-Hartley answers… “My hair seems to be thinning, can you help?” Although hair loss is a normal process that we all will experience at some point in our lives, excessive hair loss, much like excessive hair shedding (see this post for more details) can be caused by a number of different factors and recommendations would depend on the underlying cause. However, keeping your scalp/hair clean and well-nourished with natural oils can be helpful start. Another very important factor is getting your daily intake of vitamins. To get a better idea of how vitamins can help with preventing hair loss, here’s a breakdown: Vitamin A– Aids in stimulating the follicle and making healthy sebum in the scalp Vitamin Bs– Aids in stimulating hair growth. Also may help to reduce stress which may cause hair loss Vitamin C– An anti-oxidant that helps to maintain healthy hair Vitamin D– Plays an important…
This question comes to us from @curiouscoils (how appropriate!) on Instagram. Our resident natural hair care professional Simeko Watkins-Hartley answers… How do I soften my ends? Answer: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! Usually, when the ends tend to be harder or rougher than the rest of your hair, it may be due to lack of moisture. The ends are the oldest part of the hair and tend to hang out furthest away from the scalp, so they may dry out faster, leaving a hard, brittle feel. Here are some steps you can take to whip those ends back into shape: 1. When cleansing your hair, use a moisturizing shampoo and luke-warm or cool water to rinse Moisturizing shampoos are usually pH balanced and generally have ingredients that will lubricate the hair, making it soft. Cool water helps to seal the cuticles which aids in making the hair smoother and shinier. 2. Treat your hair to an…
Our resident natural hair care professional Simeko Watkins-Hartley answers… Do you have any advice on shedding? Remember the adage, “out with the old in with the new”?! Well, that pretty much sums up the process of shedding. Old hairs fall out so new hairs can come through. In technical terms, this process is the telogen stage in the hair growth cycle and lasts about 1 to 4 months. When should you be concerned about shedding and what can you do about it? Generally, hair sheds about 50 to 100 strands per day and anything in excess of this may potentially be a cause for concern. Excessive shedding can be the result of a number of things such as stress, hormonal imbalance, crash dieting, deficiency of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and protein, certain medications, anemia, thyroid disorders and the list can go on and on. In essence, when the body goes through…
