Hey Curly Girls, Let's Talk: Moisturizers

Happy Wednesday everyone!

This post is going to be about moisturizers and what the best ways to moisturize your hair are.

We already know that curly hair is dryer than other types of hair because of the texture. So it is important that girls with curly hair invest in some good moisturizers and keep their hair moisturized because dry hair does not grow.

The number one best way to moisturize your hair quickly is water. Most girls who apply product to their hair at the beginning of the week only use water to refresh their hair and reactivate the products. This is a good time saving way to take care of your hair.

Another really good, obvious way to moisturize your hair is conditioner. You can read about the best conditioners for curly hair here. Obviously, we should all be conditioning our hair after washing but some girls like to leave some of their conditioner in their hair almost like a leave-in.

What is great about this method is it keeps you from buying extra product, but some girls need a little bit more moisture.

Which leads me to my next point, leave-in conditioners. Leave-in conditioners are products that you can leave-in your hair to keep it moisturized. They come in different intensities and they all aren't the same. I don't use a leave in conditioner as much as I used to.

In order to find the one that works for you, you have to know the kind of moisture that your hair needs. Is your hair really dry? Try a thicker leave-in. Frizz out of control? Try something with a little more hold.

Probably the best way to get moisture into your hair is to deep condition. If you want strong healthy hair, deep conditioning is so necessary especially if you have curly hair. It's the only way that you can get moisture really deep into your hair.

There are a lot of ways that you can deep condition, there are ones that you can buy from the store or you can make your own.  You can read about my favorite store bought deep conditioners here or read about how you can make your own!

Well guys that is it for this post!

What products do you use to moisturize your hair? Let me know in the comments!

Be safe and I will see you in my next post!

       

 

HEY CURLY GIRLS, LET'S TALK: Conditioners

Hello curly haired beauties!

Moisture is extremely important to maintain healthy hair especially if your hair is curly because the texture of curly hair causes it to be drier than other hair types.

Conditioner is one of the easiest ways to ad instant moisture to your hair so it is important that you are using the right one, or ones.

The biggest thing you want to look for when you are choosing a conditioner for your hair is the ingredients. There are certain ingredients that you should keep your hair away from such as silicones, sulfates and parabens.

A dead giveaway is the suffix -cone. Anything that ends in -cone is usually something you do not want in your hair because it can cause more dryness.

In this post I am going to show you a few of the conditioners that I have used over the years that work or have worked very well for me and my hair.

The first is...

I have not tried many products from Tresemme, but the ones that I have tried I have liked a lot and this conditioner is no different. In addition to the great ingredients this conditioner is a fantastic prince at a little under $6.

Next...

These conditioners get a bad rap because you can pretty much find them in any store including the 99 cent store and a lot of people think that because they are so cheap that they don't work as well as the high end brands. Well those people are wrong. I love the Suave conditioners because of the price, the smell and the ingredients.

Next...

For those of you who read my blog regularly then you know about this conditioner already because I talk about it a lot. Organix is an amazing line and most of it's conditioners are perfect for curly hair because of the absence of harsh ingredients.

Finally...

This conditioner is a bit more controversial in my mind than the others. It is a great conditioner and I really like it but it has a few ingredients that I could live without. Herbal Essences's conditioners always have really great scents as well. And it just goes to show you that you have to try some things out to find what works for your hair and what doesn't.

The best advice that I can give anyone who is looking for a good conditioner is to try new things. Different brands have different strong points. So go out there and take some risks.

What are your favorites conditioners? Let me know in the comments!

Be safe and I'll see you in my next post.

       

HEY CURLY GIRLS, LETS TALK: Tips On Growing Out Long Hair

Growing out your hair can be long and painful, especially if you have been trying for a period of time with no tangible results. 

Here I am going to give you a few tips that, while it may not make the journey easier, will help ease a bit of the anxiety some of you may be feeling.

So let's get started.

1. Keep your hair moisturized. Specifically the ends of your hair.

Dry hair will not retain length, it is that simple. Your hair grows from the roots always but if your ends are not receiving proper treatment they will break off. That is what gives the illusion of hair that never grows.

Leave in conditioners are great as a moisturizer for your hair or you can also use your normal conditioner like I do.

Shea Moisture has a really good moisturizing line for curly hair.

Deep conditioning is a big part of this. It is what is going to give your hair that extra boost of moisture that it needs. Once a month is fine for a deep conditioning but some prefer to do it once or even twice a week.

Click here to read my post on deep conditioning!

Click here to see my favorites DIY deep conditioners!

2. Hair growth starts with a healthy scalp.

I wrote about co-washing in my last curly girl post and this is all fine a dandy if that is how you choose to cleanse your hair. However, product build up can occur if your hair is not being cleansed with shampoo once in a while. Build up of products can keep you hair from growing as fast. Once a month you should do a deep cleanse to prevent build up.

Also scalp massages are great for your scalp. Not only do they feel great but they also promote hair growth.

Click here to read my post on co-washing!

3. Avoid using heat. If you must, be smart about it.

Heat is the number one cause of damaged hair, it can also keep your hair from retaining it's length. My suggestion is that if you want your hair to grow, stop using heat all together. That is the best way to see results.

There are plenty of ways to straighten and curl your hair without using heat.

Obviously that does not work for everyone and that is okay. If you do use heat on your hair remember to always use a heat protectant. This will cut back on some of the damage by taking most of the heat. 

Use good quality tools, this does not mean the most expensive tool. Read some reviews on the heat tools that you want before settling on one. That way you know what you are getting into before you buy it.

Consider cutting out your flat iron. An alternative is using a blow dryer and a round brush to straighten your hair. Since it is not getting smashed between two hot plates it is not as damaging.

Click here to watch how I straighten my hair!

4. When you wash you hair, wash only the roots.

Shampoos and some conditioners can be drying to hair, so it is important that you only wash the roots of hair because that is the dirtiest part.

Don't worry, when you wash the shampoo out it will run through the length of your hair and it will get clean.

5. Use protective hairstyles.

Some people get really confused about what I mean when I say that.

A protective hairstyle is basically any style that keeps your ends from being exposed to the elements.

Buns, braids and twists are some really good examples.

You do not have to do this all the time but when it is extremely cold it is a good idea to put your ends away so that they do not dry out.

Protective hairstyles are especially useful in winter.

Click here to read my post on protective hairstyles!

6. Use oils.

Oils are very beneficial to hair in terms of moisture. There are specific oils that penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize your hair from the inside.

Click here to read my post on oils!

7. Be patient.

Your hair is not going to grow overnight and it is going to take time before you get it to the length that you want it. However, if you take care of your hair you will get there.

Well guys that is it for this post!

What are your tips for growing long hair? Let me know in the comments below.

Be safe and I will see you in my next post!

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HEY CURLY GIRLS, LET'S TALK: Co-Wash or Not?

Hello curly girls! I am back with another installment of Hey Curly Girls, Let's Talk and today it is going be be all about co-washing.

So lets get started.

Photo courtesy of Walmart.com

First off, this technique gained momentum and popularity with the release of Lorraine Massey's The Curly Girl Handbook which spawned the Curly Girl Method or No-Poo method. This method focuses on using conditioner to cleanse your hair instead of shampoo because shampoo can strip the hair of natural basic oils. Textured hair tends to be drier because these oils cannot make it all the way down to the ends.

Co- washing is short for "conditioner washing". Since all conditioners contain some gentle cleansing agents it is possible to wash your hair with conditioner.

Co-washing can definitely be beneficial to hair especially if you have textured or curly hair.

1. Co-washing will not strip your hair of its natural oils.

2. Assuming you are using a silicone free conditioner your hair will not be damaged or dried out form co-washing.

3. You do not need to be married to co-washing. Which means you can use a conditioner or a shampoo whenever you like.

4. If you have drier or damaged hair co-washing will give your hair extra moisture while cleansing it.

While there are obvious benefits to co-washing, it is not for everyone.

1. If you have dermatitis which is the inflammation of the scalp then co-washing may not work for you because constant conditioning may make it worse

2. If you have oily hair then co-washing will only add to the oil in your hair.

3. If you live in a dusty or highly polluted area you should use shampoo to cleanse your hair and condition afterwards.

4. It is possible to over condition your hair which is not good. If your hair starts to feel mushy and/or spongy you may have done too much.

As you can see co-washing has it's advantages and disadvantages. It could not hurt to try especially if you do have dry, damaged hair and you are looking for a way to make it healthier.

If you are in that transition stage I recommend that you give co-washing a chance for the first year that you are in transition.

Personally I do not co-wash simply because I do not feel like it gets my hair really clean. I understand that conditioners do have gentle cleansers but for me it is just a feeling that I do not like. So it is really all about preference.

Here are some guidelines if you do want to try co-washing:

1. Make sure the conditioner has no silicones. Stay away from ingredients ending in -cone.

2. Apply the conditioner to your scalp and gently massage with your fingers, not your fingernails. This will loosen up the dirt.

3. When you rinse your hair use cold water. The will close your hair follicles and prevent frizz.

4. Make sure you do not over condition your hair.

Well guys that is it for this post!

What do you think about co-washing? Let me know in the comments!

Be safe and I will see you in my next post!

       

HEY CURLY GIRLS, LETS TALK: Protective Hairstyles

Hello beautiful people (: before I start with this post I want to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to read this post (: it really means a lot to me that you have taken a moment out of your busy day to read my little blog (:

Anyway! This post is a another installment of my Hey Curly Girls, Let's Talk series (: and this post is going to be all about protective hairstyles which are just hairstyle that keep your ends from being exposed to the elements or being rubbed against your clothes.

These are hairstyles that I do on a regular basis to protect my hair and I have had a lot of success with them so lets get started! (:

Style #1: Simple Top Knot

1. Smooth out your hair and bring it all up to the top of your head
2. Then start twisting it and wrapping it around into a bun
3. Tuck your ends into the bun and secure it with a few bobby pins
4. Accessorize (:

Style #2: Braided Top Knot

1. Smooth out your hair and bring it all to the top of your head and tie it into a high ponytail
2. Then separate your hair into three equal sections and start braiding
3. Tie off the end of your braid and then start wrapping it around into a bun
4. Tuck the ends of your hair into the bun and secure it with bobby pins 
5. Accessorize (:

Style #3: Side Knot With A Twist

1. Section off the front part of your hair and pin it out of the way
2. Take the rest of your hair and twist it into a side bun and secure it with bobby pins
3. Then take the sectioned off hair and take a chunk of hair from one side of your head and separate it into two sections
4. Then start twisting the sections around each other picking up hair as you make your way down the sectioned off hair
5. Then take the finished twist and wrap it around your bun and secure with bobby pins
6. Accessorize

Style #4: Messy Bun With Bump

1. First section of a front section o fhair and pin it away
2. Then take the rest of your hair and secure it into a high ponytail
3. Then, holding the end of your hair, wrap it around into a loose bun and secure with bobby pins (don't worry if it looks messy, that's the point (: )
4. Then take the sectioned off hair and pull it back towards the bun give it a little twist and pin it down with some bobby pins
5. Take the excess hair from your bump and pin it into your bun (:
6. Accessorize!

Style #5:  Triple Bun Bouquet

1. Smooth out your hair and brush all of your hair to the back
2. Then section your hair into three equal sections
3. Then, one at a time, take a section and twist it into a bun and secure with bobby pins
4. Accessorize (:

(Since this style was in the back of my head I couldn't get a good picture by myself so I'll be sure to upload a few later when I get some help (: )

So guys these are all bun hairstyles that I love to wear myself and they work great as protective hairstyles (:

Do you like to wear your hair in a bun? What's your favorite out of these five? (: Let me know in the comments below!

Okay guys that is it for this post!

Be safe and I will see you in my next post (:

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