Naturally Obsessed

(Article via TGIN.blogspot.com) Your natural hair is a gift. A beautiful gift that should be nurtured, cared for and tended to. That doesn’t mean the nurturing, tending to and caring for will be free from trial and error. Many a nights during my transitional stages I stared in my mirror, frustrated at the lack of progress I was making. I loved my hair, but it got on my nerves to no end.

But after close to nine years, in the natural hair game, I’ve learned a thing or two about hair care. One of the most important things you can do for your hair’s growth and strength is to develop a sure-fire hair regime. The challenging part is actually figuring out what works. (Go fig!) Take a gander at this list we’ve developed and see if some of our suggestions help make a difference.

(By Lynne Sheldon of LiveStrong.com) 
Overview
Most people lose over 50 hairs a day, but several factors can contribute to more rapid hair loss. Thinning hair is often the result of age or a nutrient deficiency, while breaking hair results from harsh styling or improper care. A doctor can help determine which type of loss you are experiencing and discuss treatment options with you.

Symptoms
Thinning hair detaches at the root and falls out all over the scalp or in patches. Your hair growth naturally slows as you age, and this can result in loss or an overall reduction in the amount of hair you have. Breaking hair, on the other hand, snaps off on your scalp's surface or anywhere along your hair shaft, leaving the root in place. It occurs most often on those with dried-out hair that is prone to split ends. Your hair's growth rate may slow just because your tresses break off before you can grow your hair longer.

Causes
While age can cause your hair to thin, a vitamin or mineral deficiency can also lead to thinning hair, as can certain types of medications, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Scalp conditions like ringworm or psoriasis may also result in thinning hair or loss. Conversely, trauma is the most common cause of breaking hair. Rolling your hair too tightly in curlers, braiding or pulling your locks into tight styles can cause them to weaken and break, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Additionally, overstyling with hot tools, coloring your hair and using a chemical straightener can sap your strands of moisture and lead to breakage.

Treatments
Talk to a physician about your thinning hair. Eat a balanced diet that consists of the correct amount of nutrients, but do not add any supplements or foods before discussing them with your doctor. Also ask her about treatments for any scalp conditions you experience, as well as prescription products that might increase your hair's thickness. Use mild, moisturizing hair care products to maintain the health of the hair you have.

If you have breaking hair, you may also discuss this with your doctor, but topical treatment might offer some relief. Avoid tight hairstyles and apply a heat-protecting spray before you use any hot tools. Have a professional color or chemically straighten your hair rather than attempting these harsh treatments on your own, and limit the process to once every two months. Use nourishing shampoos and conditioners designed to strengthen your hair from the roots to the tip and avoid blow drying as much as possible, allow your hair to air-dry to discourage further breakage.

Additional Consideration
According to DermNet NZ, both breaking and thinning hair can be the result of a condition known as trichotillomania, which is characterized by a compulsive pulling, tugging or breaking of your hair. Speak with a health care provider if you feel you suffer from this condition. Your hair will typically grow back after the trauma subsides and you replace your hair-pulling with alternative habits.

Warning
If you experience severe or sudden hair thinning or breaking, seek medical attention. You could have an underlying medical condition or a severe nutrient deficiency.

Summer is fast approaching and what's the #1 thing most people are looking forward to....hitting the beach and pools! Well, the question is how do I protect my hair and still have fun in the sun? I did some Googling to find tips on the best ways to protect and treat your hair before, during and after swimming. Here's an article I spotted on ehow.com....

Summer can be rough on hair. Chlorine and sea water can leave hair dry and brittle. One option is to keep hair tied up and not put your head under the water. Another choice is to wear a rubber cap on your hair. But if you enjoy the feeling of your hair floating freely in the water, there are other steps you can take. With just a few minutes worth of effort and some cheap supplies, you can protect your hair while swimming and still have beautiful hair.

1. Soak hair with tap water before going into the pool or ocean. When your hair is full of water, it will soak up less chlorine or salt.

2. Don't wash your hair with shampoo before a swim. Your hair has natural oils which protect against the harsh pool chemicals and sea salt. If you wash your hair with shampoo before a swim, it strips away this natural protection and leaves hair vulnerable.

3. If you swim often, use neem oil on hair before swimming to protect and hydrate.

4. Sesame oil is a natural blocker of UV rays. Apply to hair before sunbathing.

5. Use a detox shampoo after swimming to remove chlorine. Or you can mix your shampoo with baking soda to remove some of the chlorine and chemicals from hair.

6. Wash scalp, not long hair. The soap will rinse down through tresses providing a thorough cleaning without over drying.

7. Deep condition weekly. While conditioner is on head, cover hair with a silk wrap to get a more intense conditioning. Don't wrap hair in a towel because cotton will soak up the conditioner. Conditioning while in the sauna will also give a deeper conditioning.

I'll definetly be putting some of  this info to use when the weather warms up. Read more from PJ Willams at EHow.com HERE!

{Image Source}

While looking over the new chosen vloggers on NaturallyCurly.com, I came across this article. I have dealt with acne since I was a teen so I know how frustrating this issue can be...especially as an adult! Currently muy skin is under control, but who knows how long that will last lol! This article breaks down how the things we use in our hair to make it all pretty and nice can actually be triggering some of those breakouts.


Want beautiful hair and blemish-free skin? Then you need to become a detective—actually a cosmetic ingredient detective.

The truth is that some ingredients may cause problems for you and not for other people. At the end of this article, we've included a list of ingredients that have been shown to cause acne. Or you can purchase a book on cosmetic ingredients for future research.

Try to Keep it Simple

If you have acne, do not use products that add any oil to your skin or hair. Ingredients labels don’t underline the acne-causing ingredients. When looking at products and acne treatments, always look for “non-acne” or “non-comedogenic.” Not oil-free, because it may still contain ingredients that cause breakouts. Stay away from isopropyl myristate, oils, and silicone, petrolatum, PVP, CVP and copolymer ingredients. Also sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate are ingredients to avoid.

Wash and condition your hair before you wash the rest of your body. Do this to wash off any residue that hair products may leave on your skin. (Just think how hard it is to get grease off of dishes, you normally need to wash it several times to be grease-free.) It’s the same with hair products—they will leave a residue that can cause breakouts IF YOU ARE PRONE TO ACNE. Really clean the skin well to rid it of any product residue.

To prevent pimples, consider a few changes to your hair routine:

1.Style your hair before you apply your makeup. Wash hands thoroughly to remove all hair products before you touch your skin. Some of these products really stick and you will need to wash your hands twice.

2.Cover your face before you use hair spray. Check out beauty supply stores for a plastic face shield you can cover your face with before spraying hair spray.

3.Do not touch your hair and then your face as you will transfer hair product to your skin.

4.Try to keep your hair away from your face. Choose a hairstyle to minimize contact with your forehead or cheek area.

5.At bedtime, cover your hair if you have product in it that is prone to causing breakouts. Avoid tight head covering as this will only make you sweat and cause breakouts on your scalp.

6.Wash your hair before you go to bed to remove hair product that causes acne.

7.Pull hair away from your face when you sleep—try a ponytail or bun.

8.Trade out your pillowcase frequently; avoid sleeping on dirty pillowcases.

9.Exercise without wearing foundation and use a headband to keep sweat from running down your face. Always wash your face immediately after exercising.

10.Do avoid getting hair products directly on the skin. If you do, rinse your skin well.

To read the full article click HERE! There you'll also find a list of common hair product ingredients that are known to cause acne.

Thoughts?? 

Article written by Nykia Spradley for BlackVoices.com

For centuries, long, lush locks have been seen as a symbol of great beauty. We frequently perm, curl, and weave in strands to help enhance our appearance, oftentimes without much thought about what life would be like without a perfectly coiffed crown. Now imagine the shock and surprise of suddenly losing it all.

37-year-old Sonya Weekes found herself holding back tears as her dermatologist explained that her thinning hair was a condition called alopecia, and that it would likely never grow back. Six years later, she's educated herself and others on her emotionally and physically distressing condition and has gained a different outlook on what beauty really means.

As told to Nykia Spradley

About 6 years ago, I was experiencing hair loss and slow growth in the center of my scalp. That area has always been weak, but I kept perming my hair. Then, about 7 years ago, the thinning got really bad. I read an article that said you should visit a dermatologist if you are experiencing hair loss, but it had never occurred to me before that I should visit a doctor.

When I found out why I was losing my hair, I thought I was going to cry in the doctor's office, but I didn't. However, I was very depressed. Women look to their hair for beauty, and I didn't feel attractive. I thought I wouldn't find a husband with short hair, but then I decided that I didn't want someone who can't see past my hair and not see my heart.

I wasn't at all familiar with alopecia, so I looked online for more information about my condition. I also started seeing a doctor that was conducting research on my specific disease. The most surprising thing that I learned about alopecia is that there is no cure, and doctors aren't sure what causes it. There are guesses that braids, over-processing from relaxers and weaves contribute to it. I have stopped perming my hair, but my scalp in some areas is permanently damaged, so now I wear my hair in a short Caesar cut.

There are many African American women that suffer from alopecia. Hair thinning and hair loss affects as many as two-thirds of African-American women by age 50, according to R. Martin Earles, M.D., a Chicago-based dermatologist who specializes in hair-loss treatment.

The effects vary, some worse than others. The earlier you diagnose it, the better, because you can take measures to maintain the portions of the scalp that are still healthy. It's key to catch it before the scalp is permanently scarred.

Read the full article HERE!

Article via www.HairBoutique.com

First of all, what is tapotement? It sounds very exotic, but in reality it’s a specific type of massage technique utilized primarily in Swedish massage.

Wikipedia defines tapotement as a rhythmic percussion, most frequently administered with the edge or cupped hand or the tips of the fingers. When the edge of the hand is used it’s also called Hacking. Finger methods including wiggling, drumming and lightly tapping on the body. The name of the stroke is taken from the French word “Tapoter” meaning simply to tap or to drum.

Tapotement massage stroking and taping is primarily designed to release lymphatic build up in the back, shoulders, under the arms and other parts of the body where lymphatic drainage might be deemed appropriate and helpful.

Is Tapotement Helpful For Accelerated Hair Growth Or Reduced Hair Loss?

Is this type of sports massage helpful for the scalp to generate accelerate hair growth? Many hair growth and hair loss experts recommend scalp massage as a way to stimulate the hair roots for reduced fall and stronger roots. But it tapotement the best massage methodology to utilize?

The answer to whether tapotement would help with accelerated hair growth or reduced hair loss is maybe. Like all types of treatments designed to improve hair growth and reduce hair loss, there are a variety of factors involved.

While many hair experts caution against the use of sharp fingernails, rough brush bristles or scratchy combs directly on the scalp, tapotement movements are usually delivered with partly-flat finger tips. If the fleshy part of the fingers are used and there is no contact with sharp fingernails or rough skin, the tapotement type of massage may offer some circulatory benefits for a congested or sluggish scalp.

Overly Aggressive Massage May Be Too Much For Scalp

Generally speaking, true tapotement massage movements such as accelerated and vigorous finger tapping, pummelling, pinching, slapping or stroking would most likely be too aggressive to apply to the scalp for any extended period of time. Even if the fingers and the hands are completely free of sharp fingernails or skin, any amount of strong or concentrated force of tapping and, pummelling could actually be too aggressive for the scalp area.

In that case, overly aggressive massage could prove as damaging as scratching the scalp with fingernails, sharp brush bristles or razor thin teeth of a comb.

Bottom line? Tapotement massage movements are probably not the best for encouraging hair growth or slowing hair loss.

While the tapping, pummelling, pinching, slapping and stroking can be fabulous for those in need of a good sport massage, consider other massage therapies options if you wish to pursue scalp massage.

To read the full article click HERE!

I spotted this article while scrolling through my timeline on Twitter last night. The tweet came up with a caption that read "Wow, who knew Dominicans hated blacks this much". So I quickly click the link to see what the fuss was about and found an interesting 5 part article on Afro-Latin Americans and the issues they face mainly due to the color of their skin.
BLACK DENIAL
(06/10/2007) SANTO DOMINGO -- Yara Matos sat still while long, shiny locks from China were fastened, bit by bit, to her coarse hair. Not that Matos has anything against her natural curls, even though Dominicans call that pelo malo -- bad hair.

CULTURE PULL
Several women said the cultural rejection of African looking hair is so strong that people often shout insults at women with natural curls. "I cannot take the bus because people pull my hair and stick combs in it," said wavy haired performance artist Xiomara Fortuna. "They ask me if I just got out of prison. People just don't want that image to be seen."

The hours spent on hair extensions and painful chemical straightening treatments are actually an expression of nationalism, said Ginetta Candelario, who studies the complexities of Dominican race and beauty at Smith College in Massachusetts. And to some of the women who relax their hair, it's simply a way to have soft manageable hair in the Dominican Republic's stifling humidity.

"It's not self-hate," Candelario said. "Going through that is to love yourself a lot. That's someone saying, ‘I am going to take care of me.' It's nationalist, it's affirmative and celebrating self." Money, education, class -- and of course straight hair -- can make dark-skinned Dominicans be perceived as more "white," she said. Many black Dominicans here say they never knew they were black -- until they visited the United States. "During the Trujillo regime, people who were dark skinned were rejected, so they created their own mechanism to fight it," said Ramona Hernández, Director of the Dominican Studies Institute at City College in New York. "When you ask, ‘What are you?' they don't give you the answer you want . . . saying we don't want to deal with our blackness is simply what you want to hear."

Hernández, who has olive-toned skin and a long mane of hair she blows out straight, acknowledges she would "never, never, never'' go to a university meeting with her natural curls.

To read the full article, which I highly recommend, please click HERE!
{Image Source}

I spotted this post on www.MadameNoire.com and just had to share it with guys. Before going natural and really getting to know my hair I some of these myths to be true as well...boy was I wrong lol! Here's a few excerpts that stood out for me...

1. Washing your hair too often will dry it out.
Washing is actually one of the best ways to moisturize your hair and scalp. Not only does washing your hair restore moisture, it also cleanses a dirty scalp allowing for growth. This myth keeps circulating because hard water and the wrong shampoos and conditioners can strip the hair of much needed oils.

2. African American hair doesn't grow long.
Lies and deceit! African-American hair has the capability to grow and thrive under the right environment. But our hair is sensitive and must be cared for diligently to reach optimal length. In addition to the proper beauty regime make sure you give your hair a helping hand by eating fruits and vegetables and drinking water. It will promote hair growth. It’s nothing you haven’t heard before.

4. Relaxers make African American hair grow.
The chemicals in a relaxer do not promote hair growth. Curly or natural African-American hair has a tendency to shrink or draw up. A relaxer simply breaks down the hair, eliminating the curl and stretching the hair to its full length.

8. Taking prenatal vitamins will make your hair grow.
This is a tricky one. Pregnant women do have luscious hair but many believe this is because of the high estrogen levels during pregnancy. The increased estrogen activates the growth phase for the hair. But all of this stops after the baby is born and the hair eventually returns to its normal growth pattern. Prenatal vitamins have no estrogen in them but do contain folic acid which stimulates hair growth. If you’re looking for a supplement for your hair make sure it’s high in biotin and folic acid.

To read the full list please visit www.MadamNoire.com
{Image Source}

Article found at NaturallyCurly.com and written by Evelyn Ngugi

For those new to the natural scene as well as old time curlies who just haven’t gotten the hang of it, there’s nothing more overwhelming (and time consuming) than figuring out a hair regimen! Returning to your natural texture is usually a time of education and experimentation, but to avoid wasting products, money and energy, here is a starting point for creating and KEEPING your naturally curly hair regimen.

The object of a hair regimen (in our case) is to maintain healthy, curly hair. The regimen will change depending on the qualities of your own hair (thick/thin, fine/course, curly/kinky, long/short just to name a few!) but we ALL need to achieve certain things with hair maintenance and hygiene.

Below is a good foundation for a regimen:

•Cleanse

•Condition - Detangle

•Moisturize

•Seal

•Deep Treat and Repair

Now, based on the qualities of your hair, the products you use for each category will accomplish these steps in different ways.

Cleanse:

Shampoo is meant to lift the hair cuticle, break up oil and dirt, and suspend it so it can be rinsed away. The goal is to remove environmental debris, product buildup, and production of sebum – the oil our skin naturally secretes. Our straight-haired counterparts probably can’t go one day without cleansing the hair because it is very easy for oil to travel down a straight strand. But in our case, oil has a harder time traveling down a loose wave, a tight curl, or a fro that sticks up & out! This is why the more textured your hair is, the dryer it feels. Our scalps are creating oil normally – it just cannot reach our hair!

So when we use shampoo, the focus should be on our scalps, since that’s where the dirt’s at. Apply the product to your roots and scalp, scrub with the fingertips, and the lather will make its way down your hair. Don’t toussle or scrunch the hair when shampooing. That could result in tangles! When you slather shampoo all over your HAIR instead of the scalp, you can expect a rough, “squeaky clean” feeling. Use shampoos that don’t contain sodium laurel—or laureth—sulfate. These ingredients are much too harsh for hair that isn’t that dirty, and have been known to cause irritation.

Condition - Detangle:

These two tasks are together because one helps the other out. Conditioning the hair closes the cuticle, making it smooth, slippery and easier to comb through. Conditioner is supposed to coat the hair.

Remember! Conditioner can also be used to gently cleanse the hair! Often times, conditioners have enough cleaning agents to remove dirt, especially if there’s little build up in the hair. If you exercise every day, for example, use a conditioner to wash your hair. Note that if you use conditioners with silicones in them, eventually you will have to use a clarifying shampoo to remove the buildup from your hair. If you don’t, the hair will be dull and lose body.

Moisturize:

Like described in the first step, naturally curly hair has a tendency to be dry. Fitting a moisturizer into your regimen is as simple as a morning spritz or mid-day pick me up! First and foremost, nothing will replace water. That IS moisture itself. Not all curlies have to completely soak their hair every morning – thick curls or a fro will take forever to air dry! You can simply put the water in a spray bottle and dampen the hair. When searching for a moisturizing product, water must be pretty high up in the ingredients list. Many moisturizers also contain vitamins and oils that can be soaked into the hair and scalp.

To read the full article please click HERE!

Hey Guys! I came across this article on www.About.com and thought I'd share with you all...Enjoy~

Article written by Del Sandeen

Question: Why Is My Hair Breaking Off?

Dry Ends: If you notice a lot of breakage on the ends of your hair, they could be excessively dry. This can be due to too much heat styling. If you flat iron or hot curl your hair too frequently, this can explain why your ends "pop" every time you comb them.

Another reason your ends may be extremely dry is lack of conditioning. Do you condition your hair after every shampoo? Do you deep condition on a regular basis as well as use a leave-in conditioner? Black hair needs moisture to thrive. Also, are you using a comb with widely spaced teeth? If your comb has teeth that are too close together, they may be pulling on your tangled ends and causing breakage.

Solutions for dry, breaking ends include regular deep conditioning, daily conditioning with moisturizing treatments, using a comb with teeth wide enough to work through your hair (particularly natural hair) and easing up on heat styling.

Styling Issues: Maybe you notice breakage in the crown area. This may have more to do with styling techniques. Are you wearing tight ponytails or are you using elastics with metal pieces? The wrong type of hair accessories can "catch" and break your hair off. Styles that are too tight can also cause breakage. To solve this, try using ponytail holders with no metal parts or covered elastics. You should also try different styles, especially ones that don't pull too tightly on your hair.

To read more of this article please click HERE!

{Image Source}