if you’re familiar with the realm of “black twitter,” chances are you’ve heard of a new line of natural hair and body products from a line called Whipped.  it was recently launched by a young lady named Lauren (on twitter, @whippedqueen), natural living enthusiast and native of Cincinnati, OH.  ive had the pleasure of e-knowing this young lady for some years now, and i jumped at the chance to try the new line and spread the word to my fellow naturals.

Whipped is a shea butter based line and includes products for everything from hair to bady to tattoos (and she recently added a beard cream for the fellas).  i know a lot of naturals love shea butter, and a big appeal of these products is the variety of scents offered.  in my experience, it’s kind of hard to make shea butter not smell like shea butter, but the rave reviews on twitter all sing the praises of scents like lavanilla (a lavender and vanilla blend) and dragon’s blood (“an alluring blend of warm amber, madagascar vanilla, jasmine, & blood orange”).

i tried out three products:  the hair butter, lemon verbena body butter, and the scalp therapy cream.  before i proceed, i should admit that i don’t typically use shea butter in my hair because it’s a bit too heavy for my liking–in wash & gos (which is how i typically wear my hair), it weighs my hair down too much, and makes me very paranoid about build-up.  i was surprised at how significantly lighter the texture of the Whipped hair butter is compared to other whipped butters.  it’s definitely the fluffiest i’ve felt.  i still wasn’t bold enough to try it in a wash & go, but i do occasionally use shea butter in twist outs, so i decided to give the Whipped butter a run.  sure enough, it gave good hold and helped reduce frizz.  can’t beat that!  i also got good results when i used it on my dry hair to tame and lay my edges.  shea butter is always good for that.

the body butter is definitely effective for the moisturizing of your situation.  i slathered some on after a particularly steamy shower before bed, and i stayed soft and supple well into the next day.  it penetrates dry skin very well–always necessary for the heels during sandal season.

the scalp therapy i actually can’t testify too much on because for one, to see long term results i’m sure you have to use it regularly for a little while, and two, i can’t oil my scalp. lol.  i havent even SEEN my scalp in about 4 years, so parting my hair to apply a product is just something my soul doesn’t have the constitution for.  but!  i can speculate that it is, as promised, great for hair growth, given that it contains some stuff proven to stimulate the scalp and push some new growth out of it–castor oil, coconut oil, and rosemary.  i’ll be using it in my edges/hairline to thicken things up there.

in conclusion, if shea butter has ever done anything good for you, chances are you’ll fall in love with Whipped products.  just search for @whippedproducts on twitter to see what everyone is saying, then get your hands on some and try it for yourself!

and let us help with a giveaway!

we’re giving away three–count em–THREE 4 ounce Whipped products:  a hair butter, body butter, and sugar scrub.  they could be yours, free!  all you have to do to enter is at least one of the following (the more actions you complete, the more entries you get and the greater your chance of winning!)

• leave a comment HERE telling us which Whipped scent you’d be most interested in if you were placing an order today.
• follow @whippedproducts on twitter and tweet the following message: “I hate being ashy so I entered to win some FREE goodies from @whippedproducts & @brokeymcpoverty! RT to win! http://bit.ly/QyAlfG”
• if you have Tumblr, reblog this post for an additional chance to win.
• like the above Tumblr post, too, for an extra chance!

that’s it!  you got hella chances to win, yo!  get on it!

it’s been awhile since we’ve had a review and/or giveaway around these parts, so i finally cleared enough of my schedule to sit my butt down and get this one together already.

quite some time ago, i got an email from a young lady asking if i’d be interested in trying and reviewing her hair and body product, called HairOlicious.

i was initially skeptical because the product basically consists of only two ingredients:  coconut oil and aloe vera gel. i definitely appreciate simplicity in my hair products, but i was like… that’s it?  really?  what’s keeping me from just going to whole foods, buying my own coconut oil and aloe vera gel, and making this on my own?  why would i pay 10 bucks plus shipping and handling for something that i can probably make myself?  and how amazing can such a simple product really be? but i gave it a fair shot anyway.

the product itself, as ive been saying, is very simple.  just two ingredients, 100% vegan according to the website.  it has a very, veeeery unobtrusive scent.  it smells like coconut oil, but lighter, which i really appreciate.. when i wash my hair, i layer at least three products in it (a leave-in, a moisturizer, and a conditioner), and the last thing you want is a bunch of scents in your head fighting for dominance.  this is light enough that anything else you use in your hair doesn’t have anything to compete with in the olfactory region.

its consistency is like aloe vera gel, only maybe a slightly teensy weenie bit thicker.  it’s not greasy at all to the touch; it’s actually a bit wet feeling, but it spreads easily and dries and absorbs quickly into the hair and skin, as the site promises.

the website recommends using this product on dry hair, as it absorbs into the hair better when dry.  i was dismayed reading this because i, like many naturals, RARELY apply product to my hair when dry, if ever at all.  my hair is just too thick and curly to evenly apply anything to it while it’s dry.  in fact, the only dry styling i do is for twist outs and bantu knot outs, so that’s how i started trying out this product.

simply put, this is the only product that i have EVER used that actually makes my hair feel soft to the touch.  i actually learned this the hard way – i dont usually use a gel or a holder in my dry sets, but when i added the HairOlicious–which is PERFECT for my dry sets because it gives both the moisturizing properties and the very very slight dampness i need for a good result–but the HairOlicious made it SO soft that the style didn’t hold!  to compensate, i started using HairOlicious underneath my ecostyler gel, which i rarely use because of crunchiness when it dries… but i found that with the HairOlicious, i avoid crunch and am left with shiny, healthy hold for my hair.  brilliant!

i also used this in my deep conditioner and was very very pleased with the results–yes, it works just as amazingly on my hair when wet as it does dry, thank goodness.  and after applying it to my wet hair, i immediately noticed how baby soft my hands were.  then, with some extra prodding from the manufacturer, i decided to try it on my skin.

now i typically dont use things that i use in my hair on my skin, because my skin is so testy.  i find that anything that works well on my hair is a bit too much for my skin, and it’s either too greasy, or somehow doesn’t moisturize enough, or it makes me break out.  HairOlicious became my main and only moisturizer after i tried it the first time.. i used it on top of my homemade brown sugar scrub and could NOT stop touching myself, seriously.  and it was a lasting softness.. no reapplying ever handful of hours to keep the ash away, like most lotions i find.  moisturizing with HairOlicious after washing with african black soap is an eczema blaster–my problem areas were smooth and itch free after a couple of weeks of regular usage.

the last place to try our HairOlicious was on my face, and i was TERRIFIED.  i have very testy, acne-prone skin and i’m scared to death of using any moisturizer that has oil in it.  but, i bit the bullet and omg.  not only did it NOT make me break out, but my skin actually kind of glowed, and nothing has ever done that for me before aside from straight coconut oil, which i had to stop using because it left my face feeling so greasy.  but this stuff?  perfect. just perfect.  and as an added bonus, im pretty sure it made my eyelashes thicker and longer too!!

just as soon as i fell in love with this stuff, i found my jar empty.  i didn’t really realize exactly how much i used this stuff for until it was gone.. now when i get out of the shower, im back to running around looking for a moisturizer for my face, and one for my body, and something to both soften AND moisturize my hair with.  HairOlicious really is a one-stop moisturizing shop.  definitely recommend.

and you may be reading this thinking, ‘i’ll just go mix my own!’  and if you’re a capable mixtress, i say more power to you.  but as for me, i tried making my own and i just ended up with a mess that i didn’t want to use.  so i’ll be reordering.

curious in trying it out?  it’s your lucky day!  enter to win a FREE jar of HairOlicious right now!  winning is so easy!  all you have to do is leave a message on this post answering this question:  are there any products that you use for both hair AND body?  if so, what is your favorite?  that’s it!

want more ways to win?  fine!  get entries on twitter and tumblr too!

Tumblr:  reblog this post announcing the review and the contest for an extra entry!
Twitter:  tweet the following message:  “I just entered to win an awesome #naturalhair product from @brokeymcpoverty!  Click here to enter! http://wp.me/p1JT3w-2f”  for an extra entry too!

that’s three possible entries you can have here folks!  the more you do, the better your chances of winning and moisturizing your situation!

CONTEST ENDS SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 AT 11:59 PM SHARP!! 

check out HairOlicious.com for more information, and to place your order!

you’ve got ONE WEEK to send me an email at brokeymcpoverty.at.gmail.dot.com with your shipping information!  if, for some reason, i don’t get it in that week’s time, your winnings will be given to a RANDOM SUBSCRIBER OF THE NHP WORDPRESS BLOG.  (so, if you’re not subscribed, you might want to think about it… people fail to claim their stuff all the time, and subscribers get to pick up the goodies!)

congrats, kameeka!  email me ASAP to claim your goodies!  and you HAVE to let me know how you like/dislike it!!

it’s been awhile since there’s been an update here.. mostly because i’ve been busy getting the tumblr blog all caught up.  since i’m making such good progress there (got the inbox down from 400+ messages to 130.. yay!) i thought i’d celebrate with a little giveaway!

up for grabs:  a 4 ounce bottle of Darcy’s Botanicals Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Natural Hair Conditioning Oil.

you can’t really go wrong with an oil from Darcy’s Botanicals.  it’s moisturizing, light, all-natural, and lightly perfumed.  even has a few hibiscus petals in the bottle!   extra points for flare!

to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me/us what your favorite hair oil is.  there are soooooo many out there.. i’m always interested in what oils people gravitate to.  why that oil in particular?  what does it do for your that other oils don’t?

that’s it!  that’s all you have to do to enter!  want some additional chances to win?  do any or all of these (you get one additional entry for every step you complete):

• Subscribe to this blog. per usual, all subscribers to this blog are AUTOMATICALLY entered in this contest, and any others that appear here!  want to get on this always-in-the-running-to-win-free-things list?  head on over to the right side of the screen and subscribe to this blog.
• Reblog THIS post on the NHP tumblr
• Like my sad little facebook page in case i ever decide to start logging on more than once a month

so that’s 4 ways to increase your chances of winning!  just a few clicks and/or sentences!

contest will close and a winner will be chosen at 12 noon, EST on Friday, April 27th.  check back here and/or the tumblr to find out if you won!

good luck!

thislionsmane asked:

not sure if you’ve answered something like this question before, I’m new to your blog, but what is your take on mixed natural hair? I’m Black, Irish, and Native American and typically wear my hair in it’s kinky curly unruly form…BUT it’s hardly a breeze in that state, I have to wash (condition at least) or wet it everyday to get the curl back and after 2 days it’s so dry and tangled…(it turns to a frizzy cotton ball poof when I sleep even if I wrap it) my hair is very fine. When I blow dry and flat iron it out it’s straight like a white girls hair, oily roots and all! I guess what I’m wondering is; is there a ‘natural’ middle ground for mixed hair??

hello, you lion maned wonder!

i wish i had an easy answer full of good news for you, but unfortunately, i don’t.  i don’t have BAD news for you, but when we have hair problems, we all want to know that there’s a magic wand we can wave that will bippity boppity boo all our woes away.  unfortunately that’s not the case, for you or any other naturals.  sorry

to start, there’s no such thing as “mixed girl hair.”  i hope i’m not insulting your intelligence, because i get what you’re saying and asking.. but just as a PSA to those reading.  i think we may all picture the same general image when we try to affix a picture with that phrase–so chances are i and everyone reading knows what you mean–but in truth, mixed folks have all types of hair.  long and silky like mariah, bouncy and curly like tracee ellis ross, big and kinky like little jadagrace berry, or righteously afro’d lenny kravitz.  “mixed” isn’t a hair type (which is why the product brand “mixed chicks” makes a lot of people uncomfortable), so unfortunately, there’s not a set routine for mixed hair that will cut down on heartache and woe.

your hair, like you, is a highly unique individual, and what works for one natural may leave another looking like a troll doll (which is fine, if that’s what you’re in to.  no hate, no shade). natural hair is a great exercise in accepting things you can’t change (a lesson that will serve us well in every area of our lives).  it could be that in order to wear your hair the way you want, you’ll just have to wet/condition/wash it everyday to keep it healthy and looking its best. you know?

that being said, one of the awesome things about natural hair is that there are TONS of options.  there are lots of sets, styles, products, methods and routines out there. the hurdle there is finding what does work for you and what gives you the results and ease you’re after.  that requires trying lots of things and getting regularly pissed off when something doesn’t work.  but when you find something that *does* work?!  GIRL.  the angels start singing and your soul starts dancing and everything feels completely right with the world.  the trial and error is totally worth it!  here are some ideas i had for you while reading your message:

-increase your hair repertoire. it sounds like your go-to styles are naturally loose (wash it & let it do what it does in its natural state) and straight.  this was my life for my first couple of years of being natural–trying new styles was intimidating for me, but incorporating other styles can bring some relief when your go-tos stress you out.  how to braids and twists work for you?  ever do braid outs and twist outs?  a bantu knot out maybe?  try some, and then maybe you could work out a little style schedule?  wash and wear naturally on monday, wear twists on tuesday, rock a twist-out on wednesday, throw it in a puff/ponytail on thursday, then wash and wear again on friday?  that would cut down on having to wash/wet/condition it everyday to wear it in its natural state.  try experimenting–if you need and tips, let me know!  i’ll help all i can!

-learn to minimize frizz.  again, there’s no set recipe i can give you for this, because each person’s head is different, but the types of products you use, whether or not you deep condition, how often you detangle, the method you use to dry your hair–all that can either add to frizz, or decrease it.  do some research and see if you can find what works for you.  here are 5 tips on minimizing frizz from Curly Nikki.

-try a dry shampoo.  as far as your hair being oily when straight, maybe try a dry shampoo?  i don’t know much about them or how they work, but they’re supposed to reduce oil and refresh straightened hair between washings.  they’re also good for freshening up dreadlocks from what i understand.  for more information/brands, check out this and this.

i hope that helped some!

Al Sharpton understands, girl.

unfortunately, i forgot to publish the first part of this question. the lovely writer sent a  question asking for advice on what to do about her hair.  it’s her second BC and she finds herself missing her perm (who hasn’t been there, am i right?!).  i asked what she missed most about it; this is her response:

well it was more predictable. It was longer. I think I miss the length the most, and I know my hair will grow, but it seems to be taking forever..

got it.  you’re definitely right about predictability… my hair will do any and everything it wants to, inspite of what i try to get it to do.  you can kind of never tell if a style will turn out the way it did last time, if it’ll be too dry this week, or what.  and as far as hair not growing fast enough, i’m fairly certain that like 95% of naturals felt that way at some point, if not now.

so here’s the thing, as i see it anyway.  we (black women, in general) have always made such a big deal of our hair, or have had a big deal made of our hair, for some very substantial, historical reasons.  the social construct of race is built on discernible physical differences.  it’s easier to judge, label and discriminate against someone when you can point to them and say “look at her skin/nose/body/etc!  She is clearly different!”  our kinks and coils mark “non-whites” as “non-white” as loudly as skin tone does.  race being such a big deal to the majority forces it to be a big deal to the minority, and it has been so since the beginning of humanity, pretty much.  so naturally, as any oppressed group would, black folk have tried to circumvent the thing that oppresses us however they could.  not being accepted and suffering because of it?  find a way to fit in.  skin too dark?  try a bleaching cream.  hair too nappy?  find a way to straighten it.  for us, hair was and is not only a genetic trait or fashion accessory; it had a huge bearing on your treatment and qualitiy of life in a society so obsessed with race and “otherness.”

for those reasons and many others, hair straightening became the norm for black women.  for a really, really long freaking time.  when that’s what you’re used to, when you’re so used to seeing yourself with straight hair, it literally is a shock to see yourself without it.  after i went natural, i still straightened my hair for three months, not because i thought i looked bad (i thought i looked weird, not bad.  later i realized that i didn’t look weird, just different), or because i didn’t know what to do with it (even though i had NO IDEA AT ALL what to do with it), but because i just didn’t feel comfortable because i didn’t look like the me i’d always looked like.  i also realized that i hid behind my hair a lot.  i always felt prettiest the day i came back from the beauty shop because i felt that no matter what the rest of me looked like, my hair was laid, so i’d pass somebody’s test for prettiness.  having a headfull of flowing hair that i knew people would approve of made it easier for me to ignore my too-big nose and uneven skin and that baby tooth that never fell out.  i could feel pretty in spite of my faults and flaws.

in spite of.

the challenge in natural hair is to feel pretty because of, instead of in spite of.  the space that you are in–missing your perm, missing that security blanket–is actually a really amazing, fertile space to be in.  if you can hang in there, take this time to learn to feel beautiful because of, not in spite of.  hair not doing what you thought it would or what you want it to?  having a bad hair day?  or week?  or month?  awesome!  screw your hair, because you know what?  you have bright beautiful eyes and a gorgeous smile.  or skin like a melted Hershey bar (or butterscotch, or what have you), and ten times sweeter.  or your grandmommy’s nose, and you know how gorgeous she was.  and who is f#cking with your fashion sense?! nobody, that’s who!  you can hook up an outfit, girl!  and even if you can’t, so what!  you are overall, inside and out amazing, no matter what you wear.  and no matter what your hair looks like.

now, if you can’t find anything attractive about yourself because of or even in spite of, that’s a whole nother issue that needs to be explored deeper.  seek out a comfy therapist’s couch–you need it, and deserve it, because everyone deserves to be happy.  everyone deserves to be able to look in the mirror and love what they see, no matter what is looking back at them.

no matter what you decide to do, remember this:  everything beneath your straightened hair is still there beneath your naps, coils, and kinks.  you are still you.  you can become as comfortable with your natural hair as you were with straight hair–it will just take time, a ton of patience, and a commitment to being uncomfortable until that comfort comes.  dedicate yourself to accepting what you can’t change–this is a lesson that will serve you well in *every* area of your life.

and most importantly, in the end, remember that it’s just hair.  i want to stress that i dont at all think that people who perm hate themselves; i always resented that being told to or assumed of me when i had a perm, so i know better than to think that now that i’m natural.  if your hair is stressing you out too much, by all means, holler at that Dudley’s!  do not let your hair make you miserable!  let this be your (and everyone’s) mantra:  it’s just hair.  whatever is underneath your scalp while covered with curls and kinks will still be there if blanketed by a straight hair via perm or wig or weave.  so make sure that *that* is the part of you that stays natural, whole, and accepting.  once you get that down, it doesnt matter what your hair is doing–people who use their natural hair as a crutch for beauty or blackness are just as lost as those who use perms as a crutch for beauty and social acceptance.   it’s just hair.  let it compliment you, not define you.

in conclusion, i think your hair looks absolutely stunning on you, and i think you look stunning with it.  but what i think doesn’t matter.  you follow your own heart, your own gut, and screw what anyone else says, no matter what you decide.

(you *really* are gorgeous, though!)

(not that my opinion matters!)

(just wanted you to know!)

(k bye!)

Lawanda Stevenson (@mslawanda), of the blog As the Wind Blows!

WOOO!  congrats lady ma’am!  you get somethin pretty for your hair!

okay, Lawanda.  listen up.  this is very very important.  to claim you prize, you MUST email me by THIS FRIDAY, December 30th at brokeymcpoverty@gmail.com!!!  if i don’t hear from you by then, we’ll have to draw another winner.

thanks to everyone who participated!  stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and giveaways!!

one of my personal favorites, the Regal Rouge hair comb

one of the funnest things about natural hair, in my opinion, is accessorizing.  headbands, shells, earrings–kinks, coils, and curls carry it all so well!  especially bright, colorful flowers.  or matte, muted flowers.  whatever the style, flowers definitely accentuate the natural beauty in natural hair, and the Flowers From Fatima collection has some very stunning floral pieces.  we’re thrilled to be giving away this *gorgeous* golden sunflower hair clip!

how cute is that?!

winning is super easy.  to enter, all you have to do is follow @FlowersFromFatima on Twitter and tweet the following message:

“I just entered to win this fab hair clip from @FlowersFFatima and @brokeymcpoverty!  Check it out! http://bit.ly/tbCVyM”

that’s it!  you’re in!  there are some other ways to throw your name in the pot too, which will be helpful if you don’t have twitter (if such people still exist in 2011):

-leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Flowers From Fatima piece is (click here to see the full collection)
-if you’re on tumblr, reblog this post announcing the contest there
-like my page, Brokey McPoverty, on facebook, then find this message and like it: “Like this post to win this beautiful hair clip from Flowers by Fatima!”

you can absolutely do any combination of those things, and each action completed will get you a separate entry into the contest, so the more you do, the greater your chance to win!

the contest ends next Wednesday, December 28th at noon sharp!  winner will be announced on this blog, and on the Natural Hair Problems Tumblr by the end of the day on the 28th.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:  yall wouldn’t believe how often people win things here and don’t step up to claim them!  when you see that you have won, you MUST email me at brokeymcpoverty@gmail.com WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT to claim your prize.  i cannot and will not hunt you down to give you free things!  you gotta meet he halfway on this!

if the announced winner hasn’t emailed me within three days (so, by Friday, December 23rd), we’ll draw and announce another name, and so forth until somebody actual get this gorgeous piece in their hands.

simple enough, right?  go forth and enter!  and go forth and buy!  treat yourself or someone you like to something pretty this holiday season!  OH WAIT!  here’s an added shopping bonus treat for NHP readers:  enter coupon code NHPFLOWERS for free shipping!

this place is just crawling with free stuff!  go ‘head and get you some!

chicagoredline asked:

I feel like my hair is NEVER moisturized enough! like its great day one of the twist out but not day one night! and my hair texture is changing. What would you suggest??

ah, yes.  the greedy, thirsty, never-satisfied hair problem.  i’m right there with you, sister, and especially as winter approaches with its cold, dry air, it’s important that we keep our tendrils as moisturized as possible.  here are a few things that might convince your hair to hold on to some of that precious life-giving liquid:

1) deep condition your hair.  deep conditioning is good for delivering a nice power-packed burst of nourishing moisture deep into the core of your hair shaft.  you can go out and buy a fancy schmancy deep conditioner or masque if you’d like, but in my opinion, a good conditioner (one with no silicone, mineral oil, or petrolatum, preferably) boosted with a bit of your favorite oil will work just fine.  i personally use Trader Joe’s Nourish conditioner and virgin coconut oil.  wash your hair as normal, then apply your deep conditioner and cover with a conditioning cap or shower cap (or a grocery bag, if this is your struggle.  i’m not here to judge!).    i let it sit for at least 30 minutes, but have been known to bag it up overnight and rinse it out in the morning.  you can speed up the process  by sitting under a dryer or using a heated cap for 10-15 minutes (all this depends on what you’re using as a deep conditioner, of course–be sure to follow your product’s instructions, if there are any).

i deep condition once a week, but the frequency that each person should do so depends on your hair, it’s characteristics, your upkeep process (do you apply new product everyday?  cowash?  etc.), and your lifestyle.  some folks deep condition once a month. if you find your hair dries out more often than not, every other week, or once a week may be right for you.  for more info on deep conditioning natural hair, click here!

2) rinse with cold water.  it may be uncomfortable to do, but your hair may thank you for it; after washing and conditioning your hair, make sure your last rinse is done with cold water.  cold water seals the hair cuticle, helping to lock in moisture and increase shine.  totally worth it!  for more information on cold water rinsing, click here.

3) beware silicon products!  okay, so i don’t particularly think that silicon products are the devil like many naturals do.  i think they’re okay as long as you’re aware of what you’re using and how you’re using it.  silicon in a hair product will form a barrier around the shaft of your hair, which will keep moisture from escaping–and keep it from getting in. this can actually dry your hair, even if it looks shiny.

what you definitely don’t want to do is apply a product with a silicon in it on freshly washed hair; this will keep the moisture and nutrients from other products you may use from getting absorbed into the core of the hair, and setting you up for a head full of build up.  if you’re going to use a product with silicon, mineral oil, or petroleum in it, use a silicon, mineral oil, and petroleum-free leave-in conitioner and moisturizer first.  make sure there are lots of yummy moisturizing things in your hair before applying the silicon product; that way, it will seal in all the moisturizing stuff, reducing the drying  properties of the silicon product. speaking of build-up…

4) clarify your hair regularly.  clarifying your hair means stripping it of all the gunky build-up that we sometimes get from layering products in our hair.  though co-washing does help to lightly remove some of the dirt and product that gets into our hair, you need a shampoo to really get it out of there (especially if you’re using silicon products–co-washing will NOT remove silicon from your hair!  you need a sulfate shampoo for that!).  a clarifier is basically a stronger, stripping shampoo. click here for more information about clarifying.

i personally don’t co-wash because it doesn’t work well for me and i’m too lazy.  lol.  i shampoo with a sulfate once a week, and once a month, i clarify either with a clarifying shampoo, like V05, or with an apple cider vinegar rinse (read more about that here).  clean hair receives and retains moisture far better than dirty hair!  (important:  don’t clarify TOO often!  clarifying shampoos are very stripping, and will remove both product build up and a good portion of your hair’s natural oils; if you use one, follow immediately with a good deep conditioner to put back all that goodness!)

5) invest in a satin pillowcase, scarf, or bonnet.  the smoothness of satin is very beneficial to natural hair; cotton pillowcases can suck the moisture out of our hair, drying it out and even breaking it off.  satin helps hair retain its moisture though the night and helps keep it from breaking.

6) seal your hair.  sealing your hair means moisturizing with a water-based moisturizer, then following with an oil or oil-based moisturizer.  this will seal the nourishing moisture into the hair shaft and help it hold on to it longer.

coconut oil makes a great sealant (that’s what i use); for more moisture/drier hair, you can try cutting a thicker oil, like castor oil, with a thinner on, like jojoba or coconut oil.  for more information on sealing, click here.

adopting some of these little tip into your regular hair routine can find you with more moisturized hair.  though there are things you can do to get fast results, don’t look for an instant fix; practice better hair care all the way around to get to where you need to be!

and if nothing works, time to go see the professionals.  lol.

dolceinscence asked:

Heyy! I just recently got my hair straightened and I thought i was gonna die when i washed it and my curls were close to non-exsistent, How long does it usually take for them to bounce back? I have very thick type 3b/3c hair. its been maybe 3 weeks and its still not curling up the same:( I never thought i would miss the thickness of my hair until now.

Firstly, let me lend you my condolences. I know that exact feeling of hysteria while waiting on your hair to snap back after it’s been straightened. this is the very reason that I pretty much only straighten my hair a handful of times a year, even in winter–because it feels like such a gamble doesn’t it?!! sure everything went well last time, but what if THIS time is the time that your curls are ironed out for good?? It has happened! I hear stories all the time about women who straightened their hair once and their precious curls were never seen again. This fear is what keeps me from only straightening my hair only a handful of times each year.

But, I DO straighten it, and I have had scares. I can’t say whether or not your curl pattern has been shot or give a direct prescription on how to get it back, because I don’t know what kind of temperament your hair has (I know you gave me your hair type, but I kind of think hair typing is a bunch of BS so I don’t pay that system any attention) and I don’t know what your straightening routine is like. And also, you just never know—it really can be a gamble every time you straighten your curls. I can share my story and offer some tips, though.

I kept wearing my hair straight after transitioning for nearly 2 years. Throughout my transition and for months after, I washed, blew out, and flatironed my hair every two to three weeks. Miraculously, I didn’t sustain any major heat damage. It took me quite awhile to find the balls to wear my hair curly after I cut it, and even after I found them and grew to love what my hair does naturally, I still straightened at least once a month. There was never any damage, no scares—until one day.

I straightened my hair as usual, wore it straight for about two weeks, then washed it out and my curls just kind of laid there there. my curls weren’t as curly, my coils weren’t as coily, and it was just an overall boring, undefined, lazy mess. I freaked AAAALLL the way out, but calmed down after I asked the handful of naturals I knew if I was in trouble. They all said that it can take a few washes before your curls bounce all the way back, so I tried hard to be patient. Over the next month or so, I had to do a LOT of loving and apologizing to my hair, and it eventually came back.

Here are some things to remember and practice when you find yourself ready to put out an APB for your curls after a harsh straightening.

Know the difference between what your hair does naturally, and what you want it to do. I don’t mean to insult your intelligence here because you may already know this, but one scalp can produce like a THOUSAND different textures. Before you freak out about part of your hair not curling the right way, be sure to note: has it ever curled up like I wanted it to? It could be that your hair just doesn’t do what you want it to do naturally, and there is not a product in existence that you can rub in your hair that will give it curls that you don’t have. I don’t care what the packaging says. Products ENHANCE your hair texture; they can’t change it without some chemical process. So, be sure that what you’re seeing is an actual change in the hair texture that you have. If it is, then you’re all clear for freak out.

Don’t freak out just yet! Remember: it can take a few washes before your curls come all the way back. While you’re waiting, take extra extra fabulous care of it. Here are some things you can do:

• Clarify your hair. By this I mean give it a good deep cleaning to remove any product build-up that may be left in your hair from your straightening session. A lot of the products we put in our hair when straightening contain silicones, mineral oils, and petrolatum, which can all weight down your natural curls. Get them out of there! Give your hair a good shampooing with a sulfate shampoo (this is important; sulfates are the only/best way to remove mineral oil and silicon from your hair), and/or an apple cider vinegar rinse. When I had my curl scare, I did both—shampooed, then followed with an ACV rinse. The ACV always seems to breathe life into my curls—I try to do it once a month as part of my regular routine.
• Moisture moisture moisture! To get your curls at their springy spoingy best, moisture is always the key, especially when dealing with distressed hair. You should keep it good and moisturized anyway, but doubly so now. Co-wash more often (if co-washing is your thing—my hair personally doesn’t like it so much); seal your ends with a good oil; pre-poo before every sulfate wash, and follow it up with a good deep conditioning; try a hot oil treatment; keep your scalp oiled and supple (coconut oil is GREAT for dry scalps); whatever processes and products give you the most moisture, go for those and obsess over them for the next few weeks while loving your hair back to its regularly scheduled bounciness.

Make sure you’re straightening routine is as healthy as it can be. The best way to nurse your curls back to health is to not hurt them in the first place. I personally don’t think any straightening routine is guaranteed—it’s kind of like birth control pills. Sure, your womb is 99% protected, but there’s still that 1% to worry about. There’s always a chance you could be sent down a path of hysterical sorrow in both cases. But, to be as safe as you can, make sure these steps and tips have a place in your routine:

• Pre-poo and Deep Condition. You’ll want to make sure your hair is at it’s strongest to withstand the heat you’re about to put on it, so do what you can to get some good nourishers and conditioners and moisturizers in there. Start with a pre-poo to keep your shampoo from stripping too much of your hair’s natural oils and follow it with a deep condition to replace what moisture is lost. Personally, I always DC with my favorite oil and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In whenever I straighten my hair. Speaking of…
• Use products with silicon. The silicon adds a protective barrier between your hair shaft and your straightening tool. I know that usually naturals don’t dig silicon too much, but here’s one time when it’s very helpful.
• Use a heat protectant. I will admit—this is something that I do not do. For some reason, my hair looks horrible when I use a heat protectant, but I recognize that this is just my hair’s response to them, and I still know how important it is to protect your hair from heat as best you can. So definitely, use a heat protectant—you can probably find one that works for you (I just got lazy in my search for one…if my hair falls out the next time I straighten, it’s my own damn fault!). Better safe than sorry!
• Don’t get that iron too hot! If you’re like me, you don’t believe anything until it burns a little bit. I need my mouthwash to scald me just a tad bit in the gums before my mouth feels clean, and if I don’t see a little smoke, I usually don’t feel like my hair’s really getting straight. This is a mistake. You don’t have to go overboard with the heat; being too reckless with that flat iron dial great way to get an accidental perm.
• When in doubt, LET A PROFESSIONAL DO IT. Seriously. If you’re not sure of what you’re doing or if you’re doing the right things, stop. Go to a salon. At least if they screw your head up, you’ve got someone to sue.

If after a 3-4 weeks your curls still haven’t come back from their vacation, it may be time to break the news to yourself that they may never be coming home L All you can really do is take the best care of your hair that you can (who knows? They might pop back in time for Thanksgiving dinner!) and learn to work with your new texture. And remember: it’s just hair. It will grow back in its regular, normal happy little curly pattern. Take the lessons learned and be careful to walk a better path next time! This whole hair thing is trial and error—if you learn from the errors, it makes it worth it.

At least that’s what I tell myself when I make some bad choices and have to walk around looking like this all day.

Good luck! Hope this helped!