There’s the misconception, among both women and men, that “going natural” means that a woman must chop off all her hair to a super short length. The fear that they will look “ugly” with short hair or won’t attract the fellas deters many women from going natural to begin with. Of course, all that couldn’t be farther from the truth. But you really don’t have to Big Chop (or BC) if you don’t want to! You can transition: gradually grow out your relaxed hair, cutting off a bit every couple months until you’re left with your natural kinks, coils or curls. Big Chop Just to clarify: while the BC is often associated with the result being a really short crop of hair or a TWA (Teenie Weenie Afro), the Big Chop is simply cutting off all your relaxed ends to reveal the natural texture at ANY point, whether you have a centimeter of new…
**Soooo, this started as one blog post but turned out WAY longer than I wanted! LOL I decided to split it up for your reading pleasure 😉 Enjoy! We may often worry and fuss about how long our hair is getting and how fast. The “trick” is, worry more about the health of your hair and the length will follow. In this five-part series, I’ll briefly share five ways you can maximize its health and ultimately, its growth potential… one at a time, working from the inside, out! You Are What You Eat Yes, you’ve heard it time and again! Eating your fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water will help your hair to thrive, feeding those follicles the nutrients it needs for optimal health. Taking a daily multi-vitamin is also a great way to give your body whatever it may be lacking in order to assist in healthy…
Welcome back! As promised, here is the second way you can help your hair along towards the goal of optimal health, maximizing the potential for growth. Keep Your Hair & Scalp Clean! Self explanatory, right? For one, dirty, funky hair is not the move! 0_0 More importantly, a healthy, clean environment is needed for hair to thrive. Buildup on the scalp can virtually stunt growth simply because of dirty, clogged pores/follicles. There’s no hard & fast rule on how often one should cleanse their hair and scalp. Your routine may differ from another based on things like how much product you use, how much you sweat (for you active ladies), etc. Your hair will usually tell you when it’s time. See my Tuesday’s Tips for further suggestions on Wash Day and Clarifying. Bye for now curlies!! Smooches. xoxo ~Toia
And now, the third but definitely one of the most important steps in keeping that hair growing strong and healthy: Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize! I find I get the best results by layering & sealing. After washing my hair, while it’s still damp (water being the first “layer”, in a sense), I apply a water-based leave-in conditioner. I then coat the strands with either a butter or an oil, paying special attention to the ends, to lock all that goodness in. Properly moisturized hair is less likely to break or split at the ends which ultimately means you’ll retain what you grow. Wanna find out more about sealing in moisture? Check this out! That’s all for now. See you later people! Stay beautiful. 😉 xoxo ~Toia
Hello curlies! Onto the fourth aspect of care that aids in healthy hair growth… Cool it With The Heat! Maybe you’re one of those naturals who has totally sworn off heat-styling. Great! But if you, like me, enjoy the occasional blow-out or even straightening for a change in your look, take precautions. Too much heat can lead to dry hair which leads to breakage and split ends. You can even permanently alter the texture of the hair if you’re not careful! So be sure to use a low-medium heat setting in order to prevent those strands from over-drying, resembling a bushel of straw rather than hair. Rule of thumb, with regards to blow dryers in particular: if it’s too hot on your skin, it’s too hot for your hair! Make use of a heat protectant to be on the safe side. I prefer to go the natural route by using grapeseed or avocado oils (due…
