Common Hair Questions

QUESTION: How do you keep your hair moisturized, while protective styling with braids and weaves???

 Answer: Before you receive any braid service you should prep your hair, by moisturizing and strengthening it before the braid application. This includes braids and sew in weaves. As you get your hair braided, coat each piece of your hair with a good quality shea butter. The waxy texture of the shea butter will keep your real hair from drying out under the braids. The shea butter will stay on your hair even through shampooing, mainly because the shampoo is unable to reach all of your real hair because the extensions lay on top of it. At least 3 times a week you want to spray your braids with a conditioning braid spray, this can be store brought or you can make one using your favorite leave in conditioner. Daily apply a natural oil to your scalp, this keeps your scalp lubricated. Remember to not over do it with the oil application. You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil. Massage oil into scalp daily, start with 1/2 tablespoon, pour onto a flat dish or bowl, dip your fingers in and apply it to your scalp. Do not apply oil using an applicator bottle, because most of the time you use to much. Measure it out so you can see how much you are using. Spread the oil with your fingertips throughout the scalp. The more you spread the oil the less you will need. Read here for more details on how to take care of your hair while in braids or weaves, learn the Braid, Retain and Grow Method.

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QUESTION:  How does one elongate a style while keeping it moisture & reduce shrinkage?

Answer: Having a good hair care regimen that keeps your hair  hydrated will ensure that 9 times out of 10 your styles come out right. Well moisturized hydrated hair styles the best. Always rinse your deep conditioner out with cold water, this ensures that your hair cuticle is lays flat.  When your hair cuticles lay flat, that traps in moisture and you do not have to apply additional moisturizer daily. Your twist outs and other loose styles automatically hang longer when you are not adding a water based product to your hair daily.

Day one of your twist out, use a "water based" leave in conditioner.  Day two if you need more conditioning apply a "non-water based" conditioner to your hair. This will condition and lubricate your hair without causing more shrinkage because there is no water in the product. To add more elongation to your twist out re-twist hair in medium to large sections then use hair bands to add elongation to the roots of your twists. You can use any type of band that does not cause breakage and is easy to remove.
 

Applying all of these changes to your style will give you 25% more elongation. How long the affects last largely depends on the weather. 

Non water based conditioner stylers

• Unrefined raw shea butter
• unrefined mango butter
• Green Magic growth creme

Green Magic growth creme by Liquid Gold. The green magic is amazing it strengthens your hair and keeps it moisturized.

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Below is a letter I received:
Good morning ,or Good afternoon Miss Vee would like to ask you a question on hair care I have a thinning, short area on my crown top of my head my mom said it is my nerve area when I was wearing perm, that area has always been itchy, dry irritable am in my 30s I've been away from the perm at least 12 started with a big chop in 2000 the area is still here much bigger( also there was no lost of hair or thinning while having a perm ) Thanks in advance!

 My response:
You could have some scar tissues under your scalp from previous relaxers. This happens to some black women as they age. When we stop relaxing we do not stop the effects it has on our health. I have two recommendations: 1. See a dermatologist asap and tell them everything and request a biopsy before they start treatment.2. Try a sulfur based product to treat the area for 5 to 8 weeks. You can choose MTG sulfur mix by shapelys or liquid gold sulfur growth oil. Both of these must be ordered off the internet. 
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Tracey Smith asks: I have been natural for 4 years. My hair is very thick, and I have recently started to use a straightening comb to make it straight and manageable. I am wondering if you recommend any additional treatments and conditioners so that I don't cause any heat damage.

My answer:
I recommend the use of a silicone based heat protectant and increased deep conditioning BEFORE you press your hair. Heat damage comes from using heat to high or using heat on hair that is not properly hydrated. So condition, condition, condition days or weeks before you use harsh heat.

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Question:  It seems after I wash, deep condition, leave in and put a cream and oil in my hair, my hair dries out the next day. Slow growth as well. My daughters hair grew but mine is taking a long time and its been 2 years.

Answer:   

1.  Check the PH of your cleanser, it should be b/n 4.5 and 5.5. Anything over 5.5 you should stop using for now.
2.  What type of leave in conditioner are you using? Be sure it is a good one. The ones with the least amount of ingredients are usually the best ones. Here is a list of suggested leave in conditioners.
3. Do a ACV rinse. After you rinse out your deep conditioner, pour a apple cider vinegar rinse over your hair and leave for 3 minutes then rinse with cold water. While your hair is still soaking wet apply your leave in conditioner. Then using a cotton t-shirt or a mono fiber towel lightly blot your hair. Then proceed with your style. You may need to add some more leave in when you style your hair, because some may drip off with the water and blotting.
4. Follow your leave in conditioner with coconut oil, avocado oil or castor oil. 
5. Concerning your slow hair growth. Once you take the steps to get your hair hydrated and retaining moisture, you will then retain more length. So your hair will grow longer. Dry hair breaks off, most moisturized hair does not. How to grow your hair longer and stronger.

ACV Rinse Recipe:

1/4 cup of organic apple cider vinegar

2 cups of bottled water or filtered water 

Mix well, apply all to hair, leave on for 3 minutes then rinse with cold or cool water.