QuoteReplyTopic: Natural Black Hair Care Posted: January 12 2000 at 2:44am
I have 6" natural black hair and am finding it harder and harder to manage. I do not want a perm or braids. I've tried twist but they take so long to do, last only a short time if you wash them and are costly.Are there any low maintenance styles for natural black hair.I would really like to have a mild texturizer to slightly pull out my natural curl a little BUT NOT A PERM.Are there any products that will texturize without perming?
Hi Caroyl,I have natural black hair also. About 2 1/2 years ago Istopped pressing my natural hair (never ever used a chemical in my life) because I love to swim and workout and wanted to find an attactive way to wear my own natural hair without using braids or getting a serious perm/relaxer. Mind you, my hair was extremely thick and fairly long (about 10-12 in.). It was virtually impossible to slick back into a ponytail because of the thickness. Besides, it took the better half of 1 jar of gel to get it to lay down halfway, so that idea was out. I've always had my hair pressed straight to style it so the natural 'look' was going to be a new thing for me. Here comes the revolution!!The book "Good Hair" has been a REMARKABLE help!I picked it up in an African boutique and it totally changed the way I took care of my hair and felt about "black" hair.ALL POSITIVE!! You can review the remarks about it in the Hair Boutique's Book Review section. The book review is great, but, take it from someone who is living proof that the styles in the book REALLY WORK and look just as good if not better than any style that requires straight hair. My hair has grown 7-8 in. as a result of how I take care of my hair now. "Good Hair" will help you to find styles that work with your natural texture, achieve and maintain healthy hair all while having good looking hair.Oh yes, I also got a texturizer to pull out my natural curl just a bit to help my styling.I hope this info will be useful to you. Good Luck!Leilani
Hi again,I forgot to mention that many times a texturizer is done by using a standard hair relaxer. The difference in the chemical processing between a regular perm job and a texturizer is all in the timing. The chemical for a texturizer will be left on for a shorter period of time than you would for a regular or straight relaxer. My first application of a texturizer was done with QP Elasta, Mild. Currently, I am using the relaxer by Motions. Try to see a professional stylist for a small patch test for the timing of the relaxer. This will help you decide how curly/wavy you want your hair to be. You can then adjust the timing before you do your whole head. Best wishes to you. Be sure to check out the book "Good Hair".Leilani
Greetings!I wrote on this board a short while ago with a similar dilemma and never got a response from anyone on it (not one). So I did my own research. I would love to share it with you.I am a physician who specializes in natural medicine. My time is usually so short in the morning that doing alot with my hair isn't exactly an option. I used to twist it let it set and release it. That would have to be done every 3 days or so and considering the amount of hair I have....it was exhausting.There is a product called Rusk Anti-Curl (www.rusk1.com) that is supposed to work wonders when you do not want your hair relaxed into a coma but just the curl made a little wider and wavier.You have to go to a salon to get this service and I would highly recommend that you call RUSK at 1(800) 829-RUSK and ask them for a master stylist in your area (so you won't end up as a guinea pig in a salon).I am going to have the service done today and I will let you know (if you write me) how it went.I have extremely thick hair that is very wavy/curly. It hangs to my shoulders but is actually longer than that but it draws up when it dries. This service by Rusk address that by using a no-lye ---very mild (pH 9.5 instead of 12) texturizer to expand the curl a little. They have 3 different strengths as well (in case you color your hair or it's very resistant to relaxing).Feel free to me directly, Caroyl.
P.S.---the amount of time that a texturizer is applied to your hair is not the only thing to consider...the STRENGTH of it is important too (the pH). If it is too stong, it will not give you the subtle results that you seek because you (or your stylist) can hardly apply it to the whole head properly with out it over processing one section more than another. And the strength of it can be damaging to African american hair which is already prone to be dry. So a very mild one is the way to go for a natural more subtle look. And take no chances---go to a pro if you can!Mo
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Natural Black Hair Care
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